I have just binged watched 9 episodes of your journey. I live in Australia and I have a French father. I have been to France twice and would love to possibly move there in the future. You are inspiring Darlene 🎉 Your Maison and gym are excellent 👌🏻 Both of your pieces of art are amazing. Thank you for sharing with us and all the best. I look forward to watching more of your journey 😊

@DarleneLavett

3 ай бұрын

So lovely! Thank you for your lovely words and for watching along. 😊

You never know guys one day you might get back into the walnut business, Shaun is a natural Forky driver 😊Was a bit worried with you up in the fork tunes, if you have a empty pallet that would be safer, but hey your a thrill seeker at heart. Thank you for another wonderful episode 🙏👍😇🇫🇷🏰

@DarleneLavett

3 ай бұрын

Maybe one day! A thrill seeker with total trust in my driver! He is an ex mining exec who preached safety for a living too. 😂

Just continue to be you Darlene. The quality is totally fine and sound is now great. No way 4 months already! Thanks Darlene and Shaun for sharing your adventure with us 💞

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Thank you Helen! 😘

The way your videos are made and presented is quite alright (IMHO). One can get quite tired of the way some KZread videos are presented - just way too 'engineered', following the same format as all the others, and they start to feel 'fake'. I've been following a channel doing a similar thing to you in Ireland that started off feeling really genuine (and still is for the most part) but I can see the 'formula' creeping in. I know a catchy thumbnail with all the right words will garner more views - and KZread seems to encourage this, but I prefer channels that stay genuine. I also (think I) know that KZread has expectations ie: the length of the video, the timing ie: every Sunday or three vlogs a week, etc., but I like yours however, and whenever, it arrives. Not sure if all that makes sense, but hopefully it comes across with the positivity that was intended. I really enjoy the genuineness of your presentation; I love hearing the church bells; I like seeing the house, the village, the surrounding countryside; I enjoy seeing the struggles, the achievements, the progress, and even the mistakes. A nice human story. I hope you continue to share it with us.

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Jane, thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback To be honest, I haven’t watched a lot of vlogs, and so I can’t say I’ve been following any formula as such. The reason I started this channel was just to help others who may want to do the same thing. I found that there wasn’t a lot of information or experiences of other people to learn from. I have watched some chateau diary ones and they seem very ‘put-on’. My approach to making these videos is very organic, when I find some time then I can make them and when I can’t they have to wait unfortunately but I am committing to releasing an episode every 2 to 3 weeks.😊

Great that a fan is cool. I am a fan.

Really love that you filmed the ringing of the church bells! ❤ I’m in the process of buying my Palazzo 2 Bedroom apartment in Penne - Italy and hope to move there permanently after a one year renovation (it has 300 year old frescoed ceiling), my absolute dream! Moving from having lived in Dubai for 24 years and hearing the mosque every day, I’ll be looking forward to hear the church bells in my Italian home’s village every day again! Love your channel and look forward to see the next chapters in your life! Lots of love from sunny Dubai ❤❤

@DarleneLavett

9 ай бұрын

Bonjour Dubai! Thanks for your lovely feedback. 😊 Looks like you’ve got a massive life change and cultural change coming your way, wow! I have spent some time in Dubai for military Ops and I have a good friend who has lived in Abu Dhabi for around 12 years and have visited her a few times so I know what you mean about the mosques! I can’t wait to get to Italy again. Would love to see what you’ve been working on. Are you considering a vlog yourself?

Love the church Bells 🔔. Thank you Darlene. ❤

Fabulous. How hard you have worked to get Sean's workshop and the gym organised. Well done and thank you from Australia.

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

It’s been a lot of hard work and we both have had long days but are super happy with the result. Thanks for watching!

@JPayne-ul4qd

10 ай бұрын

@@DarleneLavett It shows! Nice to see another couple embark upon changing countries and documenting their efforts.

Love the bells!

