Chatterbox

After 33 years at Rosemarkie Stores, Jill Anderson is now enjoying a well deserved retirement. She features on the cover of the Spring edition, and inside we learn all about her.

At the other end of the scale, Roddy MacInnes is just embarking on a career as a garage owner (although he has many years behind him working for other people). We join him in his premises at Newhall Bridge.

Poyntzfield Herb Nursery is just around the corner, but owners Duncan and Yuriko Ross were to be found in Africa over the winter where they shared their horticultural knowledge with Kenyan schoolchildren. Duncan told us all about it.

Back on the Black Isle, the big news was the winter storms which washed away part of the shoreline next to Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club, leaving it with huge repair bills. Sandy Mitchell finds out what needs to be done.

On a lighter note, Sandy shares with us some of his ageing but still perfectly serviceable home appliances. Do you still use an antique kettle or a venerable vacuum? We want to know.

Crime returns to Cromarty in May when some big names assemble for the annual Crime and Thrillers Weekend. Anthony Horowitz, JD Kirk, Donna Freed and Marsali Taylor are just some of the writers joining Ian Rankin for talks at The Stables. We preview the weekend.

Finding overlooked spots for community gardens and food growing in Fortrose and Rosemarkie is the aim of Regenerate Our Green Space. Founder and chairperson Morag Bramwell tells us about their plans and achievements so far.

And there’s more, in another bumper edition of Chatterbox. Don’t miss it!

Russell Turner, Editor