A 40-foot shipping container filled with everything I own finally arrives from the U.S. to my new French home Château de la Chevronnais.
Of course, nothing about moving to a French château is simple.
The semi truck cannot fit down the narrow country alley or through the gates, which means the entire operation has to be rerouted. We secure off-site parking in the village, organize two box trucks, manpower, strict timing windows, and a full-on shuttle system. We have just two hours to unload at each location. The pressure is real.
Enter Séverine, my producer friend who comes from Paris to orchestrate the entire operation with precision. She handles all French communication, keeps the drivers moving, and somehow keeps everyone calm. She also recruits her friend Romain, a camera operator and drone pilot, so for one day, GoGo Château truly feels like a TV show.
Between logistics and ticking clocks, we still find time for croissants, coffee, and a little dancing because duh this is GoGo Chateau!
After months of sleeping in the dining room setting up my own bed suddenly makes it feel like home. Not a project. Not a dream. Home.
And with the furniture comes something else you don’t think about until it hits you. The smell of your old life. Fabrics, books, wood, familiar things that carry memory. That scent arrives before you even open the boxes, and it is both comforting and emotional in a way I didn’t anticipate. This episode captures the reality of finally landing in France, not as a visitor, but for real. The container arriving means my old life is officially behind me and my life at Château de la Chevronnais has truly begun.
A massive debt of gratitude is owed to Séverine Penin who not only stepped up on the container arrival day but also stepped up to edit this episode. Our mutual friend Amanda calls her the ‘Swiss Army Knife of Friends’ which could not be more accurate! Merci beaucoup S.P., You da BESTt!!!
If you love château renovations, big life leaps, France, expat adventures, and the reality behind the dream, subscribe and come along for the ride.❤️ Join the GoGo Château adventure 👉 https://bit.ly/GoGoChateau
👑 { MORGAN LAWLEY – Fairytale Finder }
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33 Comments
My credo, too, is that a perfectly coordinated action creates space for joy. So well done! Cheers! 👏
Girl you sure have a lifetime of stuff ! Congrats on your move – now to learn basic French terms !
This 59 year old woman dances along with you throughout the vlog! Keep them coming, love watching your adventure unfold
Cheers! Always exciting and reassuring to reconnect with our things that make a house (or a castle!) feel like our home.
Loved the drone footage! You're official. Welcome to France!!🏰
It will be so nice surrounded by your own things from home. Very comforting. I had to laugh because those movers probably had no idea what to make of that fun, crazy American woman. 😂
Great Video! Thanks!
Well I watched the Chateau Poisidon video yesterday afternoon and immediately subscribed to your channel. I started from the oldest video you uploaded until the latest. I love your channel and look forward to seeing your dream come true. Thank you for sharing!
Great organized execution!!! Congratulations, 🎇🎇🎇 amazing and wonderful, get rest in your beautiful bed!!! 💓
Enjoy your vlogs Morgan ..so much fun .🎉..We did the container move etc from Wyoming USA to New Zealand..18 mths ago. Our container was opened at the Wellington Port…End result contents transferred to two furniture trucks ..and then delivered..
You are now offically living in France …Nice to receive your belongs ..
Best Wishes for 2026 ..I know it will be full of fun & laughter 🥂🍾🤩🥳
Saw your clip on the Chateau Poseidon guys YouTube channel and clicked on yours (GoGo Chateau) and was hooked and have been doing a marathon watching session since Saturday here in California. I am so impressed with all you have done and taken on to preserve and enjoy this beautiful house with such incredible property in stunning part of Mayenne. I love your energy and joie de vivre ! I cannot believe how much you have achieved in such a short space of time . Look forward to following your journey in your newly adopted country and home . So many adventures await.
That would be me with all my sh*t. LOL.
Woohoo…you're officially "chez toi!" 🥰😍🍾🥂🥂🥂
Felicitations Morgan…bienvue en la Belle France ! 🏰🎉🌟🥂🍾😘
I joined because the move was so delightful.
