Bristol to Seattle: a journey of scientific curiosity and christian faith: September 2014

Or by its slightly longer title Seattle to Heathrow to Bristol to Saltford to Bristol to Oxfordshire to London to St. Ives (via Bristol) to Oxfordshire to Windsor to Oxfordshire to Bristol to Reading to Bristol to Oxfordshire to Heathrow to Seattle.

View from the window at work

As usual I spent my August back in England catching up with friends and family whilst traveling along the 120 miles between London to Bristol in the least sensible fashion possible. Whilst I complain about the company who run this train line and the majority of the buses in Bristol whenever seems appropriate (which is basically every second of every day) I am grateful that I do have a way to get from A to B.

Real fish and Chips!

It started on Saturday with an 10.5hr trip to Germany, then a quick hop back from Frankfurt to Heathrow. My Sister came to pick me up on Sunday and we met my parents briefly for a coffee at a motorway service station (because we so obviously know how to live the high life!). My first week in Bristol was a busy one arriving back on Sunday afternoon/evening and having a day at the zoo with my sister and nephew on Monday. Tuesday I was back into work in Bristol, Wednesday was a meal out with work, Thursday another chance to see my family at the Bristol Balloon fiesta and Friday food with friends at the Clifton Sausage. I did manage to fit fish and chips in though!

Saturday breakfast with friends, lunch with family and friend and evening meal for a friends 30th and laser quest. Sunday it was time to catch a breath at Church and then. Monday was back to work, Tuesday bible study group. A quieter week when I got lots of work done!

Rainy day in Bristol

Saturday was a grueling morning taking my sisters cat to the vets (don't ask) but the day was saved by a lovely afternoon with friends in Saltford including finishing a jigsaw - joy. Sunday was a busy with music for the morning service and then an afternoon of lunch and playing games with friends. Monday was a dentist appointment, Tuesday a visa appointment in London, later on Tuesday we set off for Cornwall, Wednesday was St.Ives, Thursday was Bodmin and Tintagel with a little Boscastle thrown in. Friday was off to Trebarwith Strand for a bit of beach and an unexpected encounter with another friend, and later a trip to Port Issac (aka Portwenn for DM fans) .

Despicable - Hersheys chocolate on UK
Supermarket shelves.

Saturday was a wonderful day at Padstow; mini golf, crabbing, swimming. Sunday was a day to pack up the tent, a little cliff walk to Boscastle headland and a nice lunch. Back to Oxfordshire and then to Windsor on bank holiday Monday to meet a very small new friend and catch up with her parents. Monday evening was another dinner with a friend in Bristol then four more days of work and a lovely evening with friends eating good food and playing great games. A final Sunday at church and it was back to Oxfordshire. A trip to "Didcot minus three cooling towers"in the afternoon. Monday was a trip to Beconscott model village and some packing... Tuesday was a trip to Heathrow with my Mum and then... back on a plane with August a distant memory.