Jackie Jackson | JAQUO Lifestyle Magazine

Diamodacious by D.A. Belmont. Free for a limited period

Diamondacious by D.A.Belmont. Free for your Kindle Starting on November 13th, and for only five days, this fabulous book is available for free download for your Kindle. (November 13th – 17th inclusive). You’ll love this story of the life of Debbie DeVore. Born on the wrong side of the tracks in Fort Lauderdale, as little girl she looked longingly at the wealth that surrounded her in the city. She watched as her mother...

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...

Gourmet Food: A Great Gift

Is he eating properly? Is she cooking for herself? Chances are that there’s someone whose nutrition concerns you. It might be a son or daughter who is at college and living away from home for the first time. Or maybe you worry about an elderly relative. Whoever you’re concerned about – and whatever their age – healthy and delicious foods are a always a wonderful gift idea. It’s also a lovely way to send...

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...

Fix Anything with Bondic Liquid Plastic

The throwaway society is really becoming a thing of the past. Today we see that it’s good common sense, a great money saver and good for the planet if we repair broken goods. But it’s not always that easy. That’s why we’re happy to recommend the Bondic system which can see to so many small repair jobs around the home, at work or in the car. You can see exactly how it works in the videos below but you’ll...

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...

Drying the laundry: The green way

A few years ago, when I was drying my weekly wash in our condo building’s community laundry room, I was cleaning the fluff filter in the dryer. ‘Where does this all come from?’ I wondered. The answer was obvious really – the fluff generated in dryer was fibres from my clothes. That must be bad. And then I remembered that wonderful smell from when I was a child – that gorgeous aroma of sheets and clothing...

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...

How to Cook in a Tiny Kitchen

Cooking in a tiny kitchen made easy. This is my kitchen and it’s not the smallest I’ve had. But it’s still pretty tiny, especially when you consider that we work from home, hardly ever eat out and therefore prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner in our kitchen every day. It’s L-shaped, small, and yet is perfect for us.There are a lot of myths about cooking in small spaces, which I’ll be debunking in this...

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...

Organise Anything – with Grid-It

A great way to organise almost anything. Although the Grid-It organising system was developed to control tech clutter – phones, earbuds, chargers etc. – this brilliantly simply yet effective storage system can be used for so many things. Here it is. You can see how it keeps your devices and their accessories safe and organised but because the Grid-It comes in several different sizes, you’ll understand how useful it...

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...

Roll Up Games for Travel and Small Spaces

Chess, checkers and backgammon – for travelling or for small spaces. We’ve been living in the technological age for a long time now and that’s probably why there’s a huge trend now for playing traditional boardgames. The problem is, that they can take up so much room especially when you’re travelling, camping or if you live in a small apartment. Sondergut have the answer with these fabulous roll up...

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....

Travels With My Aunt: Graham Greene

A great read: Travels With My Aunt. Henry Pulling was a retired bank manager. He had enjoyed a good but rather dull life. He’d never married, but he had a comfortable home, his books and his increasing interest in cultivating dahlias in his garden. It was a boring life but he had no complaints. He rather imagined that he would spend his retirement peacefully, enjoying his quiet little lifestyle, until the day he drew his last...

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...

The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Review

The Grey sisters, Elizabeth I & Mary Queen of Scots Although the nobility the the sixteenth century believed that women should have no place occupying the throne, in the second half of the century, its claimants were all female. And they were all young women; born within a dozen years of each other. These young women were: Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth I, born in 1533 Lady Jane Grey, who ruled for just a few days, born in...

Baked chocolate dessert

Delicious baked chocolate recipe. This recipe dates from the late nineteen seventies and I’ve reproduced it here just as it was originally given. I rarely cook with salt though and find that I don’t need it in this delicious, chocolate-y recipe. It’s easy to make and I like to serve it in individual glasses or ramekins. The originator of the recipe suggests serving it with whipped cream but I find that a little rich...

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....

