Eggplant rolls recipe
Eggplant rolls – quick and easy recipe. This is an easy dish to make and is a delicious meat-free meal. You could also serve these tasty rolls as a side dish or an appetizer. It’s a very flexible recipe too, as you can add leftovers, or flavourings of your choice, to the stuffing. The recipe uses a commercial pasta sauce but it’s even tastier if you make your own. I’ve also made this using a quick, simple sauce...
Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly
The amazing true story of Kathryn Kelly: By Barbara Casey. You’ll love this true-life story. Have you heard of Kathryn Kelly? I hadn’t until I read this book and yet she was one of the most fascinating characters I’ve read about. Destined to become a gangster’s moll, Kathryn is a far more fascinating character than her counterpart, Bonnie Parker. Bonnie and Clyde caught the imagination of the public in the...
I Take You: By Eliza Kennedy
I Take You: A laugh-out-loud novel. This is the most wonderful, funny and crazy book. Lily is about to get married – but before I go any further I have to let you know that this is not one of those cutesy Father-Of-The-Bride type pre-wedding stories. Let me give you an example. She is enjoying her bachelorette party when she gets a message that there’s an emergency at work. Lily is a lawyer so has to respond. At the...
The Hindenburg Disaster
Hindenburg Airship Disaster. 1937 When the British R101 Airship crashed in 1930, the public began to lose confidence in this supposedly luxurious mode of travel. Passengers were transported in a ‘gondola’ – a capsule fitted out to be somewhat like luxury ocean liner. The R101 disaster sowed seeds of serious doubts about the safety of airships but the events of May 6th, 1937,confirmed them. The German Hindenburg...
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich: Style I have a now out-of-print book that studies the lives and style of five famous women. It could be called a history lesson through the eyes of a fashion designer. One of the five is the fabulous Marlene Dietrich. She was known for her special style and her fashion innovations – when in Germany in the early years of her career, she once attended an audition wearing a Napoleon hat with a huge feather, a...
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...
Book Review: The Demon Under the Microscope
Book Review: The Demon Under the Microscope. A Fascinating Story That’s True. A book about science that reads almost like a novel? That’s what I found in this excellent book by Thomas Hager. Demon under the Microscope is the story of the men behind the discovery of antibiotics. What a fascinating read it was. The story centers around Gerhard Domagk, a German scientist whose career was inspired by the deaths of nearly all...
Pecan pie recipe from 1964
Pecan pie recipe from the White House This recipe was published in the Free Lance Star newspaper in 1964. It was said to be the favourite of Lady Bird Johnson. The recipe was devised by their chef, Zephyr Wright, who had at that time been working for the Johnson family for over twenty years. It’s said to be incredibly rich so small portions are recommended. Therefore I’m rather surprised that it is served with whipped...
If Jeremy Clarkson offends you, don’t watch him
If Jeremy Clarkson offends you, don’t watch him Have you heard about the current Top Gear malarkey? Just a quick explanation – Top Gear is a British television show which combines humour with information about cars.(Do not confuse this with the watered-down US version). It has been described as ‘edgy’. This is because its presenters, the foremost of which is Jeremy Clarkson, are normal blokes. Their so-called...
Headline of the week: Prince Charles on tits
Great tits no guarantee of success in the bedroom, says Prince Charles. The above headline was seen in the Daily Express on April 7th, 2015. Readers were surprised to see that the prince has extended his career to include that of sex expert. As the future sovereign, then it’s true to say that he should have the welfare of the people of Great Britain at heart. But isn’t becoming a sex counselor over stepping the mark a bit?...
Fort Lauderdale: Dog Friendly Vacation Rental
Vacation in Fort Lauderdale – with your dog. Did you know that a recent survey showed that 90% of dog-owning travellers consider their pet when booking accommodation? If you’re one of that huge number of people, then allow me to introduce to you our Fort Lauderdale vacation paradise – and yes, your dog is most welcome too. In fact, we have special treats and amenities that are especially for him or her. But first,...
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...
Did Lana Turner Murder Johnny Stompanato?
