PICTURES: Ross-shire review of 2020 - concluding part of a look back over the year no one will forget
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DOES 2020 already seem like a distant memory - or has the continued concern over the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic made not just the days, weeks and months - but also the years - blur into one?
Concluding a look back at a momentous year through the pages of the Ross-shire Journal, we find that while the health pandemic dominated the headlines, the people of the county got on with life as best they could, showing resilience and community spirit throughout.
We've included links to some of the stories and pictures that stood out during an unforgettable year.
In July, despite the restrictions of learning from home, Dingwall Academy pupils pressed ahead with a Youth and Philanthropy Initiative charity pitch, earning £8000 to be split between two grateful causes, Ross-shire Women's Aid and Mikeysline.
Pupils collaborated from their homes and put together pitches that dealt a welcome lockdown boost to charities struggling with funding and the restrictions imposed by Covid-19.
Hilton of Cadboll teacher Catriona MacRae climbed the equivalent of Mount Kilimanjaro – on the stairs of her Tain home – to boost the coffers of Mikeysline.
The teacher raised £1500, boosted on a task that had its ups and downs by supportive messages from around the world.
Adventurous tortoise Saffy went on the run from a holiday cottage by Loch Broom last July – eluding capture for almost a year before being found – none-the-worse from her 'shellish' winter ordeal.
Her stunned Fife owners were "gobsmacked" by their plucky pet's hardiness.
Former police officer Brenda Jack spoke out after waiting 28 hours for a personal response to a reported break-in at her Dingwall home. She had reported gouge marks on her patio doors.
She said she was keen to encourage people to ensure their home security was up to scratch. Police said they assess all calls for appropriate response.
Applecross volunteers cleaned up after "filthy louts" made a mess of several beauty spots amid growing tension over a rise in visitor numbers from other parts of the country, particularly the North Coast 500 area.
In Invergordon, plans for a path that would set lockdown memories in stone for generations to come gathered pace.
Children and their parents responded enthusiastically with volunteer Suzie Legge mobilising the effort and spending countless hours while on furlough varnishing hundreds of hand-painted stones. The path was unveiled to great delight later in the year.
In August, the Wilson family in Alness revealed plans for a new business that would bring several of their shop interests under one roof at Dalmore Farm.
It was enthusiastically received locally and later secured planning approval.
The Invergordon RNLI lifeboat didn't have fare to go when alerted to two wild swimmers who had got into difficulties and sought refuge on an anchor chain of the semi-submersible Well Safe Guardian.
A Ross-shire loch gave up its secrets again as water levels dropped so low as to reveal sections of an old road, bridges and croft ruins.
Loch Glascarnoch, a man-made reservoir flooded in the 1950s, was much lower than normal after a dry spring. A series of photographs taken by Phil Murray intrigued readers.
Young people in Alness enjoyed some outdoor activities in sessions offered by The Place youth group.
A group of fifth year pupils at Dingwall Academy were pictured jumping for joy after securing five A-grade passes in exams which had been subject to a review over re-assessment of results following a Covid-related cancellation of exams.
If the stress of a five-month lockdown wasn't enough, a moderation of results by the SQA was later deemed unfit for purpose and overturned.
Mental health charity Mikeysline revealed three new well-known ambassadors, amongst them Easter Ross strongman Luke Stoltman and Ross County legend, Scott Boyd. Hollywood film star Karen Gillan has also acted as an advocate for the text line service.
In September, the restrictions around Covid-19 raised the question of the mental health impact on people in care homes.
The families of some loved ones were desperately keen to see them face to face in situations where it was not possible.
Fitness fanatics began making a cautious return to gyms under new access arrangements which included one-way systems and social distancing.
Muir of Ord Golf Club was reaping the benefit of a return to outdoor sport in wide open spaces, reporting a sharp rise in membership after a lockdown. "It was amazing. As soon as we started playing golf again, people couldn't join quickly enough," said club manager John Forbes.
Fearn Farm declared an online sale, developed through a New Zealand-based platform, a roaring success. The farm's John Scott said: "It would be fair to say that despite a couple of technical issues the sale was a resounding success with a 100 per cent clearance rate for 112 rams, 281 gimmers averaging £925 and £140 respectively.
"Forty-six rams breached the £1000 mark with two making over £2000 to a top of £2175 whilst gimmers sold to a top £155 for a pen of Aberfield cross gimmers."
The Egg Box on the Black Isle, a self-service vending machine operation which proved a godsend for many during the lockdown, bounced back from a botched break-in that caused damage to its equipment.
An image of the suspect was widely shared on social media and the operator set about replacing the equipment to widespread local acclaim.
Quick action prevented potential disaster when peat around a Caledonian pine forest ignited from a camp fire incident on one of the Loch Maree islands that forms part of the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.
Gairloch Fire Service joined local estate and reserve staff in dampening down the fire.
The NNR drew attention to the outdoor access code and said open fires should never be used during prolonged, dry periods or in areas like forests. Firefighters and estate staff were prased for their swift response.
In October, there was a rallying call to support local business in Dingwall as it emerged another bank was set to close.
The TSB flagged its plans just months after the Clydesdale pulled the plug on the country town.
An open air market day in Invergordon was hailed a sell-out success.
Invergordon Development Trust said some traders sold out of stock at the Natal Gardens event staged with socially distancing measures in place.
Residents at Innis Mhor care home in Tain staged their own take on the Oscars.
The fun event was one of several staged during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Black Isle Showground was used by a local GP practice for a swift programme of flu vaccination and proved a great success with patients hailing an efficient drive-through service.
Dr Ross Jaffrey said: "I think it was the most delightful day I have had since this pandemic started. It's the human contact we are missing. It's the joy of the job." Most people were in and out within10 minutes.
Ullapool Sea Savers were featured on a documentary by Prince William on environmental issues.
We had reported throughout lockdown on a local fundraising drive to secure a new wheelchair for Dylan Bogue (21), an Alness man greatly limited in his mobility by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
He took delivery of an all-terrain Extreme X8 after hitting a fundraising target of over £21,000, reigniting hopes of living life to the full. He said the heartfelt support received during lockdown had given his mental health a great boost.
In November, the James Support Group set up by Patrick and Wendy Mullery achieved charity status, paving the way for it to expand to serve areas including Tain and Dingwall as well as Aviemore, Wick, Thurso and Nairn.
The suicide prevention group set up by the Black Isle couple in memory of their late son had struck a chord with many. Mr Mullery said everyone could play a part by checking in on friends and family and listening carefully to their response. He said: "You never know what is going on behind that smile so avoid a cross word and be considerate and courteous."
Pensioner Ethel Urquhart (78) broke her own record for making up shoebox gifts for charity Blythswood Care's annual drive.
The retired care home worker insisted that what she was doing was "nothing special" and that she eas motivated by knowing they were handed direct to people who would benefit. She collected 18 boxes the when she started a decade ago. Last year she packed 355 with the help of a network of friends.
Tensions over the extension coronavirus restrictions prompted tension from some businesses still hoping to salvage something from the year.
Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone warned some tourism businesses were already "on their knees" and risked going under while Tory MSP Edward Mountain said localised tiers were the way forward.
In December, there were calls for support for “frazzled” teachers as cancellation of exams prompted concerns of
more pressure on staff already playing a key role keeping schools open in a year of unprecedented change.
The year ended on an optimistic hope of light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations starting...
Related: Ross-shire review of 2020 - January to December
