Refurbishment of the Royal Hotel has begun under the ownership of Jenny Henderson who took over the reins of the hotel on 24th February. The lounge bar is closed meantime and will re-open at Easter.

Former owner Neil Campbell comments: "Janice and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Royal since we arrived in June 2002. We are very grateful to the staff and patrons for their support over the years. We have no definite plans as to what we are going to do next but we will definitely be taking a few weeks of rest and relaxation. We obviously wish Jenny well."

At last week's Youth Cafe open evening and achievement awards ceremony, youth worker Wanda Mackay herself was given an award by David Alston and Di Agnew on behalf of the Black Isle Ward councillors. The certificate marks her contribution to youth work and to young people in Cromarty, Fortrose and Culbokie.

The new owner of Cromarty's well-kent ferry, Martin Woolls, prepares to sail from northern waters to her new base in the Bristol Channel. From Cromarty, she will travel down the Caledonian Canal and along the West Coast in ten stages. If you catch a glimpse of the ferry before she departs, you will see the owner's 'accommodation' for the journey — a caravan parked on the ferry's turntable.

Under the new name of Westward Ho!, she will run a service to the privately-owned island of Steep Holm, about five miles offshore from the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare.

Southampton Marine Services has a £500,000 contract to build a new Cromarty-Nigg ferry to carry four cars and 50 passengers.

Today, Miss Anne Rose retired as Head Teacher after 18 years at Cromarty Primary School. Children, parents and staff (past and present) marked the occasion with a presentation in the school this afternoon. As well as many cards with good wishes, she received Heather Passmore jewellery, a voucher for Stobo Castle, a Cromarty Pottery bowl and her favourite sweeties!

Mr Alan Danson, currently Acting Head Teacher at Ullapool Primary School has been appointed Acting Head at Cromarty starting on 15 February.

After four years as Cromarty subpostmaster, today Marcel Gommers hands over the business to new subpostmaster Estelle Quick. Marcel, who previously worked for Plexus Media, plans to concentrate his attention on web publishing, particularly developing his growing number of transport-related websites.

Museum consultant Estelle said that she is taking over a successful business that she will continue to run along similar lines. She plans some additions to the shop stock and hints that Cromarty chocolate-lovers are in for a treat by the end of the month.

The post office will be closed this morning and will re-open later today when the official handover process has been completed.

Shirley Ross is back in chilly Cromarty after achieving her personal goal of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. She has also raised more than £600 for her designated charity, Kids Aid Tanzania which provides homes for disabled children and those orphaned through HIV/AIDS. You can still make a donation to Shirley's Just Giving webpage.

More than three months after the start of construction, the disabled ramp at the Hugh Miller Institute has been completed. Wheelchair users now have access not only to the meeting room and library but also to the entrance of St Regulus Church. The main stairs to HMI remain unchanged, while the new entry from the side of the building leads through a hallway to meeting room, library and new disabled toilet. A parking place in front has been specially designated for disabled badge holders. Final landscaping is planned for the spring.

Swine Flu Vaccination Drop In Clinic
If you have already been invited for a swine flu vaccination or if you have any existing health issue which would normally entitle you to a seasonal flu vaccination, drop in at Cromarty Medical Practice on Monday, 25 January between 9.00am and 5.00pm or phone 600224 for an appointment.

Miss Rose's Retirement
After almost 20 years at Cromarty Primary School, Miss Anne Rose is retiring as Head Teacher on 11 February. Those wishing to donate towards her present or give their own cards should leave their envelopes with Crystal, Moira or Veronica by 29 January.

Dr Forth's Bequest
The Cromarty & District Community Council has been made the residual beneficiary of the last will and testament of Dr Dorothy Forth who lived and served as a doctor in Cromarty for many years. She died in Huntly in December 2008.

The Community Council has received a cheque for £36,294.63. Councillors feel that this should be spent on a specific project to benefit the community which would be dedicated to the memory of Dr. Forth.

If you have any suggestions for suitable projects, please complete the form available at the Cromarty Post Office and The Emporium or email Anne Short or Estelle Ellwood.

