Tuesday August 26th 2025
Christine Grahame MSP
Christine Grahame MSP writes her monthly column for Midlothian View
The Scottish Parliament, just like the UK Parliament, has been in recess for the months of July and August. Recess means the Parliament does not “sit” so there are no debates, no committee meetings and no questions to the First Minister. You can still put down written questions and motions, however. Constituent’s cases, problems, still come in so my office and I are still busy.
Columns for newspapers also continue throughout the summer. I do eight. While my weekly TESCO surgeries are suspended till we return, I do visit businesses and organizations and events, such as the Peebles and Borders Agricultural shows where I speak with the many charities represented there.
I also have my Summer Surgery Tour where I stop off at smaller communities and details of that are posted out in my Annual Report. I do have time however to visit family and spent time in London with one of my sons and his family. My goodness if we think we have had it hot here try London. 24 degrees at Kingscross at 10 am!
I travel by train because I hate flying and anyway in my mind it’s a better way to travel. It only takes just over 4 hours from Waverley to Kingscross and no faffing about with security and luggage.
It also leaves time and space to read something other than business papers so I have polished off a Rebus detective mystery, and two autobiographies: Bob Mortimer (of Would I lie to You TV fame) and Miriam Margolyes. I have a penchant for detective stories and autobiographies, though frankly I have yet to read that of a colleague which was recently published.
I like London though not the heat. Last time I did the touristy things: boat down the Thames (to be recommended) and the open top bus (not to be recommended). This time because my daughter-in-law is an official photographer at the V & A we went to se the Cartier exhibition.
All those gems on display no doubt originating from the blood sweat and tears of poor folk. Sorry, that couldn’t escape my thoughts as I looked at that display, yes of skill, but also indulgent wealth.
I now am commanded to go to Canada to visit other son and family and despite my flying phobia, the passport was located and now the tickets are booked, so there is no way out.
I have every sympathy for people with phobias and there is no rationale certainly behind mine. It just is. If there were a train, or a ship which didn’t take weeks to get there believe you me, I’d be on them.
But before all that, I will in the coming days have to turn all my attention to the many cases and issues I have picked up on this, my final, surgery tour. Every stop so far there have been people waiting, which is welcome and shows this is well worthwhile. Then, first week in September we are back to debates, committees and questions as well as those weekly surgeries.
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