Obsolete Words: Quiz
Test your knowledge: Obsolete words Isn’t it amazing how quickly our language changes? Today, we regularly use words that simply wouldn’t have been understood fifty years ago. Even some words we might think of as relatively ‘modern’ are outdated. Do today’s children understand words and phrases like ‘cassette player ‘, ‘floppy disk’, ‘Netscape’, ‘typewriter’...
Ian Fleming, James Bond and … Bob Marley
Did Ian Fleming model James Bond on himself? Ian Fleming’s most famous creation was, of course, James Bond. And to some extent, the author was the character. He had been involved in espionage during the Second World War but there are certainly other similarities. The fictional James Bond enjoyed a drink (shaken not stirred, of course) and definitely his love of women was a great feature of the 007 persona. Fleming liked a drink...
Is Eating Chicken Dangerous?
Chicken health scare. Let’s look at the latest statistics from the UK. A year-long study has discovered that 73% – very nearly three quarters – of supermarket chickens contain the campylobacter bacteria. This causes over quarter of a million cases of food poisoning in Britain every year, about one hundred of which are fatal. When you consider that the population is 64 million, and that over 3 million people are...
Barbara Taylor Bradford: A Woman of Substance
Barbara Taylor Bradford: A Woman of Substance. I recently read and reviewed Ms Taylor Bradford’s latest book The Cavendon Women (which I recommend heartily) and this made me eager to reread the first books of hers that I ever read. Coincidentally, it was also the author’s first book. I can assure you that it stands the test of time admirably and reading it again now I find that it is just as absorbing as it was when I...
Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos: Review
Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos: How Italian Women Make the Ordinary, Extraordinary. The author of this book, Gabriella Contestabile, was brought up in North America (first Canada and then the United States) but had been born in Italy. She left the country of her birth when she was just four years old and unsurprisingly, when she grew up she became more interested in the Italy she barely remembered rather than her now home country. She...
The Triangle Fire
Death in Manhattan: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Disaster. Thirty five horse-drawn fire fighting vehicles were dashing through the streets of Manhattan. It was March in 1911 and the streets were quiet on that Saturday afternoon. But nevertheless, the firefighters were unable to save lives that day. They were headed towards the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where fire had broken out in the ten-storey building. The business, which made...
Urbio: Designer Wall Storage
Storage plus indoor gardening – perfect for small space living. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to own a Uten.Silo – that wonderful wall storage system designed back in the 1960s. But now I’ve discovered Urbio, I’ve found that it’s far more flexible, so very stylish and it comes at a very reasonable price. What’s more, the Urbio can be bought as modular pieces allowing you to stretch...
Surrounded by Enemies: Bryce Zabel
‘JFK was not killed at Dallas’. This is the premise of the fascinating novel, Surrounded by Enemies. Author Bryce Zabel has woven a plausible and thoroughly-imagined fictional series of events that might have taken place had Kennedy suirvived. Maybe you have your own theory about how America would have developed over the years if Kennedy had lived? It’s a subject that many people – the general public and expert...
Marthe Cohn
Behind Enemy Lines: Marthe Cohn The number of people who took part in the Second World War is slowly dwindling. But it’s important that we should never forget them- and the heroism that so many of them showed during that terrible conflict. You can read about many of them in this book by Marthe Cohn. Marthe Hoffnung (her maiden name) was born in 1920 and was still a teenager when war broke out. Yet she worked as spy,...
Sirio Maccioni and Le Cirque
The biography of a restaurateur extraordinaire. Sirio Maccioni was born into a poor Italian family of farmers in the nineteen thirties. And yet this extraordinary man became the most important restaurateur in America, if not the world. The philosophy behind his success was simple. He believed in hard work — it’s as simple as that. He believed in the traditional Italian values that had been passed to him from his family...
Comparing ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ & ‘The Shadow of the Wind’
Can we really compare Carlos Ruiz Zafon to Gabriel Garcia Marquez? I first read One Hundred Years of Solitude a long, long time ago and I’ve re-read it many times since then. In April 2014, I read The Shadow of the Wind. One of the things that attracted me to the book is that the blurb on the back cover compared these two books. I enjoyed Shadow and, on the evening I finished the book, was determined to read more of Carlos Ruiz...
