Summer Reads...

The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields- 4 stars ****

This book is written as though it is someone's autobiography, although it is a work of fiction. The author has paid immaculate attention to detail, including a family tree, photographs, obituaries, newspaper cuttings and letters of correspondance within it, making the piece feel like a true story of the life of Daisy Goodwill-Flett, the main character. It begins with Mercy Stone giving birth to Daisy on the kitchen floor of her home in Manitoba, a province of Canada. The plotline spans from 1905, for approximately ninety years (the reader is only ever told that Daisy died in the nineties) and follows her through childhood, two marriages, three children, their childhoods, her first job, a bout of depression, old age and eventually, death.

As it is over such a long period of time and everything is seen through Daisys' eyes, the reader really gets an insight into the workings of her head and her perception of the world. Despite it being in the style of a diary, the language used is more poetic than I would imagine occurs in such things, so it becomes storylike to read, as opposed to just leafing though someone's journal. An example is when Daisy tells of her children's reaction to their cousin Beverly: 'They shudder with the heat of their own dramas, awestruck by the doubleness of memory, the hold it has on them, as mysterious as telephone wires or the halo around the head of the baby Jesus. Memory could be poked with a stick, savoured in the mouth like a popsicle, you could never get enough of it.'

This is a story that I could imagine flourishing if it were ever to be made into a film, because throughout it, there are examples of other people's thoughts and opinions on events that Daisy describes. This creates an image in my mind of each person stood in front of a camera being interviewed on the topic that they speak of. An example is when Daisy gets married for the second time, to a man much older than herself;
'The Minister of Agriculture exclaimed to his wife upon reading the marriage announcement in the newspaper: "Good God, Flett's got himself married. And I always thought the bloke was queer as a bent kipper."...
Fraidy Hoyt said (to herself): "She's lost her head, not her heart. I thought she had more sense. A young wife, an old husband - a prescription for disaster, if you believe in the wisdom of folktales."'

The inclusion of random interjections such as these make the piece more three dimensional and realistic, so that the reader knows the plot is actually happening, and is not just some distorted version in Daisy's head.

One thing I particularly enjoyed about this novel was the time period in which it is set. I know very little about the background of the era, especially seen as it takes place in Canada and America, and I found it very interesting to read about the customs and traditions of a time past. It was especially good to see how things changed over the years, it becoming more and more like the world I know as I read further through it.

The Stone Diaries was written in 1993 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1995, a prestigious American award for fiction. I would recommend it to anyone who fancies an insight into a life that is different to the usual read by students these days... basically nothing to do with vampires and werewolves!

Summer Views...

Inception- 5 stars *****
I was really looking forward to seeing this film, after basically all of my friends had seen it and given it rave reviews. I went without knowing anything about it, except that it was directed by Christopher Nolan, famous for The Dark Knight. As I throughly enjoyed that when I saw it, I had high hopes for anything else spawned from the same mind.

Looking at the cast, including the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Caine, it is clear from the beginning that it is a very high budget piece of film. The whole concept of the plot is one that is very abstract, but one possible to acheive without the use of special effects all the time (though as in any Hollywood blockbuster, they are not spared). As such, there are a huge number of scenes that look like they could have cost millions to produce, but the end result is one of believability rather than fake overly computer generated footage.

Though it is a long film (two hours and twenty eight minutes) it keeps you gripped throughout, not just because of the beautiful cinematography and excellent cast, but also as the plotline is so complex that if you turn away for a second, you can miss something crucial to the overall piece. Without giving anything away, the simple summary of the story is that Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is an extractor; someone capable of entering peoples' dreams and stealing the deepest secrets from their subconscious. However, this is not a career that has produced favourable results, as he has lost things dear to him through past endeavours. In a final job in order to obtain that which he has lost, he must use his talents in a different way; to plant an idea into a subject's head so as to manipulate him into a business decision. Along with a selected team (including Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt) each with their own useful abilities, he attempts this task of inception, whilst battling his own inner demons along the way.
I found the acting to be of a high standard in both the familiar, and less well known faces, and the cast all seemed very fluid together, with noone appearing out of place. Also as a fan of Marion Cotillard, I found her portrayal of Mal, Cobb's wife, both haunting and heartbreaking, and it was a role that felt tailor made for her.
Inception was a brilliant film, one which I would happily see again. It left me thinking at the end, not just because of the unexpected twist, but because of the deep topics that it focused on. It was one of those quite hard-hitting movies that almost drains you as you process the complexity of the back story and all it encompasses, but in a good way.