Highland scones recipe

Highland scones recipe I have to admit that baking is definitely not my forte.But even I can handle these easy-to-make scones. They take only eight minutes in the oven and are simplicity itself to mix – no blenders, whisks or things-that-need-cleaning are used. Once you have the basic recipe, it opens up so many ideas. The recipe below contains currants, as these are traditional but you could omit these and other ingredients...

Flight 19 & the Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle

The mystery of Flight 19 and the Bermuda Triangle On December 5th, 1945, a routine training flight set off from Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station. There were five planes under the command of an experienced pilot, Charles Taylor. There were fifteen men in the five aircraft and not one was seen again. No bodies were ever found.There has been no trace of any wreckage and no debris or oil slicks were ever sighted. The fate on Flight...

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...

SS Mohegan

The Mohegan disaster The SS Mohegan sank off the coast of Cornwall in 1898. Although this maritime disaster has been largely forgotten, the cause remains a mystery and of course, there is a conspiracy theory regarding the loss of the ship. And it’s a mysterious story indeed. The ship was built in the Yorkshire port of Hull. Her original name was Cleopatra and she didn’t get off to a good start. On her maiden voyage, which...

The Lady in the Van: Alan Bennett

The Lady in the Van This is the title of a wonderful book by British author, Alan Bennett. The story is true and will make you laugh … and maybe cry a little. It tells about the woman who was his neighbour for many years. Not just any neighbour, Miss Shepherd lived in her small van. And she parked it – for fifteen years – in Alan Bennett’s driveway. Now when I’ve told American people about this and used...

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....

Home Decor: Restful Blues

Restful and relaxing blues and greys. Various shades of blue and grey are known to be the most restful and soothing colours you can chose for your home décor. This is why so many people choose these colours for their bedrooms. But they are a wonderful choice if you’re redecorating your lounge, sitting room or family room. Just take a look at the example below. Just looking at the photograph is calming, isn’t it? Yet...

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...

The Mitford Sisters: Book review

The Sisters: The curious lives of the Mitford Sisters If you’ve never read this fascinating book about the Mitford sisters, then I highly recommend it. This isn’t a novel,it’s a biography, but it’s one of those ‘fact is stranger than fiction’ stories. The six sisters were born into minor British aristocracy between 1904 and 1920. They had an unconventional upbringing and each girl developed their...

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...

The amazing hair clip multi-tool

Clippa – the hair clip that’s a mini-tool You never know when you’re going to need a screwdriver, a wrench, a ruler, a cutting blade … and that’s why Swiss Army Knives have been popular for so many years. I found though that for my purposes, the army knife was cumbersome to carry around all day. The I discovered the multi-tool card, which you see below. But now, if I need a Phillips screwdriver or if I...

Would a dawn simulation alarm clock work for you?

The benefits of a dawn simulation alarm clock You know what it’s like when the alarm clock rings, beeps or warbles. There you were, being served champagne on a luxury yacht with a gorgeous hunk gazing at you adoringly then …. ring ring! And suddenly, you’re facing the cold light of day. Even worse, often you’re facing the cold dark of day. At various times throughout the year, many of us have our alarms set to...

Planet-friendly charging station for multiple devices

Bamboo charging station for multiple devices At last the charging of our various devices in under control. With two of these little beauties in our home,our cellphones, tablets and laptops are tidily charging with no wires snaking their way across our surfaces. It was becoming a real problem until we discovered these. And we’re not a particularly teckie household – or so I thought. There are only two of us but between us,...

Shopping at Harrods of London: For Everyone

Harrods of London ships worldwide At one time, shopping at the prestigious London store Harrods was the preserve of the rich. And only then was it available to those who lived in London or who travelled there. I’m almost at the stage when I can’t remember the days before online shopping and it’s strange to think that now, anyone and where in the world can shop at Harrods. The store was well known for being the place...

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...

Did Alice de Janzé murder her lover?

Did Alice de Janzé murder her lover? I’m inclined to think that she did. But read about the case below and let me know what you think. Alice was American and a wealthy heiress. She was born in 1899. She lived a scandalous life, which ended when she took her own life t the age of only forty two. She was incredibly beautiful. Surviving photographs of her do not do her justice. in those days, rich American families often arranged...

