Warning signs

Sunday 26th Apr 2026

‘Road ahead CLOSED’

How often we see this sign and carry on as if it does not apply to us. But this time we were unlucky. We were going shopping, a quiet day out, looking for a lampshade for our lounge which so far has sported a bare bulb. But the road was certainly closed and the barriers were up. We went back to follow the diversion signs with our sat nav screaming, ‘Turn around when possible’.

The trouble is with diversion signs that you do not know whether they are for you or for some other road works long forgotten. Eventually we found our way through but had a surprise.

Whatever has happened to lampshades? When I last bought one, it was made of patterned cloth with special trim at the top and bottom and a fringe. But now they all seem to be plastic or harsh metal. We went home empty handed and bought a fabric one on-line, with no trim and no fringe. Then to add insult to injury we have apparently, according to my friend, hung it up-side-down.

We went to the theatre last week and it was in the evening, so we went by taxi. There was another diversion sign and as we were circling round the driver told us about her experience with road closures. Recently she had an urgent call to take a person to Shrewsbury hospital. He thought he had a detached retina and needed to get help fast. She was available and could get him down the A5 quickly. But there was a ‘Road Closed’ sign. Having knowledge of the routes she quickly went down a side road and came back onto the A5 further east. But even that part was closed. She did not know what to do. A detached retina needs attention urgently, she knew that. So, she asked one of the road workers for directions.

“Oh, sorry I don’t live round here, I’m only here to do these road works tonight.’

But a lorry driver working there heard her plight and told her to follow him. The road works had not yet begun so she followed him with his orange light flashing down the empty A5 until they got to the hospital turnoff. She arrived there in time thanks to her amber lighting escort.

I do not know if it was true, but it made a good story and passed the time until we reached the theatre.

And time is passing for our butterflies. Numbers have dropped drastically over the last fifty years. But yesterday I saw the orange tip butterfly flitting in our new garden. You can recognise it by its wings flashing an amber warning in the sunlight.

(Taken from my column in the Star)