Glastonbury Forecast

This time next week I will hopefully be very drunk on strawberry brothers, maybe even trying to convince someone that their inflatable bed would be a much better place to sleep than the grass in front of the other stage.

So on with the Forecast.

The Weather

The scorcher of a June we were promised never turned up, and even though the long range weather does suggest the weather improving for next week. It shouldn't be as hot as last year. Long range weather is notoriously flakey so in no way is this a guarantee. They do suggest though more cloud with wind, meaning cold nights but hopefully cool mornings. (So we may get some sleep this year, should we choose to.)

The Park Special Guest

Jarvis Cocker, has all but confirmed one of the special guest to be Pulp.

Good money is on Arctic Monkeys filling the over slot as they now have previous with their surprise appearance at the Radio One Big Weekend, and they have suspicious gaps in their tour on both Friday and Saturday.

Both Foo Fighters and Arcade Fire have Saturday night Gaps in their European tours but as they aren't in country it might be asking to much. ( I really hope not.)

(Possibly Low Fat) Spicy Peanut chicken stir fry.

2 whole chicken breasts, skinned, boned etc diced
8 tbsp. peanut butter
8 tbsp. water
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp.(or equivalent) sweetener (or sugar if not low fat).
2 tbsp. peanut or vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. crushed chilli pepper or flakes
1 cup. Broccoli florets
2 peppers red or yellow sliced.
1 onion diced.
1 cup of sliced mushroom.

1. Mix the peanut butter, water, soy sauce and sweetener. This will take some doing, if you don't have a blender or something similar. I did it using a spoon and a fork.
. a. If you like soft vegetables place the broccoli and peppers in a microwavable dish with a half a cup of water. Microwave for 2 minutes stir than another 2 mins stir a final 2 mins.
2. In a wok heat oil over high heat. Add crushed garlic and the chilli pepper. Stir-fry 30 seconds.
3. Add the diced chicken. Stir fry for about 3 minutes.
4. Add onion. Stir fry for a further 3 mins
. a. If not microwaved add broccoli and peppers at the same time.
5. Add mushrooms. Stir fry for a further 2 mins. (or until chicken is cooked through which ever one is last)
. a. Add microwaved veg.
6. Stir in peanut butter mixture. Simmer stirring constantly until sauce is smooth it should take about 3 minutes.

Serve with steamed brown rice (or noodles if your not counting cals.)

Serves 2-4 (Bigger portions less low fat).

Tuesdays Ten "Interesting" Facts 10

1. Japan has around 200,000 missing elderly people.
2. This was brought to public light when officials went to congratulate Sogen Kato on his Eleventy first birthday (111th). Only to find his mummified remains.
3. The rather annoying trend to play music on mobile phones in public is called Sodcasting. Its described as "The act of playing music through the speaker on a mobile phone, usually on public transport. Commonly practised by young people wearing polyester, branded sportswear with dubious musical taste."
4. Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese's love of film started thanks to his asthma which meant he couldn't play sports as a child. Instead his parents would take him to the pictures.
5. Academy Award winning Actor Daniel Day-Lewis's first role was as a child vandal. He was paid £2 to vandalise cars, which he enjoyed very much.
6. The term rule of thumb comes from the old English law that men couldn't beat their wives with anything wider than their thumb.
7. All of the clocks in the movie Pulp Fiction are stuck on 4:20.
8. In 1386, a pig was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child.
9. Uma Thurman's father was the first American to be ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk.
10. Creationists believe the earth was created in 4004 BC. This figure is "worked out" using dates in the bible and the ages of the people described in the old testament.

The Kat's Tech Part 1

Here for your viewing delights is the first instalment of my guides to Tech. I will endeavour to share only the very best of tech with you. Tried and tested* by yours truly and proved to be great products.

*Common testing involves day to day usage for an extended period and in some situations the dreaded tea test.

First up The iPod Classic.

I love my classic!! It has the audio power that you want from a music player. At 160GB it has the space you need if your one of the apparently strange people that want your entire music collection at your finger tips. (Like Me). I've listened to friend's iPhone and iTouch and I believe you can tell that those are designed as more than audio equipment. Not to do them a disservice but the classic mops the floor with them on audio quality. Saying that, the classic also handles movies superbly and has been a god send on long budget flights. (Details on ripping dvds to an iPod to follow.) Talk about battery life, I've had it for several months and only charged it once...... OK that's an exaggeration but charges are few and far between even with heavy use.

