The Science of Hitting: Book by Baseball Great Ted Williams
The Science of Hitting: Book by Baseball Great Ted Williams. Just how great of a hitter was Ted Williams? He’s the only hitter that anyone could try to argue was as good or better than Babe Ruth.Ted Williams had an amazing career interrupted by some service for the USA as a soldier during World War II and the Korean War. Despite these significant interruptions, his career totals in many hitting categories are astounding. One of his...
Visiting Our National Parks; A Walk into the Past
Visiting Our National Parks; A Walk into the Past. Someone recently asked me where I went on my favorite vacation. What came to mind, first and foremost, was camping in various national parks here in the United States. The pristine beauty within our parks always puts them at the top of my list. Every time I visit one I feel like I belong, as though I’ve come home. Home to natural beauty and a sense of peace, away from the material...
Rudolph Valentino
The Death of a Heartthrob. Rudolph Valentino was only thirty one when he died in 1926 and the world – well, the female theatre-going world – was distraught. He was one ofthe most popular silent movies stars of the day notably for the film The Sheik. This film told of a young woman- a British aristocrat – who was kidnapped in North Africa by the supposedly brutal, but undeniably sexy and smouldering,Valentino in the...
German Sunken Apple Cake Recipe
German Sunken Apple Cake Recipe When my son got back from his school trip to Germany he was very excited for two reasons, firstly he had a broken leg –which meant he could miss school, and secondly because the family he was staying with baked him a sunken apple cake for his birthday. That was exciting because we had already baked one ourselves here at home. We got the recipe from his German teacher at school and it felt very nice to...
What Was Squidgygate?
What was Squidgygate? On 23rd August, 1992, the Sun – a British tabloid newspaper – published the transcript of phone call between Diana,Princess of Wales and her then-lover, James Gilbey. The call lasted for thirty minutes and during that time, Gilbey called Diana ‘Squidgy’ or ‘Squidge’ fifty three times and ‘darling’ fourteen times. Therefore, latching onto the Nixon Watergate...
Looking at Paintings (8) ‘Tell Your Fortune, Lady’
Over 70 years after it was painted, ‘Tell Your Fortune, Lady, still has the power to stop me in my tracks. It was one of a series of paintings of gypsies at Epsom and Ascot race courses, England, by the artist, Laura Knight (1871 – 1970), created over a ten year period in the 1930s. The Artist Laura grew up in Nottingham where her strong-minded mother gave art classes to support her children. Laura showed early talent and...
Mike Candys Magic Formula
Mike Candys Magic Formula. Mike Candys, or Michael Kull, was born in 1981 in Switzerland. The reason I’ve chosen to write about him is because he is very, very good at what he does. He is in the DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs in Europe. Mike Candys has been actively making music since 1998 when he was just 17 years old, and he became popular in Europe in 2008 thanks to his track ‘La Serenissima’. He became a very successful record producer...
The Kill Switch by James Rollins and Grant Blackwood, A Book Review
A New Series From Two Excellent Authors. What an exciting start to a new series, this time with James Rollins teaming up with Grant Blackwood. The Kill Switch is a winner in my opinion, and hopefully the beginning of many more stories about Tucker Wayne, and Kane. James Rollins currently has the Sigma Force series in progress, up to book ten now, I believe. In addition, he’s written novels like Subterranean, Amazonia, and Ice Hunt....
The House of Kane: By Barbara Casey
The House of Kane: A fine read. In this novel, Barbara Casey takes us inside the world of book publishing and who knew it could be such a cut-throat industry? This book combines intrigue, mystery and relationships, and features some of the most interesting characters that you’re likely to meet. Few of us can imagine that intrigue plays a part in the book publishing industry but this novel shows just how fragile the system can be...
Looking at Paintings (7): The Conchie
The painting, ‘The Conchie’, by the British painter, Arthur Gay (1901 – 1958), was first exhibited in 1931 to a sympathetic public reception. A decade earlier this would not have been the case. Background In 1916, with the Great War raging unabated and the number of volunteers drying-up, the British Government introduced military conscription. The Military Service Act compelled men, aged 18 to 41 (later extended to 51 years) to serve...
Song for Sunrise: Ed Harcourt
‘Watching The Sun Come Up’ A daily routine of mine is a beach walk in the early hours. I usually make it to the shore before sunrise and I witness the day begin over the great Atlantic Ocean from a South Florida shore. My twilight journey to the shore is a song long – in that there’s usually time for a piece of music to play through before I walk out onto the sands to forget myself. There are lots of songs that...
