Sometimes when you try to avoid something for an easier life universe has other ideas

May was a bit of a funny month, and this situation all started from a post on my Instagram, for the Artisan Market in Ruthin.

For years, when I used to visit clients in Wrexham, Hawarden and Broughton, I would see signs for Ruthin, and had heard of the Ruthin Craft Centre, a place that was on my to visit list, but with most things never got around to, so when this post popped up I thought it's meant to be.

However as it turns out the market I was communcating with was not the Ruthin Artisan Market, but the Ruthin Indoor Market!!!

The confusion lies in the fact that the Artisan market runs on the last Sunday of the month and the Indoor Market opens weekly Friday and Saturday, and the last Sunday of the month, which it was advertising on instagram.  The artisan market is in the Old Jail, outside and you have to provide your own gazebo and table, and is only 5 minutes walk away from the Indoor Market, so all things considered I think everything worked out just fine.

I was really excited to be taking part, and on the 29th May, car all packed, route all planned on my new sat nav, an off I set at 7am.

Things was all plain sailing, and I wasn't too perturbed with the A roads, but one thing I had not considered was the difference between the English A roads and the Welsh A roads, and was totally unprepared for the A494 as I got nearer to Ruthin.

After a bit of squeaky knickers moments, as there are very steep declines combined with a few hair pin bends and the only thing between you and meeting your maker is some chicken wire and bollards, that said I did arrive safely in Ruthin, some what stressed and was dreading the return drive.

I am not sure whether its the fact that due to the lockdown, I haven't driven that much and lost a bit of confidence in my driving abilities or what, but I spent most of my quiet time at the market, trying to work out a route home without going back on the first bit of A494.

I was even prepared to take the scenic route home via Conwy to avoid going back the same way I came!!!

As much as l was enjoying my time at the Ruthin Indoor market, meeting and chatting to the other stallholders and customers, I wasn't sure if I wanted to drive on a monthly basis to this venue, especially in the autumn and winter months.

By the end of the market on top of the sales I had 3 ring commissions, so that really sealed my fate with regards to the June market, I now have to return to deliver the jewellery, but it was just a question of how???

I packed up the car and I had a route saved on my TomTom that would mean that I could drive home avoiding the dreaded part of the A494.

Now this is were UNIVERSE and irony have combined to have the last laugh!!!

The sat nav had plotted a route that avoided part of the A494 that I dreaded by sending me off on a B road, and this road is a single track mud stone road, that does not give you the opportunity to do a U-turn, once you're on it you have to really just keep going, starting with a very steep incline.

At one point as I was ascending the road, 2 cars was coming down in the opposite direction, so I had to reverse down the hill, using my brakes and testing my clutch control to the limit, until I reached a passing point, before doing a hill start to carry on my journey,  I don't think I have ever pushed the car that much in my years of owning her!

I finally reach the ascent of the road to find myself on the edge of a mountain, and nothing but my wits from stopping me going of the side, and with an aggressive driver up my back, which wasn't helping my anxiety or stress levels.  I always drive with a piece of amethyst in my car, but even crystals have their limits!!!

Now to say I turned the air blue, was an understatement, when I realised what I had done, I think most of my ancestors may have disowned me with the choice words that came out of my mouth, all the while praying to all my ancestors, I think I called to my great, great, great, great, great grand parents and guardian angels to keep me safe!!!

Luckily I was able to pull over on a turning point, to allow the driver behind me to pass, calm my nerves and gather my thoughts, before carrying on, I am sure the views where absolutely stunning, but I was concentrating so much on keeping myself safe as they was nothing stopping me going off the edge of this mountain road.

They say if you find yourself in hell just keeping going so that's what I did, just taking it easy and steady, until I reached the end of the road to bring me back on to the A494, where I completely lost my bearings and headed for Chester rather than Liverpool, when the A494 joins the A55, but hey it was a nice sunny day for a scenic drive home.

So in trying to avoid in my mind a slightly challenging situation I ended up in a more seriously precarious situation, and I am sure over the years I have driven my guardian angels to distraction, drink and/or drugs with my antics as they try an keep me safe, but I think this decision at my age may have taken the biscuit.

So now I have a dilemia, how am I going to get to Ruthin for the June 25th market?

Will I even go? 

Well I have 2 commissioned orders so I have to go!!!

Being a problem solver, I researched the different ways that I could get from Liverpool to Ruthin avoiding the A494, and in my research found articles about the horrendous road accidents on this road, which made me even more determined to avoid it, and thought how do the HGVs get there as there is a massive Tescos just outside the town.

I even came close to deciding not to return to Ruthin!!!

Then I had to have a word with myself, the:

• 5 year old who was fearless and tackled challenges head on,
• 12 year old who was a nervous child, hated and feared public speaking but forced herself to do it and get better at it, and
• 14 year old who during sports day had 2 miracles happen due to her pure determination and tenancity to succeed, no matter how dire the situation was.

I had to have a reality check and ask what was the problem????

It's not like you haven't driven this road, and nothing negative happened, you survived driving on a B road that was 10 times more hazardous than the A494, and now know what to expect.

I've always stayed in my lane, beaten my own drum and path, done the right thing even if it was challenging rather than the easy, when did I change?

With 2 of my commissioned pieces completed and the car packed on Sunday the 26th June, I headed to Ruthin, on the A494, now clearly I had all the settings on my sat nav to avoid the A494, and the directions kept on popping up taking me off the road, to alternative B roads, it was as if the universe, my guardian angel and ancestors were mocking me, but I stayed the course and drove to and from Ruthin on the A494.

I hope you enjoyed this little insight into my life

Would love to see you comments

Joolz xxx

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June 27, 2022

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