There were heavy clouds and it definitely looked as if the white dirt was about to start falling. That was just my kind of luck! There were still the Grampian Mountains ahead of me. Another look in the rear view mirror and I put down my foot on the accelerator. Better getting a speeding ticket, I thought by myself, than getting caught up in heavy snowfall while I pass the Mountains. I turned up the volume of the CD-player and cursed the fact that Mary hated Glasgow and would not go down there to sign the contract. Suddenly, the snow started to fall and it fell heavy! I cursed the fact that I went to university to become a solicitor instead of a dentist. In this line of work I would not have to leave my house and I would not have to go to the bloody Highlands to earn some money. I finally cursed my stomach for forcing me to take a lunch break. The snow turned the road white and I had to reduce my speed to 25 mph. I turned on the wipers but it did not change a thing. It was already 3.30 pm and I knew for sure that I would not be home for dinner. This was a really disturbing realisation. I reached the Grampians 45 minutes later and it was already pretty dark. The snow was still falling and my speed even went down to 15 mph. At least, the fuel gauge told me that I had enough petrol to reach Glasgow. Just when I thought that, the engine started to cough. "No!" I hammered on the dashboard. "Don't you quit on me now!" The coughing continued relentlessly. I promised the car: "I am going to get rid of you if you break down now, you little shit!" Of course, the car did not care one bit about my threat! It just died and I rolled to the curb. "Bloody great!" I moaned and hit the dashboard once more. Then I took my mobile and started to call the emergency number. In this kind of weather the Highlands could be very dangerous and I needed help. Naturally, Murphy's law kicked in! You know: everything which could go wrong would go wrong! There was no net available. In a rage I threw the phone on the floor. "Bugger that darn thing! When you need it, it won't work! Bloody marvellous!" I complained to myself! It started to get cold. Thank God, I remembered to put a fleece- and Goretex-jacket in my car and I always got a blanket with me. Then I took my cigarettes from the glove compartment and lighted one. Filthy habit, actually I was trying to quit but right now I needed a fag. Meanwhile, it was completely dark outside and it was cold, really cold. My dad always said it could get cold as a witches teats in the Highlands. Now, I knew what he meant! I stubbed out the cigarette and declined my seat.