Hi OH! Your friend would have a long journey to meet up with my bus route. I'm directly opposite the Isle of Wight, Portland is a fair way to the west opposite Weymouth, a very nice spot to live, I really like it there. The way our bus services work we'd both be going around every wee village or town in circles for some hours & probs in opposite directions!

There is the train option but not reliable in the least either as always some rail works going, strikes, etc. It's the first railway that is going back into the care of the government & loosing it's privatisation...I wonder if train fares will go down? Doubt it; props straight into the government coffers to build all the new houses that are going to be built anywhere they please!
I'm sure you very handy & adept at the household chores. I'd but the tree up first just in case of fallen glitter & broken baubles! Probs a bit late to tell you that though!