Quintin Jardine's blog

Let’s not call it a sequel, for it will be much more than  that. The next Skinner . . . other enquirers please note . . . will be published in a year’s time.

Yes indeed, was it not? Hope it didn’t keep you awake.

What do you mean by ‘scheming brain’?

No, there is no mention of Euro ’96 in Grievous Angel. Neither I Bob Skinner, nor, I am sure Colin Hendry, should he chance upon the book, care to be reminded of Gazza’s goal at Wembley. I prefer to recall the one he didn’t score, against Germany, but I couldn’t work that into the plot.

You lived above the old Electric Bar? I was at the official opening of its replacement; one of the guests sang a number  called ‘Cock a Doodle Do’, (the lyrics of which are best left unrecorded on this blog) and a senior councillor became extremely obstreperous and was only persuaded to leave when the management provided him with a free carry-oot. It was a snowy night, he took some time to make it home, and contracted a fairly serious bout of pleurisy as a direct result. I remember your Uncle Andrew being about Fir Park; he had a nickname, but I can no longer recall it.

I would like to have met your Auntie Nell. As you say, for one person to live in three different centuries must be very rare indeed. I have read Dorothy L, but I confess that I always preferred Mr Albert Campion to Lord Peter.

I received a missive today from a frequent and treasured correspondent, a long time emigrant of the United  States. I hope that I do not put that friendship at risk by sharing with you, but I don’t believe I will. God bless you, John, thank you, and keep ’em coming.

You always impress us with the depth and reality of Bob Skinner and the characters around him.. With FUNERAL NOTE

you have truly outdone yourself. It’s brilliant characterization throughout, set in an intriguing plot. Your literary “experiment”

to get inside these characters’ heads works beautifully, familiar as they are to me by now. I was most intrigued. While i do

admire him, I’m not sure I’d want Bob near my daughters. Socially, I mean.

 In addition, I re-read many times the few paragraphs on PP 60 and 61, where you develop Aileen’s thinking about her

differences with Bob Skinner. I’m with Skinner in their argument.  I wonder if you based some of the “gridlock”

aspects of their opposing mindsets on the current gridlock in the U.S. Congress, where ideology is conflicting head-on

with pragmatism and common sense, with nothing good ever decided. (God help the U.S. if Obama gets another four

years come November.)

 I note with interest your frequent references to rugby, using it as a characterization device, implying, I believe, a

certain “bigness” and “roughness.” As a former rugger player at Watsons and Strathallan, and in “rugby sevens”

throughout the Border towns, I wonder if your American readers get the point. Only today is rugby getting any national

TV exposure over here. By the way, my cousin Graham Young, now aging in Edinburgh, was capped as Scotland’s

scrum-half year’s back. Dad’s old pal, my “uncle George” Murray, was a power in the Scottish Rugby Union back then.

Sir Garth might remember him, as Courtney Morrison (a magnificent Watsonian forward) surely would have.

 I cry for Scotland. A note from a friend recently visiting talks about “Hardly once, in any cafe, railway tube station,

restaurant, hotel, gas staion did we encounter a British employee. Every low paid service worker was Eastern

European, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Pakistani or other Asian, though they all seemed to work hard. Everything

has changed, and I’m not sure for the better.”  She could have written the same about California or New York. We “Anglos”

are becoming the minority here.

 I note you are in Spain, I hope their frightening economic problems don’t adversely affect your stay there. I assume

you still call quaint and peaceful Gullane home. I recall the week my Dad — G.H.P. “Podge” Alexander — wardened

at Muirfield’s 9th during The Open. He would only handle the 9th. “It’s closest to the bar,” he said..  

 Best regards, and much admiration,

 John  (now approaching  87).