Eric Root claimed that Lana Turner murdered her lover. In a sensational and highly publicised case in 1958, it was claimed that small-time gangster, Johnny Stompanato, had been murdered my his mistress’ daughter. His mistress was the famous Hollywood actress Lana Turner. The court ruled that Lana’s daughter,Cheryl Crane – then fourteen years old – had been responsible for the fatal stabbing. It was ruled as...
Vintage-look weather instruments
Stylish vintage weather instruments Weather instruments tend to fascinate us these days. When I want to know what the temperature is, or what I can expect from the weather a week on Tuesday. my iPhone will tell me almost immediately. For more indepth detail, the internet has so many sites that can give me the exact information I need. But in days gone by, people relied on weather instruments – barometers and so forth –...
The Ethical Coach Leader, by Dwight Johnson
The Ethical Coach: Developing Honor and Integrity. Many people today are concerned – and becoming increasingly concerned – with the lack of ethics in our society today. In leadership roles it particular it seems that other factors often take precedence over this issue. One of the people who has his own opinion about the decline of ethics, especially in American society, is the author of this book, Dwight Johnson. Mr...
Chicken and Turkey Recipes
Chicken & turkey recipes for Poultry Day Yes, there is an official Poultry Day. That’s hardly surprising when you consider that chicken and turkey recipes are popular throughout the world. Did you know that the United States produces 20% of the world’s poultry? And that there are sixteen billion birds produced as food every year? It’s hardly surprising that chicken and turkey recipes are so very popular –...
A dark and Lonely Place: Edna Buchanan
A Dark and Lonely Place by Edna Buchanan: Review. This is a fabulous novel with a concept that could only succeed in the most capable hands of Ms Buchanan. For this novel is two mysteries stories in one. The writer has taken the true life story of John Ashley and Laura Upthegrove who were known as outlaws in the early twentieth century and entwined it with a murder mystery set in today’s Miami. Like many of us in Florida, Ms...
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...
Newspaper Boys Always Deliver: Joseph Gulesserian
A personal history. Isn’t it always fascinating to see into other people’s lives? That’s especially the case when that time period spans fifty years. It may be that you have lived through the same period of time. But you’ll find this book equally fascinating if you’re a younger person who is interested in times gone by. If you’re from North America much of the detail that the author writes...
Asparagus and new potatoes in butter lemon sauce with fresh herbs
Asparagus and new potatoes in butter lemon sauce with fresh herbs. A quick and easy recipe. This is a wonderfully fresh and clean tasting recipe. It’s lovely to serve as a meat-free entree with crusty bread. It also makes a great dish for lunch.If you don’t eat dairy, it’s still delicious if you omit the butter and cheese (but I prefer the dairy version, I must admit). It’s such a versatile recipe because you...
Dream: By Marcia Wieder
Clarify and create what YOU want. Does the phrase above want to make you say ‘yeah, right’? Are you sceptical? So was I. I was wrong. Read on. When this book landed on my review desk at JAQUO HQ I was pretty sure that I’d enjoy reading it and reviewing it. But believe it? Nah, that’s not for me. But by page one hundred (yes, for some reason I noticed what page I was reading) I was sure that the advice Ms Wieder...
Marco Andretti
Marco Andretti: The third generation Marco is an Indycar driver and the latest in the line of the famous Andretti family. Marco, his father Michael and his grandfather Mario, despite their legendary name, are all modest, quite shy and truly delightful people. Their passion is racing. The family originates from Croatia, which at the time of Mario’s birth was part of Italy. Today, the entire family see themselves as American...
Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett and Alzheimer’s Author Terry Pratchett, who died on March 12th, 2015, wrote over forty books and it’s estimated that he sold 85 million worldwide. He was sixty six when he died. Eight years previously, he had been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s Disease and had campaigned to increase funding to go towards finding a cure and preventative measures. This rare ailment did not affect his memory...
Why don’t more of us take lunch to work?
Why don’t more of us take lunch to work? A recent British study has shown that we could be saving £1,300 per year – that’s over $2000 at time of writing – if we took packed lunches to the office rather than buying our midday meals. That’s a huge saving. And we know that in most cases, the lunches we take to work ourselves will be healthier, especially if we’re now relying on fast foods to keep us...
Who was Mary Garden?
