DO you know of a neglected area or facility in Ross-shire that could use a £20,000 boost and the tender loving care of a specialist building team?

THE notebook hears of an amusing exchange which took place in a sheriff court in Ross-shire over the last few days.

MUIR of Ord village hall was the chosen venue this week for a Highland Council planning committee meeting which followed a site visit to the proposed location for a quarry nearby.

A ROSS-shire man has hit upon an idea to enable people to vent their frustrations at those in power who misuse their positions or betray the public trust — whilst also raising money for local charities and good causes.

IN the course of a recent train journey from Edinburgh to Inverness, the Rev Sandy Glass, retired rector of Dingwall Academy, chatted to two young Spanish brothers Eduardo and Alberto De Frutos from Madrid, who were on their way to spend the weekend in Inverness.

A SHEEPISH motorist nabbed by Ross-shire police whilst using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel of his car in Easter Ross at least had a novel excuse when stopped.

WITH belts tightening in line with rising unemployment and a biting recession, optimists have claimed that deflation has been responsible for bringing down food prices, going some way at least to defray the cost of the dreaded weekly shop.

THE Notebook was contacted this week by Katrina McLeod, principal teacher at Ardrishaig Primary School down in Argyll, who wanted to spread the word about a very brave former Alness woman who is about to take the plunge this weekend.

A DINGWALL man wondering about how to show his affections to his loved ones ahead of Valentine's Day last week thought the answer had fallen into his lap when an unsolicited e-mail landed in his inbox.

WE reported recently on the civic pride in the Black Isle village of Avoch reflected in some eye-catching personalised number plates spotted there.

LIKE most other commercial operations, the DVLA is engaged in its own Christmas campaign, aimed at convincing us to buy things we didn't know we needed.

BILLED as "perhaps the silliest stocking filler of Christmas 2008", a new book brings under one cover some of the unexpected responses from students struggling to answer exam questions they simply haven't prepared for.

DINGWALL mum-to-be Yvonne Simpson turned heads at a Hallowe’en party in Dundee, as our eye-catching picture suggests.

CONSERVATIONISTS have not always seen eye to eye with those working on the land, as readers of the Journal will have noticed over the past few weeks.