Big night out

Certainly the biggest night out I have had since the start of the first lockdown almost 18 months ago and the biggest tent I have seen for even longer. 

The occasion was the Holyrood Magazine Political Garden Party and awards, held in the wonderful surroundings of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh.

Everyone was being very careful about mask wearing, and we had all been asked to have a test before attending.   Jason Leitch, in a very witty but  direct session before dinner (being interviewed by Matt Forde who wasn't half as entertaining) reminded us of how sensible and sensitive we had to be and the message was well received and acted on.

I was also glad to see my old friend Bruce Crawford recognised with an award for being, in the words of the citation, "a veteran MSP who...most characterises the qualities required to have navigated us through all the challenging times."