My husband and I were invited to a viewing of the Goya exhibition at the National Gallery of Scotland last night. I like to visit galleries and think that I am open to appreciating most creative work. I have to say that although I could admire the work Goya put into the etchings they did not do much for me but that would not stop me recommending that anyone else should go.

It’s all a matter of taste isn’t it? What I find pleasing will be a complete turnoff for someone else.  I know though that I am not qualified to say what is good and what is not!

My son has been working on a university essay on the architect Zaha Hadid. I knew very little about her except that she was the designer of the new Maggies Cancer Care Centre in Kirkcaldy in Scotland and that having her design it was a bit of coup. However having read a good deal of the information he gathered I really admire what she has achieved. I have reservations about some of the buildings but that is again personal choice.

Like may Scots I have been concerned about the design ( and indeed the cost) of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. I have been in the debating chamber a couple of times and it leaves me cold. But with this new insight to the work of an architect I can now recognise and admire the talent and vision its designer Enric Miralles had.

I think it would be a pity to miss out on experiencing something that might actually turn out to be interesting by starting with a closed mind and I am inspired to challenge myself by taking another look at things I though I did not like but can’t remember why!