Who was Mary Garden? Her name is unknown today but had we been around in the earlier half of the last century, we’d definitely know it. She entertained kings and princes – indeed King George of Greece reportedly presented her with a necklace worth $100,000 Mary was born in Scotland in the 1870s – the exact year varies depending on the accounts you read. When she was just a girl, her parents emigrated to the United...
Henry Lie: The Norwegian Skater and his Meatball Recipe
Skating star Henry Lie and his meatballs It’s difficult to find out biographical details about Henry Lie. But we do know that he was a champion skater who was originally from Norway where he was the Men’s National Champion. He had previously been atop chef and his cooking talents remained in demand. He was well-known for his meatball recipe. You can see him in the photograph below, which dates from 1948. He liked...
Idina Sackville: A WW1 marriage
Idina Sackville & Euan Wallace. A First World War marriage. Although Idina and Euan were definitely from the top drawer of society, the sad story of their marriage must have happened to so many couples during the First World War. They were both quite young when they married. Idina was twenty and Euan less than a year older. They both enjoyed parties, dancing and having fun. They were madly in love. She was a sparkling socialite...
Atlas and Vulcana
Who was Vulcana? Vulcana was the stage name of a young woman from Wales. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, she performed in the music halls as a strong-woman. She was born with the more likely name of Kate Williams in 1875. She was interested in acrobatics and fitness and her father, a local preacher, encouraged her to become fit and strong. When she was in her early teens she started attending a gym. She soon...
Who was Catalina de Erauso?
Who was Catalina de Erauso? Catalina was born into a highly-ranked Basque family in 1585. Like many girls of her day,she was expected to live the cloistered life of a nun. She entered the convent when she was just child. She was desperately unhappy and determined to escape from the dreary future she saw before her. It was arranged that she should take her vows when she was fifteen. As the date approached, she became even more...
The Accidental Empress: Elisabeth of Austria
Elisabeth of Austria: The Accidental Empress I received this book as a gift and – to be honest – set it aside for quite a while. The cover make me think that it was a somewhat junky historical novel of the ‘bodice-ripper’ type. I was wrong.This is a fictionalised version of real events that took place in the nineteenth century and as such, is fascinating. Yes,it’s a love story but so much more too. When...
Banana Fritters Recipe
Banana fritters with maple syrup – recipe from 1975 I admit that I’m fascinated by older recipes. 1975 doesn’t seem terribly long ago (to me anyway) but this recipe for banana fritters surprised me. This is mainly because, when I think about this dish, I imagine bananas dipped in batter and deep fried. These are different. Although the original author doesn’t specify, I like to serve these garnished with more...
My Sweet Lord: He’s So Fine
My Sweet Lord: He’s So Fine. George Harrison wrote My Sweet Lord in late 1969. Yet seven years later it was the cause of a huge court hearing. His fellow ex-Beatle, John Lennon, wanted peace for the world. Spiritual George wanted peace within the many different religions of the world. Hence the chorus includes both ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Hare Krishna’. The song was written when Harrison was touring with...
Mukhabarat Baby! By Eric Burkhart
Eric Burkhart: My Life as a Wartime Spy for the CIA. I loved every minute of this autobiographical book. It’s truly fascinating. The author tells us about the action-packed period of time he spent in the CIA, starting in 1999. There are some events in the book, as you can imagine, that involve incredible danger but it’s spiced throughout with the author’s humour and sense of fun. Even Mr Burkhart’s telling of...
The Greatest Prospector in the World: Ken Dunn
Fascinating story: Lessons for life. This is an unusual but definite can’t-put-it-down book. And I mean that. Once I started reading it I had to finish it in one sitting. It’s an enthralling story of a young girl who, in 1910, is orphaned. Her life and the way it is transformed is sure to captivate you. But the book is much more than that. As you are enjoying the story, you’ll also learn six vital secrets for...
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...
Shivers and Signposts: By Len Richman
The journey through life. Although this book could be described as a memoir, that would certainly be doing the author a disservice. It is far more than that. It’s also the author’s insights into a situation we all face – or will face; that of getting older and to the end of our official working lives. And at that stage, there is bound to be a certain amount of reflection on the years that have passed and the journey...
