The Chateau Diaries #180 Warning! They are cilantro people! You either love them or hate them!

[Rory]

I always wondered why Stephanie hadn’t announced the break-up of Potty and Ruthie. She’s announced everyone else’s relationship dramas.

 

[Dowager Duchess]

Exactly, like mother like daughter. When miss Jarvis said she would serve a light lunch she meant it!


Couldn't potts fire up the bread oven to make freshly made bread? Couldn't andie make 3 cakes a day, couldn't coco/maria/dana & Dan prepare some food which didn't need to be served hot? Her easter lunch (however sad) had more variaty and so much bread and quiche that people at least filled up on carbs!

i think it’s another casualty of SJ’s refusal to mix with the locals. My style of entertaining style has changed massively since moving to France. You give your best to your guests and cut your budget the following week to suit. Apéro is always gin and tonic which is their joke and hostess gift for the English drinking nothing but , as stereotypes dictate. It’s accompanied by peanuts unshelled, it’s a thing round here. You grow or shoot or trade what you can and everyone celebrates it. You make a point of saying you prepared Jean Pierre’s pigeon with home grown raspberry vinegrette. You use the local bakery for bread because he’s lovely and he delivers even though you prefer the delicious sourdough based couronnes from the next town over. You use sanglier by the chasse headed by Francis, the Cheese is from Sebastian, desert is a home grown BlackBerry pavlova. You buy the good wine, your neighbour always brings the eau de vie digestive. It’s collaborative. I’ve never had a bad meal with my french neighbours because the food is local and the company is genuine.

 

[Le Baiseur]

Well played, Clara!

 

[ComtesseRose]

caroline gooder
34 minutes ago
They give them away to friends and other Chateau.

Those who say only The Lord has all the answers, have never met Caroline Gooder...

 

[Just Grift Wood]

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Get a load of this, redirection from Sunday's CD's flog to their website.
Funny, what happened to Andie Wieringa's prints???
I took some creative liberty with the names of Potty's photos.

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The Chateau Diaries
If anyone would like to buy any Lalande prints, please visit
https://www.chateaudelalande.com/prints/

PRINT SALE ENQUIRY
Limited edition prints are available for sale. Photographed by Michael Potts. Each of the 6 prints is a limited edition of 100.
The images are 30 x 45 cm. Printed on Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl paper. Numbered and signed. The images are sold with an individual certificate.

Each print is sold for €250 plus postage.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these images, please fill out the form below, providing your contact details, which image you would like and any preference of an edition number. Michael will get back to you to confirm the purchase.

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Rhodes Decay / Stephanie on holidays

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New Year's Promise /Promises broken

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Saint Joseph /The last piece of chapel

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Winter Frost / Everyone at the chateau is freezing

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The courtyard reborn / DIY for DIY

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Lalande courtyard / Don't look at the façade

He's taking the Potts!!! Bloody cheek they are not worth £50. As someone said on Patron yesterday:

Chloe Hutton
I am stunned that Michael was charging 180 Euros for one of his prints. These people contribute to the renovation of the Chateau-- it is very non you to up sell patreons and guests who you are benefitting from. I am glad however that everyone who went seemed to enjoy themselves which is wonderful and that it all went swimmingly. Looked lots of fun




1d

Michael Gonzalez
That’s honestly a reasonable (and probably reduced) price for a limited edition print by an established photographer. He shouldn’t be expected to just give his work away.

9

1d

Chloe Hutton
He is taking money from these people to renovate his Chateau it is just not the done thing at all I'm afraid. I work with photographers through my work in advertising all the time and trust me most well renowned commercial photographers are not hawking their wares at supposedly social events. It is just plain bad manners, like asking friends to dinner and trying to sell them a pyramid scheme I find it extremely bad manners.

 

[Lady Lindy]

There was a beautiful post from Amy from Chateau de Rosiares. Unlike Stefanmeme, she was too heart broken and empathetic to post a video on the day of the Queen's death

 

[Jules100]

Patron Days 2022 really brought out the best of everyone involved. So sweet of one of Stephanie’s patrons to give her such a lovely Christmas ornament of Dan with his original teeth.

 

[Le Baiseur]

Sorry I didn't think I was attacking anyone. Cathy is a relative nobody who clearly likes using this site to get views and attention. She's in a very different position of Stephanie. I've been reading here for quite a while.

No. Another Tattler shared Kathy's 1st vlog about CDLL and many of us welcomed her into the fold. She's a regular gal sharing her opinion whether it be here or on her vlog. You may not like her or her opinions, but she's definitely not raking in the dough via YT - and if she is making some, at least she's not grifting or e-begging.