She Captains by Joan Druett
She Captains: Heroines of the Sea. Prize winning historian and author Joan Druett has created a fabulous book which is chock-full of fascinating about women at sea throughout history. Seafaring was a dangerous business in times gone by and yet many women were attracted to life aboard. Some were captains – and even pirates – in their own right.Others went to sea with their husbands. All their stories are fascinating....
Mitford Marriages: Pamela Mitford and Derek Jackson
Mitford Marriages: Pamela Mitford and Derek Jackson. Pamela Mitford is probably the least known of the six sisters. She’s often thought of as ‘the quiet one’ and certainly she was less scandalous than most of her sisters but nevertheless she married a man who was not just a millionaire, he was also a war hero and a brilliant scientist. Pam had not been without admirers. She had been briefly engaged to Oliver...
Gifts for Cooks
Looking for a great and unusual gift for someone who loves to cook and bake? Not on the High Street offers a wonderful range of fabulous and stylish gifts that are perfect for the cook – amateur or professional. What’s more many of them can be personalised. This makes them so very ideal as a gift because your recipient will know that you really care and took the time and trouble to choose the perfect gift. A great example...
The Incredible Luci Solar Powered Lights
We love Luci! The inflatable, waterproof solar lighting system. The internet is a-buzz – the Luci solar lights are getting great reviews everywhere. Increasingly we are all appreciating the value of using nature’s resources such as the sun to harness energy and that’s exactly what the Luci does. You can see more details in the video below but suffice it to say that these incredible naturally-powered lights are...
Gifts for Animal Lovers: Elephants
Love elephants? Great gift ideas. Are you looking for gift ideas for someone who just loves elephants? I have found an online collection that features almost one thousand items – all of which feature elephants. There are some incredible pieces of jewellery – both modern and traditional. The photograph on the right shows a lovely example. There are other items to wear too,including some gorgeous elephant print scarves. But...
Gourmet Gifts: Cooking Classes
The perfect foodie gift: Fun culinary classes. Something I think many of us have in common is that we’d love to improve our cooking skills, knowledge and techniques. How wonderful it would be to be able to serve new and exciting dishes to our families and guests. The classes provided by Sur la Table are run by expert chefs and take place in many locations. There are lots of themes too. Choose from seasonal courses, baking, the...
Gifts for Animal Lovers: Turtles
Turtle-themed gifts: For good luck. In many cultures and societies turtles are considered to bring good luck so what better gift than turtle-themed products? The articles you see on this page are all make by artisans all over the world and are made from sustainable or recycled materials. The sculpture you see here, for example, is a carved coconut and its base is made from sustainable albesia wood. It is hand carved in Bali by an...
Formula One: Fathers and Sons
Formula One Trivia. As far as I’m aware, and at time of writing, there have been fifteen Formula One drivers whose sons have driven in Grand Prix races. If you know of more, please let me know in the comment section below. (And see below for the list – before you look though, can you name them all?) Personally, I would love to live long enough to see the daughter of a Grand Prix racer (preferably of a female driver) lining...
Molkky: A Great Outdoor Game
Molkky: Europe’s most popular outdoor game. Coming from Finland, Molkky is a game that is fun, can be played anywhere and is planet-friendly. It can be enjoyed by all ages, all skill levels and, unlike other games, can be played by small or large groups of people. What’s more, it’s stylish, safe and sustainable – oh, and great fun to play. The fabulous Molkky The game is a cross between skittles and the...
Kitchen Nightmares UK: The Ship & Anchor
The Best of Kitchen Nightmares UK: ‘Shrek in a Frock’. If you’ve watched USA episodes of Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay, you’re missing out if you haven’t seen the UK versions. They are so much better – and funnier. And it’s hard to choose a favourite but after much deliberation, I’ve decided on the episode featuring Mike and Caron Ciminera of the Ship and Anchor pub in Wales is...
