0:00:02 > 0:00:10This programme contains some strong language
0:00:18 > 0:00:21- It's chaos! - LAUGHTER
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Oh, mind! Mind.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Where in the world would you chose to spend your golden years?
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Getting older is difficult,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37but you must challenge it.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Aaah! Wow!
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Bette Davis said, "Old-age ain't for sissies."
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Ah, yes, just what I needed.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50A group of well-known pensioners are on a brand-new adventure...
0:00:51 > 0:00:54..travelling the globe in search of the perfect place to grow old.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56SCREAMING AND LAUGHTER
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I want to see what's out there, and grab it.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Having sampled the retirement secrets of China and Cuba...
0:01:05 > 0:01:07This is ridiculous.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12..this time, familiar Marigold faces Paul Nicholas...
0:01:12 > 0:01:15- Hi.- ..Sheila Ferguson.. LAUGHTER
0:01:15 > 0:01:19- ..Dennis Taylor...- Can you believe this?- Good to see you, yeah!
0:01:19 > 0:01:23- ..and Rusty Lee are journeying north...- Look who it is.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27- What more fun can you ask for? - SHE LAUGHS
0:01:27 > 0:01:30..to try and find the key to longevity in Iceland.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33I don't know why in the world anybody would want to
0:01:33 > 0:01:36retire to Iceland. I don't see it, quite frankly.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- I don't see it. - SHE LAUGHS
0:01:46 > 0:01:52Iceland, defined by its dramatic landscape of active volcanoes and
0:01:52 > 0:01:54spectacular glaciers.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Almost 80% of this isolated land remains uninhabited.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04However, the small population here enjoy one of the highest life
0:02:04 > 0:02:07expectancies in the world.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Could this be the ideal place to spend your golden years?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17- A big difference to Gatwick.- It is.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- It's quite chilly, though, isn't it? - It's freezing. - LAUGHTER
0:02:21 > 0:02:23It's a little taters.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27When I think of Iceland, it doesn't seem like a very friendly climate.
0:02:27 > 0:02:28And I hate the cold.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Really, really, really, really hate the cold.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Hate it, hate it! Woof!
0:02:35 > 0:02:40The group have landed in the small northern town of Akureyri.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42From here, they'll be travelling on to live
0:02:42 > 0:02:44in two contrasting locations.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48They'll venture south-west to experience the bustling lifestyle
0:02:48 > 0:02:50in the capital city, Reykjavik.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54But first, they're heading north to sample a more gentle existence in
0:02:54 > 0:02:57the retirement haven of Husavik.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00It's got a sat nav, I think, Dennis, hasn't it?
0:03:00 > 0:03:03There we go. Where to go...
0:03:03 > 0:03:06- Husavik.- You're all right, aren't you?- Yes, that's it.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- Oh, I see.- Everybody OK in the back? - No.- Yes.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14I've actually been doing a little research.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19- Have you?- Iceland has over 160 volcanoes...
0:03:19 > 0:03:22- Gee-whiz!- ..and over 600 hot springs.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- Wow!- The place that we're going, Husavik,
0:03:25 > 0:03:30- is the whale-watching capital, in fact.- Is it?- Yeah. So if you fancy watching a whale...
0:03:30 > 0:03:31I fancy watching a whale.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Oh, that's pretty now, look at that.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I tell you one thing, I could never live out here, this isolated.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43But if you meet an eight-foot Viking, you might change your mind.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45- I'd stay. - LAUGHTER
0:03:45 > 0:03:47There is that, there is that.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50I've been single and living alone eight years.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54So if I could find a Viking to throw me over his shoulder and carry
0:03:54 > 0:03:58- me off to a cave, I'll see you back in England. - SHE LAUGHS
0:03:58 > 0:04:03- Now, what would you like in a man? - Strength.- Strength.- Height.- Height. - Funny.- Blue eyes.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- Blonde hair.- Two horns on his head?
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- No.- Viking?- As long as they have some sort of horn, she won't care.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13LAUGHTER
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I love Sheila, I think she's fantastic.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I always fancied her when she was in The Three Degrees.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22It wasn't until I met her that I went off her.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24HE LAUGHS
0:04:24 > 0:04:26No, that's not true.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- This must be Husavik. - Yeah, looks like it, I think.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and renowned for the
0:04:38 > 0:04:41whales that come to grace its bays,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45this sleepy fishing village offers a uniquely Icelandic vision of
0:04:45 > 0:04:46retirement bliss.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- Straight ahead. Have we got a number?- Number 27.- Oh!
0:04:51 > 0:04:55- Sorry about that.- By joining the small and ageing community,
0:04:55 > 0:04:59the group are hoping to discover its potential as a place to settle in
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- later life.- This is your home. - Oh, that looks nice, yes.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- Opposite the graveyard. - LAUGHTER
0:05:06 > 0:05:09- Well, not far to go when we kick the bucket. - LAUGHTER
0:05:09 > 0:05:13- Welcome to Husavik. - It's lovely. Look at that view.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16The party of four are splitting up to live in two separate houses
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- a short distance apart.- Bye!
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Don't forget where we live!
0:05:22 > 0:05:27- Hello!- Hello!- Hello, how are you?
0:05:27 > 0:05:33Welcoming Sheila and Rusty is 73-year-old retiree Svala.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35- I don't want to mess up her steps. - Are you OK?
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- I will be in a minute. - The views are beautiful!
0:05:38 > 0:05:43- Yes.- Can we go out and have a look? - Oh, yes.- This is lovely.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- Yes.- So this is a fishing village here?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- And what's that?- That's a house. - That's another house?- Yes.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53- OK.- Can we see our rooms? - Yes.- Yes?- Please, come here.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55I don't like the look of the houses.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59I prefer granite and stone and character, to give me warmth.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02It's austere.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Less than a mile away,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Paul and Dennis are approaching their new Icelandic home.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13There don't seem to be any kind of...
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- Life? - LAUGHTER
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Hosting them is 76-year-old local resident Haflidi.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Pleased to meet you. Welcome to Husavik.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34- Thank you. What is your first name? - Haflidi.- Haflidi?- Yes.- I'm Paul. - I'm Dennis.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- Oh, yeah.- Hello. Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you. Will you come inside?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- Yeah, lovely, thank you. - Yes, the door is open.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- The door is open and in we go. - Yes.- Lovely.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- Very nice.- Yes. - TV.- Paul can have the big room.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49No, no. I'll go in here.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Yes. This will do me fine.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I thought it was going to be a little bit bigger, to tell you the truth.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59It's a beautiful little fishing village.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Just looking forward to seeing what the locals do,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and what the pensioners do for a bit of fun around here.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11How does it work here with old people? I mean, I'm an older chap.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16What would I do to, um, to have some pleasurable leisure time here?
0:07:16 > 0:07:20- We have a very good men's choir here.- Oh, really?- Yes.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25I'm a member of it. And we are going to practise tomorrow.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29- Oh, really?- Paul, in the '60s, was a pop star, yeah.- Oh!
