Was Karen Silkwood Murdered?
Who was Karen Silkwood? Many people believe that she was murdered. Let’s look at her background first. She began working at an Oklahoma chemical plant in 1972. The facility was responsible for producing plutonium pellets for use in nuclear reactors. Yes, frightening. As did her colleagues, she joined the union and became concerned about the levels of safety for the workers employed in the factory who were exposed to dangerous...
The Royal Scandal of Prince Eddy
Who was Prince Eddy? As we know, due to Queen Elizabeth’s uncle abdicating from the throne to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson, the lineage to the British throne was altered. But that was also the case in the reign of Queen Victoria – in 1892. Victoria reigned for many years and, like the current situation today, the Prince of Wales had to wait a long time to become the sovereign. Similarly to Prince Charles today, he had grown...
Eyam Village and the Great Plague
Eyam Village and the Great Plague. Eyam is a small and picturesque village in Derbyshire. If you visit, at first there is nothing to immediately distinguish it from other English villages but you’ll soon find history surrounds you. Three hundred and fifty years ago, the great plague came to the village. And the villagers decided to quarantine themselves to stop this horrible and fatal disease spreading to the rest of the north...
Beef Stroganoff: Grand Prix Gourmet, Russia
If you enjoy delicious stews, then this is a must! Beef Stroganoff is a traditional Russian dish made with strips of lean sirloin steak cooked in a sauce of onions, cream and mushrooms. The beef must be cut into thin strips that are half an inch thick and about 2 inches in length. All fat must be removed. Save Print Beef Stroganoff Rating 5 from 1 reviews Prep time: 30 mins Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 1...
The Day the Music Died
Buddy Holly memorabilia. In the spring of 2006, Buddy Holly’s widow decided that she was going to put several items of Holly memorabilia into auction. Buddy Holly was twenty two years old when he died in an air crash. Also killed in the accident were Ritchie Valens (aged seventeen), The Big Bopper Richardson (aged twenty eight) and pilot Roger Peterson (aged twenty one). Maria Elena had married Buddy Holly just six months before...
Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley
Robert Dudley, the lover of the Virgin Queen Queen Elizabeth the First went down in history as the Virgin Queen, simply because she didn’t marry. But if we’re talking about virginity as a physical state, rather than a euphemism for ‘unmarried’ then it’s highly unlikely that it was the case. Elizabeth was strong minded – even as a girl. She inherited this to some extent from her father – King...
Moules Marinière: Grand Prix Gourmet, Belgium
Poor old Belgium gets a bad press when it comes to its cuisine because it sits under the shadow of France. However, my husband lived there for a few years, and he enjoyed so many delicious meals and he always tells me that he would very happily eat Belgian food every day! The most famous dish must be Moules Marinière served with fries, mayonnaise, and a tankard of wonderful Belgian beer. Belgium is a small country, but it boasts about...
The Kidnapping of Princess Anne
The 1974 kidnapping attempt on Princess Anne. Princess Anne is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and in March 1974, four people were shot by a man who was trying to kidnap the princess for ransom. Anne, or the Princess Royal as she is known today, is not one of the younger, more popular members of the royal family such as Harry, William and Catherine, but she’s widely acknowledged to be the most hard-working member with a...
Hungarian Goulash: Grand Prix Gourmet
Hungarian Goulash. If you enjoy delicious thick stews and the taste of tomato and paprika, then this recipe is perfect! There are many different recipes for Goulash, but my dad taught me this one, and it is delicious. It is traditionally made outside in a cauldron, but this is not vital. The main thing is that you must not use flour to thicken the stew but tomato puree and potatoes. I have listed some root vegetables, but others can...
Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès
Who is Princess Gabriella? You see, the thing is this. I have decided who Prince George ought to marry. OK, I know that he was born in 2013 so marriage is hardly on his list of priorities right now. So yes, I’m a bit premature. Marriage might not be on the cards for another twenty five or thirty years by which time I might no longer be around (I’ll be amazed if I am) so I’m going to get my selection in now. I know...
Karl Wallenda
The Flying Wallenda Family Karl Wallenda was born in Germany in 1905 to a circus family. He was the patriarch of the famous – and often tragic – performing Wallenda family. His descendants are still performing to this day. He started performing when he was just six years old. This is a family tradition that has been continued. When he was still a teenager, he formed his own act which included his brother and a young girl...
Guy Bradley: Murder in the Everglades
Guy Bradley: A true story about an environmental murder. Does environmental murder seem to be strange description? This is the true story that took place in the Florida Everglades in 1905. At and before the turn of the century, there was a huge fashion in America that dictated that the truly stylish woman wore hats decorated with bird plumes. In order to satisfy the trade, beautiful birds – many endangered – were shot in...