Decor: A Sunrise Palette
How to pick accessories and décor colours. Did you know that interior designers use a simple trick when they are coordinating décor in the rooms they design? Often, their cues come from artwork. For example, let’s take the gorgeous sunrise artwork below. Designers take a prominent item that will be displayed in the room. This is often a painting, a spectacular photograph or sometimes even a textile such as a tapestry or an...
Dressing Your Dog for Halloween
Halloween dog costumes that benefit Breast Cancer Research. Does your dog enjoy being dressed up? If so, there are some wonderful articles for you to choose from to make sure that he or she enters into the ‘spirit’ of things for your Halloween parties or festivities. You can choose from the more subtle gesture – such as the cute Halloween-themed bandana you see here – to full and fancy costumes. But the great...
The Love Life of the Eleventh Duke of Marlborough
The love life of the eleventh Duke of Marlborough. The eleventh Duke of Marlborough died on October 16th, 2014. The chances are that few people – apart from his family and friends – noticed it in the news. I mean after all, wasn’t he just some boring English aristocrat? Well, I suppose the answer is yes, but his life – and his love life – was really quite fascinating. The story of his life –...
FitKicks Shoes: Next Best Thing to Barefoot
Fitkicks Footwear: For girls on the go. I have to let you know about my latest discovery. I always prefer not to wear shoes whenever possible, but it’s not always practical. These fabulous FitKicks shoes are the next best thing – they protect your feet, are non-slip and waterproof and are so comfy. They look stylish too and are available in several colours. The comfort quotient is incredible, they are so easy to clean and...
What Really Happened to the Mary Celeste?
In 1872 a Canadian ship, the Dei Gratia, spotted another ship close by in the North Atlantic Ocean. The crew thought that there was something odd about the ship so they approached and boarded. They found a mystery that still endures. Although the ship, the Mary Celeste, was fully seaworthy, there was no-one on board. There were no signs of a struggle or attack, no damage and very little was missing from the craft except its lifeboat...
Halloween Ties
Halloween: Elegant yet spooky ties. Not everyone like to get dressed up in ridiculous garb when Halloween comes around. But nevertheless, you can still show that you’re celebrating the day in a more subtle and stylish way with these speciality ties. Or maybe you’ve got to work on Halloween and your position doesn’t exactly allow you to dress like a gorilla or a pirate? You can still show that you’re in the...
Who Killed Elsie Frost: Man Arrested
Fourteen year old Elsie Frost was murdered on October 9th, 1965. Almost fifty one years later, on September 27th,2016, police announced that they had made an arrest. Elsie’s brother and sister had contacted the BBC in 2014 asking them to help them to have the unsolved case re-opened. BBC journalist and broadcaster Jon Manel took up the cause. The West Yorkshire Police re-opened the case and assigned fourteen officers to...
Why Airbnb is not Illegal
Airbnb is not illegal – anywhere. It seems that everyone has been writing about Airbnb for some years now. And because the company is often in the news, it’s certainly a good way to get hits to your website. But that’s not why I’m writing this…. The reason for this article is that, because I am an Airbnb host, I’m often hearing statements such as ‘Airbnb is illegal where I live’ or...
The Real Peggy Sue
Who was the real Peggy Sue? Which is Buddy Holly’s most famous song? I’m not sure but Peggy Sue must be up there. But who was the real Peggy Sue? Peggy Sue Gerron was the girlfriend of Buddy Holly’s drummer, Jerry Allison. As she recalls,the inspiration for the song arrived in the middle of the night and Buddy called his manager, Norman Petty, saying ‘I’ve just written a song and named it after...
The Clifton Chronicles: By Jeffrey Archer
Jeffrey Archer: A bit of a villain? The first book I read by Jeffrey Archer made me think that the man must be a bit of a villain. That book was Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less and like many others, I decided that if the author had the sort of mind that could create a book like that, he could also do well as an master criminal. Over the years, history has shown that yes, Mr Archer is certainly a bit of a lad. He has been involved...
