I KNOW it’s a bit early, but all at Northings would like take the opportunity of wishing our readers and contributors a very Happy Christmas and a Good New Year.

IN THE original version of my Editorial which appeared briefly on the site this month, I accused H2007 of missing a valuable opportunity for a promotional exercise at Celtic Connections this year, based on the interview I conducted with Donald Shaw.

A BUSY couple of weeks are in store over in Argyll this month, with the Cowalfest kicking in on 5 October for ten days, and the Royal National Mod (Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail) taking place there from 13-21 October. Two of Scotland’s leading cultural commentators, Brian Morton and Michael Russell, just happen to reside in that neck of the woods, and both are featured in Northings this month.

FOLLOWING in the wake of last month’s Tartan Heart Festival at Belladrum and the Nairn International Jazz Festival comes the second full-scale running of Blas, a Highland-wide celebration of Gaelic music, language and culture.

THE SAD NEWS of the death of Jim Love arrived just as I was finishing this Editorial. As arts writer and latterly editor of the Inverness Courier, Jim was a much-loved and highly respected supporter of the arts in the Highlands and Islands, and his participation extended to an active role in promoting jazz in the city over many years.

THE SHOWCASE FINAL of the Highland Quest will produce a winner for development as a full stage musical next year, but as Carol Metcalfe explains in a feature this month, the process is by no means over for the lucky team.

THE ST MAGNUS FESTIVAL in Orkney (www.stmagnusfestival.com ) takes centre stage on the festival merry-go-round this month, but there is no question where the biggest crowd will gather. That will be in the tiny village of Dores on Loch Ness, when 20,000 are expected to descend for the Loch Ness Monster (www.rockness.co.uk ) event, featuring Fatboy Slim and Skye-born Mylo on the bill.

AWARD-WINNING novelist Ali Smith is the subject of this month’s main interview, and there is no coincidence in the fact that Dogstar Theatre will be touring a production of her play ‘The Seer’ in May and June.

HIGHLAND 2007 is still several months away, but the momentum is clearly building towards the year of Highland culture. Several of our contributions this month allude in various ways to it, and the announcement of the five ‘finalists’ in Highland Quest has brought another reminder that the event is creeping closer. Inevitably, it will be an increasing preoccupation in the months to come.

THE HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS seemed to do particularly well out of the National Theatre of Scotland’s much anticipated launch event, ‘Home’. We carry reviews of all four of the H&I-based shows, and several more from furth of the region.