About
We are Tim and Sharon, proud owners of Chateau de la Grillere, nestled just outside the quaint commune of Saint Germain les Belles in the Haute Vienne region of southwest France.
Early retirement
With encouragement (and occasional exasperation!) from our three grown sons, along with support from family and friends, we made the bold decision to retire early. Sharon left her role as a Community Sister with the NHS, and Tim stepped away from a career as a project manager in construction, following over 30 years as a heating and plumbing engineer, co-owning a successful business with his partner, Alan.
Interests
Tim is an avid golfer, thrilled by the excellent courses right on our doorstep. Besides golf, he’s a passionate fan of rugby and athletics, both on TV and in person. Sharon enjoys her weekly yoga classes in a nearby village, conducted in both French and English, which also helps her improve her language skills. She has a keen interest in fashion, art, and interior design concepts.
Travel
Having travelled extensively, we both appreciate exploring different countries for their unique cultures and histories. India, in particular, holds a special place for Sharon. She spent time there training second-year nursing students at the Florence Nightingale Hospital in Tiruvannamalai, an institution founded by Sylvia Wright from Leeds.
It seems travel runs in the family DNA, as all three of our sons have made their homes abroad—in the USA, Finland, and Sweden.
“Escape to the Chateau”
Inspired by countless episodes of Escape to the Chateau (watch with caution!), Sharon began dreaming of buying and restoring a chateau. Tim, however, took a bit more convincing, finding the idea a little wild. After 18 months of patient persistence, Sharon finally won him over!
Restoration
We officially took ownership of the Chateau in May 2022 and have been hard at work restoring it ever since. It’s primarily just the two of us tackling the renovations, though we occasionally bring in tradesmen for specialist tasks, like tiling and plastering, that require a finer touch. Sharon has become an avid YouTube learner, while Tim seems to have an endless toolkit of skills, much like Mary Poppins’ bottomless bag!
