The thistle.

The cover picture for "Grasping the Thistle" , a book co-authored by Dennis MacLeod and myself (published in 2006) was painted by Argyll artist Jean Bell. A copy sits on the wall of Dennis' study on Vancouver Island whilst the original hangs in my office in the parliament.

As I have just moved offices it has been sitting propped against a wall for a while but now it is on display again.

A reminder to me that there are always thistles that must be grasped !