The Kelly Kettle: Planet Friendly Outdoor Cooking

The Kelly Kettle: A Victorian invention, great for outdoor and emergency cooking. Because we live in hurricane-prone Florida, I like to keep an alternative cooking source available for times when there are power outages. But what I dislike is the buying, usage and disposal of gas (or other energy) cannisters. That’s why the Kelly Kettle is just perfect for me – or for anyone who wants to cook outdoors, or simply boil water...

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...

Who Killed Elsie Frost: Latest News

In September 2015 there were further developments in the almost fifty year old case of the murder of this fourteen year old schoolgirl. Elsie’s brother and sister, along with the Wakefield police and aided by the BBC, have been looking into this unsolved case. (You can read the details here). Elsie was murdered in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday in October in 1965. She was a quiet and happy young girl and despite...

Stylish Shawls

Stylish shawls from around the world: Essential wardrobe items. I honestly don’t know how I would manage without my selection of shawls, scarves and sarongs. They are so useful and versatile and can instantly transform outfits, from casual wear to formal dress. They come in such a huge variety of colour, styles and weights too. Heavier scarves can warm you on cooler days or evenings yet lightweight versions are ideal for...

Natural Attractions in Las Vegas

Discover the natural side of Las Vegas. When you think of Las Vegas, what immediately comes to mind? It’s probably not the natural wonders of Nevada. But read on – the area’s experts at Las Vegas Power Pass have assembled all the information you need to make the most of the local natural wonders. Spring Preserves To be found at: 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107 The Springs Preserves are located on an...

Mary Astor: Scandal

Mary Astor’s diaries. Mary Astor was a gorgeous actress in the Golden Era of Hollywood. Yet like many of the actors of the time, she was involved in a juicy scandal. In total she was married four times. The first marriage was to a movie director names Kenneth Hawks. Less than two years later he was killed in an air crash. He was in a plane during the shooting of aerial scenes when two of the aircraft collided. Understandably she...

Visit London’s Hidden Secrets

Visit London’s secrets – under the ground. Going to London? Are you planning to visit all the usual tourist haunts? Hmm, isn’t that just a little boring?Do something different; explore a side of England’s capital that even many Londoners never see – life below the city. When other tourists are flocking to see the usual suspects, be original. Visit Churchill’s wartime bunker, explore historic...

Artwork with Quotes: Home Decor

Decorate with typography: Wall quotes. When you’re choosing artwork for your home – or to give as a gift – there are many factors that you’ll take into consideration. So why not try wall art with motivational (or funny) quotes? They’ll make you smile or improve your day and there are so many to choose from. There’s something to suit almost every occasion, and they also look terrific adorning your...

Throwbowl: The Dog Water Bowl and Pet Toy

For your dog: The water bowl that converts to a fetch toy. What a neat idea. When you’re out and about with your dog, carry this lightweight, collapsible drinking bowl with you so that he or she doesn’t get dehydrated. Then,once your pet has had its fill, quickly convert the bowl to a frisbee-type toy that your dog will enjoy. There’s no need to carry more than this one ingenious item to keep your dog healthy and...

Fishbowl: By Bradley Somer

Review: Fishbowl by Bradley Somer. Ian is an adventurous goldfish and one day he leaps out of his bowl ……. wait! Don’t click away. I don’t read novels about goldfish either (as a general rule) but if you stop reading now, you could miss finding out about a novel that is without doubt one of the best I’ve read this year. Ian belongs to Connor and lives in a bowl on the balcony of the Seville. The Seville...

Small Spaces: The Master Divided Pan

Perfect for cooking in small spaces. I promise you, it’s not very often that I get excited about a kitchen appliance, let alone a humble pan. But this is simply brilliant. Such a simple idea but so very good for cooking in small spaces. My kitchen is truly tiny and this is a fabulous solution. I imagine that it would be great if you cook in a boat or RV too. And think how useful this can be for camping trips.The pan only needs...

