THE PAST year has been, without doubt, a strange one with shocks such as the EU referendum result and election of Donald Trump to the White House and tragedies including the savage conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
But there has been much to cheer as well, not least domestically. This year just ending has been a bumper one for the local economy, with a tourism boom and the heartening news this month that the aluminium smelter in Lochaber has not only been saved but is to expand and create many more jobs.
Let’s hope we all have reason to say 2017 is a happy new year. Best wishes to you all.