0:07:29 > 0:07:33- '70s. - LAUGHTER
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- '70s, love. Get it right, lovie. - '70s.- Yeah! Oh!
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- My wife loved him. He had all this blonde curly hair... - LAUGHTER
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- And now look.- ..and he was... And all the ladies loved him.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48- Yeah.- Do you know what? And I am the father of his children. - LAUGHTER
0:07:48 > 0:07:49You are a funny man.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Icelanders are amongst the healthiest people on the planet.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00They also eat more fish per head than anywhere else in the world.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- Careful of the traffic. - LAUGHTER
0:08:03 > 0:08:06For a taste of the lean Nordic diet,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09the group are eating out in one of Husavik's five local restaurants.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Hello. How are you?
0:08:14 > 0:08:18You OK? Yeah? You remember my face?
0:08:18 > 0:08:20I used to play snooker.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21I used to do that, yeah.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26With the big glasses, yeah.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28You've got a good memory.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Long time ago. Where are you from?
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Oh, right, yeah.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Oh, now, then.- We want to retire here with you.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- We like the Vikings. - LAUGHTER
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- She wants a man.- Would you stop?! - LAUGHTER
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- Jesus Christ!- I made you go hot now.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51- Well, how old are you?- I'm 18. - LAUGHTER
0:08:51 > 0:08:53She's checking out...
0:08:55 > 0:09:00- He's too young. He's too young for you.- Don't look at me like that!
0:09:00 > 0:09:03- Oh, perfect.- Two cod.- Chicken.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- Chicken...- That will be lovely. Thank you.- Thanks very much.
0:09:07 > 0:09:13- You've got tights older than him. - LAUGHTER
0:09:13 > 0:09:15And shoes. And dresses.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Oh, wow! Oh, I'm jealous!
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- That looks very nice. - Thank you.- Oh, that looks nice.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27Yeah. Lovely.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Shall we stuff our faces?
0:09:29 > 0:09:31This must have come straight out of the sea here.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- Nice?- Oh, yeah.- Very, very fresh.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40The gentleman that is looking after us told us about a hot spring.
0:09:40 > 0:09:46It's like, he said, a fantastic, like, a big hot tub or a hot spring.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Apparently it's almost the fountain of youth.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- I mean...- We've got to give that a go.- Yeah. Do you fancy it at all?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I'd love to do that.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59With one pub, no cinema and just a handful of restaurants,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03the small population here take a more natural approach to evening
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- recreation.- Let's go.- Here we go.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Following up on the recommendation,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12the group are headed for the local hot springs.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17- This is lovely.- Oh, lovely. - I can't get over those mountains.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18They don't look real, do they?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Do you think there'd be people naked in them?
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- I don't think so. - Oh, my God, I hope not!
0:10:25 > 0:10:28I would imagine they have a separate one for them.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30- What, a nudist one? - Yeah. I have no idea how big it is.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33I don't know what to expect at all.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- It's there.- Is it coming up?
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- Wait a minute! Those are all blokes - old ones. - LAUGHTER
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- No, there are women there. There are women there.- Good Lord.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49With an endless supply of geothermal water from beneath the earth,
0:10:49 > 0:10:53hot potting is the pastime of choice in Husavik.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- Is this it?- Where everybody... - This is it?
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- This is all there is?- This is it? No, that's a shower. - LAUGHTER
0:11:02 > 0:11:04I thought it was like a big lake.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Well, I was wrong, wasn't I?
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Do you go in the cold water after?
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- Afterwards, yeah.- Not necessary?
0:11:12 > 0:11:15That's good for you, though. You have got to do that.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Take the warm...- I can't tell you how thrilling it is... - LAUGHTER
0:11:19 > 0:11:24- Hey!- I just can't wait to get in with all you guys. - LAUGHTER
0:11:24 > 0:11:28- I have to say, ladies... - Yes.- ..it's quite warm.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31- It's beautiful.- O-o-oh! Oh, it's quite nice.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36How often do you do this?
0:11:41 > 0:11:46Every morning, we discuss about the politics and so on.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51- Yeah.- And then you have solved all the problems after one hour...
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- Yeah.- ..and then you go out. - It's actually very nice.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- You'll get used to it in a minute. - Here we go.- Very good, isn't it?
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- Come on, girls. Get in here. - Oh, shut up! - LAUGHTER
0:12:08 > 0:12:09What's that? A bit of cold water?
0:12:12 > 0:12:14I'll have a bit of that.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16- You won't get...- Thank you.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19- Is that good, yeah? Nice.- Mmm.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23No, it's very nice.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28- Really?- Is there a sell-by date on it? A best-before? - LAUGHTER
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- Come on, baby!- Oh, my God, you've got to lift your leg... - LAUGHTER
0:12:38 > 0:12:42- You're going to like this, darling. - Ooh, nice!- You're going to like this.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Oh, that's nice! Ooh!
0:12:46 > 0:12:48That's better, isn't it?
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- Oh, yes!- It's beautiful.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56- You live in the village? - I live in Husavik.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00You were in my... You were in my restaurant.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Oh, it was lovely!
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Well, you could have cloth napkins, that would make it classier.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- Cloth napkins.- Oh, we had cloth.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- No, we had paper.- We needed a restaurant close
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- to the harbour, you know?- Yeah.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18When we started with our company doing whale-watching... Are you interested in whale-watching?
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- Yes, we want to go see some... - OK, join me, then, tomorrow?
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- Oh, yeah, are you coming? - Yeah!- Yeah!
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- It would be nice to have someone other than you old farts! - LAUGHTER
0:13:27 > 0:13:29I don't know about you, but I want to go in the cold.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Are you coming into the cold one?
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Yeah, I want to go in the cold one, the really cold one.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39I think the Icelandics are very proud of the fact that
0:13:39 > 0:13:41they've got these hot springs.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Aaaah!
0:13:47 > 0:13:49It is freezing!
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Coming here is a bit like an Englishman going to the pub.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56You know, they sit in there for, like, two or three hours, discuss
0:13:56 > 0:13:59politics, sport, you know, their problems.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01It's a very social thing as well as being healing for them.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04So it was actually very exhilarating.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08High up in the northern hemisphere,
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Husavik experiences daylight for almost 24 hours a day
0:14:12 > 0:14:14during the summer months.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16It's 11pm.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- It wasn't a bad day, really, was it? - Very enjoyable. A long...
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Well, it seems to have lasted a long time.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- Well, it's still going on! - LAUGHTER
0:14:25 > 0:14:27At 11 at night or whatever it is.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30It'll be interesting to try and fall asleep, because it's constant light here.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34It's an unusual backdrop to sleep, really.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38But I think it'll be all right. I think the drugs'll work, hopefully!
0:14:38 > 0:14:40HE LAUGHS
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Tea!
0:14:48 > 0:14:50You happy with having a fruit salad?
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- Yes, well, I'll be so bloody healthy, nobody will recognise me! - LAUGHTER
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Where's my bacon and egg McMuffin meal?!
