The Chateau Diaries #297 No heating, no friends, no Easter, no content! Nobody wants in on your scam.

[C'est moi]

I think you should leave that place.
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@Jules100 it is devilishly freaky how you connect with the inner spirit of dear Brenda so that she can manifest at (your) will

 

[Ladeda1957]

Reminiscing about past holidays with family caused me to wonder what family members really think of Fanny. Do they just put up with her because crossing her would bring on her wrath? Good ole Percy is probably happy that she has a sizable income so he’s not made responsible for her. Mummzy is so used to her shenanigans that nothing surprises her at this point, not even an engagement to snorts!! Do they choose not to see the dead bodies, and lost souls in her path, the lies told and money grifted? Looks like cuz and his other half are slowly leaving the hell hole behind and most of the friends of the past are long gone. I would also like to know why Marie brings her sweet boy anywhere near Fanny and her disgusting lifestyle. They know she has money in the bank, why not have her buy them out and find a nice place to buy where her son can bring friends to? I don’t think Fanny can maintain any true friendships, (snorts says”let me prance around a bit and decorate when I’m not shopping and I will gladly pretend to be your boyfriend”), they all seem to be transactional in my opinion or she becomes the victim somehow and plays on their sympathies. As we’ve said before, what a sad, pathetic life she’s made for herself. And, I wonder how many more lives will be damaged in the end. As much as it’s entertaining sometimes to watch it’s also disturbing.

What I find quite bizzare is that for a young guy Snorts has no mates, nada, none, what guy of 25/27 has no friends. I’d be very concerned about this situatio.

 

[HalcyonOrganic]

What I find quite bizzare is that for a young guy Snorts has no mates, nada, none, what guy of 25/27 has no friends. I’d be very concerned about this situatio.

…. you sure?

 

[Toys in the attic]

What I find quite bizzare is that for a young guy Snorts has no mates, nada, none, what guy of 25/27 has no friends. I’d be very concerned about this situatio.

Yes, it's odd. I also wonder what happened to the Dan/ Amaury friendship. When Dan made a rare visit to Lalande the other day, I don't think Amaury was there and we haven't seen him visit Dan's chateau brulé. They didn't team up for the last Movember either.

 

[ComtesseRose]

"..and your little dog too!!.."

I can honestly say I’ve never used asparagus tongs…or whatever the hell those things were!

I guess it's an relic from the Victorian era, when one had to have a utensil for everything.
Now, I wouldn't mind a pair of asparagus tongs if it was part of my Georg Jensen Acorn silverware... Just saying.

Psychology and psychiatry would be useful!

Honestly, at this point, if I were to do a masters in psychology, I'd totally use Fanny's vlogs as part of my master thesis.

I would watch it.

And I'd archive it.

What I find quite bizzare is that for a young guy Snorts has no mates, nada, none, what guy of 25/27 has no friends. I’d be very concerned about this situatio.

Maybe because he's obnoxious and unlikeable. Or at least those sides of his personality shine brighter than the rest.

 

[Hedda Hopper]

What I find quite bizzare is that for a young guy Snorts has no mates, nada, none, what guy of 25/27 has no friends. I’d be very concerned about this situatio.

Would you want to be friends with him?

 

[TorontoGWM]

 

[Lady Lindy]

i find it extremly funny tintantons and young couple are away from filth shatow for easter. and doing renovation on tintantons' house. good job.

I'm sure Fanny is thrilled

 

[Cleo's Asp]

„Oh it was sooo lovely! We all had the greatest of fun!“

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Her legs suddenly lengthened for that shot!

 

[C'est moi]

Reasons why I would not buy a chateau (or a pile of rocks that serves as a habitation) I would not want to spend my pension money on doing repairs, in layers of dust for who knows how long. Having to dance about red tapes and regulations and asking for permissions and pay fees for architects and lawyers and so on. Having to do the lawn every week. Checking the pool is not full of algae all summer long. Running errands 30km away (if it is a pile of rocks in the middle of nowhere.) Fighting a battle with cold/heat/damp/dust/molds/termites insects/etc. Having to trim trees, yearly. Paying huge sum to stay warm or cold in firewood or electricity or gas, etc .. And, to clean all that amount of rooms on a weekly basis ! And all the amount of washing beddings and curtains etc.
All I want to do when I'll be at my pension is enjoy life with good friends and family. With good food and wines and not having to constantly worry about how much it's gonna cost. Be able to go to shows and travel.
Sometimes, I watch to remind me off all I would eventually lose to dream that big (having a pile of rocks) and to confirm how it is absolutely(for me) not worth it.