❤️❤️❤️ Et pour Morgan Hip Hip Hip…..!!😜 😘
Think those lads will remember this removal for a lifetime. Brilliant guys. Wow, so you’re actually in… OFFICIALLY GURL……
"I directed that video" Wow! Girrrrl you brought a LOT of stuff lol. It will really start to feel like home now. FYI I left you a msg on instagram with an offer of aide!
You're a riot
Alice! Loved this episode.
Congratulations Morgan!! Now it’ll be like Christmas when you start unpacking and finding all your wonderful possessions you forgot you packed! 😉😆
I can so relate to the joy you felt taking possession of all of your things from an overseas move. Nothing like it. 🎉
That was so much fun. Moving day is usually such a drag and I know I'm generally in a bad mood, but you had a smile and didn't let anything get you down and I love that once again you had great people around you to help out and I agree with what someone else said that those men probably rarely have such a fun move!
Also, of course, I went and rewatch the video for what's up, which are used to be my favorite song in the 90s. I used to wake up and sing that and it's so cool to hear that you directed the video!
Hello from Western Australia 🇦🇺
Wow just love your vibe. Just bing watched all your videos over two days. Look forward to seeing your magnificently beautiful Chateau turned into the fairytale castle it deserves for many to enjoy. The very best of wishes to you ❤️🤞🏻👍🏻
Hi Morgan, so happy for you to see your happiness, to see also the enthousiasm, your energy your are spreading in all you do. Welcome in France! We already love you so much ! Let s target 30k soon ! Sincerely. Ps : I would be happy to share my help with you Time too time when ressources needed. Again, welcome in France ! Cheers.
Wow, you are brave and one of a kind, so miuch respect respect respect for that! Just started watching your channel by seeing you on the channel of Poseidon. I think your channel can be a huge succes. the drone footage is so cool to watch. It looks like your lens or camera has focus issues which makes it sometimes harder to watch for my eyes, if you can change that I think it will improve the results of your films a lot! I'm very impressed by all you do and I will keep on watching and liking your videoo's. Good luck with this beautiful castle and dream surroundings and this whole adventure it's amazing to see a lady doing this on her own!!!
🍃 You astound me❗️All you’ve taken on by yourself, plus sleeping alone in that big chateau..eeek! I have to force myself to get out to the Von’s in Eagle Rock!( sure you’ve been there!). You give me courage though, just thinking how brave you are. But I think you should get a big dog and a couple of cats to keep you company. (Very sorry to hear about your little dog…always a sad time). 🥲🍃
While researching a move to France obtaining accurate information regarding shipping has been very opaque. I have been unable to find shippers that will answer questions openly. How did you decide on the company you chose? How detailed were you with the package descriptions for the customs form?
Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Morgan, I admire your independence you get shit done. Your content is much more hands on. What I mean is you show not only the pretty stuff but everything involved with owning a chateau. Can’t wait to see what you do to the place. Betty 🇨🇦
You directed the "What's Up" video??? . That 4 Non Blondes video has over 2 billion view on YT. SO COOL! The Canadian château boys brought me here and I've got some catching up to do! I will follow!
You directed that video! Far out!!!❤😮❤ Anyway what an exciting day! Congratulations on your move Morgan!❤🎉❤
Love this! We are expecting our things here in SW France in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to see everything in place! Bonne Année!
I have to tell you that you have been heavy on my mind. not sure why but I feel I need to reach out and tell you that you are killing it and are not alone!!! I love your story. I am enjoying your move. I need to clarify for myself, you closed on chateau then went back to the us to move your belongings. The bits of Reno you accomplished were before you went back to the US right? I know you were seeming a bit down and discouraged with the things going wrong. Keep in mind how to eat an elephant. ONE BITE AT A TIME. lol. Stephanie from chateau diaries had volunteers I believe who came and helped her for room and board. Maybe once you have a couple of rooms you can use you could do the same? Maybe the gate house. I wish I could come help you. my heart feels you. I pray for strength and good things to come!!! can't wait to see what you can accomplish!!! Im in Florida and will probably never get to the UK at this point but I am living thru you!
If you have not already bought a ride on mower have a look at Journey to the Chateau ,their little blue tractor with a cutting deck is just the ticket. It is a tractor with a bucket & claw,great for getting at the brambles & picking up debris & then it mows,fast & well.