0:14:55 > 0:14:57- Are you going healthy today?- Yeah.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02GARGLING
0:15:05 > 0:15:10I've had a viral throat infection for the last few days.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13I'll be OK, but I just need to keep myself warm, I think.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16When you get older,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20you do, you know, because obviously you're closer to dying,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23any little thing like a bit of a cold, you think,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25"Ah, this could be the one!"
0:15:26 > 0:15:28So you do try and keep healthy.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- Was that Danny Boy you were gargling?!- Yes.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I couldn't quite get the tune.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- # Oh, Danny boy... # - LAUGHTER
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Oh, it works a treat.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42First impressions of this place is that they're a very tight community.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Yes, yes. What I would need absolutely to live here would be some kind of
0:15:46 > 0:15:50company, because the solitude... If you were to live here, you'd have your family.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55If I were to live here, I'd still be alone. If I'm not going to fall in love and live happily ever after,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59it would take something very strong to make me move to a harsh climate
0:15:59 > 0:16:01like this. Then, of course,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05I would probably have a heck of a time getting my hairdresser to fly over to do my extensions!
0:16:05 > 0:16:08- So we have to take practicalities on board, as well. - SHE LAUGHS
0:16:12 > 0:16:14For women aged 60 and over,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Husavik's Senior Citizens Centre is the social hub of the village.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Hello! Hi! How are you?
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Today, Sheila and Rusty have been made honorary members of the club.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- Will you come here?- Yes, of course.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33The ladies here meet up to five times a week.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I will grow old the way I see fit.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37I would never want to weave baskets,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39I would never want to do carpet weaving.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41That's not... No, no.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46- What are you making?- We are making these flowers!
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- Oh!- We are selling it for Mother's Day.- OK.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- Oh, that's lovely!- Yes.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- This is a mother flower. - Oh, that's lovely.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- Are you happy, living here? What do you think...?- Yes, very happy.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04- You're very happy, aren't you?- You can just knock on the door and say,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06"Hey, I'm coming for coffee," yes.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10I have lived in a house in Spain for ten years,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12my next-door neighbours have never said hello!
0:17:12 > 0:17:14- No?- Never said hello.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19- If you came here...- Yes.- ..I will talk to Lili and Svala and
0:17:19 > 0:17:23- say, "Shall we come and visit her?" - Oh, that's lovely.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26I bet you would, too. I feel that. I feel that.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Since first grade, I never made a paper flower,
0:17:31 > 0:17:33and I won't ever again, but when you think about it,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37they keep themselves mentally stimulated and they look after each other.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39I enjoyed myself, I really did.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- What are these?- Astarpungar. - Astarpungar?- Astarpungar.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47Sorry?
0:17:49 > 0:17:51- My man...- Your man... - They have two...
0:17:51 > 0:17:54LAUGHTER
0:17:54 > 0:17:57- You're a very naughty girl! - LAUGHTER
0:18:02 > 0:18:04These are delicious!
0:18:06 > 0:18:1020 minutes away, Paul and Dennis have been invited by their host,
0:18:10 > 0:18:14Haflidi, to join in with the all-male choir rehearsals.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17CHORAL SINGING
0:18:25 > 0:18:28All-male choirs hold a special place in Icelandic culture...
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Haflidi, he's going for it.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36..and for the men here,
0:18:36 > 0:18:40they're integral to a strong sense of national pride.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43- Hey, Bravo! Well done! - Fantastic! Fantastic!
0:18:43 > 0:18:4862-year-old member Helgi has been with the group for almost 20 years.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- Lovely to see you, that was magnificent.- Dennis. I'm Paul.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- What's your name?- My name is Helgi.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- Helgi?- Helgi. How long have the choir been together?
0:18:56 > 0:18:58This choir started, 1975.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01And how old is the eldest member, how old?
0:19:01 > 0:19:06- I think that he is about 82 years old.- Oh, well, we're teenagers!
0:19:06 > 0:19:10- Do you like to sing with us! - Could we?- Oh, yes!- Absolutely!
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Do you have any music I can look at?
0:19:13 > 0:19:17- I can't read it, but I'll have a look at it! - LAUGHTER
0:19:17 > 0:19:20- It is a pleasure if you sing with us.- Thank you so much.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23I would like to think I'm musical, because most of my life, that
0:19:23 > 0:19:27combination of acting and singing is what I kind of do.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30You know you're a baritone, I have no idea what I am.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- You're an Irish tenor. - I'm going next to him.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- An Irish tenor.- You're an Irish tenor.- Yeah, that's good. - An Irish tenor.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41- I'm sorry. He's a choirmaster! - LAUGHTER
0:19:45 > 0:19:48CHOIR SINGS
0:19:59 > 0:20:00I was an altar boy as a youngster,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04but I wouldn't like to think I've got a good voice.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06I was never one for learning all the words of a song.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23It's funny, when you do something like that and you haven't done it
0:20:23 > 0:20:25for a while, you realise why you like doing it.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29Cos even though I couldn't speak the language and didn't know the
0:20:29 > 0:20:33tunes, I was able to join in, and I really loved it.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- Ah, very good. - Just a little bit late.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Not so easy for us!
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Good on the tra-la-la, we were great on that bit!
0:20:44 > 0:20:48They seem very in touch with their country, and themselves.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- It's a very kind of organic place. - And it's so quiet.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53I mean, this might sound a bit Irish,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57- but you can actually hear the quiet. - You can.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Listen, let's listen to it.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01CAR PASSES
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- Well, the odd car! - THEY LAUGH
0:21:07 > 0:21:09To the locals in Husavik,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13the old sailing boats down by the harbour are a testament
0:21:13 > 0:21:15to their proud maritime heritage.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Hello!- Hi, hi.- Hello.- Welcome again.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Having accepted an invitation to go whale-spotting,
0:21:23 > 0:21:28the group are meeting 64-year-old restaurant and boat owner Hordur.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33- Sorry, you do two!- You do two...three!- OK!
0:21:33 > 0:21:37- This is so beautiful!- It is beautiful. We just opened up the sun for you.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41- Thank you very much!- This is probably the warmest day in the summer so far!
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- Good!- Wow.- OK, so just follow me. - OK, thank you.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50The average temperature here in July is just below 15 Celsius.
0:21:50 > 0:21:55A sea voyage therefore requires the proper attire.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- Let's do it!- Let's follow the man.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- So, this will be the boat... - Oh!- The Haukur.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Wow!
0:22:08 > 0:22:11He looks very handsome, the captain - doesn't he? - in his outfit.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15- Aye, aye, Captain Hordur! - Aye, aye. - LAUGHTER
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Hordur and his crew are sailing the group north into the Atlantic
0:22:20 > 0:22:25in hope of spotting some of Husavik's most majestic of neighbours.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28How many different species of whales might we see?
0:22:28 > 0:22:32- We would be lucky with one species. - Oh, right! But you have more than one species?
