Wakehurst Place, Beachy Head & Eastbourne...

What do you do when the rain's pouring down and there's not much to do? Head for Wakehurst Place... Ok maybe it wasn't the best idea but it didn't turn out too badly... For those of you who don't know Wakehurst Place in West Sussex is part of Kew's Millenium Seed Bank - storing seeds from all over the world so that should a plant become extinct it can hopefully be reintroduced. Its sad to think that plants & animals are becoming extinct through the one species that can actually conserve them & its made me more aware of trying to make my life more green. They also have beautiful gardens, woodlands and a nature reserve which I unfortunately didn't get to explore due it raining. I did however get to explore the 16th Century Mansion which was beautiful. No photos as I forgot to take my camera *Doh*!


The real highlight of my stay however was a trip to Beachy Head... I love Beachy Head - I choose not to think about the more depressing side to it & instead focus on how breathtakingly beautiful it is. Its perfect for a walk which is what I did - not going to say anything more as I think the pictures do it more justice than words can!

Belle Tout From a Distance

Belle Tout Lighthouse

Beachy Head & Lighthouse

 Lastly after visiting Beachy Head we took a drive into Eastbourne...

Posted 20/04/12 at 22:56

What does it take to get home?

I've never been superstitious but that could change...

I've been on holiday for a week in Kent visiting my lovely aunt and having a really nice time but unfortunately today - Friday the 13th - it was time to come home. I had planned my journey back to London leaving myself with what I thought was ample time to get my coach back to Birmingham - unfortunately being the money saver I am I bought a 'Funfare' on National Express - which was cheap but has the proviso that if you miss your coach that's it - you have to buy a new ticket which is understandable but annoying if you being delayed is not your fault.

So we arrive at the station my train is due to leave from to discover that my train is delayed by a quarter of an hour - as I'm due to catch a connecting train to London Victoria I start to worry a little. My aunt kindly offers to drive me to a nearby station where I can catch a direct train to Victoria & I gladly accept. We arrive at said station, ask one of the staff when the next train to Victoria is due to find out it's due in a minutes time - hooray I think I'm going to make my coach! Goodbyes are said and my aunt leaves me trusting in National Rail to get me to London on time! The train arrives & I climb on get my seat only to hear 'We are sorry to announce that this train will be delayed due to their being a fire on the train just ahead' - what??? A fire??? On a Train??? With sinking heart I realise that the chances of arriving in London on time are slipping away...

Suddenly I hear people making plans to share a taxi to Croydon - I pipe up and luckily I get the last seat in the taxi! My hopes of making my coach are once again raised! While on the way to Croydon we get stuck behind what has to be the slowest driver ever & unfortunately as there is a cop car 2 cars behind the taxi driver cannot take a chance and overtake said slow car! We finally get to Croydon & I leg it to the platform to catch my train to Victoria only to find that it to has been delayed!! With sinking heart I realise that I'm definitely not going to make my coach & I didn't - I missed it by 8 minutes!

I get to the coach station & head to the ticket office tell them my story only to be told I'd have to buy another ticket. Now I'm not one to take that answer lying down. So I politely ask to speak to someone else and am pointed in the direction of customer service. Again I tell my story and luckily the lovely man agrees to put me on another coach at no extra cost & with the warning that it is for this time only - don't worry I think - I've learnt my lesson!!

Fortunately the journey from then on in was fine - and I even got to see Milton Keynes coach station woohoo!! - and only ended up being delayed in all by an hour. Got off the coach & walked to get my bus home only to encounter a very upset man crying and screaming on the phone 'Just listen to me' - whew I thought at least my Friday the 13th was nowhere near as bad as yours!