Escape to the Chateau anyone?

[BeforetheFlood]

I have such a love/hate relationship with this programme. On the one hand - clocks have changed, evenings are dark and there's nothing nicer than settling on the sofa for some gorgeous house envy. And it is SUCH a gorgeous house.

On the other hand, I feel the projects are now transparently tv-fodder and the ideas are getting increasingly batshit. Tiles decoupaged with paper napkins? I give those 6 months. (But then, they're selling up so they don't care!)

Anyone else watching?

Yes I totally agree. In their shoes I would have focused on French studies during lockdown. But having said that, until you have tried learning a foreign language for the first time in your sixties, I wouldn't be too quick to judge! It's not an easy language, partly because what you learn in the grammar books is very different to what you hear and speak while out and about.

Where did you watch chateau diy series 3 please

I got all excited to watch but can't find it

I agree it must be really difficult to learn a new language as an adult, but they don't even seem to have tried.

They bought the Chateau in 2015. Surely even those who struggled would have picked up some of the language over time? Their 2 children attend the local school, so I would have thought that would make learning the language a priority. Don't they want to talk to other parents, teachers and also take an interest in their children's learning?

Their 2 children attend the local school, so I would have thought that would make learning the language a priority. Don't they want to talk to other parents, teachers and also take an interest in their children's learning?

We’ve no idea how they communicate with the school but they strike me as pretty resourceful people. I am not disputing that they should learn French - they absolutely should - but it’s a bit unfair to blame them for something we don’t see on screen.

In the most recent episode Dick did seem to be speaking French with the waiting staff working on the day of the wedding.
I'd reckon that they both use a fair bit of French as they are running a professional event business in France, but in a show for British TV why would they be speaking anything but english?

Pair of cowboys

Does anyone else find it odd that Angel and the kids are involved in the same wedding reception ect?
I saw Arther dancing in middle of the guests in his jeans and just found it a little off. Don't get me wrong I don't disagree with kids at weddings but the kids of the hosts?
Small thing, overall love the show. Love the house and think Angel is beautiful

Same. We always think 'That's not going to work' and then she produces something utterly spectacular! What talent she has!

saw that and really liked the show.

Dick has spoken lots of times in French.

Lisad1231981 yes I must admit I thought the same thing but maybe they are friends of friends? Unprofessional otherwise.

Notaflippinclue it’s easy to criticise from behind a screen . At least they had the balls to go and do it. Give or take a few plumbing and plaster fails, they make it look relatively effortless for the tv but they have solid skills behind them.

Dick - an engineer - was a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Corps of Signals who received an MBE for distinguished service so he’s hardly a lightweight.

Angel is a chartered accountant by trade and used to advise London companies on profit & loss before she set up her own hospitality company. So she has a useful mix of pragmatism and creativity.

No one has to like them, or even watch the programme if they don’t want to, but I hate all this negativity for people who go and make a success of something off their own backs. If you want to criticise someone, why not reserve your negativity for people who inherit great wealth and privilege and do nothing useful but decide where to go on their next holiday!

Bingotime I think Dick would be the first to admit that his French isn’t great! But at least he’s a tryer 😄

It's on More4 on weekdays.

Thank you

Folly time!

I'm just thinking how damp all those cushions are going to get. And imagining the spiders...

They have made it magical though.

She’s used special damp proof fabric I think? (Well she did for the wall
hangings so I imagine she has for the cushions).

Loved that pot trick when planting the tree....we were all convinced he'd forgot to remove the pot!

When she was speaking a bit of French to buy baguettes & pastries I told DH "And Mumsnet said she couldn't speak any French!"

Well, I've no idea how much French she can speak but she was just naming things in the shop and saying "Bonne journee" a lot with a flourish.

I did A-level French & I find myself now, 25 years later, at a similar level.

I find it quite light hearted and easy watching.

I remember Dick as a presenter/ team member on Scrap heap challenge.

And I’m sure Angel was on Dragons Den once advertising some kind of vintage company. Maybe about 10/12 years ago?

On paper they seem like opposites but they seem to work together well as a couple. I wonder how they met?

Im also trying to work out Angels age. I can’t tell if she’s early 40s or early 50s? Dick must be over 60 because he left the Army in 2001 after 20 years. So he would have been around 40 ish then.

I think Angel is 42 ish. They met through their agency.

@Dave20
Yes, Angel ran a vintage tea-party company. Hence why she's so keen on vintage tea-cups now! She's also published a couple of tea-party books under her maiden name-Angel Adoree. (Or it might be a pen name?)

Angel’s parents moved into the Chateaus grounds a few years ago, I would think that was a permanent move. I’d find it doubtful that Dick and Angel would ever sell up.

Why are there so many cheap chateaus in France and why aren’t French businesses buying them?