To Boufflers

After a very ordinary night’s sleep, we got up at about 7. We still had cheese, ham and tomato left from our picnic lunch yesterday, so I popped out to the boulangerie for a baguette and a couple of mini pastries and we had breakfast on one of our balconies.

Ian on the “bathroom balcony”

We packed up and got a taxi to Gare du Nord at about 9 am. Our train to Abbeville left at 10:30. There was no assigned seating, but the train was packed. We found somewhere to leave our suitcases and managed to perch on little folding seats by the door. The train arrived in Abbeville just after 12 and we were met by Diane and Peter Thompson. I worked with Peter at Shell about 30 years ago when they were in Australia on an expatriate assignment.

We drove to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, a lovely little town on the Somme. We strolled along the river admiring the houses, including one that Jules Verne lived in.

Jules Verne lived here

We stopped at a restaurant for lunch. After beers, Ian had mussels and I had a chicken skewer, both with mountains of fries!

Diane and Peter at lunch

We then walked further along the river and up to a lookout on the top of a hill. Joan of Arc was held here by the English before she was executed.

We strolled back down, admiring the lovely buildings and the Eglise Saint-Martin Catholic Church. Lots of history including involvement in the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

We then drove to Boufflers, to the magnificent French home of Diane and Peter, the Manoir de Gourlay. This house is a labour of love for the them having bought it 9 years ago. The central part of the house is 350 years old. The brick section is only 70 years old as it was rebuilt in 1950 after being bombed in WWII. The house has 23 rooms and is being gradually repaired and decorated.

Manoir de Gourlay

Our bedroom

We started with a cuppa in the library, then had champagne in the Art Deco room, which was originally the orangery. We moved onto a charcuterie dinner in the dining room. There is so much history in every part of this building!