0:22:32 > 0:22:38Yeah, yeah, we have been seeing from the harbour, porpoises,
0:22:38 > 0:22:43- which are no longer than that... - Yeah.- ..up to the mighty blue whales,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46which are... Can be much bigger than the boat.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48- Really?- Well, if they start biting off the end of the boat,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- I'm going up that way! - LAUGHTER
0:23:00 > 0:23:03You know, if people want something that's peaceful,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05this is probably as good as it gets.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09I think it's too soon for me to make an overall judgment.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13You went to Majorca, and a lot of people would look at that place
0:23:13 > 0:23:16- and say, "What a fantastic place to be."- Yeah, "I'm in paradise."
0:23:16 > 0:23:21But what was it about being there that ultimately made you want to leave?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- Sometimes you can have a bit too much of paradise.- Yeah.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28And what happens in the summer, everybody wants to come and visit paradise,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32- and they come and stay with you. In the winter, nobody wants to be there...- No, it's empty.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36- ..and you're on your own. So I was going to look at a retirement village in England.- Oh, really?
0:23:36 > 0:23:40- Which I thought might be perfect. - I wouldn't want to be around a lot of retired people all the time.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45No. If it's regimented and you have to sit with grey-haired people and have soup...
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- Did we have soup this morning, dear? - LAUGHTER
0:23:49 > 0:23:51- You know what I'm saying. - But the truth is...
0:23:51 > 0:23:57- The truth is we're all individuals, certain things suit certain people...- Than other people, yes.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Is there a whale?
0:24:06 > 0:24:08- Oh, yeah, there it is. See? Look. - Where?- To the right.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11- See the little...- Oh!- Oh!
0:24:11 > 0:24:15- Wow! The spot just to the right, look!- O-o-o-oh!- Wahey!
0:24:15 > 0:24:19- Wow!- Where?- You see there?
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Oh, there he is, there's the spout. You see the spout of water come up?
0:24:22 > 0:24:25There he is! Look at that! Look at that!
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- RUSTY GASPS - Look at that!
0:24:29 > 0:24:32The party has been joined by a curious humpback whale.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37You can see that the animal is really relaxed.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42- Oh!- It's enormous!
0:24:43 > 0:24:46- There's another one!- There's two!
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Oh, look at that one!
0:24:49 > 0:24:54Oh, my God, bless, he's showing off! I love it!
0:24:54 > 0:24:56It made me feel emotional.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01I don't know, it's just beautiful.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07We've come out so far, and they've come to see us.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10It's just fantastic. And we get two!
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Ooh!
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Sometimes, you know, life can pass you by, and you don't get out and
0:25:18 > 0:25:21see what nature's like, right on your doorstep.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23When you get to our age,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26you appreciate exactly what you've got there and enjoy it,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28because you don't know when it's all going to end.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Look at that!
0:25:34 > 0:25:35- Wow!- How lucky are we?- Yeah.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54This place is very different from anywhere I've ever been before.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Just the name, Iceland. It sounds remote.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01And of course, during the winter it's very dark, so it's a bit foreboding.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04But in fact there's a tranquil feel to the whole place.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07That's the charm, so far, for me.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09And being in touch with the land and the sky and the sea.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- Hey, good morning, Haflidi. - Good morning, sir! - How are you this morning?
0:26:23 > 0:26:27- Would you like a cup of tea?- Yes, thank you, thank you.- Come through.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Having rehearsed with the choir yesterday,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Paul and Dennis have been invited to perform in a special concert held
0:26:33 > 0:26:35outside the village.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39You're still learning, la-la, la-la.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- That was the only words I could remember! - LAUGHTER
0:26:43 > 0:26:48- Ah!- How old are you, Haflidi, if you don't mind me asking?
0:26:48 > 0:26:50- 76.- 76.- Wow.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Are you keeping in reasonably good health?
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Yes, I am. I'm a very lucky man.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Even though the doctor told me what's going on in here,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- inside of me...- Oh, have you got...you've got a bit of...?
0:27:04 > 0:27:08- Cancer.- No, you didn't tell us, I didn't know!
0:27:08 > 0:27:12No. It's OK, it's OK. I'm very lucky to...
0:27:12 > 0:27:17I just take one pill, then I'm very good,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and I do everything I like.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24If my health is good, then I keep on going, of course, of course.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Exactly, I think that's the secret, really.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31When you do get older, the future is smaller than the past.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33One has to be philosophical about it.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Life is what you make of it.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38If you want to sit in a chair and moan, you can.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40And if you want to get out and get out there, you can.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43- Cheers!- Cheers!- Cheers!- Good health.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Not wanting to arrive empty-handed to this evening's gathering,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54professional chef Rusty has decided to treat the locals to some
0:27:54 > 0:27:57- traditional Jamaican cooking. - Oh, lovely!
0:28:00 > 0:28:03I don't know if you'll have the things, but we'll have some of these.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08- We have lots of things, but not everything.- Yes.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11With only two grocery stores to choose from,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and high tariffs on imported food produce,
0:28:14 > 0:28:16bringing a taste of the Caribbean to the north of Iceland
0:28:16 > 0:28:18is no mean feat.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I can't see that you would have yams that I want.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25- OK.- But I want to put some of these in as well.- Do you want something else?- Yeah.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28This will do instead.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30- OK.- We use this instead.- Yeah, OK.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34- Do you know polenta? - Polenta?- Polenta.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40I'm not so sure that we have what you are looking for.
0:28:40 > 0:28:45- Mm-hmm. This would be my problem. I have to... - You have to find something.- Yes.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47Here is the meat.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Iceland has been listed as having the third highest cost
0:28:50 > 0:28:52of living in the world.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56With a lack of competition in Husavik,
0:28:56 > 0:28:59- grocery shopping isn't cheap. - So, how much is that, please?
0:28:59 > 0:29:03- 1,735.- What?! Is it?
0:29:05 > 0:29:06Let me look at this, please.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11£12.86.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16- It is expensive.- That's a very expensive meat.- Yes.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20£12.86 for that? You wouldn't pay that in England.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23- No?- No. Because we can choose from different supermarkets!
0:29:23 > 0:29:27- This is the only supermarket, so we haven't anything...- You've got no choice.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30- If you want the meat, you have to buy it here. - I think I'd go vegetarian!
0:29:30 > 0:29:33LAUGHTER
0:29:37 > 0:29:39# La-la-la-la-la-la-la
0:29:39 > 0:29:41# La-la-la-la-la. #
0:29:41 > 0:29:43Adequately tuned up,
0:29:43 > 0:29:46Paul and Dennis are ready for the big concert performance.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51HE LAUGHS
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- Something went wrong with reverse. - LAUGHTER
0:29:56 > 0:29:59I don't know what was going on there. I didn't understand... Oh!
0:29:59 > 0:30:02LAUGHTER
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- Do you want to see what I've made? - Oh, yes, please.- That's it.
0:30:06 > 0:30:12- Oh, Rusty! Oh, nom-nom-nom-nom-nom! - Hello.- Oh, here are the boys. - We're here!
