Kell

What you really need (and what any really busy person really needs) is a slow cooker. I go a slow cooker a few yars ago and I can honestly say it's the best piece of kitchen equipment I've ever had - it gets used all the time! The beauty of it all is that you just chuck stuff in it in the morning and come teatime you have a delicious meal. Not only that, but you'l have a few protions left over to freeze too, so next time you can just defrost a meal instead of cooking from scratch - how awesome is that? Some of the things I regularly use my slow cooker for are: - soup - chilli - curry - stew - bolognese I also do pot roasts, chicken in redwine sauce, actually I've done pretty much anything you can think of in it. It gets used at least twice a week in our house and I always freeze the extra portions for another day, so I always have a freezer full of delicious, nutritious meals to hand. If I know I'm going to be pushed for time in the morning, I'll prep all the veg the night before and then bung everything into it in the morning, switch it on and leave it. In fact, I've used my slow cooker so much I've pretty much worn it out and got a new, slightly bigger one, for Xmas. Hurrah! Aother thing you can do is, if you even have just one day per week when you don't have classes or anything else on, invest a little time in bulk cooking. After a couple of weeks, you'll find you always have a variety of ready-made meals to choose from and you'll never have to resort to frozen pizzas and micowave meals again. Homemade stuff tastes better than shop bought stuff anyway. You can also double up on things, e.g. You're making bolognese... Make a HUGE vat of it and you can also have lasagne (do individual ones in those little foil containers - they freeze really well!) and chilli (just transfer some of the mince and sauce to a different pan, add chilli and kidney beans). There you go - you now have three different basic meals from one base. And if you've made enough, you'll have one portion to eat and one to freeze of each, so that's 6 meals taken care of. Same with chicken - roast a large chicken and do two different sauces - perhaps a curry and a redwine sauce. You now have a roast chicken dinner, curry, coque au vin,. and you can use all the fiddly little extra bits off it to make chicken and vegetable soup. Wow - you've just got four different meals out of it! You just have to be inventive and use what little time you have wisely. I us these tricks all the time and save load of money as well as having more free time. Honestly, those little tin foil trays with the lids are awesome - I use them all the time! And they stack very neatly in the freezer too, taking up very little space. And because the portion size is limited, the potential to drop a couple of pounds is there too if you wanted...

Just been looking at the A-D list and there are quite a few books on there I most certainly wouldn't regard as teen books and, in fact, think many adults would struggle with some of them too! There's no doubt there are some great books on that list, but I wonder what their criteria was for inclusion in a list supposedly aimed at teens... Still, a great challenge and I think I can see myself picking up a few from the list too (I already have some of them on Mount TBR - LOL!).

Baked salmon, mashed potatoes, carrots, brocoli and sweetcorn - delish!

I got 17/20, but it was often a case of guessing. And many of the books onwhich there were questions were not books I'd consider aimed at children or young adults, such as John Grisham's The Runaway Jury - definitely an adult book! Perhaps it would be appropriate for older teens, e.g. 17-19, but I certainly wouldn't hand it to a 13-y-o and expect them to understand or enjoy it - LOL! (Personally, I loved it, but I was in my late 20s/early 30s when I read it!) I've just also taken the poll and there are book mentioned there I'd say are definitely NOT for teens. To name a few, The Kama Sutra; A Child Called It, The Rats and Hannibal!

I'm going to be away for a few days (Satuday after lunch till Wednesday night) and won't get much of a chance to get online during that time, but I hope everyone will continue discussing Watchmen while I'm away - I know I will have finished it by that time too and be dying to talk to you all about it!

No, I'm not convinced it's him either. It was too easy for it to be him - I want someone a bit more threatening than him!

I'm adding a few more questions to the first post: 7. Did you find reading this graphic novel more difficult or easier than reading a regular novel Wy? 8. Do you think this would have worked as well as a regular novel? Why?

Perhaps slightly, yes - LOL!