Grand Prix Gourmet: French Lemon Chicken
French Lemon Chicken recipe This recipe comes from the delightful book, How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits and is authentically modern French. This is not one of those classic French dishes that will have you slaving over a hot stove all day. This is the sort of food that today’s Parisian woman – stylish, busy and entertaining – cooks for her dinner party guests. This is so simple to...
Scandal: John Lennon and Alma Cogan
Yoko Ono did not break up the Lennon’s marriage. Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John, died on April 1st, 2015. Four days later, a newspaper broke the story that she had told a reporter, back in 1989, that it wasn’t Yoko Ono that had split up the Lennon marriage. Cynthia had revealed, the newspaper said, that the breakup of the marriage was due to a once-famous but then-fading British singer called Alma Cogan (pictured)....
Who Was Ellen Church?
Ellen Church: The first air hostess. In 1930, Ellen was ideally qualified to become the first air hostess. She was a registered pilot and a qualified nurse. In those days, airlines wouldn’t employ female pilots (for reasons known only to them) but Ellen persuaded them that cabin crew should be trained in nursing. Flying was a rather hazardous business in those days — you only have to think of the large number of...
Princess Viktoria’s Disastrous Marriage
Princess Viktoria of Prussia: Ruined by her young lover She was born into a privileged and wealthy royal position. And yet when Princess Viktoria died at the age of sixty three she was penniless and disgraced – thanks to her choosing the wrong man. Her grandmother was Queen Victoria. Her mother was Victoria’s eldest daughter and had married Frederick III, the German Emperor and King of Prussia. Her brother was Wilhelm II,...
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Who was Lady Mary Wortley Montagu? In the eighteenth century, Lady Mary was known for her sharp satiric writing about prominent personalities. Not all this work survives however, because of her daughter. Her daughter was scandalised by her mother – who she considered to be extremely eccentric – so when Lady Mary died, her papers were destroyed. Lady Mary was renown for her wit and her beauty but there was another side to...
Oakwell Hall, Yorkshire
Oakwell Hall, Yorkshire If you’re familiar with Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley, then you know Oakwell Hall. For Oakwell, a place she knew well, became the house ‘Fairfield’ in the novel. In the 1840s,Oakwell in Yorkshire was a school for girls. It was due to her friendship with one of the students there, Ellen Nussey, that Charlotte Bronte came to know the hall. But the building is much older than that. If you...
Will Camilla be Queen?
Will Camilla be Queen? In 2005, it was announced that Prince Charles and Camilla Parker -Bowles would be married. They had been living together for quite some time. The queen and the practically-minded royal family approved wholeheartedly. Princes William and Harry had come to know her well and were delighted. And yet a poll showed that only seven percent of British people wanted her to eventually be queen. Yet ten years later, as the...
Lipton’s tea: Victorian advertising
Lipton’s tea: Victorian advertising. One of the first exponents of what we now call guerilla marketing must have been Thomas Lipton, back in Victorian times. This grocery store owner was the master of publicity stunts. Sir Thomas was a Scot and on 9th July, 1878, traffic was at a halt in his hometown of Glasgow, as people watched the progress of three chubby and content pigs, dressed in bright clothes, and bearing the slogan...
Lennon & McCartney: The final conversation
Lennon & McCartney: The final conversation. In the final years of John Lennon’s life, the media had two major preoccupations when it came to the one-time Beatles. The first was that all four of the previous members of the group were constantly being asked if a Beatles reunion was on the cards. The answer was always in the negative. The second was the supposed animosity between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Journalists and...
The 1957 Spaghetti Harvest
The 1957 Spaghetti Harvest 1957 was a year for celebration in the tiny town of Ticino in Switzerland. What many people don’t realise is that pasta isn’t only produced in Italy – it is also grown in some of the surrounding areas. And 1957 provided a bumper crop. The last two weeks of March are always an anxious time for the spaghetti farmer. Should there be late frosts, their spaghetti crop can be badly affected and...
The Mermaids of Mapplewell
The Mermaids of Mapplewell Come with me on a journey to the past. A past that was stranger than we could ever imagine. In olden times, unusual creatures inhabited the earth but don’t imagine for a moment that I am talking about prehistoric days. No, the story which unfolds below is only a little more than a hundred and fifty years old. It was then, despite the technological advances being made by the people of the Victorian era,...
Pie recipes – for Pi Day!
Pie recipes – tried and tested CLICK HERE FOR PIE RECIPES Articles are added to JAQUO every day and many of those are recipes – because we love to eat. And we love to share our favourite recipes with you. There’s nothing like homemade food and that seems to apply particularly to pies. Twenty years ago,it was no longer fashionable to cook – we ate out or we zapped frozen meals in the microwave. Those...
The Busby Babes & the Munich Air Disaster
The Busby Babes & the Munich Air Disaster. A plane accident in 1958 took the lives of eight football players from the Manchester United team. Two others were so badly injured that they never played again. Staff from the football club died too, as did several respected sports journalists. The football players in the Manchester United team who were killed were all in their twenties, the youngest being twenty-one. The team was known...