0:30:12 > 0:30:15This is the pepper pot soup, but be very careful, because it's very hot.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19- OK.- It's very, very hot.- That's all right.- Please be careful.- It's fine.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24- Thank you.- OK, have you got enough layers, everybody?
0:30:24 > 0:30:28- OK, here we go.- You girls are in for a treat tonight, because these boys
0:30:28 > 0:30:32- can sing, can't they, Paul?- Yeah, and they are very enthusiastic.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- Look at that rock formation.- Yeah.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41Having the luxury of near-endless daylight in the summer,
0:30:41 > 0:30:43the choir have chosen the spectacular setting
0:30:43 > 0:30:47of the Asbyrgi Canyon as the concert venue.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49It looks as if we're here.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51- I think so.- They've got a few people here, haven't they?
0:30:51 > 0:30:53There's quite a few.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00- Are we ready to rock and roll? - Yeah, come on, then.- Let's do it.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02It's a good turnout,
0:31:02 > 0:31:04with hundreds of locals here to enjoy the proceedings.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Hello. Hey!
0:31:07 > 0:31:11- Ooooh! Aawww! - LAUGHTER
0:31:11 > 0:31:14I thought it was only going to be about ten people here.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18- Look at this!- We didn't expect so many people.- Oh, you didn't? - LAUGHTER
0:31:18 > 0:31:21No, there are some people up there, waiting to hear from us.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23- Up there.- Oh, look, right up... - Yeah.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27- We look forward to hearing you. - Yeah.- Thank you very much.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35CHOIR SINGS
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Being around music and people singing, it's very uplifting to me.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03It gives me joy.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23- This is you.- We're on.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Thank you. Thank you. Yes.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- I've got my words. - We got dressed up for you.- Yes.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34LAUGHTER
0:32:34 > 0:32:38Where shall I get in, here? Here? OK.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41CHOIR SINGS
0:33:17 > 0:33:18- Hey!- All right!
0:33:22 > 0:33:24LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Sorry. Thank you. Thank you.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32To not sing in these acoustics, I'd never forgive myself.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35So if I may sing a little bit? Yeah?
0:33:36 > 0:33:40# There's a somebody I'm longing to see
0:33:40 > 0:33:46# I hope that he turns out to be
0:33:46 > 0:33:51# Someone who'll watch over me... #
0:33:53 > 0:33:57I couldn't not do a number, because I wanted to thank them for accepting
0:33:57 > 0:33:59us and receiving us so graciously.
0:34:00 > 0:34:06# Who'll watch over me. #
0:34:08 > 0:34:12CHEERING
0:34:17 > 0:34:19With the singing complete,
0:34:19 > 0:34:22it's down to the business of eating and drinking, Icelandic style.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30Rusty is eager to put the finishing touches to her pepper pot soup.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Have we got any spoons to stir? To stir in...
0:34:36 > 0:34:38HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:34:40 > 0:34:44- Salt, pepper?- No. - They don't do that here.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47It's not on. This is going to take forever.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50Take it out, take it out.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Thank you.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Where's the butter? Oh.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00- Give me this. - LAUGHTER
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Hello. May we join you? Thank you.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07- HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE - Thank you.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10You remind me of a lady that came to my college.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15- Her name was Ruth Reese. - A black lady?- A black lady.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19She gave a concert in Reykjavik. There was one song she sang,
0:35:19 > 0:35:22and it was when they were laying the railways in the States.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25- She sang a song about the railway? - Yeah.- How does it go?
0:35:26 > 0:35:27It sounded like this.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33# Water boy
0:35:34 > 0:35:38# Where are you hiding? #
0:35:41 > 0:35:44- OK.- Very good. Bravo!
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Anybody want pepper pot soup?
0:35:47 > 0:35:50- Can I have a little bit? - Yes, definitely.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53- It looks like... Can I have a little bit? - LAUGHTER
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Yes, definitely.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00I know it's my own, but it's quite delicious, it really is.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03And I think they're enjoying it, too. It's really, really nice!
0:36:04 > 0:36:09I think the thing I've been struck by, coming here, is how important
0:36:09 > 0:36:12the land and the whole thing seems to be to the people.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15We try to take care of the environment.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19Yes, it seems so. How about your elderly people, your pensioners?
0:36:19 > 0:36:23Do you have old people's homes here? Or do they stay with their family?
0:36:23 > 0:36:27- How does it work here?- We have homes for elderly people.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30- Mm-hmm.- And different types, even.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34You were thinking of trying to find a sort of retirement village at one
0:36:34 > 0:36:37point, weren't you? Because you're on your own.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39One - I was going to look at one in England.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41I'll deal with that when the time comes.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45- And she's also looking for a Viking, is that correct? - LAUGHTER
0:36:47 > 0:36:50- I could volunteer, yeah! - LAUGHTER
0:36:50 > 0:36:53- How do you speak such good English? - See you tomorrow.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Would you like to go on a date tomorrow?
0:36:55 > 0:36:59- Are we talking dinner? - Well, it might be.- Might be?
0:36:59 > 0:37:04- Yeah, dinner or...coffee or dinner. Yes.- OK. That might be nice.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09I really can't believe Paul nudged me into doing that.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- But it didn't seem awkward. - I was quite,
0:37:12 > 0:37:16um... I was quite pleased, actually. Yeah, nice.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19# Doctor Love, yeah!
0:37:19 > 0:37:22# I'm Doctor Love! #
0:37:27 > 0:37:30Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to thank you for your hospitality,
0:37:30 > 0:37:33your singing, and your beautiful land.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37- So thank you so much indeed. Thank you.- Thank you.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39Thank you.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43I mean, it's 12 o'clock. Midnight, basically. And look at it.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46I mean, have a look at that, behind me, that sunset.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50It is a very magical place, and it's something that I will treasure.
0:37:50 > 0:37:51I really will.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02This morning, the group are bidding farewell to Husavik.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05- HORN HONKS - Bye-bye!
0:38:07 > 0:38:11- Are we ready, ladies?- Oh! - Bye-bye.- Bye.- Bye.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16- I've fallen hook, line and sinker with this place.- The humour?- Yes.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19- And the warmth of the people. - Yes.- They embraced us.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22- Yes.- We're turning right, folks,
0:38:22 > 0:38:27and we're going to go through Husavik for the very last time.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29We're off to Reykjavik.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34The group are taking a six-hour trip, 500km south-west,
0:38:34 > 0:38:39to sample the vibrant lifestyle in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43This is breathtaking, isn't it?
0:38:45 > 0:38:47The water running down the mountain.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50- # When she comes... # - I was going to say... - LAUGHTER
0:38:50 > 0:38:53# She'll be coming round the mountain, when she comes
0:38:53 > 0:38:55# When she comes!
0:38:55 > 0:38:57# She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes
0:38:57 > 0:38:59# When she comes!
0:38:59 > 0:39:02# She'll be coming round the mountain, coming round the mountain
0:39:02 > 0:39:06- # Coming round mountain when she comes. # - LAUGHTER
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Yes! Give me the harmony!
