May 8th Tuesday - Long

May 8th Tuesday - Long

Despite early morning rain, Alex, Ange & Dan set off to find a golf course. We enjoyed a quiet day around Long. At 11.30am we heard the French village band launch into a strangled La Marsalleise. 50 villagers followed them into the gothic church where flowers & wreaths were laid at the memorial to "the sons of Long who gave their lives for the liberation of France" On the corner house of the street a plaque to F Haywood of the scots guards decorated in French & UK flags commemorated his death there in liberating France. The band played our national anthem.

 

The mayor made a speech on the town hall steps, the band packed up & the village retired into the town hall for refreshments.

 

Mum took herself off & had a French hour, 2 coffees sat outside the village tabac. We joined her for a beer & orange juice before setting off to explore the church & cemetery. The church was closed but a tiny wire fence 3 feet from the church protected visitors from falling masonry & 2 fallers showed the sense in this precaution. the cemetery was a delight. The village history seemed to revolve around the Piquet family & the regional marble producers were clearly in a wealthy business as was the local florist. As I have rarely seen a floral show as expansive & French as this cemetery blossomed in.

 

Ange' Alex & Dan returned at 7.30pm after an appartently super game of golf & a sat nav inspired Alex driven mystery tour of Picardy, still they brought fresh vittals.

 

 

 


The two pictures above were taken from practically the same spot. One looking left of the bridge over the Somme at the town hall and the second to the right looking down tomorrow's route showing the chateau long bordering the river. You may spot the chap power washing the roof.

As evening closed in, I whipped up a chilli con carne & we drank some beer. Collette & Ange looked after 2/3 of a bottle of Disaronno & we slept through a downpour.

Weather - overcast morning following heavy rain previous night. Cleared in morning but mainly cloud with odd patch of sunshine. Golfers had sun most of day just 20 miles away. Heavy rain at 10 pm

 

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