Following (almost literally) in the footsteps of her neighbours Pete and Al Clunas, Shirley Ross leaves for Africa today and her attempt to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. She describes the trek as a long-held dream and personal challenge. She hopes friends and colleagues will support her effort by donating to her chosen charity Kids Aid Tanzania. You can contribute to this British-registered charity (that helps Tanzanians working with vulnerable children orphaned by HIV/AIDS) by going to her JustGiving page.

Shirley promises a photo of herself at the summit, but meantime has supplied "a picture of my chooks who are possibly the better known residents of Gordons Lane!"

A walk on the same path at high tide is a feast for the senses. Gulls and oystercatchers 'surf' the waves onto the seaweed and shingle. Curlews can be abundant: at one count, sixteen curlews took to the wing at once.

Redwings feed around the field — they're similar in size to their cousins, song thrushes, but can be distinguished by the red flashes under their wings, and the light stripe above their eyes. These 'Viking invaders' visit our shores only in winter, then return to Scandinavia in the spring. Meadow pipits, small brown birds with fine beaks and olive, streaked underparts, bob among the grassy tussocks near the shore. There are still one or two bramblings around, and you may enjoy the sight of a brightly-coloured goldfinch. Goldfinches can be lured to the bird table by nyjer seed, but you will also see them eating seed from long stalks at the field's edge.

Young countryside explorers may be interested to see the deer tracks in the fresh snow, weaving along the 'people's path' and around farmers' fences.

 Photo credit: www.rspb-images.com

At noon today 28 hardy (foolhardy?) folk dashed into the sea in front of the Royal Hotel clad in swimwear ranging from see-through Y-fronts to turquoise and black wetsuits. Although the 'dash' was officially cancelled due to icy road conditions, shortly afterwards two intrepid individuals were seen dashing along the Reeds Path.

If you weren't there, catch these links on YouTube from Jo and Georgia.

Heavy, slushy snow was falling just as torches were lit for the procession from the harbour to the Links. Despite the precipitation, drummers performed and Sandy Thomson gave a much abbreviated speech to the crowd of undaunted torchbearers.

Unsurprisingly, the Hogmanay celebrations in Inverness were cancelled this evening — but Croms don't give up so easily!

Conditions improved by midnight, and the countdown to the bells at the Harbour was enjoyed by a crowd of 200 revellers.

Head for the Reed Path Loop, where a flock of bramblings is busy feeding and roosting in the trees and shrubs on the field’s southern side. Look up among the tree boughs, and you’ll spot these pretty finches with their rosy upper breasts, and snowy white lower parts. When they fly, their dark forked tails show flashes of white on each side. They look a bit like chaffinches — but don’t be fooled!

The bramblings are joined along the path by old garden favourites: blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, song thrushes, wrens — and of course, cheeky robins. On Cromarty foreshore, herons keep watch, oystercatchers forage, and curlews skim noisily over the stones. There’s so much to see, and with little effort. The challenge is to watch your footing on the icy path while enjoying all that nature has to offer.

Drawing credit: www.rspb-images.com

A very Merry Christmas to families, friends and visitors to Cromarty.

This cheerful robin was seen on Christmas Eve marking his territory along the shore at Burnside.

The New Cromarty Cookbook was launched at the Cromarty Primary School's Christmas Fayre on Wednesday. The attractive paperback cookbook features the usual range of recipes from starters to puddings with the bonus of a section on 'Cromarty Specialities', an introduction by food writer Dan Lepard and numerous photographic glimpses of Cromarty.

If you are looking for ideas for your Christmas menu (see Lady Urquhart of Cromarty's 1750s recipe for 'Minced Pyes' and Fran's 'Frilly Pavlova Pudding') or a welcome stocking-filler, nip along to the Emporium, Cromarty High Street for a copy, priced at £5.00.

At 3.00pm members of the Cromarty Peace Group rang cow bells and school bells, hooted car horns and pounded on drums to accompany the peal of the Courthouse bell. They joined bellringers around the world in a call to action on global warming. The bells were tolled 350 times, a number that refers to what many scientists consider a safe level of carbon dioxide in the air. In Copenhagen, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams participated in an interfaith celebration at which they rang the bells of Copenhagen’s Lutheran Cathedral 350 times.