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- A dual carriageway. The first one we've seen.- Oh, yes.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Reykjavik - the world's northernmost capital city,
0:39:23 > 0:39:26and the urban heart of Iceland.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32This is the thriving centre, I think.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35This small metropolis offers the cultural delights of city living
0:39:35 > 0:39:39within a vast landscape of natural beauty.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42That's massive!
0:39:42 > 0:39:46- I want...- Is it a concert hall, I wonder?- I don't know, it looks like it.- Yes.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49Unless the people we're staying with have got a big house.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52- And you can live in there on your pension! - LAUGHTER
0:39:52 > 0:39:56With locals here living longer than nearly anywhere else in the world,
0:39:56 > 0:40:00Reykjavik prides itself on a policy of successful ageing -
0:40:00 > 0:40:04independence and longevity achieved through a diverse programme of
0:40:04 > 0:40:06exercise and fitness.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Here we are. I think this is it.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11The group will be living downtown in Vesturbaer -
0:40:11 > 0:40:15the most expensive and sought-after district in the city.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19- No, here.- I'm giving myself a bit of room to get swinging around,
0:40:19 > 0:40:24- you know. Swing low, sweet chariot. - Oh, look!- It's a red house.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26It's a lovely red house.
0:40:26 > 0:40:31This four-storey ancestral home belongs to local retiree Kristin.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33- Hello there.- Hi.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37Nice to meet you. My name's Paul. How do you do? What's your name?
0:40:37 > 0:40:39- Kristin.- Kristin. - You must be tired.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43- Shattered.- There are two bedrooms downstairs...- OK.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45..and there are two bedrooms up.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48One on the second floor and one in the attic.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- Right.- You'll just have to choose.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54So there's one on this level, Paul, which I don't mind this level, whatever it is.
0:40:54 > 0:40:59- OK. Well, we'll have a look. Is that a bedroom?- I'm quite comfortable here, yeah.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01- Oh, that's a nice room. - I'm all right here, yeah.- Yeah,
0:41:01 > 0:41:04you'll be fine. Well, I'm going to go up and look at mine,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06- and then I'll let you know what it's like.- Yeah.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Oh, this is...quaint.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17- I think this might be a bathroom. Oh, no, it's a cupboard! - HE LAUGHS
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Do my own washing here, look.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Ah. Well, There you... Oh! There you are.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28- Nice seat to sit in. - HE LAUGHS
0:41:28 > 0:41:31I'll have tremendous fun in this. No, lovely. OK.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38Oh, that looks lovely.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40There we are. Thank you.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43Is this a traditional cake, Kristin?
0:41:43 > 0:41:48Yeah, it is. It's called Hjonabandssaela in Icelandic.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50It means "happy marriage".
0:41:50 > 0:41:53I've been married for 40-something years,
0:41:53 > 0:41:57- so I must have had some before!- OK. - LAUGHTER
0:41:57 > 0:42:00How long has this house been in your family?
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Since 1932. I was born here, in this house.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07- Really?- Yes...- Wow! - ..in the attic.- Oh!
0:42:07 > 0:42:11- In my room.- May I ask you how old you are?
0:42:11 > 0:42:14- I'm 81.- No!- Oh, you're not!
0:42:15 > 0:42:18I'm in a walking group with old schoolmates, yes.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21That's probably what keeps you fit and young.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25- Oh, well, it helps. - You look really amazing.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29Kristin, thank you so much for welcoming us to this lovely home.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32- It's lovely.- You are lovely people. - Oh, bless you.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36- Thank you.- I don't think there'll be any problems sleeping, after that long journey...- No.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39- ..that six-hour trip.- I have a very good idea for tomorrow morning.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Why don't the boys make us breakfast?
0:42:41 > 0:42:45- I think it's a delightful idea, but have you got any other ideas? - LAUGHTER
0:42:48 > 0:42:51How do you ladies like your bacon?
0:42:51 > 0:42:54- Nice and crispy for me. - Excuse me.- Oh!- Oh, by God...
0:42:57 > 0:43:00- There we are, darling.- They said crispy bacon, didn't they, the girls?- Yeah.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05I'm not mad on cooking. I'm not interested in cooking.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09I wouldn't want to cook for anyone, even myself,
0:43:09 > 0:43:13but I will if I have to. Oh, no, this is a...
0:43:13 > 0:43:14This pan is shit.
0:43:15 > 0:43:20- It'll be all right. Get it on the plate and we'll see what happens. - No, it's not, it's not done yet.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Oh!
0:43:23 > 0:43:27- Beautiful.- I think that's fine. - It's a bit burnt, isn't it?
0:43:27 > 0:43:30- Let's get the bacon to hide it a little. - LAUGHTER
0:43:30 > 0:43:34- That looks lovely.- Boys, what are you doing?- It's lovely.
0:43:34 > 0:43:36- I'm seeing a lot of smoke. - No, you've...
0:43:36 > 0:43:40- There's got to be an exhaust. - I'm seeing a lot of smoke.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45- That's very crispy!- Thank you. - That's well crispy!- I like it. LAUGHTER
0:43:45 > 0:43:49- We like to cook to order, Madam! - LAUGHTER
0:43:52 > 0:43:54- We did our best.- You did very well.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57We're ready now to do some aquarobics.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02In Reykjavik, pensioners like to keep fit.
0:44:02 > 0:44:05SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:44:07 > 0:44:09Ten minutes from the homestead,
0:44:09 > 0:44:12some of the city's oldest residents are being put through their paces by
0:44:12 > 0:44:1661-year-old fitness instructor Helga.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18MUSIC PLAYS
0:44:18 > 0:44:21HELGA SINGS WORDLESSLY TO MUSIC
0:44:27 > 0:44:29Oh! It's a bit fresh!
0:44:29 > 0:44:33Gee-whiz! Hello, ladies.
0:44:33 > 0:44:34Hi.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38With a community swimming pool on nearly every corner of the city,
0:44:38 > 0:44:41classes like this are provided free of charge for OAPs.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47- Welcome.- Hello. Thank you. - Thank you, welcome.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53LAUGHTER
0:44:53 > 0:44:57- Now we are settled.- OK. OK. - Are you all right?- Yes, fine.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01- I can feel every part of me jumping! - LAUGHTER
0:45:03 > 0:45:05SCREAMING
0:45:07 > 0:45:09Are you all right? Are you all right? Are you all right?
0:45:09 > 0:45:12I've got you, I've got you! What happened? Are you OK?
0:45:12 > 0:45:14- Are you OK?- Yeah.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17Designed to increase life expectancy,
0:45:17 > 0:45:20this is a high-intensity workout
0:45:20 > 0:45:22held three times a week.
0:45:22 > 0:45:24Use your strengths!
0:45:26 > 0:45:30I'm very aware about my health, because I'm a diabetic.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33Type 2 diabetic. I've had three hip operations.
0:45:33 > 0:45:37I've got a really, very, very bad lower back.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40HELGA SHOUTS INSTRUCTIONS
0:45:40 > 0:45:43Those are the things that make you realise that you're older.
