NOTRE DAME [title edited by GNHQ at OP's request]

Bess of Hardwicke was mistress of Chatsworth house too I think. Very canny lady.

She was indeed, at a time when the Earl of Shrewsbury had custody of Mary Queen of Scots. Mary nearly bankrupted the Earl who had to pay for her keep!

Let’s not ignore our home grown contribution by British craftsmen to the restoration of Notre Dame.
Mike Dennis a skilled and expert craftsman was making a list of capable British hewers. “The list was 10 people long,” he says. “I was on that list, and I don’t live [in the UK] anymore .”
Dennis, who has lived in France since 2016, in a medieval house he is slowly restoring, was one of a small number of carpenters in the world with the skill and expertise to tackle Notre-Dame . The Office National des Forȇts was to find the wood, while a workshop based in Normandy specialising in heritage projects was instructed to run the job. The group Charpentiers sans Frontières (Carpenters without Borders) – which brings together experts to work on historical construction sites – was tasked with sourcing the manpower
The UK has “a very good reputation for traditional timber framing,” says Dennis, who recalls the French were at one point “looking to see how many people in the UK could possibly come over and help. “

I am always delighted to see how glamorous Brigette Macron looks.
At the opening ceremony yesterday she was wearing very high heels......at age 71!
Good for her I say.

faringdon59

I am always delighted to see how glamorous Brigette Macron looks.
At the opening ceremony yesterday she was wearing very high heels......at age 71!
Good for her I say.

she always looks gorgeous and I suspect always has done.. some women remain lovely regardless of age

The beautiful Sans Saëns Symphony Number 3 on the restored organ! 😲 👌

Brigette Macron is tiny. Her husband not much bigger. Heels have probably become an essential to her over the years. My next door neighbour is a similar height and wears heels all the time when going out. She’s 84. 😁

I do wonder whether Brigette Macron wears a wig? Possibly.

Michael Portillo was discussing this on GB News this morning and really brought it to life for me.

I think what stands out apropos of this discussion is, that Notre-Dame de Paris could have been restored in a modern way, but the architects deliberately chose to go back to the original construction, even down to including various imperfections.
It's meaningful and moving that the old traditions of these artisans have been preserved for the future.

Jaberwok

The French are still proud of their nation. We as a country are not. For years now we've had it dinned into us what an awful nation we are and that our past is something to be abjectly ashamed of to the point that we should be hanging out heads and constantly apologising , and regretting that we still exist. Of course we have wonderful craftspeople perfectly able to restore our heritage, but at the same time we have to apologise for heritage being there in the first place!

Very well said JaberW And I couldn’t agree more …

Shinamae

Jaberwok

The French are still proud of their nation. We as a country are not. For years now we've had it dinned into us what an awful nation we are and that our past is something to be abjectly ashamed of to the point that we should be hanging out heads and constantly apologising , and regretting that we still exist. Of course we have wonderful craftspeople perfectly able to restore our heritage, but at the same time we have to apologise for heritage being there in the first place!

Very well said JaberW And I couldn’t agree more …

It's unbelievably sad Shinmae.. we are very different from the French.. I'm half and half and love both wonderful countries

I started watching on You Tube from NBC, but there was too much Trump for me at the beginning! Would Biden have asked him to go, as he’s not taken up office yet? I noticed no hugging or kissing from Prince William, but the Donald got right in there after telling M. Macron she was looking lovely!
I’m going to try to find another video later, so I can see the ceremony.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Brigette Macron is tiny. Her husband not much bigger. Heels have probably become an essential to her over the years. My next door neighbour is a similar height and wears heels all the time when going out. She’s 84. 😁

I do wonder whether Brigette Macron wears a wig? Possibly.

I thought she was 5ft 6, is that tiny?

I noticed no hugging or kissing from Prince William, but the Donald got right in there after telling M. Macron she was looking lovely

Telling Monsieur Macron who was looking lovely?
Or Mme?

@ Daddima A little tip, the videos on YouTube from French outlets won't have so much Trump. Some of the parts are broken down with explanations and visits to include places all over France. Also France24 is good.

Oreo

It’s not in the British nature to proudly shout about anything British (mores the pity.)

Actually you are right about this. I get very fed up when a friend from New Zealand constantly runs down everything British. I think it’s because we ourselves do it. New Zealanders call their own country Godzone.

RosiesMaw2

^I noticed no hugging or kissing from Prince William, but the Donald got right in there after telling M. Macron she was looking lovely^

Telling Monsieur Macron who was looking lovely?
Or Mme?

😂😂😂😂 Mme! Sorry, I need my dinner!

escaped

@ Daddima A little tip, the videos on YouTube from French outlets won't have so much Trump. Some of the parts are broken down with explanations and visits to include places all over France. Also France24 is good.

Thank you. That’s this evening’s viewing sorted.