Shetland Model on a Safe Shore

I took this image about 15 - 20 years ago on one of my many visits, business and pleasure, to Shetland.

I had taken the family to Shetland for a holiday, and we had rented a croft north of Lerwick and well off the main road. On the way to Aberdeen, where we were to board the ferry, the lady who managed the property rang my mobile to recommend sea sickness pills as ‘we were expected to run into a gale from the north’ – as she said right on the nose!!

She was correct, and although we were all OK, I had not taken a pill but got very little sleep. The waves were large, and the ship had spray blowing over the bridge.

During our stay, we had a trip with the local ornithologist who took tourists around the famous island of Noss where many sea birds made their nests on the high cliffs. As we returned to the quiet of Lerwick harbour, I spotted the small boat secured to the shore.

The image has been used many times over the years, printed and mounted, as a DPI and on my letterhead.

It reminds me of the around 60 visits I made to Shetland, the hours spent at Sumburgh Airport waiting for the wind to drop, or the time spent in Aberdeen waiting for the visibility to improve so the journey north could begin.

The quiet, safe place was in such contrast to the extremely variable weather conditions that I have seen in the wonderful northern Isles.