Simon Tomkinson (Member no: 79)

Avebury

Charging myself with ancient stone power ups like an antiquarian Mario brother heading mushrooms.

Avebury Henge - (Frozen) Friday 10th January 2025AD

The frozen Friday, just after the festive period offered an opportunity (via an eBay purchase of old wooden chest of drawers!) to visit one of my favourite places on earth… Avebury.

Driving from our home in Salisbury to Marlborough is always a scenic journey. Today, made more-so by the sub zero temperature, giving Sarah and I a snow dusted view of the beautiful rolling hills that is the Wiltshire countryside.

Trepidation on the frozen roads, car heaters set to max!

Toasted toes soon cool down as we park at the Red Lion pub and hustle over the road and head toward the “Devils Chair” keen to walk around the top of the earthworks as the sun is setting low in the sky…

Unfortunately due to erosion management the mushy paths have been roped off. Undeterred, and excited to semi recreate the 70’s dropping acid scene from “Still Crazy” film I watched over Christmas, we headed for the smaller inner stone circle close by. Lots of hugs and touches of the huge gateway stones and skipping around excitedly making the most of the short time between our arrival and sunset. Charging myself with ancient stone power ups like an antiquarian Mario brother heading mushrooms.

I was trying to look for alignments as the sun set by using the central stone (now a concrete block due to villagers need for building materials) and aimed my phone camera at the setting sun… Pretty scientific stuff.

Nothing quite like channeling my inner Hancock. Fairly satisfied my evolving knowledge of ancient history, I felt it should be rewarded with a Guinness and some Cottage Pie croquets. We headed back to the Red Lion as the darkness descended around us.

Every time I go back to Avebury I feel the need to return as soon as I can… Thinking also it would be great to set up a small musical event in the village hall adjacent to the stones.