FF#25: Finally visit The Scottish Parliament

Debating Chamber selfie

I used to be into politics. Quite heavily. Student politics to start with, and I went on to be a Westminster candidate in 2001. I worked for a Member of Parliament and went to on be a Parliamentary Officer, lobbying the Scottish Parliamentarians for the interests of enviromental organisations and later, community pharmacy. I was seconded to the Scottish Parliament as a political party researcher.

But until the end of July 2014 I'd never been to visit the purpose-built Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood. Back in my day, the Parliament met in the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall on the Mound and kept it's offices round about George IV Bridge. I went on maternity leave in 2004, the new Parliament building opened later that year and I never went back to work. And kind of lost my enthusiasm for all that stuff (but not my enthusiam for social justice, feminism or the Labour Party, I hasten to add).

So what do I think? I like it. It's an irregular, unpredictable kind of building - it make me think of the irregular, unpredictable nature of well-executed politics, addressing problems as they arise and avoiding cookie-cutter solutions. There was an exhibition of a tapestry showing Scotland's history, which I really liked. The staff were helpful and fairly friendly. The debating chamber was shiny. My lovely hubby visits there with work and could give us directions, which helped.

Scott and Helen quite liked it.

Parliament visited! Another one off the list!