Category: Kyle of Localsh

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The Screen Machine

Our first trip out after lockdown and it was to a mobile cinema in a lorry called the Screen Machine.

The Screen Machine

This amazing creation houses extention “wings” that spread out on either side of the truck to house a small cinema. It travels throughout the rural communities of the Highlands and Islands bringing films to the masses.

Taped off seats for social distancing

Social distancing restricted its capacity to about 20 people, with lots of space between the rows. There was a lot of attention to cleaning and we had to keep our masks on, so despite my initial concerns that it might feel unsafe, it felt fine.

We saw Nomadland, which we loved. Such a powerful film. Such a commentary on modern life and those that can’t or don’t want to fit into our construct of “normal” living. It seemed especially appropriate to be watching it in a lorry..

The bridge to the mainland

As we left the cinema the last shreds of sunset were visible over the sea at Kyleakin, and we returned home, tired but happy.

Loving life on this island.

Us

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Launderette Tales

I haven’t used a launderette for decades, so it was with some trepidation and a bag full of coins that we sallied forth to the Community Facilities at Kyle of Lochalsh to do our washing like the ex hippy teenagers that we are.

With no water in the caravan and having been on the road for ten days we’d both completely run out of clean clothes.

I’m amazed we lasted this long, to be honest. We used to do a clothes washing almost every day in London.

But that was in our old life. We’ve learned to embrace the muddier and scruffier side of being now.

The side benefit of this was a trip to the hot showers at the same place, designed for visiting yachtspeople, with plenty of space to hang wet outer clothes whilst getting clean.

And it would have been rude not to make a wee visit across the harbour carpark to Hector’s Bothy for lunch whilst the clothes were tumble drying.

We sat in a booth overlooking the sound, blinking in bright November sunshine and enjoying the sensation of being clean again, and ate our butties.

Today was a good day.