Happy New Year, Here’s to 2026.

1^st January,  the dawn of a New Year which we hope will be filled with good times for all, and above all health and happiness. Thank you to everyone who sent us cards and festive messages and we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Our wish is that if each of us does what we can to make this a better world, then that is a difference worth making.   And of course, we will be here to do what we love best, to see guests and friends throughout 2026  - there is nothing we love more than sharing The Somme with you. With 2026 being the 110^th anniversary of The Somme 1916 Battle, it is likely to be an interesting year of remembrance.

Y Ravine Cemetery.

The cover photo is a David special, of "Old Jock" the 51st Highland Division Memorial in Newfoundland Park, seemingly surveying his beloved highlands in the clouds. 

After a busy 2025 we spent Christmas with family and New Year with friends. We also enjoyed a little down time, for as much as we love what we do, we need time for reflection and “us time” before we gear up for what looks to be a busy 2026, not just at No.fifty6,  but 2 family weddings, a special wedding anniversary for us and a new arrival due in the family. Phew!

So, with thoughts of Christmas still swirling everywhere, we remembered this poem:

Wartime Christmas

Led by a star, a golden star,

The youngest star, an olden star,

Here the kings and the shepherds are,

Akneeling on the ground.

What did they come to the inn to see?

God in the Highest, and this is He,

A baby asleep on His mother’s knee

And with her kisses crowned.

Now is the earth a dreary place,

A troubled place, a weary place.

Peace has hidden her lovely face

And turned in tears away.

Yet the sun, through the war-cloud, sees

Babies asleep on their mother’s knees.

While there are love and home—and these—

There shall be Christmas Day.

The poem was written by American Joyce Kilmer.

Joyce Kilmer.

Though a prolific poet whose works celebrated the common beauty of the natural world as well as his faith, Kilmer was also a journalist and lecturer. At the time of the First World War Kilmer was considered the leading American Catholic poet and lecturer of his generation. He enlisted in the New York National Guard and was deployed to France with the 69^th Infantry Regiment in 1917. He was killed in action at The Marne  in July 1918 at the age of 31.  He is buried at the Oise Aisne American Cemetery, which is just across the road from the farm where he was killed.

The Somme in December

Just a few hardy guests in December enjoyed walking the landscape.

We end the year with cold, crisp weather. Time to blow the cobwebs away. Great weather for walking.

The Cemeteries, quieter than usual, are a haven to wildlife and birds. As we walk among the hallowed rows, we often see hares startled by our presence and birds sitting in the skeletal tree branches, watching what we are doing. We know we are fortunate to have these places to ourselves and the wildlife during these winter months.

Tractors continue to dot the landscape. Sugar beet is being collected from its sleeping dragon mounds. We saw a small herd of deer on our walk between the Ancre and Beaumont, we often see them there this time of year. At Newfoundland Park there is no sign of the red squirrels, hibernating after a busy autumn collecting nuts.

Deer on our walk.

The fields are either seeded with new growth appearing, or deeply ploughed, the earth a deep burnt umber.  The Somme is peaceful, ready for Spring’s new growth. As if the land is holding it’s breath, waiting for what the New Year brings.

Landscape at Mametz towards Dantzig Alley.

Joining us in early December were  Tony and Marika from Victoria, Australia. As part of a wider European trip, Tony and Marika visited the Normandy Battlefields then on to us. Tony has a great uncle, Albert Charles Bigg who served with the 18^th Kings Liverpool Regiment. Albert was wounded on the Somme at Montauban and convalesced in the UK where he was commissioned and returned to the front line as a 2^nd Lieutenant. He died at Sterling Castle Redoubt, Passchendaele on 31^st July 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on The Menin Gate.  Tony and Marika visited his whereabouts both on The Somme and Belgium, an emotional pilgrimage for them.  

Albert at Christmas

Our little town put on its own Christmas cheer this year throughout December with a Christmas market in front of the Basilica, and a Christmas Carnival on 7th December. We loved the Carnival - floats, music, twirling batons, events for children and a generally good festive vibe. 

      Albert Carnival.

Tariffs for 2026

As thoughts turn to 2026 we have reviewed our tariffs. Not immune to the continual rise in the cost of living we have to make a small addition to cover increased costs.

Room rates including breakfast are €120 per night for 2 sharing and €90 per night single occupancy.

Our dinner rate for our not to be missed home cooked meals around the No.fifty6 table, including drinks is €42 per person, for 4 courses.

No.fifty6 awaits.

David’s New Year Cracker:

I guessed orange, but it was chocolate. I guessed toffee but it was peanut. I guessed strawberry but it was coffee. I was wrong on so many Revels.  

All is well at no.fifty6.

Happy New Year…Bonne Année.

All that is left is for us to wish all our wonderful friends and guests past and future a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year. We look forward to reconnecting with old friends and new in 2026.

A new year about to dawn at Lochnagar.