The Village of LOCHCARRON on the shores of Loch Carron
Western Highlands of Scotland
It is funny that whilst doing one task another memory is recalled. Whilst sorting images I was reminded of the tradition that my mother followed religiously (Bank Holiday excepted!) in that if it was a Monday it was washing day. Every Monday she and all her neighbours would strip the beds gather all the laundry together, fill the kitchen with steam and soapsuds and scrub away till the task was completed. Then it was out to the washing line in the garden to display the whitest of whites and yes, secretly spying over the fence to see who’s was really the whitest and brightest.
Up at Lochcarron in the Highlands gardens are few so the Loch side beach becomes a drying patch, no doubt the westerly winds soon complete the task.
Over on the East Coast of Scotland in Morayshire the fishing village of Pennan clings to the headland, each cottage and house, cheek by jowl with its neighbour with definitely no space for a garden…….so here the solution is for a communal drying line along the harbour side open for inspection by all.
The Monday washday tradition has long gone as life styles change. But not all things have changed. Thursday was order day when mum would write out the order book of meat, vegetables and groceries she would need for the weekend and week ahead. That afternoon the book would be dropped off at the local Co-op and the following day a large box would be delivered. At one time it was an ‘errand boy’ on a bicycle with giant basket on the front but was soon replaced by a van.
Rings a bell to-day doesn’t it. A few clicks on the internet and the Ocado, Tesco or Sainsbury or some other supermarket’s van arrives with your weekly order….have we really made progress, I wonder.
6th February
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 