Top Gifts for the Left Handed
Top Gifts for the Left Handed Left Handed Somethings for your Lefties Nope. I’m not kidding. If you think I might be, you are probably right handed. As a card carrying left hander, there have been dozens of times when it has put me in a fix. If you know a Lefty, please consider this. With ten percent of the population left handed, most everyone knows someone who is left handed. But have you ever thought about the inconveniences...
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...
Campfire S’mores
Campfire S’mores. I love to sit around a campfire on a nice cool evening making S’mores. It is so fun to put a marshmallow on a stick and put it over the fire. Sometimes I even burn it by accident instead of getting it a light brown. Either way it still good! Sometimes we’ve added a peanut butter cup along with the chocolate bar and marshmallow in between the graham crackers. It’s so good but the traditional is...
Formula One: Brothers
Formula One Trivia. How many pairs of brothers have raced in Formula One? Have you read the JAQUO article about fathers and sons who have taken part in F1? Did that make you wonder about brothers who have done the same? At time of writing, there have been six sets of brothers — well, seven, sort of — well, seven and a half, kind of….. But before we get into the details, see how many you can name before scrolling...
Florida’s Finest: Cannonball Adderley
How The Cannonball Got His Name. The first in a series of profiles of Florida’s greatest artists, Andy Royston begins with Fort Lauderdale’s be-bop great Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley. “You don’t decide you’re hip. It just happens that way”. – Cannonball Adderley On a Friday night in June 1955 a band director from Fort Lauderdale’s Dillard High School set out on a long drive...
For Better For Worse: Damian Horner
For Better For Worse, by Damian Horner. Or For Richer For Poorer by Siobhan Horner. What? Is this one book or two? Well, it’s one book by a husband and wife team and it’s truly fascinating. The couple decided to give up their middle-class, comfortable life in London to travel through France in an old fishing boat they had restored. Oh, and they had two young children Damian had bought the boat before he met Siobhan...
Spotlight on Rome: (Part 2)
Spotlight on Rome: (Part 2) This article is the second part of three. Its main focus: Trevi Fountain & The Colosseum. Just standing in the very place where the mighty Roman Empire began is an incredible buzz and actually being in Rome really does bring home what the Romans achieved and just how much they lost. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also the amazing Renaissance-era there too! The centre of the city is crammed with...
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin. I wondered – did we really need another book of theories regarding the death of Marilyn Monroe? Ever since her death in 1962, the official story – that she died by her own hand – has been questioned. Some books have said that her death was due to an accidental overdose and other theories are more sinister – that she was murdered. Invariably those...
Book Review: Dennis Lehane’s “A Drink Before The War”
Book Review: Dennis Lehane’s “A Drink Before The War”. If author Dennis Lehane is unfamiliar to you, I bet you will still know of his work. Have you seen Mystic River? How about Shutter Island? Those two recent hits were authored by Mr. Lahane. Years before that, Mr. Lahane published his very first book, A Drink before The War. Escape back to the 50’s, to a gentler time in many ways, but a harsher time in others. In the...
The Invoice: By Jonas Karlsson
The Invoice: A fabulous novel. Are you happy? This is the major theme that the author explores in this very funny, yet thought-provoking novel. It’s great fun to read and certainly gave me a wonderful warm glow after finishing the book. And in and among the story is a rather sinister ‘big brother’ element. The hero of this novel is a single guy living in Stockholm. He’s never made much out of his life but...
Tuna Melt Calzone
Melted Cheese Delicious The other day while I was making bread dough for cinnamon rolls, I cut off a piece to try making a calzone. It was a delicious spinach and cheese calzone that you can see here. Then a friend and I were talking about forming an official Tuna Melt Association, so I had to try it in a calzone. It is delicious! I used bread dough made in my bread machine again, but a thinner crust, such as a pizza crust is...
Organizing and Packing a Rucksack
Organizing and Packing a Rucksack Organizing and packing a rucksack is a fine art and doing it well will make a real difference to any walker or hiker. Essentially there are 3 things you should do. Firstly, make sure that you buy lightweight clothes and equipment starting with a lightweight rucksack. It must be very light when it is empty, this will make a huge difference to how much you can put inside. The next thing to do is make...
Yorkshire is a Champion Place to Visit!
Yorkshire is a Champion Place to Visit! This may sound like a strange thing to say, but Yorkshire smells so good. I’m not talking about the mouthwatering aroma of seaside fish and chips, or the homely smell of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding wafting from pubs. It’s not the sweet scent of hops brewing in old casks of ale, or lavender fields either. I’m talking about the Yorkshire air! There is an ‘ozoney’ fresh quality about the air,...
