The Winecoff Fire of 1946
The Winecoff Fire Disaster of 1946. During the early hours of 7th December, 1946, Arnold Hardy took an iconic and award-winning photograph that was to become a symbol of the worst hotel disaster in the United States. Arnold was only twenty four years old and had just relocated to Atlanta. His great hobby was photography and to make ends meet, he was trying to get part-time work as a newspaper photographer. His camera was not...
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...
Behind the Scenes: Royal Wedding 1947
The wedding of Princess Elizabeth & Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The 20th November, 1947 was a day that the population had been looking forward to. The recent war was still fresh in everyone’s memory. Rationing was still enforced. Towns and cities still showed the battle scars inflicted by the German bombs. So everyone was looking forward to the royal wedding – a happy occasion full of pageantry and romance -to bring...
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...
President John Kennedy: Health Issues
President John Kennedy: Health Issues. In the year after President John Kennedy was assassinated, an eminent historian began a new project of oral histories. He asked people to record their memories on tape of the late president. He approached Kennedy’s widow, Jackie, to take part in the project and she agreed. There were three reasons for this. The first was that she knew it would help her in coming to terms with her husbands...
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...
SS City of Cairo
The sinking and discovery of the SS City of Cairo In 1942, the SS City of Cairo was steaming from Bombay towards England. It was carrying a cargo of 1000 tonnes of silver. The money was headed to His Majesty’s Treasury to bolster up the war effort. But on November 6th, it was spotted by a German U-boat. As a result, the ship was torpedoed and sank to the ocean floor – complete with the silver. Almost seventy years later,...
The Magus: John Fowles
The Magus: John Fowles. The Magus is one of my desert island books -one I can read again and again.I’ve probably read it half a dozen times – at least. My reading of this book has spanned many years. It’s a book that has been largely misunderstood, in my opinion. Many reviewers get this book completely wrong – especially the amateur reviewers at Amazon. I’d truly recommend that you don’t read them...
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...
Did You Know? Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth II: A few facts you may not know. Do you know how the queen starts her day? At 8 am her dresser enters the royal bedroom and places a tray with Earl Grey tea by the bedside. At the same time, the corgis rush into the bedroom. Then the dresser opens the heavy curtains wide to ensure that the light streams in. At 9 am the queen walks through her sitting room and into her dining room and enjoys a comparatively frugal...
Will we ever know the truth about Wallis Simpson?
It’s a famous story, of course. In the 1930s the King of England was the unmarried Edward VIII. When he ascended to the throne, he had a long-time mistress, Wallis Simpson. Although many members of the public believed that the king should be able to marry whoever he wished, the establishment were horrified at the possibility of their monarch marrying an American divorceé. Famously, the king announced his abdication, declaring...
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 –...
Edward Guillaume – the murderous clown
Edward Guillaume – the murderous clown. On 9th October, Edward Guillaume, known as Polidor the Clown, could stand it no longer. He was sixty nine years old and his forty nine year old girlfriend claimed that he was too old for her. He took and ax and buried it in her throat. He then stabbed her repeatedly with kitchen knives.I guess he was upset. Once a famous clown, he had reached the end of his tether. In the 1930s he had...
R101: Disaster in the air
R101: The disaster that ended the British airship programme After the First World War, it was clear to see that despite Germany’s losses, one of their strengths had been the dirigible or airship. Their Zeppelins, virtually silent monsters, had been able to fly unseen over British land and drop bombs in places which were otherwise inaccessible. This technology was embraced by other countries. Air travel had many advantages but in...
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...
Rockers & Rollers: Brian Johnson
From Brian Johnson of AC/DC: An autobiography with a twist. This is really such an excellent book. It was tailor-made for me and it might be the same for you. At the very least, it’s a wonderful autobiography of a boy growing up in northern England and making the big time in a rock band. But it’s so much more. Even if you’ve never heard of Brian Johnson (really?) – even if you hate rock music (really??)...
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...
Lyrics: Don McLean’s American Pie
Lyrics: Don McLean’s American Pie. What is Don McLean’s song American Pie about? I think that most of us would say that it’s about the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in 1959. The song coined the phrase ‘the day the music died’ which, since the song was released, has come to describe that February day. Other than to confirm that certain parts of the song refer to Holly, Don McLean...
Grand Prix Gourmet: Malaysian Peanut Sauce
Malaysian Peanut Sauce This versatile recipe can be used as a dipping sauce or as marinade. If you’re going to use it to marinate foods, they’ll need to be in the sauce for about half an hour so that the flavours can mingle. Longer is even better. If you’re intending to grill the food, use bamboo skewers.Soak them in water for about an hour before you cook. This way, they won’t catch on fire. This sauce keeps...
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...
Monaco: The Prince and the Cabaret Singer
Princess Charlotte of Monaco: the illegitimate heiress to the Grimaldi family The Grimaldi family, who have ruled the tiny principality of Monaco for hundreds of years, have a chequered past. But one of the most interesting characters is Princess Charlotte. In the 1890s, the ruler of Monaco was Prince Albert I. He was a fascinating chap and his particular interest was the emerging study of oceanography. He was very much a pacifist but...
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...
