Contrasts.

Another windy campervan morning from the Isle of Yell here in Shetland, though gentler than the last few days. A firm enough onshore breeze blowing up the voe. It’s nippy on fingers and cheeks. The sky is a dappled grey with the very occasional opening for sunlight to break through. When it does it turns greying rippling water to shimmering silver, which quickly returns to rippling grey. The piping noise of Oystercatchers once more and of course the obligatory sheep. A rest day yesterday. In the desire to soak up nature over the last seven days, there was a sense yesterday to stop and just take stock and yesterday was it. Walks to explore deserted crofts, ancient brochs and cairns, but also a sense of slowing down. Justice has not been done to Yell so a return, quite soon is on the cards. Suffered a little from lens envy yesterday. A succession of vans turned up at the spot, spilling out guides and its contents of greying men, various hats crushed onto their heads, each with a camera and lens longer than the previous one who got out before them. The last something akin to the trumpet you see on the opening scene of ‘Life of Brian.’ A certain sense of inadequacy wafted over me. Off they marched in single file over the brow and into the unknown. Also a day of patterns yesterday, wind, light cloud, sunshine, dark cloud, rain and then back round again sometimes in the space of minutes and other times over the course of an hour. As Billy Connolly once said :

“ There are two seasons in Scotland : June and winter “.

I have fallen in love with Shetland, its history, its horizons, geology and pace of life. Maybe it’s just the contrast that I have loved and after all nothing exists without its opposite. Jung writes :

“ The greater the contrast, the greater the potential. Great energy only comes from a correspondingly great tension of opposites.”

The tension of opposites really struck me and the energy it creates. An energy to shift, change and experience. Having worked in cities and capitals over the years, I know what I prefer. So exploring contrast, opposites, energy, tension and the light and understanding that comes from them all. Lovely days people.

“ We are so made that we can derive intense enjoyment only from a contrast.” Sigmund Freud.