Gifts for Pizza Lovers
Gourmet pizza gift ideas. If you are looking for gifts for the gourmet pizza cook or pizza eater, then I have found a perfect selection of goods that they will absolutely adore. For the pizza connoisseur there are some wonderful,practical – and tasty – ideas that will make cooking and eating pizza even more of a delight. Prices start at under ten dollars but there are also some deluxe items such as the specialist mini...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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’....
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
Sugar Knockout: By Cherie Calbom
Learn about sugar, your diet and your health: From Cherie Calbom, ‘The Juice Lady’. We know about sugar and other sweeteners and just how they affect our health, don’t we? According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) we don’t. There is a huge confusion in our minds about which sweeteners and sweetened products are good for us and which we should avoid. For example, try answering these...
The Five Truths about Work-life Balance , by Jae Ellard
How to balance your roles and relationships. This book couldn’t have landed on the review desk at JAQUO HQ at a better time. Like so many of us, I have many roles and wear lots of different hats every day – and we all know how hard it can be to juggle these successfully. And few of us manage it. But this eminently down-to-earth approach will be invaluable in helping you to achieve it. Achieve what exactly? Well, as the...
Fort Lauderdale: Paddle Board Vacation
Paddle on the river from your own rental apartment! One of the wonderful aspects of a Fort Lauderdale waterfront apartment is sitting on the dock or balcony watching the water traffic as it goes by. So why not join in? It’s easy. You can make the most of this fun sport directly from our secluded dock. All you need to do is step out of your vacation apartment and everything you need will be right there for you. The paddle boards...
Romanesco Mozzarella Tart
Italian Romanesco, Mozzarella & Garlic Tart: Meat free recipe. Have you come across the wonderful Romanesco cauliflowers? You can make this lovely tart with a regular cauliflower and that’s super-tasty but for something really special, try the Romanesco. You can make your own pastry – here’s my favourite recipe – or use a ready-to-bake pastry if you’d prefer. This makes a lovely meat-free meal for two...
Who Was Maria Callas?
Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. One of the richest men in the world, Aristotle Onassis, was married twice. His first wife was Tina Livros, the seventeen year old daughter of a shipping tycoon. (Onassis was forty when he married her). His second wife was one of the most famous women in America at that time — Jackie Kennedy, the widow of the assassinated president JFK. But one woman was with him for longer than either of his...
Homemade Vegetarian Chili
I learned to make this recipe from my sister. She made this while we were visiting her. Everyone had gotten sick in the house so she wanted to make something that we all could just easily eat as we got better. Although this soup isn’t your get better kind, it does have healthy ingredients in it. Plus when it’s chilly out it will warm you up! As she made it the smell made me hungry! She is such a good cook. To my surprise when I tried...
The Prince of Los Cocuyos by Richard Blanco
A Miami Childhood. Little Riqui grew up to be Richard Blanco, who became the fifth inaugural poet of the United States becoming the youngest, the first Latino, the first immigrant and the first gay writer to do so. In this autobiographical book he tells about his childhood in the Cuban community of Miami. It’s a highly entertaining and very often a laugh-out-loud book featuring a wonderful range of lively characters and at the...
PG Wodehouse: A Life
Was PG Wodehouse a Nazi collaborator? Now that would have seemed like a very odd thing to ask had it not been for the book you see here. Robert McCrum, the author of this book tells a story I had never heard before. I’ve read Wodehouse – the creator of the Jeeves and Wooster series- for many years but didn’t realise that during the Second World War he was accused of being aNazi collaborator. This was definitely a...
Elsie Frost: Fifty Years After Her Murder
On the afternoon of October 9th, 1965, fourteen year old Elsie Frost was walking along a country footpath not far from her home in Wakefield, Yorkshire. A few hours later her body was found, sparking off a huge police investigation. A man was arrested and accused of the murder but the court decided he was innocent. The murderer remains at large fifty years later. In the early months of 2015, as the fiftieth anniversary approached,...
Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms Whether an appetizer, a main course, or a side dish, stuffed mushrooms are a popular dish to serve at a meal. They look special, taste wonderful, and can be stuffed with your favorites, like cheese, olives, or other veggies. Or, if you love spinach as much as I do, you can stuff them with spinach. Any mushroom is delicious when stuffed, but the Portobello mushroom is large enough to be a meal. With...
