Living The Chateau Dream is Dick and Angel Strawbridge’s third book about life in their French chateau with children Arthur and Dorothy.
Life: Dare To Do It
In the Spring of 2020, the world was on pause, and we all had a lot more time on our hands. It was almost as though the Earth had slowed its rotation and while time didn’t stop, it certainly slowed way down, giving many of us time to reflect on the state of our affairs, contemplate the trajectory of our lives, and to discover new hobbies and interests. Some people took to cooking or baking. Others picked up a paintbrush or a pen. And many of us turned to our televisions to escape and discovered new programming. Amidst this pause, I stumbled upon the captivating series "Escape To The Chateau" on HGTV, chronicling the Strawbridge family's remarkable journey renovating a 19th-century Château in France. What gripped me most wasn't just the astonishing renovation feats, but the couple's unwavering zest for life and their readiness to embrace challenges head-on.
The reality television series followed Dick Strawbridge and Angela ("Angel") Adoree and their family as they bought and renovated a 19th-century Château in France, while simultaneously raising two young children and starting a business hosting weddings and other events. The first season followed Dick and Angel's quest to restore the derelict château from its uninhabitable state by installing running water, heating and electricity in the 45-room château, which had not been lived in for the previous forty years. Eight subsequent seasons of the program continued the story as they established their special events business, at the same time as renovating the château and its grounds while also documenting family events and milestones.
The Strawbridge’s joyful approach to life resonated deeply with me as I emerged from the pandemic with a newfound perspective on seizing each day. As they prepare to bring the family to America on their “Dare To Do It” tour, I sat down with Dick and Angel and they shared insights into their boldness, rooted in a solution-oriented mindset and an unyielding belief in their ability to navigate any obstacle.
“Necessity is the mother of invention,” Dick Strawbridge confidently states. “You know, if you need something, you find an answer to it. We were living in Britain but wanted a new adventure. And for us, we needed to work out where we are going to be, and what kind of life we wanted for our family, and once we had that bit sorted out - we had the confidence to just go for it, because as individuals, we just do things. And together, we just know that we can figure out the answer to anything.”
Dick and Angel on the Dare To Do it Tour in the UK (2021)
“(Our confidence) sort of comes down to a little bit of just who we are,” said Angel Strawbridge. “We've kind of got this sort of a fearlessness and just give it a go. What's the worst that can happen? And when things happen along the way, we'll change direction. But we are always such solution-based people that, you know, we do something and if it doesn't work - we'll just keep looking for the answer until it does.”
Even entrepreneurs need motivation sometimes, so I asked them if they had a motto they lived by or a quote that resonated with them. Dick was the first to chime in saying, “Well, ‘Manners maketh the man’ was drummed into me when I was young. But the other one that really embodies our life is, ‘You eat an elephant a bite at a time’. And that's something I have to keep reminding Angela about because some of these huge projects can become daunting at times.” As for Angela, she thoughtfully answers, “I say this to the kids, ‘Make sure your glass is always half full”. Yeah, and I'll explain that to the children and I say, ‘If someone will say, ‘Oh, I've only got one of this’. And I'll say, “Ah, but you've got one of that’. And I think that's sort of really important in terms of how we look at things – at life. So yeah, I guess it's all about perspective.”
The “Dare To Do It” tour will take the family to Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, and New York over the next few months and reflects their philosophy of living without regrets and maximizing every opportunity. “You know, we hear lots of excuses, not very many reasons for people not doing things.” chuckles Dick. “You only get one pass at this world, and what you have to do is you have to sort of suspend all of that fear, and make sure you give as much as you can and fill your life with as much as you can.”
If you’re up for an adventure, you can join the Strawbridge family on one of the US stops of the Dare To Do It tour for an interactive evening of fun, games, myth-busting, plenty of stories, and letting ticket holders experience the Chateau like never before. Watch all nine seasons of Escape To The Chateau on Peacock and listen to their podcast “Dick and Angel’s Chat…eau”. Learn more at TheChateau.tv.