What Does the Other Owner Think of the Chateau’s Changes?! 🫣

Good morning from a motorway hotel somewhere on the outskirts of Orleans.And now you might wonder, especially with Philip being ill, why on earth we are on the road again.And that's because this week is very exciting.It is the Chelsea Flower Show tomorrow, and we have tickets for press day there.And later this week, it's the launch of Philip and Ardmore's table parade.That's going to be on display at the Patrick Mavros Gallery in London.

So Philip's going to go and set up the whole table around it.and there's a cocktail party at the launch.So we're very, very excited.So it was worth powering through and hiring a van.Oh yes, we're not just in the car, we're in a van.And that's because we will be bringing the table parade back to La Land with us.

You could tell when Philip's ill because he wears that jumper.His mother and I both tried to stage an intervention in the use of... it's your grandmother's jumper, isn't it?Your grandmother's jumper.But no, when you're ill, it comes back out again.I'm so sorry.I know you love that thing.

It's really nice and warm.This was actually a very nice Ibis and we slept really well.And it's not a horrendous view from the window either so really recommend this one near Orleans.And now we are refreshed and ready to hit the road and make it to London.Here we go.

Here we go.Let's do this.

We're in the van.We are on our way.We have about seven odd hours ahead of us until we get to London, so I will spare you just staring out of the windscreen the entire way and go back to yesterday at La Land, where, in honour of the fact that we are heading to the Chelsea Flower Show, I wandered round the garden with the elusive Nick, Marie and Antoine.Now, for those of you who don't know, I bought La Land with Nick 20 years ago.Marie is his wife.They live in Geneva and try and come down, spend as much time as they can in but I wanted to show Marie the big changes that we've had in the gardens recently at La Lande and get her impression of it.

Well, we are bound to!up and down this motorway.Very exciting.It's like a little roller coaster.

Trying to dislodge the kidney stone.Yeah, trying to dislodge that kidney stone.But whilst we do this, let's go back to yesterday at La Land.

This is a very big moment at Lalanne because I am out here with the elusive Nick, Marie and Antoine to show them the updated English garden.And now many of you may remember that Marie has not been that persuaded by the English garden in the past.So we're going to see if we can turn around her opinion.

The twigs and brambles garden.

That's what you call it, twigs and brambles.All right, let's see if it's changed.Well first, I think this border's changed, hasn't it?Look at this border.

Well, it didn't exist in the past.

This is its third year, but it's the first year that it's really looking like something.Yeah!

Really?

Pavlina's done the most amazing job.And you've just missed the rhododendron, but they were just a mass of flowers, they were beautiful.And that's my favorite tree over there.

The idea to do a gallery or attach it to the thing behind?

No, I think this will always just be the border to frame the chapel, so that when you're standing over on the lawn, there's something framing the back of the chapel.Yeah, of course.Honestly, some people would leave it unframed.These big stones, I'll show you where they're going.They're just waiting.

Yeah, we've seen them.Yeah, it looks good.

This is all Jean -Christophe.Where are they coming from?There are stones.He just finds them in the woods.But in the lake or?I think all over the place actually, in the woods.

Do you see how well framed that chapel is?

Yeah, very well framed.And also the building itself is really beautiful.

Yeah, just the details around that window are amazing.The sun like this, it's amazing.

Doesn't even need framing by any gardener.And yet we've gilded the lily.

These four trees here are a new little alleyway into the woods andthey're the maples that go bright red in autumn.

Yeah we saw some of them in Japan, it was really nice.

So here is where the stones are being put so that we can level that area, put a hedge on this side and that'll be another very small garden room there.So if we go along here we can loop up through the twigs and bramble garden as we like to call it.It's more this way because actually here you're just looking at the garden that's not done yet.That will be, that's the next garden to be done.So as soon as we have enough rocks we'll be adding soil so it's nice and straight and then carry on this head all the way around to the end so we have another little secret garden that's the next one.

It's quite amazing how quickly it grew because it was like literally this.It was literally like twigs wasn't it Marie?Absolutely.dying as well.And yet here it is!Alive!

It fooled you!Actually, we're not dead.Very nice.What are those things?Plants.Yes, amazing.

Yeah, they're definitely...This is, I can tell you, this is a weed.But there is so much to weed out.Well, there we go.There.I'm sure Pavlina will be very pleased with me for this little bit of extra weeding.

But actually, it's pretty controlled.This is a weed.I can pull this one out.I didn't really mean...Okay, I really absolutely failed to pull that out.Do you want to give it a try?

Yeah, I don't think it's...

Yeah, no, we both failed.Turns out Pavelina's the only person who can do this.

Yeah, it's...

Alright, but look, we're getting on to one in the garden.This is excellent.

