■ An anti-smoking lobby in the council means one or two members are baling out of the chamber and into the ‘lobby’ during meetings to have a quiet drag. When one particular councillor got up and left his seat, Miss Maclean thought he was blowing her a kiss. In fact he was exhaling an imaginary smoke ring as he exited temporarily. He was followed by a fellow member on a similar mission (emission?). At the end of the proceedings (in the chamber) Miss Maclean remarked to the local press that their representatives looked as if they had gone to sleep. No wonder!
■ Coach driver making his first foray to the Fort. He had been advised by Midlands HQ to look out for Ballachulish Bridge on his way north. After going round by Kinlochleven he finally spotted the bridge and dutifully crossed it. It wasn’t until he found himself back in Glencoe he realised that his was one tour party going round in circles.
■ Mr and Mrs James Taylor from Great Missenden went up the Ben last week. Nothing unusual in that. They had been up the Ben before, this time last year. However, on that occasion they forgot their camera to record the fact they had stood on the summit.