Random, Random 2.0

[ponchi101]

TYxs, Oploskoffie.
Merry Xmas to you too!!!

[ti-amie]

To all who celebrate have a joyous and peaceful day.

[ti-amie]

[ashkor87]

Merry Christmas to all ..we don't make much of it here, though we do have a large Christian population...I myself was educated at a SJ mission school..excellent education, no proselytising...

[dryrunguy]

I thought of this pic yesterday when I had a meeting with a guy in the company who said he had gone to an "Ugly Xmas Sweater" party the night before.

[ti-amie]

[Suliso]

I was just watching a YT series about a couple restoring an 18th century castle deep in rural France (totally in the boonies). In horrible condition, but 24 ha (60 acres) of land and 105 rooms in several buildings. They paid ca 800k $ in 2020, about the same as their two bedroom apartment in Paris which they sold. Location, location, location...

[mmmm8]

I was just watching a YT series about a couple restoring an 18th century castle deep in rural France (totally in the boonies). In horrible condition, but 24 ha (60 acres) of land and 105 rooms in several buildings. They paid ca 800k $ in 2020, about the same as their two bedroom apartment in Paris which they sold. Location, location, location...

What are they doing with it? Keeping it as a home?

[Suliso]

Not sure what's the ultimate plan. They're certainly living in few rooms now, but the rest might end up as a hotel and museum. Currently they're restoring it to 18th century glory (+ bathrooms, showers etc) any it's a long way to go still.

It's called Chateau de Purdon.

[ti-amie]

I used to watch things like this on House Hunters International. People would buy what would be charitably called a hovel dirt cheap and renovate it. The land makes this special to me. Do they give any indication of how long they expect the total renovation to take? It sounds as if it would take several years.

[Suliso]

It has been a bit over 3 years of construction now. They should be done with the outside in maybe another half a year (roof was in a very bad state), but inside is only 20-30% done. Also there are all the outbuildings. I'd estimate at least 3 more years, likely more than that.

There are other projects like this even in France, but this is by far the largest. The building is national herritage listed which also slows things down. The architect they employ is also a head architect at Versailles. So restauration is taken very seriously.

[mmmm8]

There's a wikipedia page! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Purnon

[ti-amie]

ProjectFearlessness
@ProjectFearlessness@mastodonapp.uk

This is a mesmerising traditional Georgian dance from the magical new year's eve celebration demonstration in Tbilisi last night, attended by the only legitimate president of Georgia Salome Zourabchivili. You can spot her watching in the crowd with the rest of the people.

It's beautiful, but is it art or is it protest, and why can't it be both?

This is Georgia, the 2025 version.

https://files.mastodonapp.uk/media_atta ... 3ba5dc.mp4

[ponchi101]

Is she on skates? Wow.

[mmmm8]

Is she on skates? Wow.

She's not! Very fast, very small steps.