Holiday Notes

[poliphilo]

I've been told some people spend their holidays sitting- or even lying- on beaches for hours on end. I find it hard to believe. I mean how can they stand it?  We sat on the beach at Weymouth for- oh- ten minutes- and I paddled a little- and then we got itchy feet.

Yesterday we drove to Salisbury, went round the cathedral, had lunch in the refectory and then realised Avebury was only an hour away.

We visit Avebury whenever feasible. I've never felt the call of Stonehenge but Avebury- ah...



We had tea in Marlborough in the church- now a craft centre- where Cardinal Wolsey was ordained. I have a certain affection for Wolsey- as I do for all the poor bastards who tried to make life easy and agreeable for  Henry VIII- and got stomped for it.

While we're driving from place to place I further my musical education by playing CDs sourced from charity shops. I have discovered The Manics are bland and The Darkness is/are silly but I really like Franz Ferdinand.

We did a lot of charity shopping today. First in Lymington, then in Hythe. In Lymington I bought a 19th century print of the church at Fawley- which made me want to go and take a look at the real thing. The shop manager used to work at the Fawley refinery and gave us directions. It's a charming romanesque building with wonky pillars pushed sideways by the weight of the roof.

In Hythe I bought a six volume Folio Society boxed set of Hardy novels for £6.50.

Here's the west door at Fawley...

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

You have a double posting here m'dear.

Lovely dog tooth arch, that!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Bother. I've never done that before.

I'll let 'em both stand because otherwise I'll lose comments.

Stupid LJ!

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Knock this one off if you like and I'll repost! :o)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

This is the one I want to keep. It has the slightly improved version of the first photo. Besides- with the lousy connection we have here in Christchurch I'd rather not bother.

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

Stonehenge is nice, but... Avebury is just magical. The sheer scale of it, the way it is an organic part of the later village, the way it just seems more REAL really grabbed me and I'd pick it over Stonehenge any day.

As for lying on the beach... I'd be in the water! I love the sea, the way it makes you so intensely aware of your own body, from the entire skin surface being touched by the water to the way you can change your boyancy to float on the surface or sink into the depths. Lying on the beach? I'd rather sit in a nice café under a parasol when reading my book, thanks.

Stonehenge

[(Anonymous)]

I want to see Stonehenge now that English Heritage have finally improved the site and taken away fences, a road and huts. I saw it before when you could walk among the stones, so that was a long time ago. But yes, Avebury is such a quiet and wonderful place - and in a village, with free access to walk around! Almost unbelievable these days.
Jenny (sister)

Re: Stonehenge

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Stonehenge is still over-managed, I think- and I'll continue to avoid it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like to paddle in the sea- but British waters are so cold...

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

No colder than Danish waters.

But then; when I was a teenager we'd go bathing in the sea throughout the year, even when there was ice floating about on the surface...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Brrrr....:(

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Fabulous photos! Now that's a real holiday - ancient stones, tea, and Romanesque arches...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think so :)

Avebury and beaches

[methodius.livejournal.com]

I've never b een to Avebury, but enjoy looking at pictures, both yours and those on other blogs -- see here:

http://ondermynende.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/cheries-place-avebury/

I too get bored sitting on beaches.

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

For me, Avebury will always be the setting (though not called that in the production) of the memorable HTV children's serial Children of the Stones. I recently watched it again, and indeed, it remains a surprisingly effective, disturbing thriller, even if the science is rather wonky - but that's really quite a minor complaint, in context, and easily overlooked.