A Ghanaian in England: Big stones, Henry VIII, a horse and some dreadlocks

Nondiarist
Jun 18, 2021
2 min read

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

November 2018. There’s a bitter wind slicing across the Salisbury plain. The sun might be out, but it makes no difference to the number of layers we’re wearing. We are African women in England.

These stones, however, have withstood the elements and will continue to do so. It’s one of those moments when you really, really wish you had a time machine.

Person in a hooded coat smiles in front of Stonehenge on a clear day. Green grass, blue sky, and distant tourists are visible.

Person in a dark jacket and patterned backpack gazes at Stonehenge's ancient stone structures under a clear blue sky.

How DID they transport the stones and erect them? Five’ll get you ten that the project was over budget and behind programme and even then some of them have fallen down over time. Maybe they should’ve allowed for that tower crane after all.

Person looking as if she is pushing large stone block secured with ropes on wooden logs in a grassy field. Sunny, clear sky. Energetic mood.

I tell you what - that girl is stronger than she looks.

Person in a black coat stands smiling beside a man dressed as Henry VIII. Background shows a modern café with people inside and sunlight.

The last person we expect to see at the Dickensian Christmas market down on the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 2018 is Henry. He’s got his timeline mixed up for sure. He’s not overly concerned that all these tourists are gawking at the remains of his Vice-Admiral’s flagship – and the remains of some of his crew – he’s on the prowl for women. He chats up Anita for a bit then proposes to me.

Me: “You’ve got to be kidding. With your track record?”

Henry: “Aw, c’mon. Own house, GSOH, full time job, lots of money…. Most women are keen.”

Me: “Two sent packing, one expired, two for the chop. One of them hung in there, but what’s in store for me? Hung, drawn and quartered? Thrown out of a helicopter?”

Henry: “Thrown out of a….sorry, what?”

People in historical costumes pull a decorated cart with "SCROO U" on the plate. Safety workers and a bus are in the background.

At least Ebenezer's got it right.

Person in a helmet riding a bay horse in an indoor arena with beige walls. They are smiling, wearing a dark jacket, and blue boots.

Having never sat on a horse, or even been near a horse, in her life, Anita proves to be an able pupil. Two sessions on the amenable and tolerant French Trotter, Floxy, and she’s adopting a pretty good seat and guiding him in circles.