A Tribute to my Father In Law
Fathers-In-Law: A Tribute to Mine. You don’t hear too much about Fathers In Law, but I must say that mine was one of the best! What made him so special in my eyes, was that he was the father of seven children and each one of them looked up to their Father with respect, love, and admiration. That’s not to say that they didn’t look up to their Mother in the same way, but, there was something different about how they...
What To Do in Rome
What to do in Rome (Part 1). When in Rome – do as the Romans! This article is about what do in Rome… a big topic so this is part one of a three part series. Its main focus: The Vatican & The Monument for the Fallen Rome is an awe-inspiring city and you cannot possibly see it all just one visit. But this is what we did when we were there for 5 days introducing our 13-year-old son to Rome: the most romantic city in the...
The Dutch Grand Prix: 1973
Roger Williamson and David Purley. Motorsport is still very dangerous but in times gone by, racing drivers faced situations that thankfully couldn’t happen today. In the early post-war era, it was almost accepted that half the drivers in Formula One wouldn’t survive the season. But one of the most horrific accidents happened in 1973 at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Roger Williamson’s crash was the seventh fatal...
Packing for a trip: Travelling light
Packing for a trip: Tips for travelling light Do you always take too many clothes with you when you go on vacation? I used to- every time. That’s until I took the advice of a friend of mine, Caroline, who is the editor of a top fashion magazine in London, She has spent all her working life travelling and invariably she has to look good when she gets there. She can’t turn up at a Paris fashion show looking like something...
Who Was Louis Strange ?
Airman Louis A Strange: Daring exploits. Louis Strange was an exceptionally brave and talented pilot and served in both the First and the Second World Wars. He also is the subject of one one the most bizarre stories in this history of wartime aviation. He took his pilot training before the start of the First World War and soon proved his skills. He joined the Royal Flying Corps and when war was declared in 1914 he developed various...
Mick Jagger: Food and fitness
How Mick Jagger stays fit and energetic For those of who remember the earlier days of the Rolling Stones, it might come as a shock to realise that Mick Jagger was born in 1943 – we are more inclined to remember him as you see him above. That baby face is long gone and we see wrinkles now but there’s no denying, at time of writing, that he’s in a great shape and has boundless energy. How? Mick was brought up to be...
The Life of Margaret Whigham
The Grit in the Pearl: The Life of Margaret Whigham. Words by Lyndsy Spence She was always a headstrong woman, always used to getting her own way. This character trait, or flaw (depending if one were a friend or a foe), was apparent in girlhood. Born Ethel Margaret Whigman in 1912 in Newton Mearns near Glasgow, she dropped her parents’ choice of Ethel and insisted on being known as Margaret. Margaret was the only child of Helen...
Dr. Frances Kelsey
It was the 1950’s and everything was becoming safer and easier in many areas of our lives. The end of the Second World War saw a prosperity that hasn’t been matched since. While life was getting easier, the after effects of the war were still being felt. Many people who lived through terrible bombings, night raids and such were having trouble falling asleep and getting a good night’s rest. Drug companies were doing a great business...
Family Tents and How to Choose Them
Good sized family tents are worth every penny. One of the best thing I’ve ever bought is our family tent. It has been an absolute gem in so many ways and not only for taking on holiday. For example, it’s an extension to our house because when we have guests we vacate our bedroom and sleep in the tent in the garden. Also, when my son was younger he used to play in it, and pretend to go camping with his friends. I have also...
Cacoon Hanging Chair
Is it a tent? A hammock? A chair? All three. The Cacoon is a relaxing haven – your own space where you can sleep, read, enjoy the scenery, listen to music, get back to nature, enjoy solitude, enjoy company… It was inspired by nature. See the image at the top of the page. This shows the nests of the weaver birds – don’t they look cosy? That’s what Nick McDonald thought when he saw them in Mexico. But why...
How to Sleep Well in the Heat
Hot humid weather can mean no sleep. The humidity is the main problem though because it stops your sweat from evaporating efficiently, making you sticky and uncomfortable. This can be unbearable if you’re not used to it. Of course the easy solution is to turn on the air conditioning, but what if you’re in a place that doesn’t have that sort of luxury? I would recommend the tricks people use in Mediterranean countries. 1. Make sure you...