 

[howlingwolf68]

 

[KyBourbon]

I’ve been away for a while, but it appears Kathy is banned until 9/24/22 (according to her vlog). I went back and read her latest posts but, for the life of me, I can’t find anything offensive (unless the post was deleted). I do hope she returns.

However, I disagree with comments on Kathy’s vlog that CD Tattle is a “cult.” It’s true many members have been around for a while. I’ve actually been here since Thread #48! Over the past 180 threads we’ve seen members come and go…and we’ve seen some new members that cause a lot of disruption, deception, and posts that are only intended to stir things up for the sake of stirring things up. So, it’s only natural to greet newcomers with some suspicion and a grain of salt.

I’m also disappointed we haven’t heard anything from @Isabelle6541 although I’m not quite ready to say she was a fraud yet (ok…call me naive!). But, if she WAS a fraud, I think it’s an example of why long time members have a healthy dose of skepticism when new people join. I think that’s why suspicion may come across as “cultish.” The real cult is those Patrons who blindly follow SJ…sending money to “restore the chateau” while ignoring her lavish spending on trips, booze, clothes, and tat.

For your viewing pleasure…my first post on Tattle…Thread #48, July 25, 2021!

And, I was also questioned about my intentions for joining! (I hope that @MojoDublin returns!)

 

[Sparrowsfart]

But really, when you go to a b&b, isn't the idea, that they provide you a place from where you can do your touristy explorations yourself to the local area? Why would the b&b itself be the be-all and end-all destination? Do they market it as such? e.g. "no need to leave premises as we have a swimming pool, a tennis court, we offer guided tours to local area, and guided tours in our fabulous estate. We also host a dinner and spend time with you constantly"

I'm not saying that it is nice to be ignored as a paying guest, I'm just wondering if people have too high expectations due to the parasocial relationships Youtube provides.

I WANT TO STRESS: I'm not trying to attack people here. I am just truly baffled and want to know if the expectations were too high due to the their online presence, or due to what they actually promised their guests.

I think this is very harsh. Very few B&Bs have a youtube channel that 'sell' how they all live together as a happy family.
You forget that this B&B guest was also a Paetron of Fannys. She should have been treated with some respect for that at the very least.

 

[Darling Life]

Just watched a bit of cadeaux. I made it through the part where Percy is stabbing at a package to open it. I cannot be alone in my desire to snatch the knife away from him before he slashes the lot of them. I had to leave when Fanny began reading the instructions for the fucking fairy lights. I. cannot.

Not to derail: a small update on Kevin <insert weeping> - he left us with the aid of an mobile vet on Friday, September 9, 2022, exactly 7 years to the day after he came to live with me and exactly 7 months after his 22 pound brother died of chronic pancreatitis complicated by congestive heart failure (or was it the other way 'round?). We're so sad to have lost them both so soon. My Ragdoll is deeply depressed.

Small update on the Jeep v. back yard. Approximately $25,000 in property damage (he took out the porch and bulkhead, and, loosened the bricks in the foundation surrounding the bulkhead) and I think I told you that my daughter's car was totaled, as well.

The driver of the Jeep is still OK.

Hope those of you from the UK are holding up after the death of the Queen. @KyBourbon you have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your mother-in-law.

 

[Reader's digest]

S: what have you to report, please?
XY: they ask for your accounts
S: can't do. Next?
XY: they find your boyfriend disgusting
S: Me, too. Next?
XY: you shouldn't travel so much
S: I always travelled a lot , even when poor . Next?
XY: they don't consider you poor with the London flat and all.
S: Next?
XY: You are not animal friendly
S: ok, can pet Ruby next time. What else?
XY: they ask for Marie
S: It's either Ruby or Marie
XY: you never cook
S: ok, will vlog in the kitchen next time
XY: You mean cook?
S: OK, will look into the pot while someone cooks
XY: you should cook yourself
S: OK, will lick a spoon
XY: no, you should COOK
S:OK, will cut a tomato in half. Next?
XY: some rich surfer named @Heathcliff with a holiday house in the Caribbean thinks you are hot.
S: how do I create an account on tattle?

Anonymity indeed, anyone can pretend to be what they want. Male for Female, Old for Young, and so on...

Strange, why pretend to be someone? Anonymity rather makes me be myself

 

[KyBourbon]

WHAT IN THE HOLY H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS IS GOING ON HERE???