David Suchet Plays Lady Bracknell
From Hercule Poirot to Lady Bracknell. Actor Davis Suchet is probably best known for playing Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. But now he is taking on a very different role and, it must be said, a rather challenging one. It is the role of the totally wonderful Lady Bracknell is Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. He has exchanged his carefully manicured moustache for corsets and high heels. He...
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...
Parents have daughter’s birthmark tattoos
British parents get tattoos of daughter’s birthmark A couple in England, whose daughter has a large port wine stain birthmark, have had her birthmark reproduced on their own bodies. The little girl was born with blotchy red colouration that extends from her foot to her lower back. They found that their toddler was being stared at and decided that they too would have the same birthmark on their own legs. This,they felt, would...
Who Was Lillie Langtry?
Lillie Langtry’s royal illegitimate baby. At various times in her life,Lillie Langtry was an entertainer, a racehorse owner, an American citizen, a resident of Monte Carlo and most notably, a mistress of members of the British aristocracy and royal family. But what is often forgotten is that she had a royal illegitimate daughter whose descendants are related by blood to today’s heirs to the British throne. Lillie was born...
John T Betsch & Bessie Coleman
John T Betsch & Bessie Coleman John T Betsch’s grandfather was the first black millionaire in Florida. John himself was, in his daughter’s words ‘a race man’ who promoted the black community in the area. In 1930 he, as a member of the Negro Welfare League, sponsored and promoted aviator Bessie Coleman who went to Jacksonville to appear in an air show. You can read about Bessie Coleman here. If you’ve...
Lana Turner & Johnny Stompanato
Lana Turner & Johnny Stompanato. Lana Turner was a Hollywood actress and pin up girl. She had a tempestuous life – she was married eight times – but probably her most famous relationship was that she had with Johnny Stompanato. Between husbands number four and five, Lana took Johnny to be her lover. He had underworld connections. According to Lana, Johnny was desperate to marry her but she objected to his life on the...
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,...
New Orleans Beignets recipe
New Orleans Beignets recipe. If you’ve been to New Orleans,then the chances are that you’ve visited the Café du Monde in Jackson Square. And if you have, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that you enjoyed a plate of beignets. There are many very excellent reasons to visit New Orleans and the beignets are certainly on this list. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to recreate them at home? Or maybe you haven’t...
New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce Oh, this is so delicious. It’s remarkably easy to make and the bourbon sauce elevates this from a family meal to a dessert you’ll be happy to serve to your guests – and they’ll love it. The crowning touch is by far the bourbon butter and this can be made in advance. The pudding itself takes about forty minutes to bake in the oven but only few minutes to prepare....
British television in the 60s & 70s
British television in the 60s & 70s Looking back at the television programmes some of us watched when we were growing up is like looking into another world. For one thing, almost everyone smoked. Almost everyone went to the pub. But what is really astonishing today looking back is how incredibly ‘politically incorrect’ everything was. Probably the most extreme example of this was the highly popular and successful...
American Beach, Florida
American Beach, Florida American Beach is located in Amelia Island in Florida. Of course, Florida is well-known for its wonderful beaches – so what’s so special about this one? It was founded in 1935 by a local millionaire. It was intended to be a resort for the people he employed in his Jacksonville insurance company – plus others, of course. But not everyone. This was an exclusive beach. Why? The photograph below...
The God’s Eye View: By Barry Eisler
Read this recommended and fascinating thriller! When a review copy of this book landed on my desk at JAQUO HQ, I admit that I didn’t start reading it right away. You see, thrillers aren’t really my favourite genre. But what a great book this is. And extremely timely. It’s the sort of story that would have sounded far fetched only a few years ago. Today, it is totally believable. And I must say that Barry Eisler now...
Quick asparagus soup recipe
Yum Quick & easy asparagus soup When asparagus is plentiful, it’s easy to make this tasty, delicious soup. It has a wonderful flavour and although it tastes very creamy, it contains no dairy. (Sometimes I use butter in this recipe but you can substitute the oil of your choice if you wish.) I’ve made this soup with home made vegetable stock but also I’ve used plain water instead – the asparagus has such a...
National Corn Chip Day
Corn Chips Chili Pie In 1986 an American food company was trying to discover the origins of a certain recipe. Frito-Lay were keen to discover the origins of the corn chips chili pie. The company thought they knew – they had an ‘official version – but wanted to be sure. This version said that it was the mother of the founder of the company who had first devised this recipe in the 1930s. This is rather quaint in that...
