What should have been a simple shopping trip took quite a turn.

On Monday, Dearest Son and I thought we’d go to a place nearby and do a little shopping. Ok, I thought we’d do it and he was made to come with. We are on a break this week so I’m trying to get a little prepared for Christmas.

I stopped off and got some petrol on the way so with that and the new shiny headlight bulb we were good to go. We got about halfway to our destination when we saw the road ahead was closed and a diversion put in place. Luckily there were a few cars in front so all I had to do was follow. I really don’t like narrow, country roads with space for one car at a time and enough bends in it to make your palms sweat. Eventually we came out the other end and got to our first stop.

While there, I managed to get a few things for myself: 2 pairs of trousers, 1 pair of shoes, 1 handbag and an encouragement dress. That’s to say a dress I hoped would fit but turns out it doesn’t yet….one day it will, hence the encouragement! I should point out that each item was £1 each. I also got a butter dish which was actually on my list as we are making the switch totally from margarine to butter.

Dearest Son got a large book about some game he loves and it has “all the maps, Mum, shows me everything, it’s sooooo cool”.

While there, we heard there had been a bad crash on the road and that’s why it was closed. It’s the main road from Inverness to Aberdeen and it still isn’t even dual carriageway. There are so many accidents on that road it’s crazy that they don’t take steps to make it safer.

I found out on the local news that the road was closed due to a car and a lorry colliding. The driver of the lorry was unharmed but the 27 year old woman in the car died at the scene. My heart sank.

When we came out of the supermarket, we saw an ambulance with it’s lights flashing just outside the car park. Then as we drove out, we saw someone, still lying on their side, on a stretcher being taken into the ambulance. There were police cars in attendance but I didn’t see signs of 2 cars colliding which led me to think the person may have been hit by a car. There was one parked up on the pavement. I haven’t heard what actually happened.

We skipped the garden centre as I was timing the daylight and I had also heard the diversion which had been put in place meant it was going to take us a lot longer to get home. It is also not a great road. Twists, dips, you name it and very country! I asked Dearest Son to take some photos while I was driving to show you some of the scenery – he did his best.

He isn’t as keen at taking photos as me so I didn’t push my luck. I was very grateful for the other cars though as it was a long drive and not all that well signed – a bit of guesswork involved. More than once the ‘arse of nowhere’ phrase entered my head.

We made it home just as daylight was running out and to say I was grateful would be an understatement. Also grateful for the working headlight and the extra petrol.

I won’t complain though. We made it home after all, whereas somewhere in the area there was a family who would not be seeing their loved one walk through the front door. It really does put things into perspective, doesn’t it?