It's not all red tape, regulations, permissions and architects. If you're building is not listed (and the shithole is not listed) and you have a good renovation team there is absolutely no reason or need to do as Despicable fanny does. Fanny just wants to either hang on to her grifted money or spend it on the frivolities of her choice. But she does have to pull the wool over the eyes of those that fund her. Our downstairs reno took less than 6 months, fairly minimal upheaval (apart from the fact that himself had seriously torn a calf muscle, in fact he caused the most problems during that time) and the team - builder, plumber, electrician and kitchen company were all local. We did not require any permissions, the changes were all interior and our builder was experienced in older property renovations. We did have an old interior wall fall down but with the advice of the builder the entire wall was taken out, he put in a reinforced beam for the rooms above and no extra time or grief was added to the job. Everything was coordinated to go in in it's correct order and dialogue between the artisan team and between us and the artisan team was easy. We are well insulated, due to the reno and, even before the reno, our very first job was to have central heating put in. Fanny lies. That is all there is to it. Our land did start to become a time consuming problem so we got some sheep. The sheep take very little looking after but they are the best therapists ever to spend time with. However, I do realise it's not for everyone. But do not be fooled by fanny's life choices it is not how it really is.

 

[Thebirdandthefrog]

My standard for the good resto of a fortified farmhouse, which Lalande is, is Chateau du Sailhant, restored by a professional resto architect in the Auvergne. He visited all 40 chateaux in the region to read the room and did a terrific job. (There are, I believe, eight chateaux within minutes of Lalande and Cernonceau, a UNESCO World Heritage site is just down the road; cited by Davy first of all, in the Renaissance style parterres planned for the old end of the chateau). The maitre of Sailhant does not display his china, like a bourgeois granny, for a wonder, although he does have what look like pewter plates up on the mantel of the dining room fireplace. On the table, modest blue and white crockery, which matches the modest tiles and coordinates with a splendor of what look like working copper pans in the modestly sized and CLEAN kitchen.

Chateau du Sailhant / English | Château du Sailhant

sailhant.com

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I can not see from here but all plates are of different sizes and designs. I’m pretty sure the pewter plates on the mantle are prizes or trophies they might have won. Around here it is very usual to use beautifully decorated pewter plates as prizes with hand inscriptions describing what was won. From ski competitions to largest fish, dart or shooting contests. Those plates usually are not safe for eating and are mostly used for decorating.

 

[Cleo's Asp]

Reasons why I would not buy a chateau (or a pile of rocks that serves as a habitation) I would not want to spend my pension money on doing repairs, in layers of dust for who knows how long. Having to dance about red tapes and regulations and asking for permissions and pay fees for architects and lawyers and so on. Having to do the lawn every week. Checking the pool is not full of algae all summer long. Running errands 30km away (if it is a pile of rocks in the middle of nowhere.) Fighting a battle with cold/heat/damp/dust/molds/termites insects/etc. Having to trim trees, yearly. Paying huge sum to stay warm or cold in firewood or electricity or gas, etc .. And, to clean all that amount of rooms on a weekly basis ! And all the amount of washing beddings and curtains etc.
All I want to do when I'll be at my pension is enjoy life with good friends and family. With good food and wines and not having to constantly worry about how much it's gonna cost. Be able to go to shows and travel.
Sometimes, I watch to remind me off all I would eventually lose to dream that big (having a pile of rocks) and to confirm how it is absolutely(for me) not worth it.

Oh, come on now, you know you are consumed by jealousy as all of us are. Who wouldn't want to live like that?

 

[billybudd]

No meal menu here ever again will top @Tea with lemon's splendid and enviable three-day repast, replete with fresh (Adriatic, is it?) fish, lamb, ham, and gorgeous spring veggies.

But I'm still playing around with what's seasonal in France now.
You can make brandade with fresh cod, which is news to me, and brandade is one of the finer eats. Ending Lent with a fish feast as Tea does strikes me as elegant.
But I think I'd blow the bank on morels, carefully hand brushed and sauteed with no assholes flitting about the kitchen making bad Easter chocolates in tacky silicone molds.
This is quite a stinky lunch. Keeps the amateurs away and off the morels. Happy Easter.

Fromagee Berrichonne, Radishes, Toasts

Black Leg Chicken with Jura Yellow Wine and Morels Sauce a la Relais du Facteur, Garnished with Fried Morels
New Potatoes, Parsley Butter
Marcella Hazan's Chicory Salad with Anchovy and Garlic
Pate de Paques Berrichonne
Corsican Pomelo and Olive Oil Cake
Doyenné du Comice Pear Ice
Baklava with Miel des Pauvres a la Relais du Facteur

 

[C'est moi]

…. you sure?

