Escape to the Chateau

[The80sweregreat]

Channel 4 last night ( sunday). Dick Strawbridge and his partner have bought a 45 roomed Chateau in France, looks beautiful on the outside, but crumbling inside and needs extensive work. Everything you can think of! Bats in the belfry that are protected and have to stay too.
Did anyone watch? I really enjoyed it, but what made it for me was how laid back the couple were about everything!

Try dying your hair orange and wearing vintage clothes Chardonnay

I want a French Chateau now......

I've been looking at another French Chateau instagram, some Australians, I think.
chateau gudanes, it's even prettier and more of a wreck.

I bet there's a follow up programme...

Years ago there was a C4 series called No Going Back. In the last series a couple bought a chateau and they did a follow up series. It was all drama/financial crisis galore (as most major house purchases are!) and really interesting; which is why I am so disappointed with this one. "Dick and Angel have major decisions to make with how to spend their last £2k....." In goes an £18k heating system, unicorn heads, pineapple chandeliers and other misc items that add up to £100k

Here it is.

www.instagram.com/chateaugudanes/

It is gorgeous. And no silly wallpaper Pierrot collar diamonds.

Oh yes, that's more my style!

I know of her through an acquaintance, they met through their agent and she is late 30's, Angel is her professional name, Angela her real name.

I found the programme fascinating and would love to have a nose around the chateau - I also thought that she came across as a spoilt brat and think that dick must have the patience of a saint!

She reminded me of a 50's super nanny

Dame she reminded me of a cross between Jo Frost (SuperNanny) and Kirsty Allsop in her vintage programme.

According to her website they met in 2010 and fell in love at first sight. He split with Brigit in 2010 so I wonder if that had something to do with it? Also interesting that there is no mention of Dick's older children at all, the biography of Dick on Angel's site is exactly the same as the wiki one except the removal of info about Dick's first wife and children. Even where it mentions that Dick starred in other TV shows his son is not mentioned as a co-host/presenter.

'I also thought that she came across as a spoilt brat and think that dick must have the patience of a saint!'

There's no fool like an old fool.

Well, let's see how it goes for them buried in deepest France without a word of French or a camera crew...

And the kids needing an education ...

Oh yes, that too.

I have children the same age as them and I'd feel very isolated in that situation.

I thought Angel seemed talented and good natured.

Dick worked hard on the structural stuff but i thought she worked hard on the design stuff

There'll be a steady stream of clients though so I doubt they'll be isolated. Plus friends staying over. Her parents are there too.

Isolated in the sense I couldn't pop out and see friends, rather than being alone I mean. I know some people would love that life, but I'd not be keen.

We have who are doing similar on a smaller scale, it's in the middle of no where!

I know what you mean Cosmic.

I was very underwhelmed by the helter-skelter in the end. The kids would have out grown it in a year.

I doubt the kids will be sent to the local school. I imagine Dick thinks he is made of better stuff. He made quite a few anti-Franc comments.

Did he,I missed that!

The first Mrs strawbridge is devine, so so lovely.
Angel seems to be lovely and Dick seems besotted with her.
I do hope that they make a success of it in France.

'Also interesting that there is no mention of Dick's older children at all, the biography of Dick on Angel's site is exactly the same as the wiki one except the removal of info about Dick's first wife and children. '

Or his grandchildren, at least one of whom is older than his kids by his younger model. Dick's just another spoony.

What's a spoony?

Lovesick fool- I googled!