The Chateau Diaries - Stephanie Jarvis

[pettyicequeen]

That all makes sense. Must be why Marie has popped up so often this week & I’m pleased to see she looks so much happier & why Hanni is missing? Loved the episode where they decorated the cocktail cabinet. Micheal, Ryan, Stephanie & Kat are just magic together. Thank you

I still find Marie very subdued in her manners and kind of sad-looking. She seemed to force herself to be cheerful, it's very noticeable when you compare her interactions with Stephanie from 2019. She was always dancing, singing, just a ray of sunshine, now she smiles much less. It's making me a bit sad, I hope she takes good care of herself.

Kat is awesome, just a fun and down to earth gal after my own heart. How hilarious that American ladies think Oliver is this suave James Bond-esque guy, I guess they just don't know that many British men. Listen, I'm a sucker for a posh British accent and Oliver's dry sense of humour is awesome, but come ON Americans, he is no Daniel Craig!

 

[Raspberrybrulee]

@pettyicequeen I was fascinated by the dynamic between Oliver, Stephanie and his wife Camilla and did a bit of online digging around and saw the website for the company he runs with his wife near Cambridge. Somehow that led me on to a local community facebook page where Oliver's wife was complaining about an unfinished footpath on the new housing estate where they live and the fact that he had to take spare shoes and trousers to work with him as he didn't like having mud up the back of his trousers. I do like Oliver and think he's funny and sweet but unless they were casting for a more sensitive, effete Bond then I don't think he'd cut the mustard!

Re Marie, I agree she was at her best last year when she did things like running the Goddess workshop which Michael Petherick joined. I loved the dance she did at the start to (I think it was) Single Ladies by Beyoncé.

 

[Takeaway]

@pettyicequeen @Raspberrybrulee I’ve missed a lot of episodes & haven’t seen the goddess workshops or Marie dancing so look forward to catching up with all these at the weekend.

 

[Lululime]

I think Marie looks sad too...something in the eyes...

 

[Raspberrybrulee]

Yes I agree she's not herself these days - perhaps the dream of having a flower studio at La Lande isn't how she imagined. It must get a bit boring and quite lonely faffing with flowers all day whilst having no actual customers. There are only so many arrangements for the house you can make.

So what do we think about Michael Petherick and Ryan? Could they be a couple?

@Takeaway I'm very envious as I loved watching all the old episodes when I discovered them at the start of lockdown and I was so sad when I got up to date.

 

[Takeaway]

@Raspberrybrulee I am looking forward to them, thanks for reminding me to watch the ones I’d missed. I love love love Stephanies videos, I have watched Venice & Egypt over & over again. I really don’t understand the flower studio at all, those flowers must cost an absolute fortune & only last a few days? They were so excited with that huge lorry delivery last week? Nobody seems to explain what she’s doing with them & where the money comes from? I follow her on Instagram & she left the chateau late last year to work in England for a few months in a restaurant & stay with someone that stephanie knows? Another mystery & then came back to the chateau as a florist? She is very sweet but not sure what the story is? Re Micheal & Ryan, they keep saying that he’s Billy’s friend but it seems such a coincidence that they both live in Billy’s house? Also Ryan mentioned that he had a job on a previous episode but not what it was? He’s a total mystery & on his channels comments people ask him tons of questions & he never responds. Micheals mum edits & answers or deletes most of his questions re his channel. Stephanie & Micheal did a live chat at Billy’s house a couple of months ago & Micheal was asked if he & Ryan were a couple he laughed & said no? Did you see the recent 2 Beatrix Potter episode's when he was with some of his English friends? I can’t see what the secret is? We are in 2020 (we’ll sort of) ! Ryan, Micheal & Stephanie plus Kat together dream team!

 

[SableOnBlonde]

@Takeaway I wonder the same things about Marie. I'm guessing her patreons buy her flowers. I believe she does tutorials for her private patreon group and that's what she's using them for.

I agree last years videos were better, they felt effortless and genuine. Almost cinema verite.

Maybe Michael and Ryan want to be mysterious so we talk about them?! Ha.

 

[Calvignac]

That all makes sense. Must be why Marie has popped up so often this week & I’m pleased to see she looks so much happier & why Hanni is missing? Loved the episode where they decorated the cocktail cabinet. Micheal, Ryan, Stephanie & Kat are just magic together. Thank you

You can see Hanni hiding behind Stephanie at 12.15 minutes in the video (someone spotted her in the comments).

