Happy New Year from No.fifty6 as we head into 2020

As the dawn of a New Year and new decade breaks, we would like to thank everyone who sent us cards and festive messages and we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We spent a few days over Christmas in England with family and we are now back on The Somme ready to make plans for 2020. Julie is currently at Corbie day hospital, Monday to Friday for another 3 weeks of cardio readaptation. They are working her hard  - it is almost like a boot camp! She will end January fitter than she has ever been! Her recovery from surgery has been amazing and she is back to her old self – giving David instructions and generally being Queen of No.fifty6. Julie also had a pleasurable encounter with 2 local pompiers (firefighters) as they came to sell their charity calendar for 2020...

2020 we hope promises good things. Julie’s operation is behind us, we know we have lovely people booked in to stay with us throughout the year as they make their own pilgrimages to this special place and as you know, there is always something going on here…

Treve De Noel/Christmas Truce Service Pozieres

On a damp, chilly 15^th December we attended the Christmas Truce service in Pozieres church. This annual event really heralds the start of Christmas festivities for us. Poems are read, the choir sings in 3 languages – French, English and German and it is a time to reflect on the year and how important striving for peace is. 

We live streamed the evening via Facebook so that this special event could be shared with a wider audience. 

Christmas Trees in the Streets of La Boisselle.

Again, this year,  Christian Bernard, our Mayor, offered everyone in the village a real Christmas tree, as long as it was on the roadside and was decorated so that the village was illuminated for Christmas. Many families took part – including us - and they did look pretty. The Mayor took photos of them all and will declare the best-dressed trees at the Wishes of the Mayor Event in January. 

We also have new neighbours, Cedric and Chantal who are ambulance personnel, have moved in to the vacant house next door. It is good to see activity in the house again. We met when Cedric knocked on the door in his working capacity to take Julie to Corbie  - an ambulance/taxi is provided both there and back each day.

Thiepval

We have learned that Thiepval Memorial will be undergoing extensive renovation work from March 2020 through to 2021. During this time some areas of the monument will be inaccessible and there will be a new digital exhibition on site. Further details can be found on the CWGC website through the link here:

https://www.cwgc.org/learn/news-and-events/news/2019/10/23/14/47/thiepval-memorial-restoration-and-new-digital-exhibition

Practical Matters 

Our room tariffs for 2020 are on our website. Providing value for money is important to us but we have to cover all the bills too. We are pleased to say we have held our room rates going into 2020.   A single occupancy room is €65 per night and a twin/double room is €98 per night. Our rates include breakfast (with those super fresh hens' eggs). Our dinner rate continues to be €27 per person for 4 courses, locally sourced,  and drinks with your meal. 

The local Tourist Tax which must be accounted separately is 40 cents per adult per night and will appear separately as an addition to your bill. The tax which is imposed by Le Pays Du Coquelicot aids tourism in the area. 

Also a reminder that we do take payment by card (visa/mastercard) as well as Euros cash. We are thoroughly modern here you know! 

Our 2019 accounts will be winging their way to the accountant this month. We love paperwork and dossiers in France!

We have new fluffy, absorbant towels and face cloths made from Egyptian cotton in all rooms.

Bookings are looking healthy for 2020. We are taking bookings for the whole year, so if you have dates in mind when you want to come and stay do get in touch with us so we can pop your preferred dates in the diary - no deposit required.

Animal Postscript

While we were away for a few days at Christmas our lovely neighbours Chantal and Jean looked after the hens and Shere the tabby cat. Michel, the Chicken Man, delivered more food for the hens this weekend along with Christmas cheer in his inimitable style. All is well.

Happy New Year

All that is left is for us to wish all our wonderful friends, guests and the specil No.fifty6 community past and future, a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year. We look forward to connecting with old friends and new in 2020.