Nights Out...

The Northern Quarter

Last weekend, my friend from university came up from Oxford for a couple of days. As well as showing her my local town, and going shopping in the city centre, I wanted to show her a part of Manchester not usually on the tourist list of places to visit.
The Northern Quarter is one of my favourite areas to go when I want a more classy night out that involves a few sociable drinks, rather than a heavy one on the tiles. Although it is probably more pricey than my student budget can afford, it is because the standard of drinks are higher (most places serve cocktails and European beers).
We started in Walrus, an eccentric Austin Powers style bar that has giant globe light fixtures, and a fish tank wall. Cocktails are all £6.50, and interestingly are described on the menu by taste and not what spirits are in them. I had a 'Walk The Plank' (rhubarb, grapefruit, agave) while my friend asked for her usual, a Caipirinha, which the waiter was more than happy to make despite it not being on the list. My drink was really nice and fruity; the agave, a sort of nectary substance, complimented the bitterness of the grapefruit well, although I must admit I couldn't taste much of the rhubarb flavour which was a shame. All the same, given that I was driving it was a nice change from my usual boring glass of wine!
We ran into the second bar, Apotheca, to shelter from the rain, but it was a good discovery! So called because of the Greek word to describe someone who prepares and sells medicinal drugs, there were antique pharmacy cabinets around the bar containing exclusive (and expensive) liquers from all over the world. It had atmospheric lighting, and maintained a luxurious feel throughout due to red velvet drapery and plush leather sofas.
I was on Coca Cola at this point, but my friend had a 'Black and Blue Caipiroska' which looked amazing garnished with fresh fruit, and tasted even better. Looking back at the cocktail list, I would be very easily tempted into returning, just to try the 'Rhubarb Crumble' (apple Schnapps, rhubarb and chocolate liqueurs shaken with a sweetened baton of rhubarb, layered beneath a floating band of milk and cream with crumbled biscuits in the bottom of the glass) see the full menu at http://www.apothecabar.co.uk/menus.asp for all the yummy descriptions! The bar also runs a cocktail school, and has lots of offers on that vary from day to day, so it is definately worth a peek if you are in the area.

The third and final bar we went to was another quick decision as the heavens opened again, but this one wasn't so successful. Barcelona bar was pleasant enough design wise; it had a glass bar displaying all the spirits and lots of metal and brickwork inside giving it an industrial feel. However, my friend ordered another Caipirinha, and this one just didn't hit the same standard as the previous cocktail we had ordered. It was far too sweet to begin with, and after asking for more lime to compensate, the bar tender added lime cordial, not exactly what was expected!

We complained to another waitress, who remade the cocktail without hesitation, but it still lacked the fresh limey taste that characterises the drink. We were actually told by another member of staff that they'd 'only just started doing cocktails, so it's still a bit up in the air'. In my opinion if you can't so something to the same level as those you're competing with, find your own niche. I did notice however that they were still serving coffee at 1am, which is a pleasant change to other bars who switch their machines off at 11pm. Maybe next time we'll stick with a cappuccino!

Days Out...

Silverblades Ice Rink

When my boyfriend came to visit last week, we decided to find something to do that was a bit different, after numerous shopping trips into Manchester, to the cinema or for meals out. Having been a few times when I was considerably younger, and with the added bonus of there being a rink very close to my house, I suggested ice skating.

It may seem like a random idea, but both of us enjoy skiing (I have had lessons to learn this year) so we figured that a different winter sport may have the same appeal. We also went to watch my local ice hockey team, the Manchester Phoenix, play at the arena over Christmas, so the subject of trying skating had been approached then. I checked out prices and times on the internet, and we headed on down to Silverblades Ice Rink in Altrincham.