What Happened to the Von Trapp Family Children?
The von Trapp family from ‘The Sound of Music‘. Like many people, I was just a kid when I first saw this classic movie. It’s true that it’s a sickly-sweet film – the oldies loved it – but nevertheless it had its own charm for kids. It was the idea of Mary Poppins coming to rescue a gaggle of kids from their overbearing father that did it. Now of course, we know that the story was only very loosely...
Japanese Shrimp: Grand Prix Gourmet
This is a recipe that I found in an old newspaper dating from the nineteen fifties. It had been supplied to the paper by a young Japanese woman, Reiko Takeda, who was an air stewardess flying regularly between her home country and the USA. She cooked this dish on a hibachi but I find that a charcoal grill works very well and gives the seafood that lovely smoky flavour. The shrimp need to marinate for a couple of hours before you cook,...
Princess Viktoria’s Disastrous Marriage
Princess Viktoria of Prussia: Ruined by her young lover She was born into a privileged and wealthy royal position. And yet when Princess Viktoria died at the age of sixty three she was penniless and disgraced – thanks to her choosing the wrong man. Her grandmother was Queen Victoria. Her mother was Victoria’s eldest daughter and had married Frederick III, the German Emperor and King of Prussia. Her brother was Wilhelm II,...
What is Operation London Bridge?
Operation London Bridge – when the queen dies There’s no other way of putting it – if you hear from a British official source that ‘London Bridge is down’ this means that Queen Elizabeth ll has died. It seems that the plans for her death and funeral have been in place for many years. The same applies to Prince Philip (Forth Bridge) and Prince Charles (Menai Bridge). The queen was born in 1926 and...
Von Trapp Family Singers: The Truth
What is the truth about the von Trapp Family? There can’t be many people who are unfamiliar with the story of the von Trapp Family Singers. They were immortalised in the film, The Sound of Music. How true is the story that we know so well? I have another question too – one that I’ve never heard anyone ask. We know from the film that Captain (or Baron) von Trapp was a widower who had several children. In the film, a...
Simple Salmon
A simple salmon recipe So many times, fish is smothered in elaborate, rich sauces. If the fish isn’t quite perfect, then a sauce can really help but sometimes fish cooked simply can be far better. That’s especially the case if you’re cooking some lovely, fresh salmon. Below is a very simple to prepare salmon recipe from Scotland that I first found published in the nineteen seventies. Scotland of course, is famous for...
The Jewellery of Wallis Simpson
The Duchess of Windsor’s jewellery When the Duke of Windsor died in 1972, he had specified that his wife’s jewellery -most of which he had lavished upon her – should be dismantled and broken down after her own death. He did not get his way. For on April 2nd, 1987, less than a year after the duchess’ death, her collection went to auction in Geneva. Even though the gems were fabulous, a major part of the...
The Tusk that did the Damage: Review
The Tusk that did the Damage This fabulous book will take you on a journey to the south of India. This is a story about the ivory trade and it’s told from the perspective of three protagonists. The first is Manu, the son of a rice farmer. His older brother becomes involved in the ivory-poaching business. The family is poor, the work on the farm is hard and killing elephants for their tusks can put bread on the table. It’s...
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill. I don’t really remember Winston Churchill, apart from old wartime newsreels that I saw on TV when I was a kid. But there’s no doubt that he was an important part of British – and maybe the world’s – history. He was an eccentric chap,that’s for sure. He was born into wealth and was a wonderful combination of British aristocracy (his father) and American frivolous society (his...
Bette Davis
Bette Davis Bette Davis, who was born in 1908, was one of the most stunning and unusual actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whereas most actresses of that era made it to success because of their beauty, Bette Davis succeeded by sheer force of personality. Most actresses at the time wanted to be portrayed as beautiful and stylish women – Bette didn’t care about that. She took the parts of slovenly women, bitchy...
A day in Biarritz with King Edward
King Edward VII & Alice Keppel: Annual trip to Biarritz King Edward VII was remembered with affection but he certainly enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh. He was known for enjoying fine foods, wines … and the company of his mistresses.Plural. His final mistress was Alice Keppel; the great-grandmother of today’s Duchess of Cornwall – the former Camilla Parker Bowles. For about a month every year, Edward would...
Cary Grant: Early Years
[slider] Cary Grant: An actor to remember There can’t be many people who are unaware of this debonair actor from the golden era of Hollywood. What’s particularly interesting is his background. Where did Cary Grant come from? What was his background and his career before he became a famous movie actor? Sometimes, people are surprised to find out that Grant, often seen as the epitome of the American gentleman, was actually...
The Leeds Dripping Riots
Yorkshire: The Leeds Dripping Riots of 1865 This is the true story of a bizarre riot that took place in Leeds in Yorkshire a hundred and fifty years ago. Although there was a death because of the riot, and hundreds of people took part, it started because of something incredibly trivial – two pounds of dripping. Here, I suspect that I have to explain to younger readers exactly what I mean by dripping <sigh>. In the north of...
