The Chateau Diaries #5 Gin, sin & presents in the bin

[Espe]

I was imagining what LOTL's life at Oxford might have been like and now I can't get the image of Sebastian Flyte of Waugh's Brideshead Revisited out of my head! I am not suggesting SJ is very like Sebastian but there are a few similarities. La Lande is not nearly as grand as Brideshead but it does have a chapel. Sebastian was a very rich, but very troubled, young man. At Oxford, he lived a hedonistic lifestyle, lunching on oysters, quails' eggs and oodles of champagne with his entourage of friends and hangers on. He met the artist, Charles Ryder, who became his lifelong reliable friend and who travelled with him, including to Venice, where Sebastian's father had a palazzo. Of course, poor Sebastian, the very privileged young man, was doomed as he was addicted to alcohol and had been very damaged by his early upbringing by his very religious and over-controlling mother (I am NOT associating Isabelle with her, by the way). The person who showed him love as a child was the old nanny who stayed on living in the house (could be associated with Gerry?). I am also willing to bet that Brideshead is where SJ found the idea when naming her ram. Sebastian, who was an adult-child, named his long-lasting Teddy Bear, Aloysius! I can imagine LOTL at Oxford, spending hours in bed reading (she did English, I believe) but maybe not doing a great deal of other work, and then living a hedonistic life, surrounded by champagne and lots of doting male companians, rather like Sebastian.

 

[66carola]

The trouble is with narcissists is that they are great at conning people. Superficially charming. Aided and abetted by their flying monkeys. Marie now left feeling lost because SJ has a new pet. Classic narcissistic behaviour by SJ is the subtle undermining of Marie's work. The tacky addition of the rubbish squirrel on the decoration Marie made for her bedroom. The fishing out of the most tacky bow to add to Marie's wreath to jush it up is all ways that the narcissist works to break down the discarded one. Getting others to join in with her and making out it is just a bit of fun. You've been conned.

But this would mean anybody coming to the chateau is just a victim and has no say whatsoever in their relationship. Doesn't seem fair to them. It takes two to tango. I don't find the squirrel too bad. You don't know how Marie finds them. In the end she is the florist and has to satisfy the customer not herself. If she will be annoyed about clients not liking all of her decorations she soon won't have any. You could also say that Marie made fun of SJ to not give her the kind of display she for sure knew SJ would like.

The big wreath e. g. would have looked better with the big red bows. Only cinemon was lost there. I feel she didn't delivered what the customer asked for.

I was imagining what LOTL's life at Oxford might have been like and now I can't get the image of Sebastian Flyte of Waugh's Brideshead Revisited out of my head! I am not suggesting SJ is very like Sebastian but there are a few similarities. La Lande is not nearly as grand as Brideshead but it does have a chapel. Sebastian was a very rich, but very troubled, young man. At Oxford, he lived a hedonistic lifestyle, lunching on oysters, quails' eggs and oodles of champagne with his entourage of friends and hangers on. He met the artist, Charles Ryder, who became his lifelong reliable friend and who travelled with him, including to Venice, where Sebastian's father had a palazzo. Of course, poor Sebastian, the very privileged young man, was doomed as he was addicted to alcohol and had been very damaged by his early upbringing by his very religious and over-controlling mother (I am NOT associating Isabelle with her, by the way). The person who showed him love as a child was the old nanny who stayed on living in the house (could be associated with Gerry?). I am also willing to bet that Brideshead is where SJ found the idea when naming her ram. Sebastian, who was an adult-child, named his long-lasting Teddy Bear, Aloysius! I can imagine LOTL at Oxford, spending hours in bed reading (she did English, I believe) but maybe not doing a great deal of other work, and then living a hedonistic life, surrounded by champagne and lots of doting male companians, rather like Sebastian.