The Anduze pots are a French classic - great choice. Maybe think of moving them into your "grange" in the depths of winter - they are robust but we still get an occasional really cold night in winter around here and you don't want to wake up to a crack in your expensive pot.

@DarleneLavett

4 ай бұрын

I was told they can crack in cold temps. I want to buy more as they are so beautiful but so fragile. 🤩

Wow! I was jealous of your amazing adventure moving to France then when i saw the gym and workshop i was super jealous. Can’t wait to hear the piano once you have it tuned. Everything looks amazing!

Very exciting to get your things! Beautiful town, glorious bells, and very cute delivery fellows. ❤❤

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

They were indeed! :D

I think those church bells would do my head in. Ringing 3 times a day . Shed looks great well organised. Love the dogs especially the JRT. Love from Australia 🇦🇺

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

😂 Thank you. 😊 Jack’s loving the walking trails here too. Still can’t tire him out at the age of 16!

Wow, great gym set up. I really like your explanation texts and pictures you put on screen.

@DarleneLavett

9 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Absolutely love the sound of the bells ❤

Going by the experience of others, I have the feeling that you were very lucky to only wait 8 weeks. You certainly look settled in.

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Yes very fortunate indeed Shirley. 😊

Another channel How To Renovate A Chateau might be worth a watch in your spare time. A couple worked for a magazine in Paris. She's British and her husband, Philip is Italian of German decent. There's a town in Italy that's Germany settled. They started their process in 2019 I believe. They are in Normandy France.

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for the recommendation! I will have a look 👀

Are those Pink Hydragena’s in the pots flanking your from door? You said you loved blue one’s. But, you called them Hibiscus. ❤ The woodworking equipment in the old walnut shed and all the dust extraction and gym equipment took a long time to unpack & setup, wow! Better remind Sean that’s a show room in the front or the whole shed will go man shed before you know it!!🥴

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Oh did I? Oops 😬

G’ day from Hervey Bay. Love your channel! 🇦🇺☺️

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Hello Hervey Bay! And thank you. We looked at buying there before settling in France. It’s a beautiful spot 😍

Hi 👋, Darlene in the Dordogne, Welcome to the Dordogne, I am new to your renovation project, congratulations on your success for move and receiving your shipping container, I wish you both all the success for the future, Phil from the moulin in the Correze,

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Bonjour Phil! Corrèze, as I just googled, looks like a beautiful part of France. We have travel to breve, but no further than that. Thank you for your msg and for watching.

Can you talk about the shipping process from Australia to France ? Since the pandemic the price of shipping containers have doubled. Also the decloration process. If you have purchased anything 6 months or less. France will tax it as their own. If you purchased items and have them delivered straight to the shipping container you receive the tax returned once your ship leaves the dock. I've done some research but it was pre-pandemic.

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Now thinking back to all the paperwork we had to complete for importing goods was a bit of a nightmare. Fortunately, we didn’t have anything newer than six months old, so we weren’t concerned with the tax component on on any items. We had to complete the declaration and ensure that any items that could be considered a biohazard where completely scrubbed clean before shipping. I remember Shaun did have to fill in paperwork for the machinery, but because it’s for personal use and not commercial use. It wasn’t as arduous as it could’ve been. Even though Shaun does plan to open a business here that will be at a time that we have the appropriate visas. Our movers were very good and walked us through every step. And after all of that, the seal on the container hadn’t been broken so customs, it appears. didn’t check our container at all!

@JPayne-ul4qd

10 ай бұрын

@@DarleneLavett Thanks so much for your reply and insite. I'm trying to make the transition as seamless as possible since we will not have a go to person in the US in case something goes wrong. We don't want to give anyone authority to make changes. French spouse will go over and I'll wait until just about time for the container to arrive. Looking forward to what's in store for your family and your KZread channel!