Love and Sex: Edwardian style
Love and sex: Edwardian style It was 1901 when Edward VII came to the throne, heralding in what we know today as the Edwardian Era. Although we sometimes think of the previous time – the Victorian Era – as being somewhat staid, that’s far from the case. The moral code inherited by King Edward had been firmly set during his mother’s time on the throne and it was considerably more raunchy than we might think....
Jeanne Louise Calment
Jeanne Louise Calment: The oldest woman. You might have read my colleague Merry’s recent article about what’s supposedly good for us and what is damaging to our health.The article is called Food for Health. It’s a great read – why do scientists and nutritionists keep giving us conflicting advice? Instead of listening to them, let’s take a look at Jeanne Louise Calment, until her death she was the...
Queen Victoria and Haemophilia
Does haemophilia show Queen Victoria’s true paternity? When Queen Victoria gave birth to her eighth child, Leopold, both parents were surprised to see how small the baby was. They had previously produced healthy, bouncing babies so Leopold came as something of a shock. When he was just few months old, bruises appeared on his body as he was diagnosed as having haemophilia – ‘the bleeding disease’. This was the...
Fingersmith: A Victorian saga
Fingersmith: Fascinating Victorian tale This film is astounding. It is everything you’d expect from an adaptation of a novel set in Victorian times but much, much more. The plot has twists and turns which are totally unexpected. It tells of a girl, Sue, who hails from the seamier side of London. Imagine a Fagin-like den of thieves and this will give you some idea of her background. She is persuaded – by the promise of a...
King Edward VII. The truth about his death
King Edward VII. The truth about his death. One of history’s myths regards the death of King Edward VII, the actions of his wife Queen Alexandra and of his mistress Alice Keppel. The king was in his late seventies when he was taken ill – at first with a series of chills. He had always enjoyed what we might call the pleasures of the flesh – fine dining, splendid wines and of course, a series of beautiful and charming...
Mexican Jewellery from Guillermo Arregui
Stylish,original jewellery from Mexico. Guillermo Arregui creates the most wonderful jewellery in his Mexican silversmith workshop. The necklace you see on the right is a lovely example. There are more further down the page and you’ll see that Guillermo combines traditional method sand design but brings them completely up to date. He takes much of his inspiration from nature, from the natural stones that are available in Mexico...
Citrus Chicken Recipe
Citrus chicken recipe This is a recipe that I’ve had for ages and although we no longer eat meat,I often use this recipe to make the yummy sauce when we are having guests for a barbecued meal. The recipe is very tasty when made exactly as you see it below. When I’m making it as is, I just make a couple of changes — but it’s up to you. I serve the grapefruit and kiwi in separate bowls rather than using the fruit...
Working with text: Tables
Working with text: Tables Format a menu using tables I have several clients who are restaurateurs and they know the importance of well-presented menus. Therefore, I often find myself working on them. When working with almost all text jobs, creating tables and cells is an important way of layout out the information. They keep the text in a regular, tidy form with nothing to distract the eater from the menu offerings. Oh, and I always...
Queen Elizabeth II: The world’s oldest serving monarch
Queen Elizabeth II: The world’s oldest serving monarch. Princess Elizabeth became queen on 6th February, 1952. Little did she know that she would become the oldest monarch in the world. On 23rd January, 2015, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died at the age of ninety making the queen the oldest sovereign. She was born in 1926. Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years, 216 days, a record the queen topped in September 2015. Victoria lived...
Eric Jackson: The Chieftain Rally 1973
Eric Jackson: Chieftain Rally 1973 Rally driver Eric Jackson was strictly a Ford man. The only recorded competition car he drove that wasn’t a Ford was a Vauxhall in the 1959 Monte Carlo Rally. So it’s not surprising that when Jacko had ‘the big one’ – the rally accident that nearly finished him off – he was driving a Ford Escort. Here’s a photograph of how he managed to rearrange the car:...
Fort Lauderdale: For the Business Traveller
Travelling to Fort Lauderdale on business? Every year studies show that business travel is increasing rapidly. And many of these travellers are looking for accommodation that offers something more than faceless chain hotels. We have just the place for you. Instead of an out-of-the-way hotel, stay at your own waterfront apartment with every facility – that’s close to the beach and the very best shopping and dining...
Unsuccessful? Read This
Heroic Failures There comes a time when I get tired about reading about the great and the good. Sure, it’s nice to read about famous inventors, scientists, literary giants, artists and all the people who have added to our knowledge and enhanced our lives. Maybe there’s a bit of a green tinge to these thoughts – I know that I’m never going to join their ranks. Occasionally there’s something rather...
