Dick Strawbridge - Escape to the Chateau

Yes!! Revolting.
I agree shysal that it should have been a longer series. It would have been interesting to see how it progressed instead of just showing odd bits.

I enjoyed the series, but would have liked more episodes. I didn't notice Dick's grown up son at the wedding or helping with the renovations, I wonder whether there is a family rift following his divorce.
I used to enjoy watching Dick on Scrapheap Challenge, which used to be my favourite programme , he is a clever chap.
Did anyone else feel slightly repulsed when Angel kissed that moustache?

Thoroughly enjoyed the series.

We had estimates for around the same price as you, but they've got that moat to cope with, and a much bigger tank. Plus he said something about building a wall around it to separate from the moat.
It will certainly be expensive.

I accept his may be bigger than the one we put in 5 years ago to service a 4 bedroomed house, but I doubt of time and labour was anymore, just the size of the tank and filter and we only paid 8,000 euros. Ours is fully compliant with all EU/French regulations, so it was not a cut price cut corners job.

You're right MOnica, these programmes are over-dramatised.
Did you catch how much he was paying for the setting up of the fosse septique? I would guess about 20,000€
We've found the same as you with french tradesmen. Just as proficient as some of the british tradesmen who try their luck here.

I think Angel's real name is Angela.

As the owner of a holiday house in France, which we have recently spent a lot of time and effort renovating and improving, I think this series is going to be like so many similar programmes, including several Grand Designs;

French neighbours making comments about the mad English and admiring their courage, lots of good French tradesmen made to look stupid by superior remarks by the house owner on how the French system works and their unreliability etc.

Having done up a house in France our neighbours have not thrown their arms up in amazement and our madness. There are plenty of French people a round us buying up and restoring a range of properties from small to large and we have found all the French tradesman we have employed efficient and good. Of course they have a few French indiosyncracies, usually explained by the way the French taxation and social security system works but the British tradesman is not always a model of speed and efficiency.

ah, now I do like her

Am I right in thinking the narrator is Victoria Coren-Mitchell?

He did 22 years in the Army, apparently, rank on leaving Lieutenant Colonel so comparable with Commander in the RN or Wing Commander in the RAF.

So a good pension but not riches

Except as husband says he'll have a good pension from the army.
Not that good probably! At least, not living in the manor (or chateau) to which he has become accustomed!

He sold his Cornish home for quite a bit, but I suppose he had to split that with his ex-wife.

Me too Deedaa - and I'd settle for a new kitchen!

Didn't he win Celebrity Masterchef? Could be useful if you were looking for a husband

If DH and I were doing something like this and I suddenly demanding a helter skelter instead of fitting the kitchen I think he'd have chucked the whole thing and buggered off back to England. I'm obviously lacking the Wrapping a Man Round my Little Finger gene!

We watched the first 2 episodes last night (recorded.) Then I looked up on the internet. One bit was his commentary on the repairs and how they funded it. He said he had to take off March to ?Oct. last year and did some programmes for the National Geographic, to earn some money.
It seems they've only tackled a few rooms, and use the orangerie for wedding meals. Heating is gas, must be propane because I can't see them getting town gas there. There's quite a bit more info online, just google his name.
I used to belong to the forum "It's good to be Green" following his early series.
I agree with Jalima - he doesn't appeal to me at all. Except as husband says he'll have a good pension from the army.

I thought the turret room was ghastly

I loved the individual rolls of wallpaper and agree it was a shame to waste them but put together in that diamond pattern?

Headache!

As usual all the money will be found in time to complete the project - I wonder what Dick's mysterious 'job abroad' was.....Popping off to bank Channel 4's cheque?

It all looks too unrealistic to me. The windows are leaking and falling out and she's fannying about with bits of wallpaper! (Yes, I loved the effect in the turret room too)
Not to mention the helter-skelter! ?

It must be me

Mrs J. Grumpy

He did a TV series sailing round England and cooking with one of his sons and they wrote some good self sufficiency books together.

I see the in laws have been brought in to mind the children I did love the way she had decorated the turret with that wall paper. And what a find the paper was! The kitchen tiles were good too, I shall be interested to see how they stand up to the heat and steam in a kitchen.

Still think it all looks a bit mid life crisis though!

I must be very grumpy

His last project was on the telly, with first wife and first family.

Now he has a new wife-to-be and a new family and a new project - on the telly.

Is it just me? Can't stand him.
Angel Adoree? I suppose no-one can help their name.
What happened to the last lot - have they been mentioned?

What an old misery I must be.

Have just watched last night's programme , I'm beginning to adore Angel Adoree ! Looking forward to next week's episode .

I loved the kitchen tiles.

Angel is definitely very artistic. I loved the way she ran the braiding down the wallpaper triangles.

I loved this programme but was constantly distracted by Angel Adoree , she reminded me of Matt Lucas' Little Britain characters .

I hate to sound like my own granny but I kept worrying about how they would manage two small children with all that water. And where do these men find these women? His wife was a little odd with her thing about fairies, and so far this one's mani talent seems to be getting in the way.

I haven't seen the programmes, but chateaux in France are relatively cheap, if you have a house to sell in SE England.
It's a shame because they're beautiful .
There's a small one in our village but it's now all covered with brambles, you couldn't give it away.
What people don't realise when they start these projects is that if they do succeed in making it habitable they will be lumbered with huge property taxes, and the costs of maintenance.
And it will be difficult to sell.