The Curious Life of Rosemary Leveson-Gower
The tragic story of the girl who almost changed the course of British history. In fact, had circumstances turned out differently, Rosemary Leveson-Gower could have changed the course of world history. But it was not to be. The story has its true beginnings in the First World War. It is a love story that involves tragedy and includes the people who were the main players in what was called ‘The Love Affair of the Century’....
To the Moon
To the Moon. When you mention the date: July 20, 1969, most people in North America will remember right away that this date had a significance that made the world stop and take notice. The late 50’s and early 60’s were possibly one of the most prosperous times in the century and because the world was currently at peace, the attention of our scientists, physicists and engineers (of all stripes) had turned to the prospect of harnessing...
How to keep cool in warm weather
Keeping cool – without using air-conditioning. Although I’ve lived in South Florida for over twenty years, I don’t use air-conditioning in my home and I find it perfectly fine to keep cool in other ways. Why? Well, there are several reasons. One is that air-conditioning is expensive to run and to maintain or repair. We’re all trying to cut down on using the planet’s resources and our air-conditioning used...
Best Holiday Destinations to Beat the Heat
Here are some suggestions for summer holiday destinations that are not too hot, the kind of summer vacation ideas that beat the heat but are very high on adventure and excitement. If I could change one thing about myself it would be my intense dislike of the heat. I am so envious of people who come alive and thrive in excessive temperatures. I see them every time I go somewhere hot, lying on the beaches, basking in the sun. They...
Pokemon Go: Fort Lauderdale Accommodation
Poke Stops in Fort Lauderdale. You may have read our other articles about the wonderful rental apartment we have in beautiful, sunny Fort Lauderdale. The apartment has everything you’ll need for a great vacation but did those of you who are Pokemon players that we also have Poke Stops very nearby? Riverwalk The Riverwalk linear park is a wonderful place for everyone. Walk alongside the water enjoying the tropical foliage while...
Kick Kennedy: By Barbara Leaming
The truth about John Kennedy’s sister. I’ve long been fascinated by the life and tragedies of President Kennedy’s sister, Kathleen. She was nicknamed ‘Kick’ because of her exuberance and vivacity. You may know the basic story of her life. Born the fourth child of Joe Kennedy Sr. and his deeply religious wife Rose, Kick fell in love with a member of the British aristocracy in the late 1930s. Her father was...
Be All You Can Be. Do All You Can Do
Setting Realistic Priorities. By Stacey J Nelson Ph.D. What would your life be like if you lived today as though it were the last day of your life? What do you think some of the tasks you would like to accomplish would be? Some might call such a list a “Bucket List” What would you call your list of things to do? Every day we are challenged by so many activities, and it’s easy to loose track of time, people, places,...
Cauliflower Potato Salad
Cauliflower in Potato Salad. Really. When the weather warms up and the grill comes out, potato salad starts to sound so good. To me, it is such a tradition for picnics, barbecues–really any party or gathering. Doesn’t it seem like nearly everyone loves it? Chilled, with just the right blend of ingredients, it is so satisfying. Maybe it reminds me of my childhood, since the recipe I normally use is the one from my mother....
Best European Cities to Visit if you Hate the Heat
Best European Cities to Visit to Beat the Heat. If you can’t bear excessive heat and you want to visit Europe during the summer then head north. Southern European cities have temperatures that often exceed 40 degrees in the summer months. They become choked with traffic and all its fumes, they are packed with tourists, queuing to see the sights, and in order to avoid this unbearable annual occurrence, most of the natives leave on...
Harry Pitch
Who was Harry Pitch? His name isn’t well known but it may well be that you know his music. Harry was born in 1925 in London. He was the son of a Polish immigrant and when Harry left school at the age of fourteen he knew exactly what he was going to buy with his first pay packet. He bought an instrument that was going to lead to his fame – a harmonica. Almost twenty five years later, he was in the canteen of the recording...
Jello Fruit Cocktail
Fruity desserts are a very refreshing summer treat. Especially this simple jello dessert. Doesn’t it look yummy! This is super easy to make. All you do is pick your flavor of jello out and make it as directed on the package. Then you add a fruit of your choice either canned or fresh. Mine is made with a strawberry flavored jello with canned fruit cocktail. I topped it with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. A mixture of...
Did You Know? The Matterhorn
July of 2015 was a very special month for the town of Zermatt in Switzerland! Why? Well let’s just put it this way, when men/women are asked why they do “risky, dangerous, mind thrilling, crazy, physically draining and exhilarating” things, most of the time the answer starts with…..”Because”, and ends with, “it was there…….and no one had done it before!” So it is with the sleepy town of Zermatt in Switzerland, home...
