Irony is the synonym for life. I experienced that first hand while I was in Scotland last week. I was sorrounded by beautiful lochs (lakes), monroes, rolling green, the North sea, aristocratic manors, ancient castles, stags and cattle grazing along side in pastures and quaint little towns. It was my idea of heaven.
The purpose of my trip? I was a part of a media exercise for the NATO units present in Northern Scotland. Ground Based Air Defence Units (GBAD), mine sweepers, mine divers and missile launchers completed rest of the landscape. Each morning I awoke to slivers of sunshine in a quaint B n B in the sleepy town of Aultbea with a population of not more than 200. The town has one post office, one store and of course the local pub descended upon by most Aultbeans each evening.Its existence is mostly unheard of, which is probably why it was chosen as a base for NATO units. It is remote and an ideal dock. I was left pondering over how one of the ugliest realities of our world today- war, could find base in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Sure its just a training ground, but one cannot help but wonder how missile launchers can share green fields with cattle and sheep. Aultbea shares many memories with world war 2 and its association with conflict dates back several decades.
The place has a soul. Its beauty is alive. I felt an instant connection to it and I know that this was not my last visit there. I will return someday. Hopefully, a day when the cattle wont have to share their pasture with the launchers anymore.