0:45:43 > 0:45:47It's like, you buy a brand-new car and it didn't need an MOT for a
0:45:47 > 0:45:51certain length of time. Now that you're older,
0:45:51 > 0:45:55- you need an MOT to fix the things, so you can keep going! - SHE LAUGHS
0:45:57 > 0:46:00LAUGHTER
0:46:00 > 0:46:04This is a high level of civilisation,
0:46:04 > 0:46:07where you invest in good health for old people.
0:46:07 > 0:46:11- Yes.- It keeps you fit, you know?
0:46:12 > 0:46:16She is 80. This active lady here.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18- Sorry, I shouldn't have... - It's OK!
0:46:18 > 0:46:22- She looks beautiful.- I'm not that vain. I'm very happy about it.
0:46:22 > 0:46:23You look amazing and beautiful!
0:46:23 > 0:46:28- I myself, 72 only. - Whoa, a baby, a baby! - LAUGHTER
0:46:34 > 0:46:38Just a few miles away, Paul and Dennis have chosen to test their
0:46:38 > 0:46:41agility at Reykjavik's Senior Gymnastics Club.
0:46:42 > 0:46:46- I can never get my legs that wide apart.- No, me neither.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50- Gentlemen, how are you? - Good afternoon.- How are you? Nice to see you.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53How long have you been here, doing this activity?
0:46:53 > 0:46:56Well, we've been here twice a week for 35 years.
0:46:56 > 0:47:00- I'm 78. This guy is...80.- 80?!
0:47:00 > 0:47:03- Well done to you, sir. - He looks magnificent.- Yeah.
0:47:03 > 0:47:07- And this guy swam across the Channel.- The first Icelander to cross the Channel.
0:47:07 > 0:47:09- Congratulations.- But we trained him. - LAUGHTER
0:47:09 > 0:47:13Shall we have a go with you, as they say? Thank you.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17- Oh, a little jog. - Just joining, warming up.
0:47:17 > 0:47:19With an average life expectancy of 81,
0:47:19 > 0:47:23Icelandic men rank second in the world for longevity
0:47:23 > 0:47:25behind the Swiss.
0:47:25 > 0:47:26Wow!
0:47:29 > 0:47:30Three...
0:47:31 > 0:47:35- Is it nearly half-time? - LAUGHTER
0:47:35 > 0:47:37I should be doing a little bit more to keep myself
0:47:37 > 0:47:39in a bit better shape.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42So, the way of life in Iceland appeals to me.
0:47:44 > 0:47:47My dear old mum passed away with a massive heart attack.
0:47:47 > 0:47:53- She was only 62. I feel like... - Superman!- Superman, yeah!
0:47:53 > 0:47:57I've got a young family, and my son wants to kick football
0:47:57 > 0:48:00with me, and my daughter wants me to go on the trampoline with her.
0:48:00 > 0:48:04So I can't be thinking about popping my clogs yet.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11- O-o-o-oh!- 8.9.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13Totally out of our league there.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18- Yes!- Oh!
0:48:18 > 0:48:21We have just witnessed...
0:48:21 > 0:48:23- The death of two old men! - LAUGHTER
0:48:23 > 0:48:25This is the final exercise.
0:48:25 > 0:48:29We always do this at the end of every practice, warm-up session.
0:48:29 > 0:48:35- Right, yeah.- But it's imitating an act of mammal reproduction.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37- How disgusting.- Oh, disgusting! - LAUGHTER
0:48:37 > 0:48:39- Are you ready?- Yes.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44Hoo! Hoo!
0:48:44 > 0:48:47Oh, I like that. This time with feeling.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
0:48:49 > 0:48:52LAUGHTER
0:48:56 > 0:48:59Having being asked out at the choir concert in Husavik,
0:48:59 > 0:49:02this evening Sheila is going on a date
0:49:02 > 0:49:05with 67-year-old retiree Thoroddur.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08I am a little bit nervous about tonight, only because we only met briefly.
0:49:08 > 0:49:12I don't know what it's going to be like, but I know that I'm now willing to try.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16You need a reason to get up and to keep functioning,
0:49:16 > 0:49:18and companionship will do that.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20You can't just keep watching BBC News. Ha!
0:49:26 > 0:49:27Excuse me.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33Are we ready?
0:49:33 > 0:49:37- Ferguson, are you ready? - Oh!- Whoa!- Sheila!
0:49:37 > 0:49:42- Oh, you're not hanging about, babe! Oh, my God! - LAUGHTER
0:49:42 > 0:49:45- I think I'm hanging about a bit.- You look great, have an amazing night.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48- Get the hair out.- I hope he's taking you somewhere grand.
0:49:48 > 0:49:50- He better be.- Let's have a look at you now, babe.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52- Let's look at you. - People have always asked,
0:49:52 > 0:49:55"How do you stay looking so young and so fit?"
0:49:55 > 0:49:56I said, "Sex."
0:49:56 > 0:49:58Oh, I must have, I must get...
0:49:58 > 0:50:00You have fun doing something you love,
0:50:00 > 0:50:03and since I've been alone for the last eight years,
0:50:03 > 0:50:06my body's falling apart from no sex.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10- So it just goes to show you that my philosophy works! - SHE LAUGHS
0:50:11 > 0:50:15- When will we see you again? - LAUGHTER
0:50:17 > 0:50:21Having made the long journey south, Thoroddur has arranged to meet
0:50:21 > 0:50:24Sheila beneath the towering Hallgrimskirkja church.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27- You brought flowers!- Hello, Sheila. - Hello. Whoops!
0:50:27 > 0:50:32- Welcome.- Thank you. Aw, thank you.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34- Please have these. - Thank you so much.
0:50:34 > 0:50:37I have a small gift here for you.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40Oh! Are they gloves? Oh, that's lovely.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44- How thoughtful.- Hope you enjoy it. - I haven't brought you anything.
0:50:44 > 0:50:48We are in the centre of Reykjavik. It's so easy to find your way from
0:50:48 > 0:50:52- here to a restaurant or whatever you'd like to go.- OK.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Thoroddur is taking Sheila to dinner at a
0:50:57 > 0:51:00popular seafood restaurant in the city centre.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06- This is nice.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13Now, wait a minute, where is the English?
0:51:13 > 0:51:16- They might be giving me somebody's testicles and things. - LAUGHTER
0:51:16 > 0:51:19- No.- No.- I don't feel that ambitious.
0:51:26 > 0:51:30- Have you ever eaten horse? - Yes. I don't recommend it, really.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33- I'm not going to have it.- No.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37Sometimes I think maybe I come across as bodacious.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40I'm probably hiding the softer side of Sheila Ferguson.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43If I were to move to
0:51:43 > 0:51:46Iceland, what would my life be like?
0:51:46 > 0:51:50If you have the courage to look around, take part in something,
0:51:50 > 0:51:52- then you have everything.- OK.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56I like cross-country skiing in the winter, that is my yoga.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07- Langoustine. - Thank you. Oh, sweet Jesus!