In Spite of All the Danger
The Beatles’ first recording. Now that’s not strictly true, I’ll admit, but In Spite of All the Danger was the first recording by Paul McCartney, Jogn Lennon and George Harrison. Ringo Starr was yet to join the group. What’s more, although it was the Lennon McCartney duo that was to become so famous in the songwriting field, In Spite of All the Danger was credited to Lennon & Harrison. The recording was...
Off the Beaten Track – England’s Fabulous Footpaths
One of my favourite places on this wonderful planet of ours is Charleston Farmhouse way out in the English countryside. It sits below the Firle Beacon on the Sussex South Downs and was the country retreat of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, leading members of the famed Bloomsbury Set. It’s a beautiful setting and a lovely house to visit, beautifully cared for by the Charleston Trust. The old farm, featuring a brick house...
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....
Walking the Beach During Minus Tide
Walking the Beach During Minus Tide If you are near a beach when there is a ’negative’ or ‘minus’ tide, you won’t want to miss it. If it’s a beach you visit often, you will probably notice the difference immediately. If it is a beach that is new to you, what you might see will be a delight. I had a friend who is a photographer who suggested I go to our local beach during a minus tide. I didn’t time it well though and...
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...
The Flight of the Phoenix: Classic Movie
The Flight of the Phoenix: Classic movie This 1965 film wasn’t a huge box office hit, although it was nominated for two Academy Awards. Since then though, it has become a cult classic. Maybe it was a little ahead of its time. It was based on a novel which is equally full of suspense and conflict (see below). As you can see from the image of the left, the film has a distinguished cast, including James Stewart and Richard...
Lifelong Memories of Camping
Lifelong Memories of Camping When I was growing up summers meant camping in one of the California’s national parks. Every year, Dad would load up the car with mom and us kids, along with the tent, camp stove and ice chest, all the piles of food and miscellaneous…and drive off into the night. And for some reason I remember leaving at night often. I suppose when Dad got home from work. When I think back on it now, it couldn’t have...
Art Matters: George Grosz
“Come out of your rooms, even if you find it an effort, pull down your individual barriers, let yourselves be caught up by the ideas of working people and help them in the struggle against a corrupt society.” George Grosz In 1912 a rebellious young artist from north eastern Germany moved to the Wedding district of northern Berlin. George Grosz was already proving a distinctive draftsman, influenced by the expressionist...
Chilled Cucumber Soup
With summer nearing, it is time to plan some dishes that will be cool and refreshing without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. It’s also the time of year when we hope to have a lovely supply of freshly grown vegetables right from our own gardens. One of the easiest vegetables I’ve grown in past years is a cucumber plant. I love to make marinated cucumbers, with or without tomatoes and onions. Of course they are wonderful in a...
Preparing for Safe Summer Dining
It won’t be long now until summer is here. With summer comes picnics, camping trips, pool parties, barbecues, and a desire to eat outside in the sunshine and fresh air. With thoughts of how fun each sounds, dining outside requires some additional preparation to keep your family and the food safe. We’ve all seen tubs of ice containing sodas and beer. Excellent, since both taste best icy cold. In the heat it’s even more important to...
Vegetable frittata recipe
Delicious frittata for breakfast or lunch This recipe will serve four people as a breakfast dish. For lunch, it’s ideal served with fresh crusty bread and salad. We often have this for dinner and it serves the two of us – we are both very greedy – and it makes a quick and easy meat-free meal. Of course, if you do eat meat or fish,this is a beautifully flexible recipe. Seafood is a great addition as is small slices of...
Back to the Future Quiz
Back to the Future: Classic movies. If you watched Back to the Future in the cinema, then I’m about to make you feel old. The first in the series was released in 1985 – that’s thirty years ago. I know, it seems like just a few years, doesn’t it? And now all three of the Back to the Future films have become classics, and deservedly so. They are easy to watch and a lot of fun. Time travel is always fascinating....
Boston Bake: A recipe to use up leftovers
Use your leftovers to make this delicious and easy meal. I hate wasting food, don’t you? This is a recipe I developed many years ago when I ran a health food store. We sold takeout lunches and invariably had leftovers. A business can’t afford those losses. So Boston Bake was the result. It’s incredibly adaptable. Although the original version is meat-free, you can include chopped leftover ham, turkey … anything...