I just got...There's like white liquid inside there.

Yeah, this is a new discovery.for Antoine.OK, let's just pop that somewhere else.These are all also plants and not weeds, actually.You know, it looks like something.

She's a tough nut to crack.It's OK.

Four years of work so far and we've got to OK. I'm going to say another four and we will be at excellent.This is a French thing.

We never say amazing.We say it's not bad.Actually not bad, yeah.That's quite good.It's a good idea.Yeah.

Yay, dear.

I'm going to be so happy.Yay.

Years I've been waiting for this moment but I'm still waiting for even more enthusiasm.

A couple of years time I reckon I'll have it.No, no, it's really nice.

I can't go in without looking at the rain from last night on these leaves because Davy planted these especially to catch raindrops so they would glitter and sparkle in the sunshine like this.this looks like again was difficult to get the vision but now now suddenly yeah i must say everything davy said talking about the trees in the courtyard and at first we're all like to know how's it gonna look like looked a bit strange and no it's really nice it's come together very well I'm glad you like everything.I'm so happy that you're here and we can show you because it's changed so much this year.The garden has never been as beautiful.It's amazing.Pavlina hasn't stopped.

I'm wondering how long until the roses come out on the gazebo.I'm going to go and see if there's any little buds.

Whoa, we have a rose.We have a rose.They're beautiful.

White tinged with pink.Yeah, they're really pretty.And I think that the new ones that have been planted on either side are going to be yellow.Oh, they're coming out here.This is the first year we've seen them.because these were only planted in the fall.

Wow, they are going to be pretty.I love that colour.Nick and I were saying earlier that It's amazing that this entire garden is built on our incredibly amateurish plan that we made as we arrived, but Davey took our plan, he hasn't changed any of it, we did the layout of exactly where the beds were, and he's just made it so much more beautiful with the addition of extra elements.So he added the pergola because we'd put a central path between the doors but that meant that the central path was off centre and the pergolas completely evened it up.Nick personally planted all of this box hedging.He staked out the pattern and then Davies added the square beds behind so that we're extending the garden.

Then we added the gazebo to give the central point in the middle.We've kept all of the fruit trees where we planted them originally and where some have died we've replaced them.And we kept exactly the same layout of the vegetable beds, but added the arches to give height and interest and, well, let's face it, delicious blackberries.I just love walking through these arches.And what, in about a month, I'll be able to nibble blackberries all the way.

Niki's father's strawberries, one normal strawberry, one wild strawberry.

Aren't they for you two?I can have them all the time.

Oh, they're good.They're really good.

It's amazing, isn't it?You look up and you see a peacock.It just doesn't feel real.

And this, like, beautiful sky.It's just...

I really think we live in heaven and I hope you can spend more time here.Just needs more holiday.Whoa, there's so many of us tonight, Philip.

I know, 15.

I like the red and blue.You know I love red and pale blue.I haven't seen such a big table like that for quite a long time, actually.It's because Nick, Marie and Antoine are eating with us tonight, as well as all of us.guests.Well, it's going to be a good send -off before we get into the van to go.

You are not looking yourself at all.Look at this.This is not a Philip outfit.

Is it not?No, darling.You're really not well at all.

OK, the important thing is that we get through the day with comfort.And luckily, the guests are so nice.We had a nice time last night, so we'll have a nice evening before we leave.

It's not often we see you in the kitchen.

Esme, we've got a sous chef today.

I was summoned from upstairs, where I was having a really nice nap.

I know the feeling, all I want to do is sleep at the moment.But look at you, you trooper.Come to help save the day.Yes, now I'm arranging a...Asparagus.Marie, I'm so amazed you've got green asparagus.

I love it so much.And usually it's only white around here.Green is definitely my favorite.Marie, is this the same pork tenderloin you made last week on the Gourmand Retreat?Yeah, yeah.It was so delicious.

I can't believe we're having it again.Beautiful cauliflower.But I'm leaving you alone because I know you've got so many people tonight.It's like a crazy amount.

I know.I've put Lena to help me plate so that the food goes out quickly.That'll be wonderful.So, luckily, she's there eating tea with us.She is.She's a beautiful sous -chef.

Yep.It's so weird.I came down earlier, Philip, and it looked so beautiful.But it's the final touches that do it, isn't it?Look at this.It's stunning.

You're looking a lot more yourself than you did this morning.Thank you.Is that the final candle?

Yes, so we're out of candles.

It's just one of those days, isn't it?

It's what I'm working with.I'm doing what I usually hate, which is gluing candles together.Do you know what I mean?Love it.

It's got charm.

I need one more.

It smells so good in here, Marie.Oh, I love these plates.