Mint Lime Grilled Mahi-Mahi
Mint Lime Grilled Mahi-Mahi This recipe will work well with any firm white fish but the author recommends mahi-mahi. I suspect that many of us could do with more fish in our diets and this is a wonderful way to serve it. It’s perfect for summer grilling or for those of us who are lucky enough to live somewhere where we can cook outdoors all year round. Save Print Mint Lime Grilled Mahi-Mahi Rating 5 from 1 reviews...
Who Was Pablo Fanque?
Who was Pablo Fanque? There’s a question. But the chances are that you might well have heard the name before. There he is on the right. I imagine he looks unfamiliar to you but I think that you might have heard his name, especially if you’re a fan of the Beatles. So what on earth can a bloke who was born in England in 1796 possibly have to do with the Beatles? And how is it that you’ve probably heard his name? Read...
Pear and blue cheese pizza recipe
Pear and blue cheese pizza – delicious recipe We love pizza. I don’t think I’ll ever be bored with it. I’m pretty convinced that I could eat pizza every day if I had to. But, well,there are other considerations such as calories and cholesterol and all those boring things. Boring yes, but we do have to pay attention. This doesn’t mean that I will ever (hopefully) have to give up a delicious Pizza...
The Sad Story of Prince Friedrich
The sad story of Prince Friedrich of Hesse. Who was the prince? He was a grandchild of Queen Victoria – the son of her daughter Alice. Princess Alice married Grand Duke Louis, a member of the German royal family. Friedrich was their fifth child. When just a toddler, he was diagnosed as having haemophilia which, as we know, was hereditary and passed down from Queen Victoria herself. Although Friedrich’s parents were...
Frank Stranahan
Fort Lauderdale history: Frank Stranahan. It’s generally accepted that Frank Stranahan from Ohio was the first permanent resident in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When he arrived, Fort Lauderdale didn’t actually exist. It was a settlement of just handful of people on the New River. Seminole Indians lived in the Everglades nearby but in general, the are was inhospitable with a stifling climate, dangerous wildlife and lots and...
The Mystery of the Saddleworth Moor Body
The mystery of the body found on Saddleworth Moor. One morning a cyclist found the dead body of an elderly man in a remote spot on a moor with a grisly history. At first, the cyclist thought the man was sleeping or resting, but no. When the police arrived it was discovered that the man had no identification, no cellphone — and it seemed that he had taken his own life. But who was he? The body was discovered on December 12th,...
The Cavendon Women: Barbara Taylor Bradford
The Cavendon Women: Barbara Taylor Bradford This is exactly the sort of book to choose when you need a little light, but dramatic reading. It’s set in the nineteen twenties and features the lives of the members of an aristocratic family in England. You’ll certainly see how the other half lived. But the characters in the book are strangely appealing and you’ll be drawn in by the trials and complexities of their lives...
Concert for George
The George Harrison Memorial Concert. On the first anniversary of George Harrison’s death, his family and friends took part in a huge concert to celebrate his life and his music. Hundreds of people attended the event which was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Millions more have seen it since. You can see the full, two hour plus video below. The concert had been organised largely by Eric Clapton who acted as musical...
Who’s Flying Your Plane?
Meet Kate McWilliams and Luke Elsworth I remember many years ago hearing a strange story about a commercial flight – the passengers refused to fly because the pilot was a woman. In preparing to write this article, I went to Google to determine just when that was. I couldn’t find that information. But what I did find was something even more weird. In 2014, a passenger left a sexist message for the female pilot who had just...
The Beatles’ Rooftop Concert
The Beatles: Rooftop concert in 1969 By January 1969, it was obvious that the Beatles were on the verge of breaking up. They were recording in the studio at the Apple headquarters and wondered where to have a live – and final – concert. Various venues were suggested including the Sahara Desert and the Cavern Club in Liverpool where their careers had started. But eventually they decided to simply move upstairs – to...
Burns’ Night: Scottish celebration
What is Burns’ Night? Burns’ Night is a Scottish celebration that commemorates the eighteen century poet Robert Burns. Scots all over the world celebrate their heritage by having a supper of traditional Scottish food, traditional clothing is often worn and Scottish music played. For most Scots, this will mean that the men wear kilts, bagpipes are played and the main focus of the meal is haggis. The necessary drink is, of...
Bernie Ecclestone and the Great Train Robbery
Bernie Ecclestone and the Great Train Robbery: The Truth. For many years, a rumour has persisted that the Formula One boss, Bernie Ecclestone, was somehow involved in the Great Train Robbery of 1963. It has often been thought that robber Bruce Reynolds was the mastermind behind this audacious robbery but nevertheless many people thought that it was exactly Bernie’s cup of tea. Most of the robbers were in their early thirties and...
The Last Victorian
Ethel Lang – born in the reign of Queen Victoria On 16th January, 2015, Ethel Lang passed away. She was the oldest living person in the UK, having been born in 1900, when Queen Victoria was still on the throne. Can you imagine that? Mrs Lang lived through six monarchs, twenty-two prime ministers … and let’s not forget two world wars. She had lived through a period of amazing advances. When she was born, public...