Promise of the Black Monks: Robert E Hirsch
Promise of the Black Monks: An excellent read. Asta from Scandinavia was only twelve when she was married off to a French nobleman. In those days (the eleventh century) this was quite normal. By the time she was twenty she had presented her husband with two sons, Tristan and Guillaume. She was trapped in a loveless marriage but was living well, despite the wars that were taking place throughout Europe. And at least she was sure that...
Derek Bentley & Christopher Craig
Derek Bentley & Christopher Craig. True and tragic story. Derek Bentley was hanged in England on 28th. January, 1953. Derek, who had learning difficulties, was nineteen when he was hanged – and he was innocent of the crime. What’s just as bad is that everyone knew he was innocent – and that included the jury who had found him guilty and the judge who sentenced him to death also knew. This was due to the...
Nancy Mitford: A Biography
Nancy Mitford, A Biography: By Selina Hastings. All the six Mitford sisters were fascinating and that fascination hasn’t waned over the years. When the sisters were young, they were rarely out of the newspapers. Throughout their lives they attracted stories and scandal. One thing they all had in common was a sense of humour – and Nancy in particular. But hers was a mildly cruel wit and this made her much-loved books even...
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House: Review
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House: Review. I finished reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House last night, and feel absolutely compelled to recommend it. I found a copy that was destined for the recycle bin and was captivated by the blurb on the back. Here’s an example: ‘A beautiful piece, written with great lucidity and respect for the reader, and with immaculate restraint. A...
Queen Victoria’s Daughters
Queen Victoria’s daughters Queen Victoria had nine children and understandably, the one who is the most well-known was Albert Edward, her eldest son who became King Edward VII when Victoria died in 1901. Little is generally known about her daughters however. In most cases,they married into European royalty. Queen Victoria wanted her daughters to marry for love – as she had done herself – but that didn’t mean...
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....
Book Review: The Burglar who Counted the Spoons, by Lawrence Block
The Latest in the Bernie Rhodenbarr, Burglar Series. The “Burglar who…..” book series by Lawrence Block has been one of my favorites for years. The books are such fun! It’s been quite a while since I read the first one, but I still smile fondly thinking of the characters. Bernie Rodenbarr is a very likable character, in spite of–or because of– the fact that he is a burglar. I wouldn’t have...
Bangers & Mash: A la Rolling Stones
Keith Richards’ bangers & mash recipe Should you ever find that Rolling Stone, Keith Richards, is dropping in for a bite to eat, this is his favourite food made in the exact way he prepares the dish himself. As he says, he has been cooking sausages all his life but it’s only recently that he discovered the real secret to truly excellent bangers. He discovered the secret from a ‘lady on TV’. He says that it...
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...
Prunella Scales & Timothy West: A marriage
Timothy West, Prunella Scales and dementia Renown British actor, Timothy West, recently revealed that his wife was suffering from ‘mild Alzheimer’s’. He was more than happy to discuss this in a television documentary. You probably know his wife, Prunella Scales, from the British television show Fawlty Towers. The couple, who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2013, are determined to continue their lives...
Under The Covers – Hey Mr. Tambourine Man
Andy Royston explores some his favourite cover versions and the stories behind them. There’s a new thing happening, and it probably started with Bob Dylan. He gave the audience a new vocabulary, a new set of symbols to fit the feelings exploding in and around them. The Byrds take his words and put them in the framework of the beat, and make imperative the meaning of those words. Billy James, Sleeve notes – Mr Tambourine...
Royal proposal: William and Catherine
How did Prince William propose to Kate Middleton? William and Catherine were secure in their relationship. It had survived a great deal and William was not sure that Catherine was the girl for him. But before he proposed, there were two important issues to sort out first. The first was, like all members of the royal family, he had to get permission to marry from his granny – or as we know her, Queen Elizabeth II. She queen had...
Muffin Omelets
Here’s an easy, versatile recipe for a brunch or a simple family breakfast. They also work great for something to grab on-the-go. Chop a little onion, some ham or bacon, any vegetables you would like to add. Try spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers… It doesn’t take very much. Sprinkle some cheese in with the egg, and bake them up. If you serve them immediately, they are nice and high. If they will be served...
The 2005 US Grand Prix
USA Grand Prix 2005 – Formula One chaos? Many journalists condemned this race as a shambles, a fiasco. They said that it would cause the end of the popularity of the sport in the United States. There are still fans today who, thanks to the media, don’t understand what happened that year at Indianapolis. I’ll refresh your memory. In those days, the sport had two tyre suppliers. After qualifying for the race, an...
