At an LDYS Scotland meeting this week, I visited the Scottish Parliament for the first time. I’d walked past during its final stages of construction but not been back since. It’s certainly architecturally interesting (although architecture isn’t my forte).

The best bit was visiting the debating chamber which is huge. There are high tech panels on the desks via which MSPs can request to speak, without the indignity of bobbing up and down to catch the Presiding Officer’s eye, and which are used for voting – saving rather a lot of time compared to Westminster.

As luck would have it, I had my camera with me.

A larger-than-life Moon will be the best show on Earth – and better the farther north, according to Sky News.

USB Finger Key for €60 – you’d want one to just to be freaky. Or is that just me? (Via.)

Thank you to everyone who sponsored me. A venerable mixture of work colleagues, Who fans, LibDems and assorted friends took the total raised to over £250.

The walk itself was a bit of a trial. In principle, walking 10km should have taken me under two hours and been quite relaxing. Three factors mitigated against this though:

• Walking with over 4,500 other people, at the speed of the slowest.
• Carrying my rucksack.
• Wearing black as the temperature reached 33°C.

On the plus side, we did finish in the end (two-and-three-quarter hours after starting), at which point we took our rewards – a copy of Heat, a drink and three Bourbon biscuits – and retired to Jubilee Gardens by the London Eye.

Although I look cheerful in the photo, my legs were killing me. They’re much better now although still a bit painful. But, hey, it’s for charity…