Holyrood Notes - Recess doesn’t always make for a relaxing holiday

There will not be a member of the Scottish Parliament who is not delighted to get off the merry-go-round of the week away from the constituency to Parliament in Edinburgh with associated travel and being able - for just a few weeks - to live a life that is a little less intense.

That is not to say we are all going to be putting our feet up till the beginning of September when Parliament resumes - especially those of us who hold ministerial responsibilities. Far from it. In my case, within 24 hours of Parliament rising, I was en route to France to represent the Government at commemorations of the Battle of the Somme. I was privileged to lay two wreaths at Contalmaison to commemorate the Scots who fell there and villagers who died elsewhere during the Great War.

Then it was back home for a series of ministerial visits in Aberdeen, Perth, Edinburgh, Greenock and Erskine before finishing week one of the summer recess by holding constituency surgeries in Northmuir, Letham and Arbroath.

I will not pretend it will be all work over the coming weeks. Like most parliamentarians I have a holiday planned. And in my case, there will be a round of golf or two fitted in! But just as the summer offers us a chance to take the foot off the gas a little it also opens the opportunity to get out and about in a way that being tied to parliament gets in the way of.

Recess gives us the time to rebalance our activities. On top of many visits linked to my role as Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Minister for Veterans being in the pipeline, there will be no shortage of constituency surgeries, other meetings held, or events attended. I am, for example, looking forward to opening a new banking hub in Carnoustie that will go a long way to alleviate the impact of recent bank closures, and following two full days of surgeries I will be making visits to highlight Alcohol Awareness Week and Disability Pride Month.

All this thankfully comes at a less frantic pace than when Parliament is sitting, because we all need to recharge our batteries, to allow us to go again with renewed vigour.