0:52:08 > 0:52:10- Hallelujah.- With asparagus and pineapple.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13Well, thank you very kindly.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16- You're welcome.- I think I've kind of been on hold because I had
0:52:16 > 0:52:20a partner, and he died nine years ago.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22- OK.- And I just...
0:52:22 > 0:52:26I threw myself... I just became a workaholic. Work, work, work.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29I didn't realise I was so lonely.
0:52:29 > 0:52:30I'm wasting myself away.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35Work is my life because it substitutes what's missing in my
0:52:35 > 0:52:37private life. It's a psychological need.
0:52:37 > 0:52:41I need to go on stage because I need to be able to feel good about myself.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44The food is to die for.
0:52:46 > 0:52:48Well, you see, if you live in Iceland,
0:52:48 > 0:52:51- what good food you're going to get. - Can you cook like this?
0:52:51 > 0:52:53- Yeah.- No!
0:52:53 > 0:52:55- No, you can't. - THEY LAUGH
0:52:55 > 0:52:58- You're not shy, are you? - No, no, I've never been.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01- OK.- I should have been, on several occasions, more shy.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03Oh?
0:53:03 > 0:53:06I'm pleasantly surprised that it's so easy to talk to you,
0:53:06 > 0:53:09which I knew it would be, because you're intelligent,
0:53:09 > 0:53:13but you also make it easy for me to open up and be just normal.
0:53:13 > 0:53:16- That's important to me.- Thank you, Sheila, for these words.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18It's great to be with you and I'm really honoured that you
0:53:18 > 0:53:21decided you would like to have me this evening.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24Oh, gosh. If you don't mind me being so bold,
0:53:24 > 0:53:28- it would be nice if we met again some time.- Yeah. Thank you. - I enjoyed your company.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31- Really did enjoy your company. - Thank you. Same to me.
0:53:31 > 0:53:32I'm embarrassed a little bit,
0:53:32 > 0:53:35but if you don't say it, it's not going to get said.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38- I've got to leave tomorrow. - Thank you, a lot.
0:53:38 > 0:53:41- It's a pleasure.- Nice to be with you here.- And nice to be with you.- Cheers.
0:53:41 > 0:53:45Well, I must say, I had a wonderful time.
0:53:45 > 0:53:50He's a lovely guy. Charming, intelligent, and there's a nice
0:53:50 > 0:53:54gleam in his eye, which is quite enthralling, shall we say.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58- Take care.- Thanks a lot for a lovely evening.- And you. OK, bye-bye.
0:53:58 > 0:53:59Take care, bye.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01This one, I'll see again.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19HE LAUGHS
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Today, the group are leaving Iceland.
0:54:22 > 0:54:27- Bye.- Bye-bye.- Thank you. Be happy.- Lovely to have you.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29- Lovely. Bye-bye.- Bye!
0:54:29 > 0:54:32- Bye!- Bye! - HORN HONKS
0:54:32 > 0:54:34What a lovely trip that was.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38It's kind of sad to go.
0:54:38 > 0:54:40Boy, has it been a trip.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42The lust of life that they have.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46I've never seen so many people so vibrant in their 80s and 90s.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49They have a vitality that I like. A lovely vitality.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52Love it, love it.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55I wouldn't go too fast, Dennis.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58- I'm trying not to...- You know what I mean? Slow down a bit.- I am, I am.
0:54:58 > 0:55:00There you go.
0:55:02 > 0:55:05Does that orange taste nice, Paul?
0:55:05 > 0:55:09- I'm so sorry.- It sounds wonderful. - How very uncouth of me. - LAUGHTER
0:55:09 > 0:55:11How unlike me.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15- Look over to the right. - Oh, my goodness!
0:55:15 > 0:55:18- Now, that is...- Steam coming from it!- That is high up.
0:55:19 > 0:55:23Before they fly home, the group are taking the chance to visit
0:55:23 > 0:55:27Skogafoss, one of Iceland's most magnificent waterfalls.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29That... That is quite spectacular.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36- Shall we go, then, gang? - Ready?- Yes!
0:55:36 > 0:55:40Legend has it that Viking treasure lies hidden in a cave behind the
0:55:40 > 0:55:43- falls.- How beautiful is this?!
0:55:43 > 0:55:45- It's going to be the last view of Iceland.- Aawww!
0:55:47 > 0:55:50- This is like the equivalent of walking into the sunset, isn't it? - Yes.- Yes.
0:55:50 > 0:55:52LAUGHTER
0:55:52 > 0:55:56I have loved every single minute I've been here.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59I think they are in touch with the landscape a lot more than we are
0:55:59 > 0:56:03in the UK. You've got more time to appreciate life,
0:56:03 > 0:56:07I think, living here, and that all adds to keeping them healthy
0:56:07 > 0:56:11and keeping them living as long as they do.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14- I'm beginning to feel the spray. - Yes.
0:56:14 > 0:56:16Let's see how close we can get, shall we?
0:56:16 > 0:56:19- Come on, darling.- It's getting a bit more tricky here,
0:56:19 > 0:56:22- there's a lot more rocks.- Watch it! - It's very...
0:56:22 > 0:56:24Come on!
0:56:26 > 0:56:29- Now you can hear the power. - I'm getting soaked!
0:56:29 > 0:56:33- Whoa-oa!- Wow, I'm getting soaked! - Oh, my goodness! - LAUGHTER
0:56:33 > 0:56:37- I'm going all the way. - Me too.- Are you?! LAUGHTER
0:56:37 > 0:56:40It isn't such a bad thing, being old.
0:56:40 > 0:56:44There's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy this part of your life more
0:56:44 > 0:56:47than perhaps any other time of your life.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50- Come on! - LAUGHTER
0:56:50 > 0:56:52RUSTY SCREAMS
0:56:52 > 0:56:55- Come on, to that rock!- Yeah!
0:56:56 > 0:56:59What you've got to do is try not lose your sense of humour,
0:56:59 > 0:57:01and see the absurdity of it all.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05- I've gone mad! - LAUGHTER
0:57:08 > 0:57:12- We did it! We did it! - Bye-bye, Iceland!
0:57:16 > 0:57:20- You need to do things as you've always done, albeit a little slower. - HE LAUGHS
0:57:22 > 0:57:26- A once in a lifetime experience. - LAUGHTER
0:57:26 > 0:57:29- When I say once, I mean once. - LAUGHTER
0:57:30 > 0:57:32We're fucking soaking.
0:57:35 > 0:57:37- Very noisy!- Next time...
0:57:37 > 0:57:41Paul, Dennis and Sheila are joined by familiar Marigold face
0:57:41 > 0:57:44Rosemary Shrager... SHEILA SCREAMS
0:57:44 > 0:57:48- as they head east...- Oh, my God! - Whoo!
0:57:48 > 0:57:52..to the retirement mecca of Thailand.
0:57:52 > 0:57:55- I think we're getting to the good bit. - LAUGHTER