Was Dorothy Kilgallen murdered?
Was Dorothy Kilgallen murdered? She died in 1965 so it’s likely that you don’t remember her. But in the middle of the twentieth century, Dorothy Kilgallen was a true media star. She was a journalist with many more strings to her bow. And it may be that her journalistic investigations were the cause of her untimely death. What’s My Line? Despite being a well-known journalist, gossip columnist, crime reporter, actress...
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Film Review
We were so lucky to be invited by Lord Hughes to the House of Commons to watch a pre- screening of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom because my husband was a ANC freedom fighter when he was a young man. It was a sombre event because Nelson Mandela had died only a couple of days before, but it was a fitting tribute to this great man. We watched Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom in the Grand Committee Room, which was the very room where Nelson...
Prince Charles
Prince Charles: The writers’ moneymaker Here’s a cool way to make money. Write a book that contains ‘revelations’ about that famous British soap opera, the royal family. Publicise some of its more extreme stories. It doesn’t matter if you’ve simply made them up -newspapers do it all the time. Pretend, if you like, that this is authorised by Prince Charles. Never mind that it’s not true. Claim...
American Horror Story: Coven
American Coven Story – Season 3 is for you if you’re looking for a Halloween present, or something to do on Halloween that is way over the top. It’s great if you’re in the mood to be totally spooked out too. I am not one for horror I am so easily terrified! It doesn’t take much to send me running for the bed covers. Images live with me forever. So I didn’t actually watch it – I heard it – and I was...
Biology for Kids: SmartLab Toys Squishy Human Body
When my son opened this Smartlab Toys Squishy human body on Christmas morning he was so delighted that he laughed out loud! A human biology book with a gooey body to dissect! Just perfect for a 8 year old – it really can’t get better than that! This book/toy was an instant success. It’s great because he learned the names and relative size, shape and function of the major organs of the human body, and where they sit in the...
Walking Dead T Shirts and Halloween!
It’s almost time to dress up and scare the living daylights out of your unsuspecting neighbours. Let’s start off with some Walking Dead quotes to get you in the mood: ‘Don’t look back, Carl’ – Rick ‘You can’t think forever. Sooner or later, you gotta make a move’ – The Governor ‘You walk outside, you risk your life. You take a drink of water, you risk your life. Nowadays you...
Easy Classic Stuffed Peppers
An easy and tasty recipe. It’s that time of the year when fresh produce is ready in the garden. Pepper plants can produce quite a few peppers. So what to make with them is the question, right? There are many different things you can make with them but stuffed peppers are quite a delight. Especially since I haven’t made them in ages and my brother gave me some from his garden. So I looked up recipes online to which there are many...
Barbecued Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Are you barbecuing chicken this weekend? Just the thought of it brings to mind summer picnics, with potato salad of course, after a swim in the lake. If you have any leftover, here is a very tasty use for them. You could use any leftovers actually, from hamburgers to the potato salad. Anything tastes yummy in a lettuce wrap. Rotisserie chicken is wonderful fixed this way too. Seems every time I get one there is a little bit left....
6 Essentials for Your Trip to the Pacific Northwest
6 Essentials for Your Trip to the Pacific Northwest Have you decided when you are coming to the Pacific Northwest? There is so much to do here anytime of year. The entire Pacific Northwest is an outdoor lover’s paradise, and that holds true no matter what the season. Boating–anytime. Fishing—anytime, though you will definitely want to fit salmon season into your schedule. Imagine hauling in your own! Camping—year round. Hiking...
George Orwell’s Animal Farm: A Political Fable
George Orwell’s Animal Farm means a great deal to me and this short tale will explain why. It is about when I was a teacher in London. First of all I highly recommend ‘Animal Farm’ and I rather envy you if you haven’t read it yet because you are in for a real treat. It is a brilliantly told, very clever, political fable. Orwell wrote it just after World War II (first published 1945), and it is a satirical story about totalitarianism....
Style: Wallis Simpson
Style: The transformation of Wallis Simpson Many people would agree that ‘elegant’ is a word that is often used to describe the Duchess of Windsor, the former Mrs Wallis Simpson. But that wasn’t always the case. Wallis, or Bessie to call her by her real given name, loved clothes but had little idea about how to wear them effectively. This was true until she started her affair with the Prince of Wales (later King...
Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rental and …. Ghosts!
Visit Fort Lauderdale – and go ghost hunting! When you’re thinking about visiting Fort Lauderdale, ghost hunting is probably one of the last activities you’d think about. But the local area is rich in history and yes, ghosts abound. Of course, you’ll also enjoy all the many and varied activities that Fort Lauderdale offers – the beach, the ocean, fine dining, shopping, watersports, museums, theatres and...