But isn't this what all of us did at university? Sleeping in, Reading in bed, going to classes only in the afternoon and hanging out and making friends in the evening? Having parties and in-between some exams? Can't blame her for it

I felt like I got some insight into their relationship and how it evolved into friendship. I have stories like that with an ex "remember when you broke your tooth on an olive seed in Mexico and got a crown at the dentist with the single hanging lightbulb in the room? But then he had all the Disney figures carved from tooth amalgam so you trusted him?" Michael doesn't strike me as a man who would continue to date someone if they had a problem with him having a past. (Also that crown is still going strong and it only cost $40)

It was also sweet to hear about he wants to create an atelier for artist. And to see that he is d'accord with SJ plans for the chateau (many here were wondering) He seems to be truely enchanted by lalande, too.

 

[Vaffle]

She seems to tease all about their perceived weakness. Sweet Baby Jeans is ribbed for his allergies and is the current pet.

Fell asleep on the floor watching day 6 with my son. He asked "is this a cult, commune or reality show?" Good question.

Was there an episode with an attic room with visible active water damage? Spend money on structural repairs not fortuny fabrics and pink gravel. I love exploring in old buildings and miss seeing the forgotten rooms and work in progress.

 

[Hemerocallis]

Brideshead is where SJ found the idea when naming her ram. Sebastian, who was an adult-child, named his long-lasting Teddy Bear, Aloysius!

In the chapel at Lalande are several stain glass windows. One of them shows Aloysius of Gozaga. The ram might have been named after him. No idea if one of the sheep is called Cecilia.

 

[La Brocanteuse]

In the chapel at Lalande are several stain glass windows. One of them shows Aloysius of Gozaga. The ram might have been named after him.

SJ did mention that he was!

 

[GreenLeaves]

Advent vlog 9.
More and more people in the comments asking why Lalande never hire French tradesmen.
There will be a Q and A soon. Maybe Stephanie will answer their questions.
Like this British guy sweeping the chimneys.
Let's hope he knows that he needs to give them an official and mandatory certificate to prove that the sweeping has been done for their home insurance.

 

[chillijam]

The big wreath e. g. would have looked better with the big red bows. Only cinemon was lost there. I feel she didn't delivered what the customer asked for.

The problem is that Marie seems to have only one style (loose and floppy) and doesn't seem to take into account client's needs or wants at all. Take it or leave it. It's all la la la, aren't I so talented, look at my amaaaazing florals! Just like yesterday's!!! And guess what - tomorrow's will be just the same!!!
As for the cinnamon on the wreath, why she bothered when they are basically invisible is anyone's guess.

 

[GreenLeaves]

@GreenLeaves - I did not know that about the monarchy in France or the names of the architectural period but I love finding these things out so thank you. Is there a name for the medieval period of architecture or is it the same word?

At the very end of Middle Age, it was called Renaissance (like in Italy).
Before that, there were Roman style (early Middle-Age) and Gothic style (Late Middle Age). But this was more for churches and cathedrals.

 

[Espe]

I take the point about Aloysius, thank you, I must have missed that vlog. Yes, I did get up late and enjoy socialising as a student but afraid we didn't manage much champagne, oysters and quails' eggs. I could just imagine Steph and co living a more Sebastian Flyte-type existence at Oxford but, I can hear you say, Why not if she could afford it? I do, however, think the excessive materialism and acquisitiveness don't sit well with the amount of money and gifts being lavished on her at a time when so many are living on the breadline and this money could be used in other ways. She clearly has the means to spend on countless very expensive outfits, and on travel, etc., while encouraging other people, many of whom, may be less well to do, to fund Chateau projects that she could probably well afford to pay for herself.

 

[peony89]

@Espe Brideshead Revisited is one of my favourite novels, loving your analysis! There's a great scene that you mentioned where Sebastian serves the eggs at lunch and Charles asks him where he got them. Sebastian says something along the lines of "Mummy sent them from Brideshead, they always lay early for her." Exactly the kind of thing I could imagine SJ saying!

 

[Hemerocallis]

Michael's response was perfect though. "That's the Christmas fairy. I'm the Christmas star." Billy's not used to not being the star.

 

[La Brocanteuse]

@Espe Brideshead Revisited is one of my favourite novels, loving your analysis! There's a great scene that you mentioned where Sebastian serves the eggs at lunch and Charles asks him where he got them. Sebastian says something along the lines of "Mummy sent them from Brideshead, they always lay early for her." Exactly the kind of thing I could imagine SJ saying!