Organise your Entryway

Create an organised entrance to your home – even in small spaces. The most perfect and organised homes have beautiful entryways with a place for everything. But you can still have an organised, tidy and useful system in your home even if you live in a tiny space. All you need is a shelf or two and a little imagination and you’ll be just as efficient as those people who have perfect hallways. Having a special place to keep...

Herb and Plant Growing Kits

Planet-friendly gardening indoors or out. I have found some wonderful ways to grow herbs or plants with these fabulous kits. They are marvellous way to give to friends as a gift – or a splendid way to treat yourself to fresh herbs or exciting garden (or patio) flowers and plants. What’s even better is that these items are all sustainable and planet-friendly. Take for example, the basil growing kits you see on the right....

The Matador Pocket Blanket: So Very Handy

You won’t realise just how essential this item is until you own one. Then, you’ll wonder how on earth you managed without it. This thin but sturdy and waterproof blanket folds up into its own pouch and takes up such a tiny amount of space that it’s an essential to keep in your purse, bag or glove compartment. When will you use this simple but genius product? On the beach. It takes up hardly no space in your beach bag...

The Harrods Bear

Commemorate a special year with the Harrods Bear. Has this year been special for you? It may be that you were married or engaged, you may have had a baby or a grand-baby – or it might just have been a happy year that you want to commemorate, either for yourself or for a loved one. If that’s the case, then you need to meet the little guy you see pictured on the right. Meet Benedict, the 2015 Harrods bear. Harrods, the...

Stylish Invitations

Stylish invitations for your celebration. When you’re inviting friends to join you for a special celebration, be sure to select the best and most stylish invitations. Chances are that you’ll be busy planning your party, get-together or wedding – there’s so much to think about – so make life easier for yourself by ordering stunning invitations online. In this wonderful selection you’ll see invitation...

Decor: Selecting Frames for Your Artwork

Choosing frames and mats for your artwork. Changing the look of your room can be expensive. But you can dramatically alter the way your space looks simply by switching out the artwork. And similarly, you can change the look of your favourite paintings, drawings or photographs simply by the way they are framed. See how framing options can change the look of just one artwork. Let’s take this fabulous black and white framed...

What’s wrong with having red hair?

When did red hair become wrong? What’s wrong with having red hair? Truly, I want to know. In recent years, this has become something of a prejudice – since when did people start discriminating against people with lovely red locks? Of course,I’m biased. My maternal grandmother had red hair so therefore I, and four of my cousins, also do. So why is it now subject to phrases like ‘the red-haired stepchild’?...

Create responsive Amazon ads

How to create responsive Amazon ads. In September 2015 Amazon released a new ad creation system which looks fabulous and is even easier to use that previously. You no longer have to wade through Amazon.com searching for products and copying and pasting several codes. All you need to do is go to the Amazon Associates homepage and click the link on the top navigation for ‘native shopping ads’. See below. There are various...

Why is Everyone Talking about the HuMn Wallet?

The amazing HuMn wallet. Isn’t it remarkable that the basic design of wallets has hardly changed over the years? Until now, that is. Today, people are raving about the lightweight, slim and convenient design of the HuMn. Today, when we can carry around an iPhone that more or less runs our lives, why are we still using old, bulky wallets? Now that the HuMn is available, there’s no need. This light device will hold your...

Windows 10: How to Take Screenshots

Taking screenshots is now quicker and easier with Windows 10. I can’t remember when the ‘PrtSc’ key first appeared on our keyboards but I never found it satisfactory, did you? The problem was that there was no audible beep or any popup to tell you that your screenshot had been taken.And it wasn’t really plain where that screenshot had gone. Windows 10 makes life much easier. You’ll still use the...

Windows 10: Using Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has made a great browser — at last. I’m not joking. For over twenty years – almost my entire internet life – I have genuinely hated Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. I mean, hated. So when I started using Windows 10, I fully expected to delete the supplied browser from my system in order to free up space. I’m so glad I didn’t. Believe it or not, it’s a splendid browser....

Windows 10: Using Multiple Desktops

Working more efficiently with virtual desktops on Windows 10. I have to report that I’m really enjoying using Windows 10 to date. At first, the upgrade seemed to be more cosmetic than anything (pretty is good!) but further exploration shows that you productivity can be hugely increased using various new features. The multiple virtual desktops feature is one of my favourites. You can access existing desktops or create new ones by...

