Isle of Portland

I spent last week down Cornwall with Mom and Dad on a much needed holiday. I decided to do some exploring on the way there and went to the Isle of Portland on the south coast, just beyond Weymouth. I set off a bit late (it was a long week) and hit traffic so got there a few hours later than planned. I was hoping to go to the Tout Quarry but I tried and tried and could not find it. (It's a giant hole; you wouldn't think it would be that difficult!)

But the Coastal walk was worth the trip.

I parked near church which was lovely and very popular (for graves anyway). I can't remember the name of the church but it was a nice quiet walk around.

The Church.

After an on-foot hunt for the quarry I gave up. (Location is still unknown.) The whole isle has a coastal path around it (which is now on my list of things to do). I only walked along a small section and found somewhere nice to sit and have lunch. But the views were very nice!

Looking towards Weymouth.

On the way out, I stopped at Chesil beach for a drink and snack.

After that, things kind of went down hill (literally a few times). I had the clutch changed on the car a few weeks ago and apparently get a dodgy cable. Which gave up on me. This meant the clutch kept getting stuck to the floor. Not helpful when trying to drive. I thought I was just stalling it as I was tired. But then on the A30 while sitting in traffic it just got impossible to drive. It was manageable to drive when in motion, using the right foot under the clutch to change gear, but not possible from sitting.

Luckily the hard shoulder actually had some barriers so I pulled off and hit the hazard lights. At least I felt a bit safer with the barriers. 

It wasn't all bad as the weather was lovely so I sat reading my book, catching some sun. A few people stopped to make sure I was ok (usually guys with very big beards and full sleeve tattoos - because appearances really are deceiving and mean little). One sweet lady even got out her car while her husband drove and ran alongside the car to give me a cold drink. People really can be lovely!

After about 3 hours Green flag came and rescued me (best money I ever spent on that rescue policy!). 

They decided they couldn't fix it and towed me off the motorway to the service station to wait for the next tow. So at least I could use the bathroom!

Not the dinner I had planned.

But a lovely vintage!

I had to wait to a flat bed, so had some dinner and a bottle of milk. In a wine glass. Because a girl should have standards.
It took a long time for the flat bed to arrive as apparently everyone was breaking down that day. But eventually we got a ride.  I guess at least I saved money on the petrol. :/

Our ride.

The ride took nearly 2 hours and the GPS took us down some roads we really shouldn't have been going down in a wide, long vehicle. At one point I had to hang out the passenger window and reattach the side mirror which had been knocked off by a branch/wall/tree. (We couldn't open the doors!) It was an interesting trip. I got to the site at about 11.30pm, 7 hours later than planned. But the view the next morning was worth the effort.

Exeter

A few days later I visited Exeter (for the same reason). Due to the pricing of trains, I booked one later on the afternoon so had the afternoon free. I went to the quay for a walk, though it wasn't as much fun with a rucksack and suitcase in tow. But it was sunny and they have some very nice craft shops down there. And some nice cafes, perfect for coffee and cake!

Exeter Quay

Sunny.

Nice place for a coffee and cake.

Bridges

I managed to walk up to the town, though had to sit down when I got there! I didn't realise how heavy the bag was until I had been walking a bit. The Cathedral is very pretty from the outside, but at over £7 to get in, decided that was good enough and sat on the grass outside instead. 

Cathedral

I had a very nice late lunch and walk in a park (I can't remember the name) near the train station.

I was very happy to go home again though. Living out of a suitcase can get tiring. :(

Richmond

This week I have been travelling around for interviews. One was in Richmond, just outside London. My B&B was right on the river so I took a walk along the river (after the rain stopped). 

Bridge over the river.

New way of rowing (to me anyway)

The sun came out!

Willow over the path.

Cherry Blossoms.

Heron

There was a dodgy underpass to the Terrace Gardens. So I chose to run across the road instead.

Flowers!

Sun lite path

I recommend Richmond. That night I had one of the best Balti's I have had in a while. As well as a glass of Indian wine, new one to me. 

Trip back to England

The past 2 weeks have been really busy at work and with travel. Friday I came back to the UK for a while. I managed to spend the weekend at home but didn't take any photos. We ended up doing shopping, most of which was unsuccessful. (I brought a new sim for my phone and after 2 days of it not working had to get a new one.) Still I had a nice time with my parents though we probably all had a bit too much to drink.

Sunday I came to Oxford where I'll be working for the next month. (And got my first experience with the replacement train buses.)
My apartment here is ... interesting. Thankfully I move to a new one on Saturday for the final 3 weeks! I am hoping it's better.

Still its good points are it is very pretty outside and in a nice part of Oxford, near the shops and some good restaurants and pubs.

View out my window 

Near the river.

The bad points are it seems to be falling apart. The water heater is in the bedroom and makes really loud noises throughout the night that have me jumping out of bed. (Now I have ear plugs so fingers crossed.) The TV and DVD player don't work. I can not figure out how to get the shower how to work. And last night the toilet stopped flushing. The letting agency got someone out to look at it today while as I was work. And I came home to this.

Missing a handle. 

The pipe seems to have replaced the handle.
And I am hoping (and a bit worried if) the plumber just has a twisted sense of humor.

"You can blow down pipe to flush". 

 I am not exactly sure what to do about this yet. :/

Updated: It does work but you feel like an idiot doing it. 

Last day

 Friday was my last day at home for this trip. :-( After lunch and packing we decided to go out for a bit so we didn't end up just sitting around moping. Which we would do. So we headed to Bewdley, mainly because they have Teddy Gray's sweet shop there. The weather was nice though cold.

By the river

Seagull craziness.

 Teddy Gray's is the best. It's an old fashion sweet shop and used to belong to my great Uncle who created it. Unfortunately it no long does so we don't get any discounts. But it is still very cool and only in the Midlands! I stocked up on some cinder toffee and some more herbals (a very Black Country thing - I love them!) while mom and dad got ice-creams. It was too cold for me!

Teddy Gray's

Lots of sweets 

Enjoying their ice-creams.

 Bewdley is very nice though it appears they have to chain their recycle bins to the rails, which doesn't say anything good.

In case of theft!

 It was a nice walk along the river, but we headed back early as it was getting dark and cold.

Sunset on the river

We had to be up and at Birmingham airport for 6am to check in for my flight on Saturday morning so we didn't do much on Friday night. I always hate going back. It never seems like long enough. It is so nice being home with my family and I really miss mom and dad when I leave. It's hard when you are completely on your own and I worry about mom and dad and really miss them. But I need to get paid! 

I flew to Newark, a long 8hr flight with the same movies as the way there. However I did get my first ever free upgrade! I was so happy. It was only to economy plus, but hey, I'll take it. I got extra leg room. I didn't think a free extra inches leg room would make that much difference. But it does!

Luckily I had packed a fair amount of food as the GF meal was minimal. This time they didn't even try to substitute things in. My desert was a juice box! And they feed us lunch at 10am, an hour after take-off. It was a very long 6 hours until the snack (2 suspicious tasting sandwiches in my case.) 

I had an 8 hr layover in Newark, NJ (though it was only supposed to be 6). At one point I got a little worried as the weather turned and I couldn't see the end of the nearest planes wing, let alone the runway.

The snow descended.

Luckily it cleared. Because of the extra delay I didn't get to my hotel in Seattle until 1am, 28 hours after leaving home. A very long trip!