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But have they ever visited shithole de lielande...
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Yes, it's odd. I also wonder what happened to the Dan/ Amaury friendship. When Dan made a rare visit to Lalande the other day, I don't think Amaury was there and we haven't seen him visit Dan's chateau brulé. They didn't team up for the last Movember either.

I think that the friendship may still be intact. They just don't "do it" on Despicable fanny's little pink camera phone. The are still supporting each other on IG. Natzi and Annalise are friends so maybe the social media socialising was a bit of a no-go.

 

[Fromthenorth]

Oh, come on now, you know you are consumed by jealousy as all of us are. Who wouldn't want to live like that?

I'll pass in favour of all mod cons and ease of transports plus the Med sea, in southern Spain I leave that to you all, future chatelains and chatelaines like @C'est moi and her fully renovated castle in southern France ♥ (joking @C'est moi)

 

[NotAChatelaine]

Steff said there would be 10 for Easter this year.

I wonder who the additional three might be? Not exactly spoilt for choice.

(She must livid that Easter is so early. Too soon for the annual artsy footage of La Jarvis frolicking through the bluebells while searching for the biggest and best Easter egg.)

 

[Lady Lindy]

As has been suggested here, Nutty and Bunman will leave the dump this year. He is not allowed to do renovations at the dump and it is clear his folks place needs a lot of help. Pee pee has no one to do his work as he seems to be in charge of Bunmans schedule which is not going well. There is not going to be any works going on during bnb , Fanny will not spend on anything else until the chapel is completed and she is milking that one for all it is worth.

Fanny and Pee pee both have asthma. The dump is a death trap.
This scene was from a few months ago…
Fanny was having her favourite part of the week massage in this bedroom, which is out of bounds and all the big room furniture was being stored here too.
Dangerous .

It is clear from this arial shot that the Larkins apartment and Potties loft room will be out of bounds.The big flu that was being fixed and this chimney was obviously the death trap.☹.
The winter Salon is the other side of the dump so it must mean no work is allowed to continue, hence no rooms to use and no heating on. Presumably they have hot water!?

That Ariel view of the farmhouse shows the bottom meter of the external walls are soaking wet. No wonder it's so damp and gross

 

[C'est moi]

I hope it rains buckets.

Oh, it is ️️️ Severe weather warning and flooding up to your armpits.
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My guess is Nutty will finish this B&B season as an admin and then they will leave the dump for good.

I actually had a chat with a friend yesterday whose parents have been living in a small village in France for over 30 years now. They confirmed that it is really, really hard to find connections in those villages even if you are friendly i.e. they help out wherever they can, invite people, etc. but they are still seen as the outsiders after 30 years. You also have to exclusively use workers and builders from your village or close region, or else people judge you harshly.
I can only imagine how abysmal Steph's reputation is in her region with her lack of interest to even get involved in her village and her expat friends and workers. This also confirms to me that the dump won't ever be fixed - there's no way she'll find anyone who is willing to help her anymore.

It is challenging to integrate into a community, you just have to find an in. We had a child a year after we moved here. I got involved first with the creche and then, when he moved up, with the ecole. The headmistress and the teachers at the ecole were very welcoming and warm. My son, who is now 19, is one of their stars and a major benchmark and result for them. I was on the PTA for a few years and involved with any school outings. I still visit the school to see the headmistress and am openly welcomed. All the kids and parents know who I am! The same when he went to college, and he wasn't the only "foreign" kid then. Himself, and subsequently the boy, are cyclists. One of the first things himself did when we moved was join a cycling club. They have now moved on from that original club and spent time as members in 4 or 5 cycling clubs, and in the boys case, teams. We travel all over the country for races and have got to know other like minded people who have become good friends. The people in the village where we live don't consider us as outsiders or foreigners, we are considered one of them. It's hard work, there's no doubt, but it's worth it.

 

[Lady Lindy]

Any of you 15 menopausal hags willing to take one for the team? Your tattle team will buy you a hot water bottle for your stay. Given the state of the electrics best you don't use a heated blanket.

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Thanks but I'd rather boil my head!!

 

[Arfarf]

Steff said there would be 10 for Easter this year.

I wonder who the additional three might be? Not exactly spoilt for choice.

(She must livid that Easter is so early. Too soon for the annual artsy footage of La Jarvis frolicking through the bluebells while searching for the biggest and best Easter egg.)

I fear it will be Manor and Maker . Steve baby will be salivating all over Fanny as usual. Does Ratso count? There. We have ten " good friends" to enjoy the happy, slappy times at the Shitoo!!!