Right or Almost Right
Right or Almost Right by John Haremza: Succeeding in network marketing. In your business, are you doing it right or is what you’re doing almost right? As the author explains, in business it’s those small details – those tiny steps – that make all the difference between success and mediocrity. Although the author refers to his working life an the field of network marketing, the ideas and methods are remarkably...
London at War: Black Americans
Black American soldiers in London in the Second World War. During WW2, many American soldiers were stationed in London and there’s one curious aspect of this that is very rarely mentioned in history books – the treatment of black American soldiers. In the 1940s racial segregation was a fact of life in the USA but not in Britain. This caused various problems. These had been anticipated by Britain’s foreign secretary,...
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...
Clara’s War: The Story of Second World War Survival
One Girl’s Story of Survival: Clara Kramer. When you read this book, it’s hard to imagine what Clara’s life was like in her early teens. For almost two years in the nineteen forties, she and seventeen other people lived together in a tiny underground bunker. For some of that time, Nazi soldiers were living in the room right above them, not knowing that the Jews in the bunker could even hear them turning on a light...
Al Capone: The Man Who Created Scarface
How did Al Capone get his ‘Scarface’ nickname? Al Capone hated that nickname. And of course it developed because he had knife scars on his cheek but who did this and how did it happen? In fact, he was only eighteen when he received the injury that he would hate for the rest of his life. It was August 1917 and Capone was working at the Harvard Inn on Coney Island. The place was owned by Frankie Yale, a minor mobster....
Peter Procter
Peter Procter: Motorsport safety. Peter is the chap in the photograph you see on the right. He’s the one wearing glasses. This was taken at some time in the nineteen nineties and to the casual observer, there is nothing remarkable about these two men. He and Eric Jackson – on the right in the photograph – are friends from way back when and both have fascinating stories to tell. Both men are from Yorkshire and in...
Easy Ways to Organise Your Home
Organise your life and your home By taking just a few minutes every day, you can soon organise your home and your life. Do you think it’s impossible? Let me tell you what works for me. We have it much easier these days. Think about what our mothers and grandmothers had to put up with if they wanted to keep their homes and their lives in check. Just by spending a few minutes a day, you can make the world of difference....
Peach Melba: Nellie Melba and her Prince
Peach Melba – Nellie and her Prince. Sadly, many of the recipes we see for Peach Melba today use canned peaches. These are all very well and good but when this recipe was developed by Auguste Escoffier in 1892 or thereabouts, the lovely, fresh fruit was used. Famously, the dish was created for Australian Dame Nellie Melba, a celebrated opera singer of the day. At the time, she was having a torrid affair with Prince Philippe, the...
The Bone Clocks: David Mitchell
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell: Review. The danger of picking up this book – delightfully – is that you’ll be tempted to put your life on hold until you’ve read every word. You’ll take the day off work, you’ll eat only food that you can grab from the fridge (no time to make a sandwich), you’ll turn off your phone. You might not even realise it at first. Oh, you’ll be interested when...
Clutter is bad for you
Official: Clutter is bad for your health People have been studying clutter a lot recently and many of the statistics about just what a clutter-filled society we are can be quite scary – and revealing. Did you know, for example, that the average British woman has twenty two items in her wardrobe that she has never worn? Studies are also being undertaken to help us understand exactly why we accumulate clutter in our homes or...
What Do Americans Think About Britain?
Raping nuns in the street, Muslim-only cities,vigilante police … The latest American to put his foot firmly in his mouth was a chap called Steve Emerson. You’ve probably never heard of him – I hadn’t either until recently. He is some sort of journalist or something. But apparently, this person went on Fox News and declared that the city of Birmingham in the UK is an entirely Muslim city and that non-Muslims...
Pear and blue cheese pizza
Pear and blue cheese pizza recipe. We love regular cheese and tomato pizza but for something different, try this tasty, healthy and easy-to-prepare pizza using the delicious and unusual combination of luscious pear and French cheeses. If you make your own pizza dough, this recipe would probably be even more scrumptious but for the sake of speed and ease, I use the ready-to-bake dough that comes in tubes.You need one tube for this...