Dawn Langley Simmons
Gordon Ticehurst was born in England in 1922. He was the illegitimate child of a sixteen year old servant girl. The father was the household’s chauffeur and the pair were employed by homosexual author Harold Nicholson and his lesbian wife Vita Sackville-West. Now that is some start in life. But it was just the beginning of a remarkable life story. Gordon’s early life is something of a mystery. Although it seems that he did...
The Capsize of the Prinz Valdemar
The end of the Florida Land Boom: 1926. In the middle of the nineteen twenties, a single ship ran aground on a sandbar and capsized. No-one was killed; no-one was hurt but this simple accident brought about the end of the infamous Florida Land Boom. Since the beginning of the decade, investors had flocked to South Florida. They could buy land cheap and sell it again and make fabulous profits. How could they go wrong? South Florida had...
Rod Stewart: The Autobiography
Rod Stewart: Autobiography. I definitely wouldn’t have considered myself to be a huge Rod Stewart fan- although I do enjoy his music – but I most certainly have become a fan of Mr Stewart himself after reading this fascinating and truly funny autobiography. There have been many books written about this famous singer but here you can discover the truth about the man, his career, his music and the women in his life from Rod...
Rolo: The Roll-Up Travel Bag
Travel light with the fabulous Rolo. This must surely be the best travelling bag if you like to travel light. Even when I’m going on long trip, I prefer to avoid checking luggage if I can – I’d rather rely on carry-on bags and avoid all the palaver they can cause.The Rolo is the perfect solution. I can easily pack everything I need for a trip of five or so days – longer if the trip is a warm-weather one and...
The Question: Book Review
The Question: R. Breuer Stearns. When I first received a review copy of this book, I was intrigued by the quote on the front cover. This is ‘if you could have the answer to only one question, what would you ask?’ This in itself made me want to read this book (after pondering the question posed for a while) and I’m so pleased that I did. I know it’s a well-worn phrase that has been done to death, but I truly did...
Monopoly: The De Luxe Edition
Play Monopoly in style. There’s no doubt that Monopoly is a great game. It’s been around for so many years and it’s lots of fun for all ages. But no-one could ever claim that it’s a stylish game. Most of us care deeply about the looks of the products we use in our homes and that’s why we usually keep the Monopoly box hidden away in a closet until it’s time to play. Until now, that is. Just take a...
Bathroom Makeover at Zero Cost
My ‘new’ bathroom with no budget. I have to admit that my bathroom was a complete embarrassment. It’s extremely tiny and dates from 1949. In the intervening years, someone had added a rather horrible, cheap wood vanity (which I had NO money to replace) and a completely out-of-period acrylic sink (ditto). Other than that, it has original fittings — so therefore they are somewhat old, to say the least....
Fun, Retro Coca Cola Decor
Retro Coca Cola Accessories for the Home. The Coca Cola brand is surely one of the best known in the world and is certainly recognisable just about anywhere. Particularly popular right now are the funky retro Coke décor items and household goods dating from the fifties, sixties and seventies – the good old rock ‘n’ roll years. They’re such fun and can make an interesting conversation piece in your home in...
British – American Language Differences: Solved
Are the British and Americans divided by a common language? Yes! When I first came to live in the States, I truly felt that I needed an Anglo-American dictionary. Yes, the two countries speak the same language on the face of things but there are so many differences and misunderstandings occur all the time. I have been here for twenty years now and the situation is better – but still not perfect. Even after all these years, I...
Stylish Eco-Friendly Jewellery
It is a must one should only wear the best designer brand earrings and neckpieces while attending a formal event. But what about when it comes to completing a sundress or vacation look? Not to worry as the following fabulous jewellery pieces come from various countries throughout the world and are guaranteed to be planet-friendly and are guaranteed to complete every vacation look you are thinking. Made by local artisans, many of these...
