This week's prompt photograph from Sepia Saturday is of a cartoon postcard, and I have just the one to make you smile when you read the message!
The Background: In Scotland there is a well known story that Loch Ness, south of the Highland town of Inverness, is inhabited by a mythical monster. Popular interest and belief in the animal's existence have varied since it was first brought to the world's attention in 1933. It is thought to be a large, long-necked serpentine water-beast with one or more humps rising from the water.
Loch Ness
Castile Urquhart on the banks of Loch Ness.
The Facts: Loch Ness lies 23 miles south of Inverness and is Scotland's second largest loch after Loch Lomond. Its deepest point of 755 feet) makes
it the second deepest loch in Scotland and it holds more water than the lakes of England and Wales combined.
The mystery of Nessie is a gift to tourism bosses and it has continued for decades drawing visitors to the shores of Loch Ness.
My role in the myth? For I used to work for the Tourist Board in the Scottish Borders and we regularly gave visitors advice on routes to take in touring the country - a favourite one was to travel north up the east coast, visiting Inverness and then heading back via Loch Ness and the Great Glen to turn south down the west coast.
Was I feeding tourists to the Monster?
No - our motto was "to wow the visitor" with a friendly, helpful welcome.
My first role in 1978 in Hawick Tourist Information Centre
Note - no computer, an old fashioned telephone and no uniform - just a name badge. I was working in the town's main car park, in a portacabin with no electricity and you had to make use of the public toilets across the car park. One year the season was extended into October and I was given a calor gas light which terrified me. I was so afraid I would knock it over and set the cabin alight.
A promotion in 1985 to the largest and busiest centre in the Borders at Jedburgh - purpose built as a gateway to Scotland centre, just 14 miles north of the border with England. I was no longer working on my own there and I had a company of colleagues who remain friends today. Things had moved on a bit, though we were not yet into the computer age. We now had a stylish uniform - which echoed the fashion then for all things tartan.
It was never dull, as we helped visitors get the most out of of their holiday and the work was a source of many humorous anecdotes. I loved this job - meeting people from all over the world, answering questions, preparing displays, promoting retail sales, and compiling fact sheets. I was in my element!
I hope my visitors returned safe from Nessie's clutches
with happy memories of their holiday in Scotland.
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Sources:
- Pixabay for the free images of Loch Ness
- Wikipedia
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From Sepia Saturday bloggers.
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