AS A MEMBER of the Scottish Parliament, each week is very different. I work closely with constituents regarding personal issues they may have, addressing local issues and taking an active role in committees within the Scottish Parliament.

The following are some of the constituency visits and Parliament appointments I attended last week.

Last Monday, I had appointments with constituents at the Brunton Hall.

Last Tuesday, I chaired the first meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Ukraine.

Last Wednesday morning, I attended the weekly Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting and later I chaired a meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Deafness.

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Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of opening the new BP Monktonhall Petrol Station near Old Craighall.

The facilities look state of the art and the investment has really improved the area. I wish the team there the best of success.

Later, I attended a public hearing at Musselburgh Racecourse, where I was able to officially air my concerns about the plans to redraw the constituency of Midlothian North and Musselburgh.

On Friday, after my telephone constituency surgery, I visited Mayfield and I met with members of community groups to get an update on plans to regenerate the town centre.

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Over the weekend, I had the pleasure to attend a service of readings and carols at Crichton Collegiate Church.

As I write, I am looking forward to meeting pupils from primary five and primary seven at Loretto RC Primary School.

It can be difficult to fully prepare for the questions I am likely to face from the bright young minds. At the school, I will be handing prizes to a couple of winners of my Christmas card competition, which is one of the highlights of my year. Congratulations to all the winners.

It is always busy and varied being an MSP. My job is to better the lives of those I serve. If you have any concerns or issues you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I am here to help.