The first thought that jumped into myhead when I saw that chapter title was, "Thank Gods - someone finally got the quote right!" The amount of times I see it as "also gazes" is just not real and it always annoys me. It made me respect the work even more, just for getting those two words in the correct order - is that weird of me?

I'm almost half way through now, but found I wasn't awfully keen on the bits where the guy was reading the comic book and the bits from that comic were cropping up in Watchmen. I know it was running parallel to the story, but I found it rather distracting and I'll admit I only skimmed the text-heavy bit related to it at the end of the chapter.

I'm finding the repetition interesting when Dr Manhatten goes to Mars - like he's stuck ina loop of time over and over again. Strangely, rather than becoming bored with it, I really enjoyed it.

Someone commented on the article that a similar storyline happened in Corrie a few years ago, with someone trying to steal a baby after hers died of SIDS. The world of soaps is always senstational and often makes the headlines due to hard-hitting or bizarre plot choices, but this plays directly into the hands of the production team as it's all calculated to garner as much publicity as possible for the show and thus increase viewing figures. It's nothing new for a soap to adopt a plot that causes outrage, and it will continue to happen as long as people continue to watch them.

I'd also like to read V for Vendetta and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen as well as 300 - I find I'm becoming more and more drawn to graphic novels (hence my choice of theme for this month!). I'm actually still on Chapter 1, as I'm only getting to read it in bed at night (and as I get to bed very late, I only get a few pages at a time), but I am loving the artwork and the story. Please, everyone, don't worry about posting spoilers, as it says right there in the first post that it is assumed that anyone coming into the thread has already read the book so anyone looking before finishing it does so at their own risk. Everyone should feel free to discuss any and all elements of the chosen book, no matter how far on in the proceedings they occur. Personally, I never mind spoilers anyway, as I find it gives me some extra element to look forward to while I'm reading.

I'm completely gutted. He was one of our greatest actors and is a sad loss to the acting world. Not only that, but the world as a whole has a big Pete-shaped hole in it. I truly hope he'll be awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar post-humously, as I think it's shocking he's been nominated but never won one to date.

I rather fancy Zachary Quinto too and I think he's an actor of quite extraordinary talent to boot.

I actually joined an Angelic bookring hosted by Kelley herself and managed to read it a little while ago, which was lovely. I hope there'll be a re-release in hard copy at some point in the future as I wasn't lucky enough to snag my own copy first time round.

Ooh, what was it, Kylie?

Is anyone else reading this graphic novel? I'll admit that due to being very busy I only started it last night, but I'm loving it already! Rorschach seems to be an interesting character - I'll be interested to see how he develops...

I couldn't finish that book - it was so dull! I later tried to watch the film and found it pretty much the same I was disappointed by Catcher in the Rye too. I wondered if I just cam to it too late to appreciate it, but I really can't see what all the fuss is about. To Kill a Mockgbird, on the other hand, is awesome - I love that book. I had the same "Why didn't I read this sooner?" reaction as you.

I have indeed - I've been a huge fan since I saw it as a child. We've been waiting the best part of 30 years for the sequel.

This isn't the book awards though - this is just a weekly question I've been posting to get some extra conversation going. The Awards is mostly people just listing - this topic gives some scope for dicussion on why we liked or disliked a couple of books.