The Murder of Kitty Genovese
Kitty Genovese and the apathetic bystanders. Catherine Genovese, an attractive twenty-eight year old, was murdered as she walked through the streets of Kew Gardens, NY, in March 1964. Her murder became well-known not just because of its brutality but because of allegations that almost forty bystanders saw her being attacked but did nothing to prevent her death. Her murderer did not know her. The attack wasn’t premeditated....
Quiz: The Beatles’ Children
Quiz: How much do you know about the Beatles’ children? Between them, the Beatles had eleven legal and legitimate children. There were many lawsuits and paternity claims over the years (naturally) but here were are talking about those who were all legal and above board. How much do you know about the Beatles’ offspring? Test your knowledge. Which is the oldest of the Beatles’ children? Note that this is...
How to Change a Duvet Cover
Changing a duvet cover isn’t difficult! But to read comments on various websites, it seems that so many people ‘hate’ changing the duvet cover. Either that or they say it’s so time consuming or that it takes two people – one of which ends up inside the cover ….. Now this is crazy. It takes about a minute and is simplicity itself. I’ve even heard of people who use a sheet below the duvet so...
Prince Philip’s letter: After Diana
Prince Philip’s letter: After Diana. In February, 2015, a letter was sold at auction. This was highly significant in the history of the British royal family.It was written by Prince Philip, five days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Eighteen years previously, Diana had been killed in a car crash in Paris. Prince Philip,pictured on the left with Queen Elizabeth II, wrote the letter to his niece expressing his feelings...
Who Was Ottoline Morrell?
The curious life of Ottoline Morrell. When Ottoline Morrell grew to womanhood, she was six feet tall. She had striking, flowing red hair and a strongly-featured face. Knowing that she would turn heads, she dressed flamboyantly. She also led a flamboyant and somewhat scandalous life. She was also the sort of woman that was often caricatured – even by her several lovers. She was born in 1873 into an aristocratic English family of...
Fordlandia: Henry Ford’s Forgotten Amazon City
Fordlandia: Henry Ford’s Forgotten Amazon City Henry Ford was without doubt a great industrialist. But he had several unusual passions and two of them converge, rather ironically, in the story of Fordlandia. Ford liked his automotive business to be as self-reliant as possible. He disliked being dependant on outside suppliers. He always feared that he was at their mercy. They could put up their prices or take advantage of him in...
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 Nightingale: Kristin Hannah. Book review.
The Nightingale: Kristin Hannah. Book review. Some books you can easily forget. You read them, enjoy them, but after while they slip from your mind. The characters and the events in The Nightingale however will stay with you. We’ve all read or heard stories about the Second World War. We’ve seen television documentaries and fictional movies. But mostly, these have been seen from an American or British perspective and...
Tess Gerritsen’s “The Mephisto Club,” A Book Review
Tess Gerritsen’s “The Mephisto Club,” A Book Review The Mephisto Club is another intriguing story from Tess Gerritsen. I just finished it yesterday, making me feel a little like I am reading her books in reverse. When I read Ice Cold, written by Ms. Gerritsen and first published in 2006, I was so impressed. A winter tale always draws my interest, but the mystery and suspense in Ice Cold was wonderful. It...
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 Honesty Shop Burglary
Canna, Inner Hebrides: Honesty shop burgled. Have you ever lived in a community where there’s no need to look your doors? There are still communities like that on the remote Scottish Hebrides islands. One of them is the island of Canna which at time of writing has a population of twenty six. But their neighbourly way of life is now under threat. The island runs an honesty shop which was burgled in June 2015. It is the first...
34 Shambles Street, Barnsley
Yorkshire: 34 Shambles Street, Barnsley. Regular readers – all three of you 😉 – know that I was brought up in Barnsley in South Yorkshire. I’ve recently been looking into the history of a certain address, the reason being that in the 1950s my dad used that address as part of his business. Here’s a photograph from those days. That’s my old man’s business on the right of the picture – Service...
Antoni Gaudi i Cornet
June 10th, 2016 marked the 90th anniversary of the death of one of Spain’s most controversial architects! Even though he has been gone 90 years, his work and the mark he has made on Spanish buildings, makes it seem like he is still alive today. Gaudi was a sick child and because of his many ailments spent much of his childhood indoors. Though he didn’t get out much, he watched and learned many lessons by observing the world around...
Salmon and spinach lasagna
Salmon and spinach lasagna recipe This special recipe comes from Belgian chef, Dirk De Cuyper. Now a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dirk was formerly a sought-after chef creating delicious meals aboard luxury yachts. This recipe features homemade lasagna (you’ll find the recipe here) but of course,you can use a fresh, high quality, commercial brand if you wish. The chef recommends this as a main course for lunch,...
