Evelyn Wilson, wife of Cromarty Bowling Club president Alex Wilson, throws the first jack to open a new bowling season. Despite yesterday's heavy rain and last night's snow on the hills, the sun shone briefly this afternoon — hopefully, a sign of good weather to come for the outdoor bowlers.

Information on membership, league matches and club competitions can be found on the revised website or by contacting club president Alex Wilson at president@cromartybowling.co.uk,

The courtroom of the Cromarty Courthouse Museum was an appropriate setting for crime writer Val McDermid's talk on 'Killing People for Fun and Profit', one of the featured events at Cromarty's first Crime and Thrillers weekend. Friday night's Murder Mystery Dinner at the Royal Hotel was followed by talks, question-and-answer sessions and book-signings on Saturday and Sunday by Ian Rankin, David Hewson, Anne Perry and Val McDermid.

The weekend has been organised by the Cromarty Arts Trust.

This afternoon Sandy Thomson launched the first event of the Cromarty Homes and Heritage Project: 'Memories of Cromarty Homes'. Mary Peteranna and Lynne Fraser, project facilitators, each moderated a discussion of various houses in the town. As each house was marked on an old Ordinance Survey map, participants shared their knowledge of the property and notes were taken.

The next event is a workshop on 'Online Research and the Highland Historic Environment Record' to be held in the Old Brewery on 23 April. Places for this workshop must be booked in advance.

Bright Spark Energy Ltd has appealed Highland Council's rejection of its proposed three-turbine wind farm at Davidson. According to an article in yesterday's North Star, "A site inspection will now be carried out by a government reporter in due course before a decision on the appeal is issued." Documents relating to the appeal can be found on the website of the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals.

The Easter Assembly for Cromarty Primary School was held in the East Church this afternoon and featured several of the pupils' entries in the recent Inverness Music Festival. In the photo (right) the school choir is singing an enthusiastic rendition of 'Consider Yourself' from the musical 'Oliver'. There were also musical items by the P1/P2 class, school orchestra and soloists.

Following the closing words by Cromarty Parish Church locum minister the Rev Willis Jones, the children returned briefly to school before the start of their Easter holiday. School resumes on Monday, 15 April.

Despite the cold east winds and flurry of snow, Spring arrived (officially) this past Thursday. It may be several weeks before it feels like Spring, though! Next Sunday is Easter,  clocks go forward and several local businesses open for the start of the tourist season.

The gift shop at the Courthouse Museum is open on Thursday evening so that local residents can have a look at new stock (photo right) and enjoy some fizz and nibbles. The Courthouse is open from 31 March until the end of September.

Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage and Museum opens on 23 March and hosts a Cadbury Easter Egg Trail over the Easter weekend.

EcoVentures opens Easter weekend, and The Pantry tea shop opens for the season on 28 March. The Cromarty Ferry is awaiting word on its Council contract before it can announce a starting date for the Cromarty-Nigg service.

Gregor Fox and friends joined RNLI mascot Stormy Sam and the crew of Invergordon lifeboat 'Douglas Aikman Smith' to celebrate their third annual fundraising event at Sutor Creek. The youthful fundraisers, their families and friends gathered a bumper number to donations and prizes for their homebaking, bottle and book stalls and raffle. The North Kessock inshore lifeboat and crew were also on hand to give their support.

The amount raised for the RNLI was £1014.19.

Global Energy Nigg Ltd. has announced pre-application consultations on its proposal to extend the South Quay at Nigg Energy Park. Consultation events will be held in Nigg on 12 March and in Cromarty on 13 March. Anyone wishing to see and comment on the plan in person should come to the Victoria Hall on Wednesday, 13 March between 2.30pm and 7.00pm. Information is also available online.

N.B.: No application has [yet] been made to the Highland Council in relation to this proposal.