Quintin Jardine's blog

Normally Bob would not approve of rudeness, but those were exceptional circumstances. Glad you like the cover treatment. I’ll look out for that artist.

And thank you also.

Since my nation will be based in Scotland for this World Cup, my interest will not be 100%, but if I don’t watch all the games live, I’ll catch up on the highlights programmes. I suspect that the All Whites would struggle to beat the Thursday Legends, but if we can’t be there, I’m glad they are. My tip to hoist the trophy? I can’t see past Brazil, but if Spain don’t bottle it, they have a chance. The Germans and the Italians always do well, but nobody seems to be rating Argentina. Messi’s had a hard season in Spain, but he’s young and strong, and he’s the best on the planet at the moment. Any side with him in it must have a chance. England? They’re all tired, plus they’re relying too much on one player, as they always do. I can’t see them in the final without a very helpful draw. They may be capable of beating anyone but Spain and Brazil, but it’s highly unlikely they’d get all the way without coming up against one or the other.

Not quite on the border; around 45 minutes away. You should visit. Indeed everyone should visit St Marti, but not all at once.

No to your first question and yes to the second. See you there?

To be honest I don’t know ether. i have people who’re supposed to do such things for me. Time I banged the table, perhaps.

You Canadians have sharp eyes. Yes, I do know about it, bit every so often I like to set a test for readers. If authors can make mistakes then so can characters, and for that reason, I’m going to leave it.

Thanks for the thought. The name has been around for centuries; maybe it’s time I took a look.

I’ve just posted some updates and revised timings for the ‘Rush of Blood’ launch tour and for other dates. Check ‘Events’ for details.

Thanks for that feedback. It’s useful to know that the Kindle actually does what it says on the tin. Now, about your confusion: I suggest that you go back to the end of Coffin for Two and read the relevant passage very carefully. You won’t find a name there, and for one very good reason. When I wrote that, not even I knew the direction that  he was going to take. One ting you have to understand about Oz; he leda very complicated life. Or, is he still leading it?

Given your professional situation, you might be writing books, rather than reading them. You don’t tell me much about your story, but I’ll bet it’s a fascinating one. I hope your life gets quieter soon.

I never post those, unless they’re on a book. That might seem a little Scottish, but there are good reasons for it.

Yes, and very soon. A Rush of Blood will be released on June 10, as my website will tell you. Signed copies can be pre-ordered through http://www.campbellreadbooks.com.

Sorry to learn about your mum. I lost mine a few years ago; there’s no way of preparing for it. But maybe you could think of it this way; from now on, you’ll be reading for two. London? Yes, that is a possibility, within the next month. As soon as I have something concrete, I’ll post it on site, under events.

The familiarity with Melbourne comes from my having been a guest at that Festival a couple of years ago. I’d love to go back, and to do Brisbane, but a few things have to happen for that dream to come true. It’d be nice, though.

Nice name. May I use it for a character? As for your comment, I’m not even close to understanding it, so I can’t respond.

No can do, I’m afraid. It would be a lot easier for you to change your birthday.

I don’t know, Steve, but I’ll make a promise: if it isn’t on my terms, never.

Things you remember, things you’ll never forget. When Kennedy was shot, when Elvis died, when Thatcher resigned; the time and the place that I heard of each one of those era-ending events is burned on my memory. Now I have another. On Tuesday evening, I was on a Ryanair plane at Edinburgh Airport, strapped in my seat, waiting for the remaining passengers to board. With the door still open, I checked my Blackberry (yes, I’m afraid I have one) and learned courtesy of the BBC, that Gordon Brown had resigned and advised the Queen to send for David Cameron.

Readers of my blog, and before that my journal, will know that I have been a vigorous opponent of the former PM throughout his term of office. I never believed that he was the right man for the job, and when it came to the test more than 70% of the voting electorate agreed with me. Well, he’s history now. I hope very much that he will enjoy his future, as a father, and in whatever other roles he’s asked, or chooses, to fill. My wife reckons he should teach politics. I’m not so sure about that, given that there was a  lot he neglected to learn himself. Who knows? Maybe, now that he has the time, he’ll pay more attention to what’s on his own doorstep and turn his attention to his homeland. He’s a figure of vast  experience of high office, and even I would acknowledge that he’s bring gravitas to the debating chamber in the Holyrood parliament, if he chose to leave Westminster behind him. God knows, if his party needs him anywhere it’s in Scotland. For all that our anti-Tory hysteria maintained Labour’s vote share last week, it has its troubles. Its Scottish parliamentary leadership is light-weight, and in its biggest power base, Glasgow it’s enmeshed in a scandal so bizarre that it ‘s best left satire-free.

But back to that plane. When it took off, I knew that Brown was out and Dave was in, but I didn’t know about the double act. After all Clegg’s shenanigans and shape-shifting in the days after the election I assumed that we’d have a minority Tory government. But no, true to their lack of principle to the last, the Lib Dems, did it; they sold out. The price?  A disproportionate number of ministerial cars. Not the outcome I’d expected or wanted but . . .

It’s what we’ve got, and given the job that needs to be done in the deeply Disunited Kingdom, it behoves us all, in my opinion, to cross our fingers, trust in the sincerity of all parties, and hope that the medication they prescribe will cure the national ills.