by Susan Jackson | Mar 8, 2019 | The Big Smoke Arena
In France, various outbuildings are called “dependences”, and the chateau has several of them. We didn’t need to house any cows- or carriages- so we decided instead to convert some of them into self-contained accommodation. We thought it a perfect way to make use of these spaces AND add some additional income, which definitely [...]
by Susan Jackson | Nov 6, 2018 | The Big Smoke Arena
Since my last blog I have been pondering on how best and what to communicate with you all on an on-going basis. Some of you want the day to day and view the blog posts as an unfolding story whilst others want to see more of the chateau renovation (particularly the before and after pics), [...]
by Susan Jackson | Aug 9, 2018 | The Big Smoke Arena
Once in a while, you get an offer you can’t refuse. For me, this was a chance to take part in the Workshop Fou de Patisserie, with three mega-star patisserie chefs. On top of that, it was a chance to spend some time in Paris checking out suppliers and- hopefully- doing a little bit of [...]
by Susan Jackson | Jul 4, 2018 | The Big Smoke Arena
The chateau kitchen was always functional enough that renovating it was not high on our list of priorities. Besides, we had plenty more to keep us occupied! Then, in the dead of winter, 2015, reality hit: the oven shorted the power every time we used it, the hot plate was often, well, not “hot”, the [...]
by Susan Jackson | Jun 5, 2018 | The Big Smoke Arena
There is always a lot to do when I arrive at the chateau for the summer. The winter here is cold and wet and our 200-year-old chateau certainly doesn’t like getting her feet wet. So, over winter all the window shutters are closed, pool covered, outdoor furniture packed away, plants sent to the greenhouse and [...]
