Time for Reflection

I love visiting favourite places on the spur of the moment, especially when in a reflective mood rather than work mode! So I was delighted to revisit the wonderful Pollok House in its country park on the outskirts of Glasgow this weekend. The Georgian house itself never fails to impress me, no matter how many times I see it while the grounds and gardens are ideal for a walk in pleasant surroundings.

Although it's now partly looked after by the National Trust, from October until April it belongs to the people of Glasgow and is free to explore during this period. It's a lovely idea as the house is worth seeing more than once. You can take a leisurely walk around the inside by yourself to view the graceful furnishings and wonderful art collection, or let one of the friendly guides explain its fascinating history.

On this occasion, we only went down to the former servants' quarters in the lower floor for coffee and cake in the café housed in the old kitchens with its copper pans still on display. A couple of small shops are now in other former work rooms. On one occasion, the cook's tools were nicely laid out as though for imminent use!

As well as being inspiring, the whole country surroundings of the house are so good for a reflective type of walk and I came home refreshed in every way. Let's hope such a lovely historical setting continues to inspire my writing again.

Rosemary