ZephArt

Friday 27 January 2012

'Islandness'

I attended the weekend workshop as part of the ArchIsle photography competition. The theme of the competition was 'Islandness'.

What does 'Islandness' mean to you? Isolation? Uniqueness? Peace? Beauty? Deprivation? Opportunity? Jersey inspires all these in me, but underneath the physical beauty and benefits of living on this island are the reasons I, and many like me, are here in the first place - the Finance industry. Although the effects of the 'credit crunch' are felt here, they are less than in many other parts of the world. The unique position held by Offshore territories has led to business and employment success. But this comes at a price. Yes we have our beaches and our short commute times (the journey is often a pleasure), but the downside is the hours spent in off-island travelling, at the airports, and in hotels.

My husband does well. He works hard. He deserves the success he has achieved. But he pays for it in the hours he is away from home. Time is precious. Electronic communication is essential. Lonely nights are frequent. Sometimes we wonder....