Celebrity & Entertainment Obsession
Celebrity & Entertainment Obsession: By Michael S. Levy. What a fascinating book – and subject – this is. There can’t be many people who haven’t noticed that today’s interest in celebrities is more than just a passing one — it really is an obsession. Why is this? The author investigates thoroughly in this easy-to-read book. Until I read the book, I was under the impression that society’s...
Pea soup recipe from Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton’s fresh pea soup recipe It wasn’t until I came to the States that I realised just how much the British love peas. I would be surprised to find out the peas head to list of Britain’s favourite vegetables. So when I discovered this recipe for pea soup from Eric Clapton, that didn’t surprise me either. Often, pea soups are made from marrowfat peas or split peas but this delicious soup is make using...
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...
Plan a spa weekend – at home
How to have a luxury spa weekend at home Spas are incredibly popular today. Some people love going to day spas to be completely pampered but the ultimate luxury is spending the weekend at a magnificent spa resort where your only goal is to be pampered and to relax. The problem is that this can be terrifically expensive. But with a few careful purchases and a little planning, you can enjoy a luxury weekend at home. Planning is the key....
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...
Pirate Hunters: The Search for the Golden Fleece
Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson. An exciting true adventure. This would be a totally absorbing book if it happened to be a novel, but the fact that this is a true story makes it completely amazing. It’s written in almost novel-form and if you’re like me, you’ll be hooked from the very first page. Pirates, sunken ships and modern day treasure hunters The combination of present day and the seventeenth century...
Coconut Oil Softgels from Eukonic
My experiment with coconut oil capsules. I’d heard from my colleague Merry about the benefits of coconut oil so I have been using it occasionally in cooking. But when the opportunity came up to try taking coconut oil as a supplement, I decided to give it a try. I liked the fact that these softgels are organic but yes, I was sceptical I admit. There’s been such a lot of hype about coconut oil for quite a while now –...
Times Like These: E.E. Smith
Times Like These: A delightful and entertaining read. Evelyn came from an unusual family. Her parents had married, separated, divorced, remarried (“at least twice to my knowledge”) and this book begins during one of their spells of togetherness – in 1945 when Evelyn was thirteen years old. Evelyn had been working since she was eleven years old as a summertime maid in a boarding house; she had lied about her age. As...
Giving Candy to Strangers: Stan Holden
Over the years, I must have read hundreds of books about business, about selling and about relationships. But here’s one with a definite difference. You see, it’s not just that the author thinks that business can be fun, he also believes that by having fun and adding humour to your day-to-day business interactions you can increase your business, add to your client base and of course, enhance your own life. Makes sense!...
Ten tips for a healthier diet
Ten ways to improve your diet We all know what we should be eating. We’re bombarded with advice and I doubt there’s anyone reading this who doesn’t know what good, healthy diets consists of. But knowing what you should be eating – and actually putting it into practice – are two very different things. Even though we know what foods are ‘good’ and which are ‘bad’, well, we only...
Festive Cheese and Garlic Bread
Quick and easy cheese garlic bread. Use one of my favourite convenience foods to make this simple but delicious garlic bread. It’s so easy to make, it fills your home with the gorgeous aroma of freshly-baked bread and it makes any meal into a special occasion. It goes well with so many meals as an accompaniment but often we make this the focus of our dinner — with a bowl of delicious homemade soup it makes a scrummy and...
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...
The Windsor Faction: If Edward VIII hadn’t Abdicated
What would have happened if Edward VIII hadn’t abdicated for Wallis Simpson? When King Edward VIII renounced the throne of England to marry his twice-divorced American mistress it undoubtedly had a bearing on world history. This is particularly true in the case of the early stages of the Second World War. This novel explores that very possibility. Ever since he abdicated in 1935, historians have been wondering just how –...
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...
Sam Cooke
The murder of Sam Cooke. On December 1964, singer Sam Cooke had been in a Los Angeles nightclub. There he’d met (or probably picked up) a girl of ‘English and Chinese origin’, Elisa Boyer. He had taken her to a motel, booked a room, registered and the couple went to their accommodation. Some time later, the manager of the motel, Bertha Franklin, was in her room which was also her office. In burst Sam Cooke, demanding...
