Escape to the Chateau: DIY

[ReadingIsFundamental]

So, is anyone else completely addicted to this?
I loved Dick and Angel’s original series so decided to start watching the series where they help out others who have bought or are in the process of buying chateaux in France.
I’ve watched 8 episodes in 3 days Anyone with me?

Thoughts so far: I love Jonathon and Michael and their absolutely stunning castle. I’ve been willing them on throughout these episodes and have even googled prices to stay at their castle. I hope the show brings lots of bookings their way.

I wasn’t keen on the male half of the first couple featured - the artist guy. I’m intrigued to see how they get on but was astonished that they were able to go so far above their initial budget. I wonder if the termites will be a bigger problem than they have so far envisioned.

The young married couple are lovely and very hard-working, but what were they thinking leaving the loo until the very last minute? Stress city.

The single mum was very impressive in her property development skills but i did think it was very disappointing that she still can’t speak any French even after living there for 5 years - the Mayor asked her to learn some French and she didn’t even attempt a tiny “Oui”!

I’ve spent the day googling properties to buy in France. Not even chateaux but 5 bed properties - oh my! Now to persuade my husband!

Hello. I'm also loving this.
I was very over invested in the treasure in the lake.
Everyone involved make me look incredibly lazy.

We love it too. We were so disappointed that they didn't find the treasure in the lake.

The young couple with the baby are finding it difficult now with the hard work and sleepless nights.. goodness knows how hard it will be once he gets mobile.

I take my hat off to all of them. Such hard working commited people! I have a small room to paint and have been putting it off for months

Also love watching it here

Enjoying this programme.
The young French/English couple seem nice and their chateau is lovely. Get confused between the husband and his brother though - very similar!
And Dick annoys me sometimes - I realise he's explaining to the viewer how to do something/how something works but it can come across as if he thinks the chateau owner is clueless.
Chateaux really are money pits though - some of the heating costs are mind blowing.

I love it because it makes you realise how difficult it really is. Dick and and Angel made it look so easy (well Channel 4 did!) I think this shows the reality.

I'm a bit addicted too. But I can only watch it recorded because I have to keep fast forwarding through all the repetition. Why do they keep tell me what's coming up next, what just happened, what might happen in a few minutes etc etc. Is it Dick's choice to narrate like this? Or do the producers think we like it? Anyone else infuriated?

All Channel 4 is like this - I think it's so they can save money by recording less programme. Last week .... In this show ..... after the break .... before the break .... and on it goes as if we all have the memory of goldfish. I still love though.

I find them both quite endearing really. Arthur is as cute as a button. I wonder how Dick has such a massive bear gut though with all the excercise he gets.

Food I suspect

Dick and Angel are totally endearing - that’s what makes it so watchable. I love the fact that Angel does everything in totally inappropriate kimono style dress with a full manicure - I wonder if she always dresses like that or if it’s just when the cameras roll (suspect it's the latter, but happy to suspend disbelief that it’s the former). They are the perfect little nuclear family with Arthur and Dorothy and full-time childcare on tap in the shape of Angel’s Mum and Dad (other chateau dwellers take note). Watching Angel and Dick you almost believe you could do it, watching the others you realise that you couldn’t and nor would you want to!

Iam addicted too , if anything the DIY one is better than the original, the other couples seem to be either very rich or very silly. I loved the film of the forest at night, sorry I don't remember the names but the wife is french which helped a lot talking to the hunter man with the dog . We have sanglier in the forest behind us, the FR love to hunt them!

I wonder if the sanglier wild boar) will go where they re supposed to!!

Yes I was thinking the same about Dick's beer gut. that's wine and charcuterie IMO !!

His fave red checked shirt is getting too tight for him.

Silly me, that wild boar family's wife is Dutch I think I watched it this afternoon and got more confused with all the families, some were new. The ridiculousness of that bald bloke with the battery and trying to pull a huge caravan with the tiny little tractor… is he bonkers or does the director suggest he does something stupid 'for the show' ?

Ppea no you're right, the wild boar families wife is French - it's the wife of the ex musician that is Dutch I think....

He has the best name ever.

Dick Strawbridge.

I love it.

Oh I'm really confused now, they haven't showed the Wild Boar people recently then? It's the ex musician who is a bit of a bodger he seems a nice chap but not a good DIYer!

That pretty blonde slightly naive woman with the unpleasant french mother seems like she's taken on a lot more than she can cope with on her own . Though she was good with the mini digger!

Why does Dick keep summarising the show....I saw the part where the blonde girl sleeps in/hires digger 4 times!!! Reminds me of American shows who presume the audience has v short term memory! ......"Who do you think you are U.S .A" does the same thing.....drives me mad😣

It is annoying when they keep repeating it over and over again

The tedious links are getting on my tits now '386 miles north east, at Chateau Non Argent, Faffy and her husband Hopeless are struggling with an unexpected invasion of penguins, and have only a couple of weeks to get rid of them before the first holiday makers arrive' Repeat ad nauseam

agree surf

they all seem to have volunters,maybe i could nab a few for my humble 1970's build

I do wonder why they keep repeating themselves. Though the bit about where the chateaux are is useful.

That one in Carcossonne is so beautiful and very old, the roof alone would need over a million euros to replace properly. The owners' money raising antics is never going to get there . The couple would be in the ground before they could afford it !.

I love this show but found the bloke with the long hair (James) scary. He’s a cross between peter griffin and peter stringfellow!

Love love love Dick and angel

I just watched the latest episode - Stephanie (mini digger woman with the difficult mother) had a blackboard in her kitchen with things she wanted to do / buy for the chateau. Top of the list - a hitachi magic wand!? 😂 I suppose if the stress all gets too much the ability to frig yourself into oblivion could be useful..... 😆

Sorry I'm ignorant SurfTer

I was wondering whether her 'difficult' mother was helping her pay the mortgage or whatever, as she's going to have a flat built in the attic (that looked like an expensive job).

I loved her judging of the 'Bake Off' cakes the poor singles had to make, she was almost diplomatic!