Art in the Blood by Bonnie MacBird

A new Sherlock Holmes mystery. Impossible? Not in the hands of Ms MacBird. Yes, here we have a new Sherlock Holmes adventure that even the most traditional Conan Doyle aficionado will enjoy. If you think that nothing could compare to the original Sherlock Holmes stories, then this book will surely change your mind. When this book landed on the review desk at JAQUO HQ, I too was dubious, but I can thoroughly recommend Art in the Blood...

Banana Recipes

Some of our favourite banana recipes. We know that not every food that we love is necessarily good for us. But bananas are something we can eat at any time, guilt-free. They can also be a delicious way to add more fruit – and therefore more goodness to the meals we eat or make for our families, especially when baking. They can be used for savoury dishes too – I like to add sliced bananas to a spicy curry at the last...

Eat Healthily with Livliga’s Weight Loss Secret

Lose weight healthily (and tastily) with Livliga. Sheila Kemper Dietrich used to be the director of the American Heart Association in Denver but nevertheless she and her family struggled with their own weight. That is, until Sheila developed a simple, stylish and tasty way to eat. Without dieting, she lost fifty pounds, her husband lost thirty five and her daughter was able to shed twenty five pounds. I’ll say it again –...

Solvetta: The Lunch Box that’s a Placemat

How can you be sure that the healthy meal you pack stays germ-free? Many of us take healthy lunches to work – or pack them for our families – but did you know that the great foods you pack are liable to be exposed to germs? The Solvetta is the answer. It was developed by Rita Floyd-Vester, a teacher and mother of three, who discovered that the most germ-laden places in today’s schools are cafeteria tables. The same...

Eat Cabbage, Lose Weight

Lose weight by eating cabbage. Do you remember that many years ago there was a diet called The Cabbage Soup Diet? If I remember rightly, it originated in Miami and was very popular. And recent studies, also originating in South Florida, have shown that yes, cabbage can without doubt help you considerably in your quest to lose weight and improve your health. According to the study, cabbage contains a substance called tartaric acid....

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson: Review. I’ve enjoyed every one of Kate Atkinson’s novels thoroughly and Life After Life is no exception. Just when I think that she surely can’t do any better, she goes ahead and does so. If you’ve read God in Ruins, which I recently reviewed here, then the characters in this book will be familiar to you. Life After Life was written before God in Ruins but that doesn’t...

Lasagne Recipes

Lasagna Recipes. As people what their favourite cuisine is and I imagine that a large number would tell you that Italian food is at the top of their list. Understandably, too. Here are some of our favourite lasagne recipes: Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna in Tomato Sauce Lasagna was a regular meal in our household, along with most every Italian dish you can think of. When my husband cooked, it always seems like we did it all....

Elsie Frost murder: Ian Spencer’s family

The family of the accused man, Ian Spencer. The latest news about the 1966 murder of Elsie Frost is encouraging, thanks to the investigations of the BBC and their reporter, Jon Manel. If this is the first time you have heard of this case, previous articles are linked below. Police reinvestigation The first news comes from the West Yorkshire Police. The BBC interviewed Detective Chief Inspector Elizabeth Belton who said that the case...

Prince George: Get the Look

Prince George of Cambridge: Get the Look. When his new sister Princess Charlotte was christened in July 2015, the media unanimously agreed that young Prince George – who was just a few weeks shy of two years old – stole the show. View image | gettyimages.com William and Catherine each have their own distinctive style and it seems that young George is already a trendsetter. Clothing manufacturers rushed to recreate the...

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

Author Kate Atkinson has so many strengths as a writer but one must surely be the way she creates such memorable characters. It must be almost twenty years since I read her first book, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, and that characters within in still live in my mind. A God in Ruins is no exception. In this book, we follow the life of Teddy – from when he is a small boy until the day he dies as an old, old man – and he...