The Liberation of Auschwitz
The liberation of Auschwitz On 27th January 2015, hundreds of survivors of the Holocaust met at the Auschwitz concentration camp to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of its liberation. There were three hundred in total, mostly in their eighties and nineties. The very fact that there are still three hundred survivors of that terrible experience who are still fit and well enough to travel there shows just how huge the...
The Avignon Legacy: By Daniel C. Lorti
A fascinating tale – from the 14th century to present day. If you enjoy books that capture your attention from page one and keep you reading until well after your bedtime – and who doesn’t – then The Avignon Legacy will be right up your street. It combines history, suspense, modern day crime, mystery and more as the author takes us from fourteenth century France to present day America and Europe. This is a...
Detective Sergeant Stanley ‘Steve’ Moore
Great Train Robbery Detective, Steve Moore. Stanley Moore, always known as Steve, was one of the members of the Flying Squad team who were responsible for the capture of the men who had undertaken the Great Train Robbery of 1963. The robbers became famous – folk heroes – and many members of the British public secretly hoped that they’d get away with their haul of £2.6 million that they’d stolen from the Glasgow...
World Atlas of Wine: Review
World Atlas of Wine: Review Enrich your wine drinking experience by learning more with this book I’ve been drinking wine since I was a child and I’ve loved it ever since 🙂 My parents believed – in a typically European way – that children should drink watered-down wine at dinner on special occasions. As I’ve grown older, it has become more than just a pleasure, it has become a way of life and a voyage of...
Morrissey: Militant Vegetarian
I don’t eat meat. For various reasons. But my question is, does that give me the right to insist that others don’t eat meat too? My diet is my life choice and my own business, wouldn’t you say? After all, I wouldn’t want militant carnivores insisting that I eat meat. But Morrissey (pictured) doesn’t think that way. He believes he has the right to be as militant as he wants regarding vegetarianism....
Book review: Eloise by Judy Finnegan
Book review: Eloise by Judy Finnegan. I have to tell you that I really didn’t want to read this book. I was so wrong and I recommend it wholeheartedly. It’s a fascinating book with twists and turns in the plot and features beautifully crafted characters. Not only that, it’s set in the wild and beautiful county of Cornwall, an area as mystical and threatening as it is picturesque. Cathy is a middle-aged married woman....
Fort Lauderdale: Dog Friendly Vacation Rental
Vacation in Fort Lauderdale – with your dog. Did you know that a recent survey showed that 90% of dog-owning travellers consider their pet when booking accommodation? If you’re one of that huge number of people, then allow me to introduce to you our Fort Lauderdale vacation paradise – and yes, your dog is most welcome too. In fact, we have special treats and amenities that are especially for him or her. But first,...
A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine: The Last Diaries by Tony Benn
A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine: The Last Diaries by Tony Benn. Tony Benn’s father ended a BBC broadcast by saying ‘So you will understand that I live in a blaze of autumn sunshine.’ Remembering those words Tony said ‘although I may never publish another volume of diaries, if I ever did, I think the best possible title would be just that: ‘A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine.’ For those of you who don’t know Tony Benn he was...
Henry Lie: The Norwegian Skater and his Meatball Recipe
Skating star Henry Lie and his meatballs It’s difficult to find out biographical details about Henry Lie. But we do know that he was a champion skater who was originally from Norway where he was the Men’s National Champion. He had previously been atop chef and his cooking talents remained in demand. He was well-known for his meatball recipe. You can see him in the photograph below, which dates from 1948. He liked...
Idina Sackville: A WW1 marriage
Idina Sackville & Euan Wallace. A First World War marriage. Although Idina and Euan were definitely from the top drawer of society, the sad story of their marriage must have happened to so many couples during the First World War. They were both quite young when they married. Idina was twenty and Euan less than a year older. They both enjoyed parties, dancing and having fun. They were madly in love. She was a sparkling socialite...
The Accidental Empress: Elisabeth of Austria
Elisabeth of Austria: The Accidental Empress I received this book as a gift and – to be honest – set it aside for quite a while. The cover make me think that it was a somewhat junky historical novel of the ‘bodice-ripper’ type. I was wrong.This is a fictionalised version of real events that took place in the nineteenth century and as such, is fascinating. Yes,it’s a love story but so much more too. When...
Mukhabarat Baby! By Eric Burkhart
Eric Burkhart: My Life as a Wartime Spy for the CIA. I loved every minute of this autobiographical book. It’s truly fascinating. The author tells us about the action-packed period of time he spent in the CIA, starting in 1999. There are some events in the book, as you can imagine, that involve incredible danger but it’s spiced throughout with the author’s humour and sense of fun. Even Mr Burkhart’s telling of...
Who Was Lillie Langtry?