Martha Stewart: Vegetables
Getting the most out of vegetables with Martha Stewart. Whether it’s entertaining, home decor, crafts, home cooking or most lifestyle subjects, Martha Stewart is without doubt today’s home guru. And in her latest book, she tackles something most of us should do more often – cook and serve glorious fresh vegetables. Of course, the wonderfully photographed recipes all have that magic Stewart touch and there’s a...
Deborah Mitford: The Duchess of Devonshire
Deborah Mitford: The Duchess of Devonshire. The famous Mitford sisters, born in the earlier part of the twentieth century, are endlessly fascinating. You may have read about Unity Mitford and how it’s said that she gave birth to Hitler’s illegitimate child. The other sisters were equally fascinating and, in some cases, equally scandalous. Deborah however,was the youngest of the sisters and although she didn’t totally...
Miracle on the Hudson
Captain Sullenberger and Flight 1549. People all over the world remember the events of January 15th, 2009. But many people have an even greater reason to remember that day – the 155 people who were travelling on a routine flight from New York to Charlotte and their families. The 150 passengers were a normal mix of ordinary people. The youngest person on board was a babe-in-arms – the eldest was a lady in her eighties,...
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...
Pirates: Myths and and legends
What were pirates really like? ‘Pirate’ – what do you see in your mind’s eye when you read the word? Do you imagine a chap like the one on the right? The wooden leg, the obligatory parrot perched on one shoulder, the cutlass, the hook hand, the cutlass, – were pirates really like that? (I prefer the Johnny Depp look myself, but never mind that….) For many of us,our idea of what pirates were like...
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...
Everlasting Lies by Barbara Warren: Review
Everlasting Lies: An intriguing novel. Author Barbara Warren has created a novel that will captivate you — and leave you wanting to hear more from her. Set in the early part of the twentieth century, the book takes us through the life of one man and his family as events take him from the north of England, to the horrors of France in the First World War and eventually to an exotic lifestyle in India. Charles disowns his parents...
John Lennon: By his family
John Lennon: By his family On December 8th., 1980 John Lennon was shot as he entered his home at the Dakota Building in New York. And still today we are fascinated by the story of this man who started out singing with his group (The Quarrymen) in Liverpool, morphed into the ‘Beatle John’ and then became one of the most well-known people on earth. Millions of words have been written and I’m inclined to suspect that a...
Game of Crowns by Christopher Andersen: Awful Book!
A truly terrible book. I’ve reviewed hundreds of books and my usual style is to review only books that I enjoy. But today I’m making an exception and writing about a book that is, quite honestly, terrible. It’s the first time I’ve ever done so. The reason for this is that the book is written by a best-selling American author and so-called ‘specialist’, and this supposedly factual book is a...
Queen Elizabeth II: The longest serving monarch
Queen Elizabeth II: Longest serving monarch On 9th September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning monarch in British history. On the date, she had been on the throne for almost sixty four years. At that time, she was eighty nine years old. She surpassed the current record holder, her great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who was on the throne for 63 years 216 days. You might admire the royal family or it may be that you...
Classic Movies: A Matter of Life and Death
A.K.A Stairway to Heaven starring David Niven. Made in 1946, this fabulous film takes place in England during the Second World War. It has become a true classic, mainly because it is very different to most other films made at that time and also those made about the war. It stars the wonderful David Niven and when the film begins we see that he is an air force pilot in a burning plane – somewhere over England. All his crew have...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio … and the doorman
The story of Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio … and the doorman. Marilyn Monroe was known for so many aspects of her life (including her involvement with the Kennedys, of course) but a subject of speculation is how her husbands could have been such completely different characters. Her first husband, who she married when she was just sixteen, was a US Marine. The marriage ended quite quickly. Her second husband was almost as...
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...
Is Hitler’s son alive and living in England?
Hitler and Unity Mitford. Did Adolf Hitler have a child with an English girl? And could that child still be alive? It sounds far-fetched, doesn’t it? But there are many historians who believe that this is the case and there is some evidence to show that the possibility exists. Unity Mitford was from an aristocratic English family. She and her sisters were the most colourful characters around in the pre-war era. They were fun...
The Montrose Ghost
The Irish Apparition. On 27th May 1913 Irishman Desmond Arthur was killed when his plane was flying over Montrose in Scotland. Three years later, his spirit returned to the scene to haunt it. The ghost disappeared in January 1917 and was never seen again. But why? First, let’s look at the fatal accident. Arthur was an experience flier and on his last flight he had taken his BE2 biplane to a height of 2,500 feet. People on the...
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...
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...
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....
Tuesday Typo: The BBC
‘Separate’. I’m not going to say that there are no typos in the articles I write. But I’m just me. I’m not a huge and respected organisation such as the BBC. The British Broadcasting Corporation has been a symbol of getting things right and setting standards since 1927. So it’s been around a lot longer than I have. This is why I love to read their style guide and other guidelines for journalists and...
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett: Review. This is a wonderful fictional account of what happened when Queen Elizabeth II decided to take up reading.The queen reads – of course she does – but in this novella,her reading activities are confined to state papers,official documents and the more serious daily newspapers. She’s a busy lady. In Alan Bennett’s book though, she starts to read fiction.It’s all...