The Kat's rating : 9/10 If you haven't got an iPhone get a classic. Now!!!

TeckNet Battery for Apple iPod/iPhone.

I bought this product as my old iPod video had started to struggle to last a day (it was doing well it had been used for at least 8 hours a day for 5 years.) I basically got it as it had decent reviews and was rather cheap at about £10. It was a wonder the tecknet battery when fully charged will provide 3 to 4 full charges of an iPod classic or 2 charges of an iPhone. After the dubious imposition of a ban on attaching iPods to computers a work and the explosion in iPhone users. My battery has seen heavy uses by myself and my colleagues. It has even survived the dreaded tea test as it somehow ended up submerged in a steaming brew, and has continued on valiantly for another 9 months.

The Kat's rating : 9/10 If you have a power hungry iPhone, or you've got a classic and plan on being away from fresh electricity for some time. You need one of these babys.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Novel) Review

The book that launched an empire that made one woman very very rich (and deservedly so). This was not the first book I read in the series. I was a rather late convert to the books having been dragged to the 2nd film by a friend. This literary lapse is something I think I’ll always regret. How thrilling it would have been to learn of Harry's past as Harry does, to wonder at the references to you know who and He who must not be named.

There is a certain charm in rereading these books years later, older, wiser and after the series has been completed. Despite what some literary snobs might say Rowling is a very accomplished wordsmith. She manages to expertly pitch this book (and the others) right for its target audience, which we shouldn't forget is the age Harry is in each book. So for this book 11 years old, (although this will not stop older readers enjoying it.)

Philosopher's stone is a short book, especially when compared to the later books. This however is not to the books determent. Even in this early volume the stage is being set for the greater story. This without sacrificing the books narrative and its standing as a sole volume. It is a book full of mystery an intrigue that is more than fulfilled in the greater series, humour and just the right level on danger. As you’ll probably know the books get quite dark as Harry ages (the target audience age increases.)

Rowling describes the wizard world efficiently and with great effect, she has a great understanding for the needs of the narrative. She appreciates that just like for Harry the surface details of the wizarding world is more than enough to dazzle the readers in this first book. She leaves unnecessary exposition for later books when it is needed to give depth to the world she has so expertly created.

Masterpiece would be going to far for any of the potter books on their own, its only as a whole that the series becomes potentially worthy of such praise. That said had it never spawned its sequels it would still be a very good book. As the first book from an unknown author its a wonder and no surprise that it spawned such a phenomenon.

Roomzzz Leeds West.

As regular readers will know I recently posted a review of the excellent Roomzzz aparthotel in Manchester. The guys at roomzzz were so thrilled with it they declared me the winner of their online competition. Hoorah!!! The prize was a free night in their Leeds west aparthotel. Not wanting to waste a good excuse for a weekend away we paid to stay for an extra night, packed our bags, filled the car with booze and snacks than headed across the Pennines to Leeds.

The first thing we noticed was how well situated it was for Leeds city centre. Leeds west is located near to Leeds university and is a short walk from the city centre. Parking is ample and cheap (£4 for the whole weekend.) and there are several shops, bars etc in the surrounding area.

Check in was fast and efficient. Having stayed in the amazing liberty suite in Manchester we had high hopes. This was tempered by the fact we knew we were staying in the cheapest room they offered the smart studio. The room was a wonder. While smaller than the liberty suite it used the space very efficiently. There was a large bed, a lounge area more than adequate for 2, the same cooking facilities as the liberty suite and a clean bathroom with shower.

The style of roomzzz shines through with efficient use of furniture to separate the bed area from the rest of the studio. The room is equiped with ipod dock and A flat screen TV on one of those fun swivel plates so that you can watch from the lounge or the bed. The only downside we could find was the lack of aircon. This however wasn't too much of a problem as the area is quiet, so the window could be left open. I imagine it could get quite warm in the height of summer, so worth considering.

We massively indulged and took full advantage of the room. We had all intentions of visiting a local Indian that scores highly on trip advisor. This idea went by the wayside, instead we ordered in from the excellent boxpizza, which is in the same building as roomzzz, and watched several films. Twin this with an excellent afternoon watching the rugby on the flat screen with cake and a brew. Priceless.

All in all I would say Roomzzz Leeds west offers phenomenal value for money (even if you don’t blag a free night) and is excellently located as a base for a trip to Leeds. We have all intentions of making a return visit, this time trying much harder to escape the charms of the room and take more advantage of Leeds itself.