The Pocket Monkey Multi Purpose Tool

The best and thinnest multi purpose tool. I’ve always loved those small credit card sized tools – the ones that are a smaller and lighter version of the Swiss Army knife – and I’ve found this one to be the best. The reasons are simple, it’s so thin that it easily fits into the credit card section of my wallet, it has just the tools I need and it doesn’t get confiscated at the airport when you...

Fresh Spinach Recipes

Recipes using fresh spinach. In the twentieth century, children had to be more or less force-fed if their mothers wanted them to eat spinach, despite Popeye. But today, fresh spinach is to be found in some of the tastiest recipes – on pizzas, in lasagnes dishes, on fresh salads, in casseroles, dips … Spinach it adding its health-giving properties to a huge variety of delightful dishes. And of course, here at JAQUO Magazine...

Bryant & May on the Loose: Review of a London Mystery

Christopher Fowler has done it again. John May, although he was in his eighties, was a dapper man who drove a BMW and wore Prada shoes. His colleague however, octogenarian Arthur Bryant, was an intellectually curious eccentric who gave the appearance of being something the cat dragged in. Together, they ran the PCU – the Peculiar Crimes Unit. What is the Peculiar Crimes Unit? The pair had been heading the PCU since they were in...

Mushrooms in Red Wine Recipe

Delicious mushrooms in red wine with pasta. We are a meat-free household but we certainly enjoy our food. This recipe is splendid for a family dinner but equally good to serve to guests. Although I generally serve this with pasta – any sort – we’ve also had this with plain boiled rice which made a pleasant change and the rice soaks up the delicious sauce beautifully. You could also serve this – with or...

Pic of the Week: Clouds

Photograph of the Week: What the Clouds are Saying. Have you noticed that every morning on the homepage here at JAQUO there’s a new photograph taken from the beach? Here is one taken today. This image was captured on Fort Lauderdale beach just as the sun was beginning to rise. Isn’t it amazing how nature provides us with such fabulous artwork? Andy Royston has been taking photographs of the beach for six years – you...

JAQUO in Print: Summer 2015

JAQUO print magazine: Summer 2015. Yes, the printed JAQUO magazine is now available! This is even bigger and better than our previous version with lots of articles and ideas. With the summer months firmly in mind, our writers have been thinking about summer reading ideas, cool recipes and places to visit. In addition, you’ll find fascinating articles from eighteen different writers and this issue is a full one hundred...

Today in history: July

What happened on this day in July? 1st Olivia de Havilland born 1916 First day of the Somme 1916 Diana Spencer born 1961 Alice Guy Blanche born 1903 Last Ford Thunderbird produced 2005 George Sand born 1804 Peggy Sue recorded 1957 Nicholas Winton died 2015 2nd: Live Aid 2006 Helmut Marko accident 1972 Amelia Earhart disappeared 1937 Val Doonican died 2015 3rd: Sebastian Vettel born Carrie Buck born 1906 Hettie Green died 1916 Franz...

The Life of the Princess of Wales

The Life of the Princess of Wales. She was incredibly unhappy. The Princess of Wales had only been married for a short period of time but she was fully aware that her husband, the Prince of Wales, was still seeing his long-time mistress. And what’s more, she rather suspected that he was seeing other women too. She knew that he’d had plenty of women when he had been single and now it seemed that he hadn’t changed in...

Elsie Frost murder: Memorial service planned

Latest news from the BBC’s investigation into the murder of Elsie Frost. I was eleven years old and at school in Wakefield when fourteen year old Elsie Frost was murdered in that city in 1965. In recent months, as the fiftieth anniversary of Elsie’s murder approaches, BBC reporter Jon Manel has been helping Elsie’s brother and sister, Colin and Anne, try to discover more about this unsolved case. In previous articles...

Duchess of Cambridge: Get the look

Duchess of Cambridge: Style. In June 2015 Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, showed classic yet modern style when she was photographed wearing an outfit that comprised a stylish blue and white striped top, skinny blue jeans and casual yet classic boat shoes. She looked elegant, relaxed and ready for fun. (Many women noted with more than a touch of envy that her figure looks amazing just a few weeks after the birth of her...

