How A Chance Glimpse Of A Small Photo In A Newspaper Changed The Lives Of Two Actor

Dec. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- The area was unknown, similarly the language, yet only a few months later we found ourselves clutching the keys to our new French property.
The house required serious renovation and as our DIY skills consisted solely of an appearance in a B&Q commercial – it was a daunting prospect!
We had a limited budget and only six months in which to finish the project and commence our new business.
Our new venture was to run short Residential Courses in Painting; Creative-Writing and Photography.
As actors there had been some career highs – a feature film with Demi Moore; a stint in London’s West End; an Olivier Award and a tour with Gilbert O’Sullivan. Also, some career lows – Leonardo the Ninja Turtle, Desperate Dan, the worst production of Romeo & Juliet ever to grace the stage and……… a tour with Gilbert O’Sullivan!
The idea of us running courses began after attending a writing course run by best- selling novelist Anita Burgh (who is now our Creative Writing Tutor.)
It was something we thought we would enjoy; something we hoped would provide an income and something that would still enable us to pursue our two loves of writing and acting.
We spent two years looking at various properties in both Scotland and Suffolk!
We spent two 2 hours looking at the house in France!
It has been an enormous learning curve! Again, like our acting career some highs and some lows – luckily far more of the former than the latter
We did finish our project on time – just – and had an extremely successful “test run” of a Painting Course last summer.

“A wonderful five days – Mickey and Janie are fabulous hosts and the tutor was brilliant.”
“This surpassed all expectations!”
“It is hard to find the words to describe the most wonderful time I have had at    Chez-Castillon”
“The hospitality and warmth of our hosts Mike and Janie and the ambience in their beautiful home was truly fantastic”
“In thirty years I have not enjoyed teaching as much as this!”

This year with the help of our team of skilled, professional, friendly and occasionally flamboyant tutors, we are launching eight courses including: Painting (Lynne Bushell - five times winner of The Prix de Portbail Award); Photography; Creative Writing (Anita Burgh); Cartoon Drawing (Simon Pearsall, winner of Joke Cartoonist of the Year Award); Textiles and Yoga.
Situated ten minutes from St. Emilion, in what is probably the most prestigious and well-known wine-producing region in the world, Chez-Castillon, with its secluded garden and pool area, is a truly unique and inspirational place.

http://www.languedoc-midi.info/leisure/arts-crafts/chez-c...
Tel:  +33 (0)5 57 47 97 94     Email:  mickey.gord@gmail.com