Alas Lammas

Lammas weekend.  The first of the Celtic harvest festivals and the fields are being gleaned, leaving stubble for when the geese return.  One of the times of the year when getting stuck behind a tractor on the way into or back from the big city, Aberdeen, is pretty much guaranteed.  Usually, it’s not a big issue being in the slow convoy, open windows wafting in the scents of summer, it's quite life affirming.  Not so on Tuesday.  Am a sucker for money-off tokens, loyalty card points and middle aisles – which, having recently got rid of all Avios points, has finally struck home as problematic.  So many goals for self-improvement, so little will power.  Sainsbury’s sent some tokens which are actually a good deal. Drove into Aberdeen via the beach road, so that I could replenish some of the recently depleted Covid medicines from Home Bargains.  There were roadworks I didn’t know about.  It was very hot, was stuck in diversions looping the city, and can only surmise I was dehydrated, my ranting brain seriously overheating.  Went into Dunelm for Kilner jars and to see their wool duvets (sold out).  On leaving the retail park, I drove down the wrong side of the road, towards the traffic lights, thinking it was a one way T-junction.  Fortunately, the right-filter opposite turned green first, so realised my mistake when the people turning right drove towards me, staring in that special way people look at lunacy.  Luckily, there was nothing behind, so could reverse onto the left hand lane and thankfully, there are no police anywhere nowadays, so managed not to be booked or committed.  In shock and awe from that, and having overheated further looping around Aberdeen, stocked up on tins and chops, in case of Armageddon, and forgot to use the token.