What a huge job moving your gear to the basement, setting up workshop and gym !!! As a fellow Aussie I can't wait to see your home improvements how exciting xxxx

Hello hedge we meet again! 😂❤

@DarleneLavett

9 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

Wow! The hanger looks fantastic 👍😎super organised already. And gym, super fantastic 😮cheers sue Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! 😊

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Sue from Melbourne! (Mr Smith and I LOVE Melbourne). It was always our ‘go to’ weekend away destination. 😊

@suefreestun

10 ай бұрын

It’s pretty cold and wet here at the moment ⛈️☔️🌧️ really looking forward to warmer weather 😀cheers sue

You guys did a great job setting the workshop and gym up. Well done. Looking forward to the next video. Many thanks.

That must of felt like Christmas getting your container and getting all your stuff unpacked and sorted out. The workshop looks fantastic and the gym spectacular. Have a lovely week.

@DarleneLavett

9 ай бұрын

I missed this message! Thank you for continuing to watch my channel. 😍 It is great to finally get some things unpacked and order around the place!

Great news on the shipping container arriving. Another couple I follow who moved from the US to France had to wait almost 6 months for there's I think !!!

@DarleneLavett

9 ай бұрын

I’ve also heard of horrible delays happening.We were very fortunate indeed!

Missing you both. Please give us an update if only a short one

@DarleneLavett

9 ай бұрын

Oh Lorainne, you are lovely! Guess what? I am working on my next ep right now, promise to release very soon. X

Happy to see your things arrive. Love the workshop and garage, as well as the work in the gardens. ❤

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Thank you! 👍

Great video and loved the pace

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Fabulous

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Hello again Tree lover and thanks for watching 😀

I think those church bells would drive me crazy.. Great work on the old walnut shed, and your garden is beginning to look great. Watching from rural NSW.

@ludovica8221

10 ай бұрын

aww I remember there always being bells (and fog horns)when I was a child but all have fallen silent across the years (even though I still live in the same place).. I miss them

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

😂 So true! I keep getting told I’ll get used to them, sleeping with the windows open is only possible with ear plugs right now 😅

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

If I had to wake up to bells or sirens I know which I’d prefer. Oh and we have a crow here I’ve named Russell. Russell likes to bang on the windows in the early hours too so there’s that.😂

❤😊

Well I learned something... Never heard a Hydrangea called "Hortensia " before. Hibiscus is a totally different thing though

@nicolethijs5428

10 ай бұрын

Its what we call it in Belgium and Holland.

@jeanmarcbeaumont8506

10 ай бұрын

Hydrangea paniculata is the scientific name of Hortensia Hibiscus is a small tree ,scientific name Althea

There is a local stone carrière (quarry) in Cubjac (24640)

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Love your videos, and what great job you’ve done setting up the workshop and gym, did you bring all that equipment from Oz? Those pots are gorgeous ❤

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Linda! Yep all that machinery and gym equipment came from Aus. We sold most of our furniture though when we decided to move over, otherwise we would have needed another container!

@JPayne-ul4qd

10 ай бұрын

@@DarleneLavett 🇺🇸 Those containers are a point of contention. They've jumped prices since the pandemic. The insurance rates are as well 🥴. Slowly getting prices again.

Did not understand what you said in french as See you later. I know it as A plus tart or a bientot or a tout aleurs. Thats quit the gym and workshop! I am very interested in the furniture your husbands make.

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

À plus tard is what I said, my pronunciation needs a lot of work!

@jeanmarcbeaumont8506

10 ай бұрын

@@DarleneLavett good prononciation

Pas très sympa d'avoir retiré mon commentaire

@DarleneLavett

10 ай бұрын

I’m so sorry Jean Marc, I had to remove the video due to a copyright breach, I used some music which I believed was free to use, but it was not. Thank you for your comment and for watching it’s been a big job, but we think the gymnasium and the workshop have come together really well! Je te souhaite une bonne nuit. 😊

@jeanmarcbeaumont8506

10 ай бұрын

Bonsoir, OK désolé pour mon erreur, je comprends mieux maintenant Merci pour votre reponse Très bonne soirée également .