Just another fairytale day at the farmhouse!

 

[KyBourbon]

@KyBourbon im so sorry to hear of your mother in laws illness & passing. What a horrible frightening event. 2 months ! May she be at peace now

Thank you. Yes, everything happened so quickly it was hard for us to really comprehend what was going on. In mid-June she visited my partner and me and we went for a two mile walk in a nearby park (not realizing anything was wrong), but by the end of August she had passed away. She was a big proponent of breast cancer screening. Unfortunately, her form of cancer was very aggressive. But self exams, mammograms, and early detection really do save lives (that’s my public service announcement for the day!). Also, men can get breast cancer, too…so guys need to be aware and pay attention to any changes with their body.

 

[KyBourbon]

That is truly a pity. But why did you expect or want to be gushed over?
What kind of expectation they promised to you prior to your trip? I mean did they market it as a B&B or was it open only for patrons or youtube fans to book (not openly on eBookers etc)? When I'm going to a B&B, I have 0 expectation of the owner or the keeper to entertain me for my stay. I'm happy to be provided the service I paid for, which is literally a bed and a breakfast.

I recommend you go back and read post #456 in Thread 117 for the full story of @missartemis personal experience. Here’s a screen shot (below)…

 

[KiKiGee]

Theresa Gosling
50 minutes ago
Philip worked too hard... didn't sleep enough. Get well soon!

 

[KyBourbon]

That is truly a pity. But why did you expect or want to be gushed over?
What kind of expectation they promised to you prior to your trip? I mean did they market it as a B&B or was it open only for patrons or youtube fans to book (not openly on eBookers etc)? When I'm going to a B&B, I have 0 expectation of the owner or the keeper to entertain me for my stay. I'm happy to be provided the service I paid for, which is literally a bed and a breakfast.

Normally, I would totally agree with you. I wouldn’t expect anything extra or special from the owner of a B&B. But in the case of La Lande, I really think there’s a difference. In reality, if you boil it down, Stephanie’s business model is to sell Patreon subscriptions through her YouTube channel. Yes, she makes money from the B&B and YouTube…but the real “bread and butter” comes from Patreon. In order to sell Patreon subscriptions, she invites people into her home and her personal life. She counts on making a personal, intimate, and emotional connection with the viewer so they want to subscribe as a Patreon. And, as a Patreon, the member is entitled to priority booking at the B&B and discounts on stays (for the three highest tiers). So, the expectations of the experience at her B&B are set by SJ herself. She builds up her chateau and life as a fairytale experience and the viewers, especially the patrons, are her “family.” Imagine being a patron who’s captivated by SJ’s manufactured fairytale life and home, saved their money, rearranged their schedule, and planned a trip to the La Lande B&B…only to be treated as if they were a nuisance. The experience would be shocking and the guest would naturally feel entirely duped. It’s really cruel. I completely understand how @missartemis feels.

SJ could probably keep up the “ruse” of “live, laugh, love” for the three Patron Days. But it’s too much for her to keep up appearances for the B&B. It just goes to show that it’s all smoke and mirrors.

Screenshot from SJ’s Patreon page:

 

[Linus]

Life imitates Art Photoshop

If this happens in front of cameras imagine what happens behind closed doors... Actually, for your own health, don't.

 

[T Rex]

Crikey! Things are not so jolly at Ollie and Camilla's "Magical Modern Heap." Pipes are leaking (because Ollie has zero life skills, so he slapped some plumber's tape on the pipes and doesn't understand why his redneck fixes are a disaster, and no one wants to actually go to his house to repair it), so they turn off the water main- can't flush the loo or anything, yet water still flows- DAFAQ? But in the middle of the night- a light fixture crashes to the ground (this SHOULD be a sign- even to me, this is a bad omen) and bells are ringing (is it a high water alarm for the bilge? No one bothers to clarify), Camilla has no idea what is going on- and cut to her the next day in the garden with one of her daughters telling her their olive tree is 1K years old. Hello?!? Where on earth was Jolly Ollie in the middle of the night?!? What on earth triggered the alarm? What does one do when this happens? "Let's go to the beach!" Ollie and Camilla are more concerned about dragging an inflatable SUP to the beach vice- what the hell is going on with your 1.2M$ home...? Ollie is so ridiculously non-chalant- "Oh, there is a 5-star resort next door- I guess we can stay there." Then, Ollie, why in the hell are you trying to get Patrons to support you?!? If I was a Jolly Ollie Patron, I'd unsubscribe ASAP.