Knowing for the past few weeks that this moment was fast approaching didn’t make it any less heartbreaking to hear the news early this morning that Janey had died. Janey Godley truly was a force of nature, and one of the funniest people I have ever known. I was able to visit her in the hospice a couple of weeks ago and though she was fragile, she still had me in stitches. Janey was also incredibly kind. And she made the world a better place. A bond was forged between us in the darkest days of Covid when her famous voiceovers of my daily briefings went viral. In the toughest of times, she made people laugh – and that was precious. She did more that that though. In managing to project the serious public health messages of my briefings to a much wider audience than I would have managed alone, she helped save lives. The photos on this post are from an @ayewriteglasgow event we did together last year – it was a special night. I was so proud to call Janey a friend and will miss her hugely. My heart goes out to her family and many friends – they are in my thoughts today. I know Frank will have been there, holding the door for her as she went – with a tear in his eye, as I have in mine. RIP my friend ❤️
Knowing for the past few weeks that this moment was fast approaching didn’t make it any less heartbreaking to hear the news early this morning that Janey had died. Janey Godley truly was a force of nature, and one of the funniest people I have ever known. I was able to visit her in the hospice a couple of weeks ago and though she was fragile, she still had me in stitches. Janey was also incredibly kind. And she made the world a better place. A bond was forged between us in the darkest days of Covid when her famous voiceovers of my daily briefings went viral. In the toughest of times, she made people laugh – and that was precious. She did more that that though. In managing to project the serious public health messages of my briefings to a much wider audience than I would have managed alone, she helped save lives. The photos on this post are from an @ayewriteglasgow event we did together last year – it was a special night. I was so proud to call Janey a friend and will miss her hugely. My heart goes out to her family and many friends – they are in my thoughts today. I know Frank will have been there, holding the door for her as she went – with a tear in his eye, as I have in mine. RIP my friend ❤️
Knowing for the past few weeks that this moment was fast approaching didn’t make it any less heartbreaking to hear the news early this morning that Janey had died. Janey Godley truly was a force of nature, and one of the funniest people I have ever known. I was able to visit her in the hospice a couple of weeks ago and though she was fragile, she still had me in stitches. Janey was also incredibly kind. And she made the world a better place. A bond was forged between us in the darkest days of Covid when her famous voiceovers of my daily briefings went viral. In the toughest of times, she made people laugh – and that was precious. She did more that that though. In managing to project the serious public health messages of my briefings to a much wider audience than I would have managed alone, she helped save lives. The photos on this post are from an @ayewriteglasgow event we did together last year – it was a special night. I was so proud to call Janey a friend and will miss her hugely. My heart goes out to her family and many friends – they are in my thoughts today. I know Frank will have been there, holding the door for her as she went – with a tear in his eye, as I have in mine. RIP my friend ❤️
Ten years ago. The hope and the heartbreak. #StillYes
So lovely to catch up with the legend that is @alancummingreally last night (fresh from winning not one but two Emmys!) The beautiful Lala was there too – the only dog on the planet I’m not terrified of
Showtime. Today, 4pm, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh – @quineofcrime and I will take to the stage for the first of our In the Company of Books shows. Delighted that we will be joined by the legends that are @alancummingreally and @paulahawkins2010. If you are coming along, thank you – can’t wait to see you for some serious book chat and lots of festive fun 📚🎄
Hard to believe that @scotparl is 25 years old, and even more so that I have been a member for all that time – a quarter of a century and almost half my life. Just 13 of the 129 MSPs elected in 1999 remain members today. It is, and always has been, a privilege. My highlight of today was listening to the brilliant @sistemascotland Big Noise orchestra – which has a base in Govanhill in my constituency- perform Highland Cathedral. #scotparl25
Hard to believe that @scotparl is 25 years old, and even more so that I have been a member for all that time – a quarter of a century and almost half my life. Just 13 of the 129 MSPs elected in 1999 remain members today. It is, and always has been, a privilege. My highlight of today was listening to the brilliant @sistemascotland Big Noise orchestra – which has a base in Govanhill in my constituency- perform Highland Cathedral. #scotparl25
Hard to believe that @scotparl is 25 years old, and even more so that I have been a member for all that time – a quarter of a century and almost half my life. Just 13 of the 129 MSPs elected in 1999 remain members today. It is, and always has been, a privilege. My highlight of today was listening to the brilliant @sistemascotland Big Noise orchestra – which has a base in Govanhill in my constituency- perform Highland Cathedral. #scotparl25
Hard to believe that @scotparl is 25 years old, and even more so that I have been a member for all that time – a quarter of a century and almost half my life. Just 13 of the 129 MSPs elected in 1999 remain members today. It is, and always has been, a privilege. My highlight of today was listening to the brilliant @sistemascotland Big Noise orchestra – which has a base in Govanhill in my constituency- perform Highland Cathedral. #scotparl25
Hard to believe that @scotparl is 25 years old, and even more so that I have been a member for all that time – a quarter of a century and almost half my life. Just 13 of the 129 MSPs elected in 1999 remain members today. It is, and always has been, a privilege. My highlight of today was listening to the brilliant @sistemascotland Big Noise orchestra – which has a base in Govanhill in my constituency- perform Highland Cathedral. #scotparl25
Hard to believe that @scotparl is 25 years old, and even more so that I have been a member for all that time – a quarter of a century and almost half my life. Just 13 of the 129 MSPs elected in 1999 remain members today. It is, and always has been, a privilege. My highlight of today was listening to the brilliant @sistemascotland Big Noise orchestra – which has a base in Govanhill in my constituency- perform Highland Cathedral. #scotparl25
Hard to believe that @scotparl is 25 years old, and even more so that I have been a member for all that time – a quarter of a century and almost half my life. Just 13 of the 129 MSPs elected in 1999 remain members today. It is, and always has been, a privilege. My highlight of today was listening to the brilliant @sistemascotland Big Noise orchestra – which has a base in Govanhill in my constituency- perform Highland Cathedral. #scotparl25
A beautiful day for a train journey from London (after a great couple of days there) back to Edinburgh. This was taken just we crossed the border back into Scotland
Books, cocktails and chat with a pal @annemclaughlinsnp – what more could anyone want on a Saturday afternoon. Glasgow’s newest bar @thelastbookstorebar is amazingly good.