The Late Great Johnny Ace
“I will tell you exactly what happened! Johnny Ace had been drinking and he had this little pistol he was waving around the table and someone said ‘Be careful with that thing…’ and he said ‘It’s okay! Gun’s not loaded…see?’ and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face and ‘Bang!’—sad, sad thing. Big Mama ran out of the dressing room yelling ‘Johnny Ace just killed himself!” Curtis Tillman, bass player with Big Momma...
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...
Rehabilitating Brian Jones
Review: Brian Jones: The Making of the Rolling Stones. One a summer’s night in 1969 in the wilds of East Sussex, Brian Jones was found motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool. No one knows for sure what happened to the Rolling Stones founder and guitarist. This was just 3 weeks after being fired from the band, and instantly he was at the center of outlandish conspiracy theories. Jones, just 27, drowned while under the...
Mick Hucknall and the Art of the Cover Version
Mick knew his stuff. I knew I was on a hiding to nothing when I walked in with a brown record bag. “Hey, what’ve you got there…” “Some obscure James Brown” I replied proudly. He took the bag and removed the second hand 45 within, Prisoner of Love, 1964 on London Records with a pushed-out centre. “Bollocks, he said laughing. That’s not rare. Should be on King for a start. And it’s...
Jerry Lewis saves Dean Martin from the Mob
When Jerry Lewis saved Dean Martin from an angry mobster. For ten years, ‘Italian-stallion’ Dean Martin and the rather less fortunate-looking Jerry Lewis worked as a double act. They worked together for ten years – from 1946 until 1956. They were popular on television but also toured the country performing in nightclubs. It was in one of these that Dean Martin was very nearly shot by a mobster – until Jerry...
Maida Vale Tube Station
Maida Vale: The tube station with an all-female staff. When the Maida Vale tube station opened in London on June 6th 1915, it was less than a year after the outbreak of the First World War. This meant that because of the lack of available men, who were all either fighting in the forces or working towards the war effort, it was staffed entirely by women. There were 17,000 workers from London Transport who were now overseas fighting in...
Vegetarian White Bean and Soy Chili
White Bean Chili. Our family loves a bowl of chili on a cold winter night. Our favorite used to be the traditional chili with the basic ground beef. Now that I’m trying to eat less meat and finding more vegetarian dishes, my goal was to see what I could create with my favorite white beans. I’ve tried it with ground turkey too. That’s very tasty, but this time I wanted to go totally vegetarian. That’s how this...
Fancy a New Experience?
Fancy a New Experience? The other day while watching TV I saw a 95 year old woman skydiving. It was a birthday present from her family. She threw herself into the air and looked as though she was having the time of her life. She wasn’t even on holiday! Even though new experience holidays are all the rage you can have a new experience at any time of year. There is probably something very close to home that you could do this very...
Eric Hebborn
The murder of art forger, Eric Hebborn. On January 8th, 1996, English art forger Eric Hebborn was found in an alley in Rome. He was unconscious and had been beaten about the had by a blunt instrument. Hebborn had been living in the area since the nineteen sixties when he and his then lover, Graham Smith, had opened a gallery. He survived for days after the brutal attack but despite the efforts of the doctors, he succumbed on January...
Cheese recipes
Cheese recipes What could be more delicious than cheese? Whether you’re thinking about a delightful recipe or looking for a simple treat to serve after after a dinner party, there’s no doubt that cheese will almost always fit the bill. For a long time it bothered me that vegetarian cheeses were not adequate but today there is a wonderful range so delicious cheese recipes are suitable for everyone. Most cheeses are...
Mohammed Ali’s favourite knockout pie
Mohammed Ali’s favourite knockout pie recipe This recipe was printed in the Toledo Blade newspaper in September 1979. The recipe was created by Lana Shabazz. Whether it helped him to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee is mere conjecture. At the time of publication of the recipe,Lana had been Ali’s dietician for fifteen years. In 1971, Mohammed Ali lost a fight to Joe Frazier. The story does that was because he had...
Homemade Pasta
Making fresh pasta at home. If you’ve never made pasta at home you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. Gourmet pastas can cost a fortune at speciality food stores and delis – so why not make your own? Using this recipe, from top chef Dirk Du Cuyper, you can make your own special pastas at home. Flavour your pasta, if you wish. Try basil, sun-dried tomatoes, olives or garlic for truly Mediterranean tastes. Add...
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