 

[Takeaway]

@Calvignac Thanks for the tip when I get home tomorrow night I will have another look! I was half asleep when I saw it for the 1st time. Normally she’s centre stage? Perhaps she reads this after all?

 

[peony89]

Nobody seems to explain what she’s doing with them & where the money comes from? I follow her on Instagram & she left the chateau late last year to work in England for a few months in a restaurant & stay with someone that stephanie knows?

Marie was living with Stephanie's cousin in Suffolk. I think she said in one of her Instagram Q&As that her plan was to move back to the UK next year and set up a wedding floristry business.

The problem is that wedding businesses here have been absolutely hammered with covid (as I'm sure they have everywhere else). The latest restrictions have reduced guests to 15 so people are having very simple registry office or church weddings if they have to get married quickly or otherwise postponing until next summer or indefinitely. So not much call for wedding flowers other than maybe bouquets and buttonholes.

There's also the added issue of Brexit (I know Norway isn't in the EU but it's in the wider EEA) so it's not clear how easy it will be for continental Europeans to live and work in Britain, especially if they're not already here.

So overall it's not the best circumstances for her to want to move back the UK. I really hope she will manage to work something out. She seems like a lovely person. I've been rewatching some of the older vlogs the past few days (60s - 70s) and I agree they are a lot more natural and lighthearted.

 

[SableOnBlonde]

@peony89 Ah, that explains a lot. Marie's business plans have been buggered by covid and Brexit. Understandable she'd be a bit bummed out right now.

Marie does seem like a lovely person, hopefully everything will work out for the best.

 

[Raspberrybrulee]

Yep Marie is lovely so I do hope her business takes off.

@Calvignac I watched the video and Hanni did indeed briefly appear crouching down behind Stephanie. I've no idea what was going on there but it was very strange. In a previous episode I have spotted Michael Potts' wife Ruth dodging out of the way of the camera but not quite so blatantly as Hanni did. I will watch tonight with interest - maybe we'll spot Brenda Gibbons in the background too!

@Takeaway some of those early episodes are wonderful and the ones Stephanie and Michael do in the run up to christmas are great too - I'm saving those for December when I'm going to watch them again.

I hope tonight is as good as Tuesday..........

 

[Calvignac]

@Raspberrybrulee I am looking forward to them, thanks for reminding me to watch the ones I’d missed. I love love love Stephanies videos, I have watched Venice & Egypt over & over again. I really don’t understand the flower studio at all, those flowers must cost an absolute fortune & only last a few days? They were so excited with that huge lorry delivery last week? Nobody seems to explain what she’s doing with them & where the money comes from? I follow her on Instagram & she left the chateau late last year to work in England for a few months in a restaurant & stay with someone that stephanie knows? Another mystery & then came back to the chateau as a florist? She is very sweet but not sure what the story is? Re Micheal & Ryan, they keep saying that he’s Billy’s friend but it seems such a coincidence that they both live in Billy’s house? Also Ryan mentioned that he had a job on a previous episode but not what it was? He’s a total mystery & on his channels comments people ask him tons of questions & he never responds. Micheals mum edits & answers or deletes most of his questions re his channel. Stephanie & Micheal did a live chat at Billy’s house a couple of months ago & Micheal was asked if he & Ryan were a couple he laughed & said no? Did you see the recent 2 Beatrix Potter episode's when he was with some of his English friends? I can’t see what the secret is? We are in 2020 (we’ll sort of) ! Ryan, Micheal & Stephanie plus Kat together dream team!

Michael's mum deleting comments which don't please her is something I find hard to accept. She does the same in the official Facebook page Tale of two chateaux.

Yes I agree she's not herself these days - perhaps the dream of having a flower studio at La Lande isn't how she imagined. It must get a bit boring and quite lonely faffing with flowers all day whilst having no actual customers. There are only so many arrangements for the house you can make.

So what do we think about Michael Petherick and Ryan? Could they be a couple?

@Takeaway I'm very envious as I loved watching all the old episodes when I discovered them at the start of lockdown and I was so sad when I got up to date.

Marie looks so tired. Exhausted sometimes.

Re. Ryan, Michael's mum said on their official Facebook page that his family name is Miller. I found online his uncle BnB in France (Brittany). But no sign of Ryan.