Metrokane Lever Corkscrew: My Kitchen Essential
The easiest & most stylish way to open a bottle of wine. If you know me, or are familiar with my articles and recipes, then it will come as no surprise to you that the most essential item in my kitchen is my corkscrew. But not just any old corkscrew. Oh no. This is special. This is known as the Metrokane Rabbit Before we decided to buy this, we relied on the traditional-style corkscrew – the type that wine waiters use...
How To Keep Half an Avocado Fresh
I love avocado and here in Florida, they are really inexpensive at certain times of year. During those times I love to have half an avocado for lunch or for a snack. But I’ve only recently discovered how to keep the cut half fresh for another day. I was looking for a way to keep the remaining half fresh without resorting to aluminium foil or that plastic wrap stuff – neither of which I wanted to buy. Furthermore, they...
Breaking bad habits: Creating good ones
It’s much easier than you think to break and create habits. I imagine that we all have bad habits that we’d rather not have. Furthermore, wouldn’t it be great to have some good habits? If it sounds impossible, let me give you some great examples that the book you see here can help you with. A daily walk Many of us make New Year resolutions and I imagine that one of the most common ones is to get more exercise. I...
The Survival Bracelet
The Wazoo survival bracelet: A great gift idea. Whether you’re buying this bracelet for yourself or as a gift, you can be sure that it’s a fabulous idea that can actually save lives in an emergency. Furthermore, I think it looks terrific. Survival bracelets – which contain just about everything you need in emergency situations – have been around for a while but the one made by Wazoo is without doubt the best....
Using Pullquote on Twitter
Use Pullquote to add interest and appeal to your Twitter messages. It sometimes seems to me that people either love Twitter or hate it. There seems to be no middle ground. For those who don’t like Twitter, the most common complaint is ‘how can I say everything I want to with just 140 characters?’ Youmight, for instance, have found a great quote on a website that you’d like to share. Or maybe you’d like to...
Should You Buy a Range with a Glass Ceramic Cooktop?
Electric ranges with smooth cooktops: Perfect for small kitchens. I’m sometimes asked about this because the electric range I have in my small apartment has a smooth ceramic glass hob. Are they easy to clean? Do they work efficiently for cooking? Do they retain their good looks? The range I have is now twelve years old and it looks and works as good as new, despite daily use. They are excellent for any size of kitchen but are...
Fashion & Style from Luisa Villavicencio
Designer fashion from Guatemala. Luisa Villavicencio creates the most stylish cotton goods. You can see a lovely example on the right. This gorgeous cardigan is made using raw cotton and blends three natural shades – ivory, jade and brown. All the products she produces are natural – no dyes are used at all – and make the most of cotton’s qualities. Luisa explains that she comes from a Guatemalan family and they...
Prevent Food Waste in your Home
Waste not want not – especially food. I’ve always hated seeing any sort of waste. This is probably because my parents were brought up during the Second World War and at that time, avoiding waste was a big issue and making the most of every scrap of meat, vegetables and fish was very important to the war effort. A report that was recently released has revealed that between thirty and fifty percent of the consumer edibles...
We Had a Job to Do: By Theresa Anzaldua
A fascinating selection of eyewitness stories from the Second World War. Anyone who was twenty years old when the Second World War ended in 1945 would be ninety nowadays. This means that we are gradually losing our WW2 veterans and with them, the stories about their wartime experiences. To compensate to some extent for this, author Theresa Anzaldua has collected reminiscences and stories from a variety of people who served in the US...
The Best Travel Accessory: The ScotteVest
Storage and security when travelling, particularly for your tech. When you travel – whether you’re heading for an adventure in India or just to the local park for the afternoon – carrying everything you need securely and safely can be so tricky. When I travel, the important things I need with me in addition to regular packing (at minimum) are my travel documents, ID, iPad, Kindle, phone, my keys, wallet, sunglasses,...
Almost Instant: DIY Artwork
Help! I need artwork for my bathroom. Recently, I gave my tiny bathroom a long overdue overhaul on a budget — actually a budget of zero dollars. It was looking good but I had one huge problem. The previous owner of our mid-century apartment had left us with a mysterious hole in the tiles. What’s more, it was the first thing you see as you enter the bathroom and it was really bugging me. I needed to cover it quickly and for...
