On Monday 11 May we motorhomed down to Kathy & David's in Rochester, then took the ferry from Dover next morning, arriving at Kate & Robert's home in Cartigny near Péronne, Somme at about 2 pm. It was averse and about to become an orage of very heavy Somme-type mud-making rain. These brollies will feature a lot in the coming days! Péronne has been fought over by both sides in both world wars and still bears the shell holes on some buildings. We liked the faded gayness of the Dubonnet sign, but at Monoprix the 22 year old check-out woman had never heard of it! They had metres of liquor, but no Dubonnet.
Kate & Robert have worked for years to renovate their house in Cartigny. The guess is it was pretty badly shelled around 1916 and in its 20's re-build, much abandoned materiél of the Germans was incorporated - such as railway lines for ground floor strenghening beams. These can be seen clearly from the cellar along with their arched brick infill.
An extensive garden at the back stretches down to a field. There are already many fruit trees.
Decking by Robert allows easy access to the rear entrance, where only vertiginous steps existed.
The salle de sejour. Robert was a watch and clock repairer in his youth. The house is full of them and they show the right time.
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