Lillie Langtry’s royal illegitimate baby. At various times in her life,Lillie Langtry was an entertainer, a racehorse owner, an American citizen, a resident of Monte Carlo and most notably, a mistress of members of the British aristocracy and royal family. But what is often forgotten is that she had a royal illegitimate daughter whose descendants are related by blood to today’s heirs to the British throne. Lillie was born...
The God’s Eye View: By Barry Eisler
Read this recommended and fascinating thriller! When a review copy of this book landed on my desk at JAQUO HQ, I admit that I didn’t start reading it right away. You see, thrillers aren’t really my favourite genre. But what a great book this is. And extremely timely. It’s the sort of story that would have sounded far fetched only a few years ago. Today, it is totally believable. And I must say that Barry Eisler now...
Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps Have you tried lettuce wraps yet? Pretty much anything that you can put in a sandwich or a tortilla works well in a lettuce wrap too. So if you are cutting back on your bread or carbohydrates, they make a great substitute. You might have seen my article on Chilled Lettuce Wraps here on Jaquo. These are three of my favorites. They were definitely not good choices for vegetarians. So today’s wraps are. The...
Clutter is bad for you
Official: Clutter is bad for your health People have been studying clutter a lot recently and many of the statistics about just what a clutter-filled society we are can be quite scary – and revealing. Did you know, for example, that the average British woman has twenty two items in her wardrobe that she has never worn? Studies are also being undertaken to help us understand exactly why we accumulate clutter in our homes or...
Does Your Stuff Slow You Down?
Does Your Stuff Slow You Down? I read an article a week or two ago where the writer said she was so energized after clearing out an area of clutter that she was inspired to make soup stock. What a great feeling that is. Think about how often we get in that situation. We tend to collect and accumulate, from mugs and dishes to small appliances to paper. All of it stacks up, takes up space and can bring us to a full stop. Let’s face it,...
Bacon Spaghetti
The Irresistible Bacon. What is it about bacon that always appeals, even when we are trying to eat less meat? The word alone brings the wonderful aroma to mind, along with thoughts of each crispy bite. It’s no exception is this recipe. When I was growing up, and in need of comfort, mom would make Bacon Spaghetti. Something about it always made me feel better. The recipe must have been my Norwegian grandmother’s since my...
I Love My Imac Desktop
I love my iMac Desktop. I am in love with my iMac desktop so much that I have two of them! That’s right I have one for me and another for my very, very lucky son. I must admit that his one is quite old and I used to run my business on it, however, he still uses it perfectly well to produce his electronic dance music and videos. So we have had years of use out of it. My son has named it his Apple iPie, and sadly it is on its last legs...
Book Review: Ice Cold, by Tess Gerritsen
Book Review: Ice Cold, by Tess Gerritsen This fast paced mystery may be my favorite by Tess Gerritsen. From the very beginning it pulled me right in. An impromptu ski trip, an accident in a snow storm leads to an unexpected find. A small group of houses that have been totally abandoned, and quite suddenly. That only begins the mystery within this great story. Missing people, an attempted rescue, someone watching them—or are they...
How to Cook in a Tiny Kitchen
Cooking in a tiny kitchen made easy. This is my kitchen and it’s not the smallest I’ve had. But it’s still pretty tiny, especially when you consider that we work from home, hardly ever eat out and therefore prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner in our kitchen every day. It’s L-shaped, small, and yet is perfect for us.There are a lot of myths about cooking in small spaces, which I’ll be debunking in this...
Organise Anything – with Grid-It
A great way to organise almost anything. Although the Grid-It organising system was developed to control tech clutter – phones, earbuds, chargers etc. – this brilliantly simply yet effective storage system can be used for so many things. Here it is. You can see how it keeps your devices and their accessories safe and organised but because the Grid-It comes in several different sizes, you’ll understand how useful it...
Roll Up Games for Travel and Small Spaces
Chess, checkers and backgammon – for travelling or for small spaces. We’ve been living in the technological age for a long time now and that’s probably why there’s a huge trend now for playing traditional boardgames. The problem is, that they can take up so much room especially when you’re travelling, camping or if you live in a small apartment. Sondergut have the answer with these fabulous roll up...
SS Mohegan
The Mohegan disaster The SS Mohegan sank off the coast of Cornwall in 1898. Although this maritime disaster has been largely forgotten, the cause remains a mystery and of course, there is a conspiracy theory regarding the loss of the ship. And it’s a mysterious story indeed. The ship was built in the Yorkshire port of Hull. Her original name was Cleopatra and she didn’t get off to a good start. On her maiden voyage, which...
A Review of the documentary ‘Aluna’ . The Kogi People Warn us About the End of the World
This evening I was invited to a screening of ‘Aluna’ (‘the mind inside nature’), which was followed by a Q&A session with its award winning British director and documentary filmmaker Alan Ereira. This is the second documentary film he has made with the indigenous Kogi people of Colombia. These people are desperately trying to warn us of the very real possibility of the end of the world unless we stop ruthlessly...