Thrilled to be joining forces with my pal @quineofcrime to bring our love of books to the stage – first at Edinburgh’s Christmas Festival on 15 December and then at @glasgowcomedy on 22 March next year. We have some absolutely cracking guests lined up and we would love you to join us. Tickets on sale here: Tix on sale here: https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas/whats-on/val-mcdermid-and-nicola-sturgeon-in-the-company-of-books And here https://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/events/books-banter-with-val-mcdermid-nicola-sturgeon/ And here’s what it is all about in our own words: Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon said ‘Books are magic. Portable magic, according to Stephen King. And like magic, books build bridges. In our case, an improbable friendship between a passionate politician and Scotland’s queen of crime. Our love of books is what first drew us together and it remains the mainstay of that friendship. Every conversation we have eventually meanders round to the books we are reading, what we’ve been enjoying, what has been making us laugh or cry, or keeping us on the edge of our seats. And now we want to share the love. ‘First up, festive fun at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms with two stellar mystery guests; then off to the Glasgow International Comedy Festival where we’ll be joined by two top names from the comedy world. We’ll be interrogating our guests about the books that shaped them and why they love reading. Revelations galore await as we explore the love and laughter between the covers.’
Thrilled to be joining forces with my pal @quineofcrime to bring our love of books to the stage – first at Edinburgh’s Christmas Festival on 15 December and then at @glasgowcomedy on 22 March next year. We have some absolutely cracking guests lined up and we would love you to join us. Tickets on sale here: Tix on sale here: https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas/whats-on/val-mcdermid-and-nicola-sturgeon-in-the-company-of-books And here https://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/events/books-banter-with-val-mcdermid-nicola-sturgeon/ And here’s what it is all about in our own words: Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon said ‘Books are magic. Portable magic, according to Stephen King. And like magic, books build bridges. In our case, an improbable friendship between a passionate politician and Scotland’s queen of crime. Our love of books is what first drew us together and it remains the mainstay of that friendship. Every conversation we have eventually meanders round to the books we are reading, what we’ve been enjoying, what has been making us laugh or cry, or keeping us on the edge of our seats. And now we want to share the love. ‘First up, festive fun at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms with two stellar mystery guests; then off to the Glasgow International Comedy Festival where we’ll be joined by two top names from the comedy world. We’ll be interrogating our guests about the books that shaped them and why they love reading. Revelations galore await as we explore the love and laughter between the covers.’
Before the year is out, here are some of the novels from 2024 that I have most enjoyed. There are a few not in the pic as I have lent my copies to people or left them in my office. These are: Caledonian Road – @andrewohaganauthor To the Dogs – @louisewelsh550 The Future – @naomi_alderman The Dark Wives – @anncleeves9aa7 The Safe Keep – @yaelwouden
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined @quineofcrime and me last night for our In the Company of Books show. We had a blast. Special thanks to our brilliant guests @alancummingreally and @paulahawkins2010
📚 There aren’t many better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than browsing in a bookshop. My haul today consisted of three of this year’s @thebookerprizes shortlist – by @charlottewoodwriter @realrachelkushner @yaelwouden – and the one in pic 2 (mentioned in @hillaryclinton new book) about the battle for women’s right to vote in the USA #books #reading
📚 There aren’t many better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than browsing in a bookshop. My haul today consisted of three of this year’s @thebookerprizes shortlist – by @charlottewoodwriter @realrachelkushner @yaelwouden – and the one in pic 2 (mentioned in @hillaryclinton new book) about the battle for women’s right to vote in the USA #books #reading
Great to talk to @the.scotsman with @quineofcrime about books (reading and writing them), friendship and our upcoming festive show with @alancummingreally and @paulahawkins2010. Join us on 15 December for interesting chat, lots of laughs and festive fun https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas/whats-on/val-mcdermid-and-nicola-sturgeon-in-the-company-of-books Interview here https://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/the-advice-nicola-sturgeon-got-from-val-mcdermid-on-writing-her-memoir-from-friendship-to-fiction-4891393
Join @quineofcrime and @nicolasturgeon as they discuss why reading matters, and reveal the books they have loved, loathed, laughed at and, in a few cases, argued over! Joined on stage by special comedy guests. Lively chat and lots of laughs guaranteed on what promises to be a brilliant – and revelatory – evening! 😂Books and Banter with Val McDermid & Nicola Sturgeon 🗓Sat 22nd March 2025 📍King’s Theatre, Glasgow 🎟🔗 in bio!
ICYMI yesterday, @quineofcrime and I are taking our love of books to the stage 15 December @4pm – Assembly Hall, Edinburgh tix – https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas/whats-on/val-mcdermid-and-nicola-sturgeon-in-the-company-of-books 22 March 2025 @ 5pm – King’s Theatre, Glasgow tix – https://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/events/books-banter-with-val-mcdermid-nicola-sturgeon/
