Date Published: 1st August 2022
Spending Summer with Isabel Dalhousie
How does our favourite moral philosopher spend her summer in Edinburgh? |
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| Follow in the footsteps of Isabel Dalhousie with a range of activities taken from The Sweet Remnants of Summer.
Visit the Scottish Highlands
Oddly, and for no particular reason, she pictured the mountains of Moidart, a remote and rugged part of the Scottish Highlands. She remembered they had cycled up there once, shortly after they had married, and had stopped by one of those tumbling waterfalls that descend those mountainsides, and are blown by the wind.
Go to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
On this occasion, he and Isabel were preparing to go out to the opening of an exhibition at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Isabel’s housekeeper, Grace, having been engaged to babysit for the evening.
Have lunch at The Chaumer
The Chaumer, a coffee house- cum- bistro described in a restaurant guide as a reassuring pinnacle of old-fashioned good taste, was at the west end of Queen Street, a lengthy thoroughfare lined on its southern side with wellbehaved Georgian buildings. The architecture was typical of the Edinburgh New Town – regular and harmonious, the embodiment in stone of the ideal of order.
Plan a holiday to Italy
‘Let’s talk about Puglia instead,’ said Isabel. Jamie’s face broke into a smile. He reached out and touched her hand. ‘Of course. Shall we go there one day? Soon?’
‘Yes.’
Jamie took a sip of wine. ‘We’ll rent a house – one of those white- washed houses on the brow of a hill, with ancient olive groves around it.’
Take a stroll around the Meadows in Edinburgh
It took them an hour and a half, as they stopped on the way for a cup of coffee from a coffee stall on the edge of the Meadows. The night was still warm, and there were still people out and about in the encroaching gloaming, such as it was at Edinburgh’s latitude, some of them sprawled out on the grass.
Treat yourself to breakfast at La Barantine
La Barantine, a small French bakery, served coffee and light lunches. Isabel bought croissants and baguettes there several mornings a week, and met friends there too over a cup of café au lait; she had expected Cat to suggest that they should meet in what Isabel still called Cat’s deli, even if it now belonged to Isabel, through a trust.
Looking for more summer inspiration? The Sweet Remnants of Summer is now out in hardback. Find it in your local bookshop or online. |
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| A Song written by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Elvis at Prestwick Airport was produced as part of a collection of music exploring some of the topics included in panels in the Great Tapestry of Scotland. The song was composed by Tom Cunningham, directed by David Lyle, and sung by Daniel Barrett, with violin accompaniment from Alison Galbraith. Filmed by Ryan Rutherford. |
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| Win a copy of The Sweet Remnants of Summer! |
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| On 31st July we’ll be celebrating International Friendship day, so we’re giving 5 lucky people the chance to win a copy of The Sweet Remnants of Summer for themselves and a friend.
Simply spin the reels on the competition page and if you match the book three times, you win! Didn’t get a winning combination? You can try again the next day until the competition ends!
Entrants must be 18 or over – Ends at 11:59 on 31st July 2022 |
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| More books from Alexander McCall Smith |
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| The Sweet Remnants of Summer |
| An Isabel Dalhousie Novel |
| Isabel accepts an invitation to serve on the advisory committee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, but soon finds herself swept up in an all-too-familiar dilemma. David is the grandson of a Scottish clan chief and is supportive of Scottish nationalism. But his fervent beliefs are threatening family harmony, especially because his sister Catriona’s socialist views put her at odds with her brother. When their mother, Laura, a fellow committee member, asks Isabel to intervene, she tries to demur. But always one for courteous resolutions to philosophical disagreements, Isabel can’t help but intercede.
Now out in hardback |
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| The Joy and Light Bus Company |
| The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series |
| Mma Ramotswe knows she is very lucky indeed. She has a loving family, good friends and a thriving business doing what she enjoys most: helping people. But the latest mystery she is called upon to solve is distinctly trickier than it initially appears, and, of course, there’s plenty to handle in her personal life between Charlie and his new bride and Mma Makutsi and her talking shoes.
In the end, Mma Ramotswe’s patience and common-sense will win out, and, without a doubt, all will be the better for it. cafe, it seems that love might blossom at last.
Coming in paperback on 4th August 2022 |
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| Listen to the music chosen by Alexander McCall Smith |
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All the classical pieces chosen by Alexander McCall Smith to be featured in The Sweet Remnants of Summer and the entire Isabel Dalhousie series are now available as a playlist! Perfect as a soundtrack for some quality reading time this summer.
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