Oh, we're having mozzarella as well.Oh, heck yes.

I'm very curious about the tomatoes today, because Marie's made compressed tomatoes, which I didn't know was a thing.

I use a vacuum pack machine to sort of compress flavors.And when you vacuum pack, you can seal lots of flavors and infuse food in a very tight space, airtight space.So what I've done, I've added a little bit of seasoning, and it's just enhanced the tomato flavors.I can't wait to try it.It's delicious.It's a little bit cold now, so hopefully they'll get into room temperature before I eat.

All right, guys.Welcome to Otego.Lovely to see you all and friends and everybody.So, starting off is compressed heritage tomatoes with basil oil and garbanzoona leaves and toasted pine nuts and a burrata for you.Bon appetit.Thank you so much.

This looks absolutely delicious and I know it will look even more beautiful when it's less vulnerable.I know.Your sous -chef is still helping.

I think Pavlina is coming into the kitchen more and more now.

I haven't developed the heat resistance.Well, you're both florists, so maybe there's a cook in Pavlina as well, waiting to come out.What do you mean there's maybe a cook?These are my food.Yeah, I take it back.It's delicious.

I'm offended.to the core of my ancestors now probably.I apologize to you, I apologize to your ancestors, I apologize to your nation.

Continuing on we have a cereal of pork tenderloin with a shallot and red wine jus.We have a little bit of potato fondant and a caramelizedcauliflower puree and a little bit of microherbs from the garden and pickled mustard seeds.Bon appetit!By ending the meal, we have a cherry vanilla tart with macerated cherries and a little bit of chervil from the garden.Homemade pastry, so please don't judge my pastry tart.

Gorgeous.Thank you so much, Marie, it was so lovely.

Bye bye, precious darling.

Look at you all happy in Marie's cardigan.Yes.all well wrapped up he's a very spoilt dog and that makes me very happy it's a ukrainian it's a bread soda fermented drink well i shall leave you with your bread soda have fun it was delicious no we're getting in that van we are hitting the road i've been in the same place for a long time now and the universe doesn't want me to stay any longer so off we go i'll miss you yeah i'm gonna miss you a lot cheers cheers This is it.We're in the van.We're leaving.

Ready for a day.

Just keep thinking about the tablescape.

Heaven.We've arrived at the Motorway Hotel.So that was yesterday at La Lounge.We had a wonderful day and a delicious meal from Marie.And unbelievably, we did make it to Orléans.We had a good night's sleep.

And actually, we're just arriving at the Channel Tunnel.And we're still feeling pretty good.So feeling awake, feeling ready for the exciting week ahead.Bring it on.

Oh, look, the pet sign.I'm so sad we haven't got Galahad with us.We couldn't have taken him to the Chelsea Flower Show.

We're just checking into the shuttle, which is the train that goes under the English Channel over to England.So we'll get on a train in France, in the van, and then we'll be able to drive off it when we get to the UK, which to me is still a miracle.There's our train, and we're all just driving around this corner to get onto it.Here we go.We're in the tall bit because we're a van, but the other carriages are double -deckers.Oh, I love this so much.

I never tire of it.It doesn't matter how many times I do this.

It's very luxurious like this, isn't it?

Oh, we've got our own little cabin.It's great.And here we are.Very sunny England.Let's hope it's just nice at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Though judging by the weather forecast, it's not going to be.

We have arrived and we're actually staying in Chelsea tonight so that tomorrow morning we can get up really early and already be at the show grounds when it opens rather than coming from over the other side of town.And so I organized parking for the van but I didn't really think it through.We're in such a swanky part of town.And there we have the Intermarché rental van parked next to Porsche's, Mercedes.We went past a Rolls Royce coming in.there I think or is that a Rolls?

I feel that the Intermarche rental van does stick out somewhat.

Is it the big writing?

It's adding character to this garage.You will not believe where we are staying tonight.I wanted to get somewhere really close to minimize the walking for Philip and I booked the smallest room in a hotel and when we arrived they've given us a double upgrade and I cannot believe what I'm seeing but I have to share it with you.We've walked into a little mezzanine And then we just look down on the room from here but look at the bed!I'm going to go down to show you.I am so excited.

It's so beautiful.I really can't believe it.Do you think this is helping with the kidney stone?

Definitely.

I'm sure that these stairs for a start are going to help dislodge it.And that's the finishing touch that this room needed.We've just ordered Poker Bowl and we have made it.ready for the evening.So first thing tomorrow we'll be ready to hit the ground running and I cannot wait to share the Chelsea Flower Show with you and hopefully that'll be out tomorrow night.I'm going to try to edit the footage as soon as I can.

So fingers crossed, tomorrow night our first look at the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show.See you all there.