Victim culture: Cry-baby society

The victim culture: A disturbing part of today’s society? In Nazi Germany and Nazi-occupied countries free speech was censored by jack booted thugs. Today, we are censored by victim culture and the fact that we don’t want ‘to offend’. Offend others and they become the victim and you become branded as a racist, sexist or some other variety of ‘ist’. This was demonstrated in June 2015 when seventy...

Elsie Frost murder: The police typist

Police typist Liz Weaver and the murder of Elsie Frost. The people of Wakefield in West Yorkshire were stunned and horrified when fourteen year old Elsie Frost was brutally murdered on the outskirts of the city. This terrible event took place on Saturday October 9th, 1965. The murderer was never found. Fifty years later her sister Anne and brother Colin discovered that the police files about Elsie’s death were sealed. Their...

Ampersands: Working with Text

The best ampersands for graphics. When you’re working with text, especially for decorative graphics, the chances are that you have some beautiful ampersands installed on your computer. Don’t simply use the ampersand that comes with the font you are using – experiment. Below you’ll see some examples and these will give you some idea of how a couple of words in a basic sans serif font can bring the ordinary to...

Create a logo in minutes

Create a logo in five minutes or less. There may be a time when you need a logo, or a symbol to represent a part of your business or event, fast. For example, a magazine or website wants to write about you and asks you to email a logo – by return please. But your business is just getting off the ground, you don’t have logo yet. Create one quickly and easily. You have hundreds of hidden logos on your computer Don’t...

Create & print photographic business cards easily & quickly

How to create quick business cards. Even today, business cards are still in use. The problem is though that we don’t need to order hundreds as we used to in the past. But how can this be done economically? In the days when we lived offline things were different, but today few of us need hundreds of business cards but we don’t want to a) employ an expensive designer and b) buy in bulk. There is an answer. You don’t...

The best solar charger for your phone & devices

Charging your phone using solar power And it’s not just your phone – when there’s no electricity, you discover just how much you rely on other devices such as your iPad, Kindle or other devices. Perfect for extreme weather Today, bad weather can knock out power for many of us and losing the use of your communication methods isn’t only inconvenient, it’s dangerous. Living in Florida, I know only too well...

Almost instant strawberry tart

Ten minute strawberry tart. This was a popular recipe in the nineteen sixties and seventies and I see no reason why it can’t be revived today 🙂 Yes, it uses a pre-baked pie case (I use the graham cracker type) and, apart from the fresh strawberries, it uses items from the store cupboard but the labour involved is ten minutes tops. Kids love it but you can give it a more adult, sophisticated flavour by adding just a few drops of...

Using Paper.li Curation Service to Promote your Work

Promote & market your online articles using paper.li curation service. There are many excellent curation services that you can use to promote your online writing, your blog or your website. One of my favorites is paper.li and it’s so easy to use. You are familiar with curating and sharing what you love on sites such as Pinterest and paper.li takes this one step further. It automatically generates a daily (or weekly) online...

RMS Titanic: The band

The musicians of the Titanic It’s over a hundred years ago that the Titanic sank with such an appalling loss of life but we’re still fascinated by the fate of this ‘unsinkable’ ship and its passengers and crew. All the band members went down with the ship. Who were these men? And what is the truth about the last song they played as the ship went down? Those of us whose first movie exposure to the story...

Easily add images to Twitter

You know that the Twitter buttons you see on web pages are the quickest and easiest way to post your articles to your Twitter followers but most of them don’t allow you to add an image. I mean the buttons like the one you see at the top of this page. And yet tweets with images are far more successful than those without. You might not have the time to open up an app or a special webpage to add an images and using those built-in...

The Murder of Elsie Frost: Updates

Who murdered Elsie Frost? Elsie was fourteen when she was brutally murdered in 1965. This took place in Wakefield, Yorkshire. Although a man was arrested for her murder, he was released and in 2015, her brother and sister,Colin and Anne, found that they were denied access to the police files. In fact, the files have been locked until 2060. You can read the details here. If Colin and Anne have the good fortune to be alive in 2060, they...