Stop the Diet, I Want to Get Off!
Sensible diet advice from Lisa Tillinger Johansen. The author is a registered dietician and at last, we have a book containing practical and sensible advice for those of us who are wanting to lose weight and improve our health. Yes, here we have the top tips and advice for weight loss without becoming part of the $60 billion dieting industry. Did that figure I just mentioned make you gulp? It’s true. You’ll have seen all...
Jesusita: Ronald L. Ruiz
Jesusita: A novel. The circumstances in which the characters in this novel live seem to be light years away from today’s reality. Yet the story of Jesusita and the other people you will meet in this novel tell us something about what life was like for immigrants in the years following the Second World War — yes, in America. These characters will stay with you for a long time. This is unlikely to be a book you will quickly...
Mason Jar Solar Lighting
Beautiful, practical, sustainable solar lighting. I could carry on and use even more words to describe these wonderful solar lights. They look fabulous, work brilliantly and provide jobs and education to the artisans who create them. These fabulous lights were originally developed for use in Africa in areas where traditional lighting fuels are unavailable, in short supply or prohibitively priced. The lights use solar power and will...
White Heat by Marco Pierre White: Review
Great British Chef – Marco Pierre White. This is a fabulous recipe book from one of Britain’s greatest chefs. And he created a stir (no pun intended) when he first burst onto the important London restaurant scene. Marco came from humble beginnings. He was born in Leeds in Yorkshire to an English father and an Italian mother – hence his international name. His mother died when he was just a young boy, leaving his...
The Girl on the Train: Book Review
The Girl on the Train: A novel by Paula Hawkins. Oh, what a fabulous story Ms Hawkins has in store for us here. This is an incredibly suspenseful novel, it’s so mysterious and its twists and turns will keep you reading long after you intended to. It’s without doubt a one-sitting book. The girl of the title is Rachel. She’s divorced, overweight, unhappy and she drinks too much. Her life is a mess. Every morning she...
Slade House by David Mitchell
Slade House by David Mitchell: Book review. I challenge you to be able to put this book down once you’ve started reading it. You’ll be tempted to stay up all night, cancel your appointments and hide your cellphone. It’s likely that you won’t realise it at first. But before long you’ll want to learn more about the secrets of the mysterious Slade House as they are gradually revealed. The first person we...
The British Lion by Tony Schumacher
Book review: The British Lion. One of the latest books to arrive on the review desk at JAQUO HQ is, without doubt, a can’t-put-it-down historical novel with a twist. Several twists. Along with many other readers, I find that the ‘what-if’ novels of the twenty first century can provide rollicking good stories along with a generous dose of thought provoking ideas along the way. Mr Schumacher has certainly provided us...
How To Hang Your Artwork
The best placement for your wall art. So many little things make up the difference between a professionally designed interior and one that has not had the benefit of the expert eye. One huge giveaway is how artwork is placed on the walls. Luckily once you know the secret your home will not be like so many where artwork is hung haphazardly and there’s something about the professional way that subconsciously makes your home look...
Who was J. Habakuk Jephson?
In December 1872, an American ship was found sailing off the Azores in the North Atlantic Ocean. It was in good condition, but its lifeboat was gone — and there was not a soul on board. The ship was called the Mary Celeste and for years there was speculation about what had happened to the ten people aboard. They had vanished into thin air. There was no sign of a struggle or fight. Other than the lifeboat nothing seemed to be...
Birds of Passage: Book Review
Birds of Passage: A Novel by Joe Giordano. I do hope that Mr Giordano has many more active writing years in front of him because after reading Birds of Passage, I’m left wanting to read much more from this author – in particular about this fascinating subject. Mr Giordano, who is from an Italian immigrant family himself, has created a wonderfully rich narrative detailing life in the early 1900s for those who had moved from...