(Pinched from Booking Through Thursday) What’s the best book you read this year? Worst? Favorite? The Best Books I’ve Read This Year: There have been four books I’ve rated 5/5 this year: * Kenneth Grahame – The Wind in the Willows * Margaret Mitchell – Gone with the Wind * Lauren Henderson – Jane Austen’s Guide To Dating * Brom – The Child Thief The Wind in the Willows is an old childhood favourite which I re-read for a reading circle and enjoyed every bit as much as I did when I was a kid. Gone With the Wind was a book I’d never read but had planned to for as long as I can remember. It certainly didn’t disappoint and has become a new favourite of mine that I know I’ll re-read at some point in the future. Jane Austen’s Guide to Dating was a complete surprise to me. I picked up a hardback copy in a pound shop and loved every second of it. It’s just so packed full of common sense advice presented in a fun way – a must for all fans of Jane Austen (especially if they’re single!). I’ll get to The Child Thief in a moment… The Worst Books I’ve Read This Year: Well, I abandoned eight books unfinished this year, but the most disappointing of those were: * Stieg Larsson – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo * John Lawrence – The Secret Five and the Stunt Nun Legacy I was also heartily disappointed by Edgar Allan Poe when I read his works for the month of November as a personal challenge. My Favourite Book I’ve Read This Year: Without a doubt, my absolute favourite book of the year was The Child Thief by Brom. This stunning take on the Peter Pan story blew me away with both its words and pictures. Brom is an artist of many talents and I adore his work. This instantly became an all-time favourite of mine which I will read again and again. I’ve just loaned it to my Mam as I’m certain she’ll love it too. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, so great is its awesomeness. It’s been a good year!

Having just seen Tron Legacy in 3D at the IMAX cinema in Glasgow, I'm looking for more new movies I fancy seeing this year... The Green Hornet Seth Rogan isn't usually my first choice of people I'd like to see in movies, but having seen the trailer, this actually appeals quite a bit. True Grit I've never seen the original, but plan to rectify that. However, I REALLy want to see this remake starring Jeff Bridges - after Tron Legacy, I am SERIOUSLY loving this man. Add to the mix the talents of Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld (who looks to be someone to watch in the future, by all accounts!), and I think this is a surefire hit! Black Swan Starring Natalie Portman, this is no run-of-the-mill dance flick. Looks to be a dark thriller that should get the spine a-tingling and I can hardly wait to see it. Even my hubby, who wouldn't watch a dance film if his life depended on it, wants to see this, andhe's a man of discerning tastes. Cowboys and Aliens From the look of the trailer, this should be unexpectedly good - it certainly looks awesome and it stars Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, Sam Rockwell and Olivia Wilde, so they've brought out some big guns for this one! Season of the Witch It's Nicholas Cage - what more do I need to say? The Eagle Roman legions, well, that's my bag, so I want to see this one! It also stars Donald Sutherland and it's set in 140AD Scotland where the 9th Legion disappeared 20 years earlier... I Am Number 4 I've not read the book, but I'm going to. And I'm' going to see this film for sure! Even Dale thinks this one looks good, which is unusual, seeing as how it's based on a YA novel! Jane Eyre Mia Wasikowska proved herself in Alice in Wonderland, and Jamie Bell (of Billy Elliott fame) is long overdue a foray into more adult roles. I love the novel and am expecting a fairly decent adaptation here. Paul It's Simon Pegg and I love him. I don't care if it's aliens - I love him and I want to watch him being funny. With aliens. Scream 4 Come on,seriously, who DOESN'T want to see this? All the originals are returning, so it's gotta be seen if only for nostalgia's sake. Fast Five Yup, all the originals are returning for this sequel too - and what red-blooded woman doens't want to watch Vin Deisel in a fast car? Thor Norse Gods transplanted to modern day? Count me in! It's also got Hollywood heavyweights Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman, and has Kenneth Branagh at the helm. What's not to like? Oh, and Thor is pretty hot too. Priest I have two words for you - Paul Bettany. I'm of the very firm belief that he is one of the finest actors of this generation and he can absolutely do no wrong. I am DYING to see this dark comic book alternative to movies with sparkly vampires. Transformers: Dark of the Moon I LOVE Transformers. And there's the added bonus of them getting shot off the talentless pretty bird and giving Sam a new girlfriend - hurrah! Fright Night Yes, they've remade the cult classic 80s vampire flick. With David Tennant. Cue the thunder of Dr Who fans stampeding towards cinemas up and down the country. The Three Musketeers Upside: Milla Jovovich as Milady deWinter and Orlando Bloom as Buckingham. Downside: Matthew Macfaddyan as Athos and James Cordon as Planchett. I'll take the trade and watch it anyway as it's one of my favourite swashbuckling adventures. So, which films have you guys anxiously awaiting the tickets going on sale?