Loch Ard, a place of heaven and hell for me.

For a year, I worked in a hotel complex close to where this photo was taken. It was probably the
worst job I have ever had in my entire life. It was also one of the best jobs I ever had too.

The hotel manager was at times one of the most vile human beings I've ever met (his snivelling assistant
the other). Yet the staff were the warmest people, there was a real sense of being a member of a
team. We worked together, we partied together. I felt lonely, and I felt isolated. I was stuck
in a crappy hotel, working for peanuts with a despot for a boss. He decided that as he had to work
weekends, so should I, despite knowing my life and wife to be were miles away. Despite knowing
that the bulk of my work fell during the week. Small people, with smaller minds. I left with my
head held high. They didn't.

Yet, despite that all, this was the view I got to see every day. I've swam in that loch, I've
watched it light up cobalt blue as it was hit by lightning, I've sat on the dock drinking with friends
long forgotten, I've slid towards it in the snow on catering trays. I've watched the sun rise and
set over it. I watched at it as I found that a friend had lost his brother forever.

It's like a siren. Every time I'm close by, once again I find myself on it's shores...