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Phew I thought it was his voice & I can see him making that sort of comment as he tends to be more sarcastic lately, a bit catty 🥱 I think Hanni being a lawyer is perhaps a bit more discreet? ps. I think I need to get a life too & the June’s Journey idea of getting her to find out was classic
I’d like to know if he’s ever actually played June’s Journey too
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Looks like Brenda has finally lost the plot
As a new distraction from a rather boring period of being confined to bed/convalescing mode, I watched a couple of Michael P's vlogs. If what I saw is representative of his usual content, it's awfully dull. And, dare I say it, MP is dull. Not exactly Mr Personality oozing enthusiasm from every pore.
And he made what I thought was a barely subtle waving of a begging bowl over the bits for the Aga he's ordered. Which he said are new but also reconditioned. They can't be both.
It must rankle that Lalande has been so extraordinarily successful with Patreon funds. His monthly amount isn't to be sniffed at but it pales into insignificance in comparison. All down to personality (which Stephanie has in bucket loads) and content (no lingering shots of a breeze block being cut), I suppose.
And he made what I thought was a barely subtle waving of a begging bowl over the bits for the Aga he's ordered. Which he said are new but also reconditioned. They can't be both.
It must rankle that Lalande has been so extraordinarily successful with Patreon funds. His monthly amount isn't to be sniffed at but it pales into insignificance in comparison. All down to personality (which Stephanie has in bucket loads) and content (no lingering shots of a breeze block being cut), I suppose.
That’s is hilarious - it’s one thing retrieving Great Aunt Bessie’s ugly teapot from the back of the cupboard, but seriously, can you imagine retrieving all these gifts from the attic (and FRAMED as Stephanie said she’d be doing) then displaying them throughout Lalande .... it’s an audacious, impertinent suggestion that must have struck horror in SJ’s heart ....Oh no, one of the persistent gift givers suggested on Facebook earlier “wouldn’t it be great if we could get Stephanie to do a programme to show where all the gifts given are situated around the Chateau” !
@julke what exactly is she saying .... ??? I’m sorry for being so thick but what does she mean by this ?! It seems bizarre ..
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Thankyou , was beginning to think I was the only one. My son went on a gap year when he was young. Spent 9 months planting trees, clearing walkways and all manner of jobs just for the experience and his board and lodgings. He wasn’t paid... it’s the same thing . It’s life experience for these volunteers isn’t it? There’s no way Stephanie could afford to pay all these people.
That's the point. You can not run a BnB, an hotel or a restaurant without paying your staff. It's as if people worked for a company without any wages.
Food and boarding is not enough legally speaking. And many unemployed locals would love these jobs.
You're making money based on their free labour. Not sure that's really ethical... and legal anywhere in the world.
Anyway, Lalande has now a legal structure and I'm sure the volunteers situation has been addressed.
Food and boarding is not enough legally speaking. And many unemployed locals would love these jobs.
You're making money based on their free labour. Not sure that's really ethical... and legal anywhere in the world.
Anyway, Lalande has now a legal structure and I'm sure the volunteers situation has been addressed.
I may be going out on a limb here but I think volunteering at La Lande looks like a pretty good deal. You get to stay in a beautiful chateau, with a fun and friendly vibe and meet interesting people plus you get your own room and free food and drink. You also get to feature in a successful vlog if you want to. Obviously you don't make any money but in terms of an enriching experience then I'd say it would be fantastic. Five hours work a day (on average) is not bad at all for all of that. Admittedly you wouldn't improve your French but if that's what you wanted to do then you'd choose somewhere else. I don't think it's a coincidence that La Lande gets volunteers coming from all over the world. People vote with their feet - no-one is making them come - they want to come!
I'm also a fan of cultural exchange work programmes. But obviously it depends on all parties acting fairly. I think if SJ was exploitative or didn't help foster a happy working atmosphere then she would soon get bad feedback. Likewise, on a couple of occasions a volunteer has been asked to leave early. Stephanie works hard herself and encourages all the volunteers to join in en famille with whatever is going on. Marie said on one of her blogs that they are not confined to sleeping in the attic, but get the pick of the good rooms when they are vacant. The benefits of living in an international community of interesting and talented individuals, and of willingly contributing to a worthwhile project can't be easily equated to hours worked /hours paid. It's an interesting discussion though and I'm still thinking it through after the comments on this thread. I travelled and worked in similar schemes in the 1970s though, and had a fantastic time, so I am probably biased.
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I’m torn as I can see how lovely it would be for maybe a couple of weeks but they do say money makes the world go round & you would need some serious savings to forgo a paid job & live there with no income (like Hanni) Poor Marie though. I know she has patreon money now but she seems to work like a slave with her cooking stints (seem to remember she cooks 4 to 5 times a week!) I know she returned to the UK to work in a restaurant last year then came back to Lalande but she looks so utterly miserable. Looking back at old blogs yesterday she & Stephanie were so happy & inseparable, cuddled, sleeping on the sofa while Michael played the piano. It’s easy to forget that Stephanie does spend astonishing amounts of money on plates, trips & designer outfits. She/her family own countless properties around the world & the “volunteers” are running the Lalande business for a meal & a bed? no money? Sounds like a fairy tale
Oh & they are fantastic to watch on the vlogs which would be pretty boring without them?I can't believe I also spent a few minutes playing back the cadeaux video to decide who made the "appalling artwork" comment. I think it was Hanni.
I'm quite okay with Stephanie spending money on fine things and holidays, as I don't think she is ostentatious about it and it contributes to making her and her surroundings so lovely and interesting. The volunteers are getting the opportunity to spend time in a house and home presumably different to their own and they get to enjoy many of the fine things. Although 'it's just a plate' Cat is clearly not there for the porcelain!
I have no doubt she will go to Lalande regardless (she may have to get someone to wrap her in a box & get them to post her as a surprise gift for the next Cadeaux Unwrapped)With the level of Covid restrictions higher since last night in Ireland, I wonder what our friend Brenda is going to do at the end of the month.
The Irish government asks people not to travel abroad except for work and essential reasons.
Is Lalande an essential reason ?
they do sometimes get large parcels 
Stephanie could then say that’s so beautiful, stunning & amazing Michael or Hanni then getting caught saying 'Apalling old fart'..........
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Been back for a listen....I think it was Hanni about the picture....
Me too... I can totally see the pull especially now it’s a “thing”......I’d do it for sure.
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@Calvignac I think Brenda could make an argument for it being work as I understand it's a few hundred euros to attend these workshops she's organised. She's so determined on getting to La Lande that I doubt even the Pope could talk her out of it.........
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