Drakelow Tunnels
Drakelow Tunnels: Ghosts and cannabis Drakelow Tunnels are located in Kidderminster in England and have a fascinating history that includes the Second World War, the Cold War, ghosts and even cannabis. A curious combination, that’s for sure. This huge underground complex was built in the early stages of the Second World War and was an entire underground factory, including facilities for the workers. The Rover Car Company was...
Blue cheese butter recipe – simple & tasty
Blue cheese butter recipe – simple & tasty Blue cheese butter adds a great wonderful flavour to so many different foods and is also delicious eat on its own, spread onto high-quality crackers. I first saw this on a very long and complex recipe for a steak dish by Heston Blumenthal. Even though we don’t eat meat, the combination of blue cheese and butter was irresistible! For steak, the chef recommends you use Stilton....
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....
Miracle in the Andes: Survivor’s Story
It was in the mid nineteen seventies when I first read about an astonishing story of survival. Piers Paul Reid, a respected author, recounted the true story of how sixteen young men had survived a plane crash and survived in the inhospitable terrain of the Andes for seventy two days, thanks to their own determination and will to live. October 13th, 1972 The chartered aircraft took off from Montevideo en route to Santiago. The...
Judi Dench: Top Movies
I’m a huge fan of the British actress, Judi Dench. Or, I should say, Dame Judi Dench – she was honoured for her services to the performing arts by Her Majesty the Queen in 1980. She had a hugely successful career on the stage before she moved to television work but she is probably best known today for her fabulous films. Here are my favourites. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel This one gets the biggest image because I think...
Ten items you don’t need in your home
Ten things you may not need in your home So many of us are downsizing and decluttering these days and I was having an interesting conversation with a friend about what we really need in our homes and what is superfluous. Of course, it’s personal tastes so I’d love you to leave your comments below. Over the years, I’ve given a lot of accumulated ‘stuff’ away. If I haven’t used something for months,...
Small Spaces: Surviving a Small Refrigerator
How to live with a tiny fridge. When I first came to live in the States, I was completely astonished by the size of the refrigerators. When I was in the UK (admittedly a lot of years ago) people had fridges that were a fraction of the size. And we managed very well. For my first years in the States I rented homes. Invariably there was a monolith refrigerator and I became very accustomed to them. But then when I bought my tiny...
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...
Visit Medieval Dublin
Explore historic Dublin. If you’re visiting Ireland, then the chances are that Dublin will certainly be on your itinerary. It’s certainly true that Dublin offers you the very best that can be found in any modern city but did you know that it has attractions that go back hundred of years? The city has everything – lush parks, the arts, a very vibrant night life, sports facilities and superb shopping – but its...
The Sisters: Saga of the Mitford Family
Who were the Mitford sisters? They were the most remarkable people. They were scandalous, controversial and a lot of fun. They were born between 1904 and 1920 to an aristocratic, well-connected and decidedly eccentric English family. Between them the six sisters kept the newspapers busy for years with stories of their scandals, divorces, affairs and bizarre and differing political views. They were all beautiful with stunning figures...
Ditching the Drive-Thru
Ditching the Drive-Thru: Down to earth family food advice from J. Natalie Winch. Advice about feeding our families in a healthy and nutritious way bombards us these days. It’s hard not to know that the typical American diet is bad for us and also for our children. Despite this knowledge, many of us still rely on processed foods and those from fast food outlets. In this excellent book, the author not only explains why we do this...
Forza! Ferrari gifts
Ferrari gifts We know that Ferrari produces the most fabulous cars but did you know about the other luxury Ferrari items you can buy? The backgammon set on the left is a lovely example. Fans of Scuderia Ferrari – the motorsport division – are often to be seen wearing the marque’s merchandise and yes, the t-shirts, hats, jackets and children’s clothing produced by the company are wonderful. But there’s so...
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 Perfect Gift: A Basket full of Favorites
Who doesn’t love a gift basket? A good friend over at Sam’s Place puts together beautiful baskets filled with goodies for all occasions. That made me think of a way to share my favorites with friends and family. A basket such as this would work for anything from a wedding gift to a housewarming present to birthday or mother or father’s day. Its contents are something everyone would appreciate and enjoy using....
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...