African Wood Carvings
African drums, masks and sculptures by Eric Darko. Eric Darko is an artist living and working in his home country, Ghana. He was taught traditional wood carving by his brother when he was still at school. Today, Eric makes his living creating beautiful hand carved works of art. In the days before the internet, it was difficult for artists such as Eric to be appreciated by those of us who are at the other side of the world but today,...
Create and Share Social Media Graphics in Seconds
Use Pablo (free) to create and share on social media. We know how important images are for sharing – and getting clicks through to your website. If the image contains a quote or other words, even better. But who has time to spend ages in Photoshop or other graphic program? And then there’s the problem of making different sizes for different social media. It’s all just so time consuming. Or rather, it used to be....
Stylish Entertaining with Sustainable Serveware
Service with a style. Whether you’re entertaining guests or simply serving family meals, the presentation of your food is always important. Our eyes make our mouths water in anticipation before we even taste the food. Today, I want to introduce you to a fabulous range of serving ware that has objects that are not just useful, they are beautiful, practical and made from sustainable materials. For example, I love the tray you see...
Re-purposing Wine Bottles: Wall Vases
We drink wine. Often. And this means that we have lots of wine bottles to recycle or re-purpose. A lot of the time, I must admit, we put them into the recycling. That’s fine but I love ideas for using them to make décor items or useful goods for the home. This is one I especially love. It’s so simple but looks so good. If you wander into Home Depot, or any DIY store, you’ll find plenty of u-clamps or strap clamps....
One Lucky Bastard: Roger Moore
Tales from Tinseltown by Roger Moore Wonderfully, I keep discovering books by people from the entertainment world who I never paid much attention to in previous years. Actor Roger Moore is one of them. I have to admit (and if you’re reading this Mr Moore, I apologize) Sean Connery was always the James Bond for me. Although I must admit that if he’d looked the way he does in this photograph when he was in Live and Let Die I...
SunJack: The Portable Solar Charger
Charge your devices anywhere using solar power. These days we can make phone calls, browse the internet or use our e-readers almost anywhere. On the beach, in the countryside, when we’re camping or hiking. But, that is, only if we can charge our various devices. That’s where the SunJack comes in. Powered entirely by the sun, the SunJack will charge your phone, reader or tablet at the same speed as an ordinary home outlet....
Look Who’s Back: By Timur Vermes
Hitler in the twenty first century: Hilarious satirical novel. I know, it just seems so wrong, doesn’t it? But this very clever fictional account of the fuhrer is just so very funny and I recommend it wholeheartedly; it’s sure to tickle your funny bone. The book has been a best seller in Germany (yes, in Germany) and has been translated into twenty seven (yes, twenty seven) languages including English (and yes, reviews...
Personal Alarms Save Lives
Personal alarms: Inexpensive yet essential. I don’t believe that the world is a scary place and I don’t believe in being alarmist but for the price of a bottle of wine, you can buy a personal alarm for yourself or a loved one. And it could be the best purchase you ever made. Everyone – male, female, young or old – should carry one of these at all times. I make no apologies for being so adamant. Personal alarms...
Looking for the Best Cosmetic Bag?
Keep your cosmetics and make-up easy to use when you’re on the go. Thanks to a professional make-up artist, I have recently discovered the Lay-n-Go Cosmo make-up bag and I don’t know how I managed without it,especially when travelling or out and about. You can see straight away from the photograph on the right one huge advantage. It works on the principle of a drawstring bag. When you’re in a public bathroom, this...
Below Stairs by Margaret Powell
The memoirs of a kitchen maid. Margaret Langley was born in an age that was so different to today. She came from a family of seven children and when she was thirteen left school to go to work. She had to – to help the family finances. This book tells about her early years and in particular, her life when she entered domestic service as a kitchen maid. She worked in a laundry until she was fifteen but then began work as the most...
Skybell Doorbell: An Essential for Home Security
See who’s outside your home – from your phone. Someone knocks at your door or rings the bell. Who is it? Find out right away on your phone with the Skybell. You might be feeding the baby, bathing your toddler, showering or concentrating on cooking a complicated dish for dinner. Or it may be that it’s night time, you’re alone and want to know who’s out there before you go to the door. Is the person...