Family Fishing Holiday France • Millers French Carp And Cats

Millers French Carp And Cats offers exclusive carp and cat fishing in France. Perfect for the whole family. Lake with accommodation located in Brittany, France.

www.millersfrenchcarpandcats.com

 

[Shannaswood]

Is Michael Potts married? I thought she was his girlfriend. I love the diaries and I am a Patreon but I find it odd the relationship Stephanie and Michael Potts have

 

[Takeaway]

No I don’t think so, I think Ruth is his girlfriend they are not engaged either. It’s never been mentioned that they are married in any episodes I’ve seen. And yes super flirty with Stephanie? He takes beautiful pictures of her too.
@Calvignac very interesting about the Miller connection I had a very long train journey today & scoured the internet &
there’s nothing anywhere on the internet about Ryan which makes me wonder is his 1st name really Ryan & there’s no info either regarding his uncle or aunt on the Miller fishing various sites?? Another Mystery & yes Michaels Mum seems to control their empire!

 

[Calvignac]

No I don’t think so, I think Ruth is his girlfriend they are not engaged either. It’s never been mentioned that they are married in any episodes I’ve seen. And yes super flirty with Stephanie? He takes beautiful pictures of her too.
@Calvignac very interesting about the Miller connection I had a very long train journey today & scoured the internet &
there’s nothing anywhere on the internet about Ryan which makes me wonder is his 1st name really Ryan & there’s no info either regarding his uncle or aunt on the Miller fishing various sites?? Another Mystery & yes Michaels Mum seems to control their empire!

I watched Ryan's video about his uncle's BnB in Brittany. I recognized the outbuildings and the lake. His name is Lee, the same name as this BnB owner in the website.
In the same video, Ryan speaks of Vitré and La Guerche de Bretagne, the two towns near his uncle's house. In the website, they say that the BnB is near these two towns.
In this same video, his uncle Lee explains that the lake was established by Ryan's grand-father.
In one of his videos, Michael say that this big house belonged to Ryan's grand-mother.
The mystery of Ryan ! Hahaha. Real investigation

 

[Takeaway]

@Calvignac, thanks & the plot thickens? I’m amazed Ryan (if he is Ryan) can’t be found anywhere on the internet? Or why he won’t answer any questions on his YouTube comments? We will have to keep searching

 

[SableOnBlonde]

@Shannaswood You aren't alone haha. I assume Stephanie and Potts hook up and he's in a open relationship. Did you see they went traveling South Africa together by themselves?

Of course, I could be completely wrong. Stephanie doesn't have reveal anything about her personal life, but we can speculate

I also wonder why Potts and Stephanie broke up? They clearly adore each other. Maybe it was because of geography, he has quite a successful career. Maybe he had to follow the opportunities.

 

[soll]

I am so glad I stumbled across this thread as I watched Stephanie and Michael from the beginning but don't know anyone else who does. I love the Diary vlogs and they have brightened this lockdown year. But, sadly I agree that a bit of the sparkle faded for me when the whole present-giving and Patreon and Facebook group thing took off. I have now largely given up on Michael Petherick's stuff as, nice as he and his family seem, their vlogs are unbelievably tedious. Father P is a complete bodge-meister and I cringe at the work being done on the cottage.
I think Stephanie is genuine and could do well to dial back on the Diary vlogs and develop her art history/ travel content with Oliver as they work well together. Selmar and Dan and Nati all come across as genuine as well and I always enjoy seeing builder Ian and Michael Potts and Nic and family. Tomaz was a nightmare. Kat is great fun. Marie does look sad and grumpy these days and I hope she can find her niche post Covid.

 

[SableOnBlonde]

I am so glad I stumbled across this thread as I watched Stephanie and Michael from the beginning but don't know anyone else who does. I love the Diary vlogs and they have brightened this lockdown year. But, sadly I agree that a bit of the sparkle faded for me when the whole present-giving and Patreon and Facebook group thing took off. I have now largely given up on Michael Petherick's stuff as, nice as he and his family seem, their vlogs are unbelievably tedious. Father P is a complete bodge-meister and I cringe at the work being done on the cottage.
I think Stephanie is genuine and could do well to dial back on the Diary vlogs and develop her art history/ travel content with Oliver as they work well together. Selmar and Dan and Nati all come across as genuine as well and I always enjoy seeing builder Ian and Michael Potts and Nic and family. Tomaz was a nightmare. Kat is great fun. Marie does look sad and grumpy these days and I hope she can find her niche post Covid.

You have articulated exactly my thoughts as well!