It is one of mine too and I devoured the series back in the day. There are so many quotes that were almost made for life at Lalande. Thank you for this one, though. It's perfect!

 

[Lousawyer1]

The red bow

1. walked the path of all earthly things and there is
a) no money to buy a new one
b) oups, a bow, didn't think of that, we're so spontanously having fun

2. got left under loads of rubbish / peacock- or batshit in the attics / stables / cellar


3. was transformed bei SJ into a dress because she had "nothing to wear"

View attachment 341395

?????????


which one ?

It from yesterday

 

[Tuba]

Please someone post more about Michael's interview for those who are not patreons. Pretty please!

 

[MojoDublin]

View attachment 341748

You nailed it

 

[Seeingitasitis]

I'm pretty sure Isabelle will have imparted lots about French culture to Stephanie and remember Stephanie went to stay with her French grandmother every summer from a very young age so she will have been immersed in French culture then. She seems to have a good understanding of all things French as far as I can see although she may choose not to adopt all aspects of French life as she was brought up in Scotland and England with an Irish father so probably goes with what is familiar. She clearly cherry picks her favourite bits of whichever cultures most suit her which is definitely what I'd do

@nastynan13 Nic invited Stephanie and her partner Mason to go with them on the Orient Express - not just her. They are all very good friends as far as I can see.

I also don't think Stephanie is a narcissist although she does have a few traits but as someone said upthread, I'm sure most of us will have a couple too.

@pettyicequeen it's great to have you back! As you know I'm a Stephanie fan and I'm here to add a bit of balance although I am happy to join in with any justified snarking (eg in relation to Cadeaux at the Chateau which I don't enjoy or any shady behaviour by SJ or anyone else) as opposed to general gratuitous snarking for snarking's sake!

Raspberrybrulee. I always really enjoy reading your balanced and fair comments. I am a Stephanie fan, but not a Cadeaux fan either.

 

[66carola]

Please someone post more about Michael's interview for those who are not patreons. Pretty please!

So he is from Zimbabwe and moved later to Southafrica. His parents took him on a longer vacation that's why he wanted to become a pilot and why he still likes to travel a lot. He goes basically every weekend on minitrips and was in 80 countries. He seems to remember each single trip and date but for some reasons is unorganised that he missed quite a few flights and got himself in situations. He works like a horse. He studied art and because he made ugly paintings of Stephanie that's why she conviced him to try photography (there's a story to it) He was lucky and made a great shot only in slippers on his first job at a formula race. He seems to have fallen in love with Lalande too, he talked about the magic in a nice way.

Anyway, I can suggest to invest 5 euros to be patreon for a month and afterwards you can easily quit with just one click. 4 weeks should be enough to binge watch all the episodes... They are worth it.

That was my plan but I kept doing it because she really is reliable and posts every week

 

[witchgrass]

You nailed it

I don’t get it?

 

[Lululime]

I take the point about Aloysius, thank you, I must have missed that vlog. Yes, I did get up late and enjoy socialising as a student but afraid we didn't manage much champagne, oysters and quails' eggs. I could just imagine Steph and co living a more Sebastian Flyte-type existence at Oxford but, I can hear you say, Why not if she could afford it? I do, however, think the excessive materialism and acquisitiveness don't sit well with the amount of money and gifts being lavished on her at a time when so many are living on the breadline and this money could be used in other ways. She clearly has the means to spend on countless very expensive outfits, and on travel, etc., while encouraging other people, many of whom, may be less well to do, to fund Chateau projects that she could probably well afford to pay for herself.

She titled a vlog several months ago “Et in Arcadia Ego” ....I think Waugh used this phrase as his title for the opening chapter of Brideshead....

 

[Hemerocallis]

She titled a vlog several months ago “Et in Arcadia Ego” ....I think Waugh used this phrase as his title for the opening chapter of Brideshead....

Yes he did and many others too see wikipedia *et in arcadia ego".

It from yesterday

?