Eastbourne Woman Says "I'm Just Popping Into Town" And Returns With Six Bags But Nothing She Went For

By Jeanette Deckchair, Community & Lifestyle Correspondent

EASTBOURNE — An Eastbourne woman who announced she was "just popping into town quickly" has returned home nearly three hours later carrying six shopping bags but without the single item she originally needed.

Margaret Collins left home shortly after 10am.

Her mission was simple.

Buy shampoo.

Return home.

"I'll only be twenty minutes," she told her husband.

This was the last accurate information he received.

First Diversion Happens Immediately

Margaret's journey began successfully.

She entered town.

She walked towards a shop selling shampoo.

Then she noticed a sale.

"I thought I'd just have a quick look."

Twenty minutes disappeared.

Margaret emerged carrying a top she hadn't planned to buy.

The shampoo had temporarily been forgotten.

Coffee Complicates Mission

Shortly afterwards, Margaret unexpectedly encountered someone she knew.

Neither woman had seen each other for several weeks.

A quick conversation became coffee.

Coffee became cake.

The shampoo situation deteriorated further.

"Then she told me what happened with her neighbour."

Margaret refused to elaborate.

"It took a while."

Bags Begin Multiplying

By midday, Margaret had accumulated several purchases.

These reportedly included:

A new top.

Two candles.

Birthday cards for birthdays several months away.

A discounted cushion.

Something for the kitchen she couldn't remember the name of.

And a packet of batteries.

None were shampoo.

At one stage, Margaret walked directly past the shop she had originally intended to visit.

She didn't notice.

Husband Becomes Concerned

Back home, Margaret's husband Graham began wondering what had happened.

At 12.15pm he sent a message:

"Everything alright?"

Margaret replied:

"Yeah just leaving now xx"

She was not leaving.

She entered another shop approximately 40 seconds later.

Mission Failure Discovered

Margaret eventually returned home carrying six bags.

Graham looked at them.

"Thought you were getting shampoo?"

Margaret froze.

There was a lengthy silence.

"Oh for God's sake."

She checked every bag.

No shampoo.

Graham asked what she'd bought instead.

Margaret began removing items.

Neither could explain the cushion.

Second Expedition Required

Margaret briefly considered returning to town.

She decided against it.

"I'll get it tomorrow."

Graham suggested ordering shampoo online.

Margaret rejected this because she "needs to smell it first."

At the time of publication, the household remained critically low on shampoo.

Margaret has promised to buy some tomorrow.

She intends to pop into town quickly.