It wasn't that cheap (£8.70 per person and an extra quid for a locker) but it included skate hire and you could stay for as long as you wanted within the public skating time, which was from 10am until 5pm. The last time I skated was at an outdoor rink in Disneyland Paris six years ago (!) but then my boyfriend had never tried it, so I took some comfort in that!

Once we got onto the ice, I realised that I had completely forgotten how to skate, but after a few shaky laps on the rink I seemed to pick it back up and by the end I was slightly speedier, and was getting more creative when turning corners. I was surprised by how many adults there were, as

I fully expected it to be mainly children there, especially with it being the beginning of the summer holidays. It was slightly embarrassing that some of the children were barely waist high and were racing on their skates, spinning and skating backwards, but there were more than a few at the same level as us, so it wasn't too bad.
We stayed for a couple of hours, by which time our feet and legs were aching, and my boyfriend had had a few tumbles, but it was a very enjoyable experience, and considering it was effectively just skating round in a circle, the time went very quickly.

We retrieved our belongings from the touch screen lockers, which I found funny as they asked for your favourite shape as the password for entry (naturally i chose an avocado?!) and headed home. It is a pastime I would definately partake in again, perhaps next time going within school term time, as you save two pound on the entry price, and at least then there wouldn't be as many kids putting our skills to shame!

Summer Reads...

The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan- 3 stars ***

I must admit, that this book took a little getting into. On an aesthetic point, the font was small and the chapters were quite long, so it wasn't one you could easily delve in and out of. The story however, was one that kept you hooked.

It is split into three parts. The first is from the perspective of Pearl, a middle aged woman with MS, who is feeling increasingly guilty about not telling her mother about her illness.The middle section is from the perspective of Pearl's mother, Winnie, and the third and final section goes back to Pearl.

The middle segment is the main part of the plot, where Winnie reveals the story of her childhood in China and the troubles she had to endure. It tells of her first marriage, to the abusive Wen Fu, and the harrowing tale of the loss of her three children. Living in China during the Second World War, Winnie had to leave her family home and move around the country in order to escape the troubles it brought, before finding happiness with her second husband, American Jimmy Louie.

Amy Tan, the author, is a Chinese American, whose books often feature mother daughter relationships. I think that the way Pearl and Winnie's was described was relatable, and the worries that each had were things that seemed relevant to the respective characters. It was interesting to compare the westernised lifetyle of Pearl to Winnie's more traditional Chinese upbringing, as at the beginning it was not apparent that Winnie had been through so much hardship in her younger years.

I particularly found it unusual that my opinions of certain characters changed throughout the book. Winnie initially is portrayed as being overbearing and fussy, one could say a typical 'mother' charicature. However, hearing her back story it is almost like being given the key into her head, and my view of her was completely overridden after understanding why she behaves as she does. I think that this was expertly done, as I am normally very judgemental when it comes to characters, so it takes a lot for me to change my thoughts on people!

I would recommend this book, as it had a different subject topic to that which I would normally read, yet I found it accessible and it provided an interesting insight into a culture that I am not very familiar with. After reading 'The Kitchen God's Wife' I would not hesistate to pick up another of Amy Tan's novels.

Inspired by a train journey home

Whoever heard of a happy ending?

Cinderella’s dream re-enacted through time.

Jealous whispers hidden under layers of gossamer,

ribbons a-flutter on a-breeze.

A smile on a face, lit up with stars,

and music drums;

hammering in time with heartbeats,

heartbeats,

heartbeats.

But this is no book of happy fables,

this is a suburban fairytale

and fairies are long since dead.

And the glass slipper left on the stair?

It stays abandoned there.

Deadbeat.

New Tastes...

Francs, Altrincham

As I was still at university when it was my Dad's birthday last month, we decided to have a belated meal out to celebrate it. We went to Francs, a French restaurant in Altrincham, Cheshire. We chose to go on 14th July, which is Bastilles Day, a French national holiday.

The restaurant is one that we have been to as a family a few times, but the last time I went was about eight years ago, so I was looking forward to going back with a more mature appreciation of good food. We chose to eat off the Prix Fixe menu, where two courses cost £12.95 if you eat before 7.30pm, but for a wider choice of food there is also the £18.95 option available anytime except Sunday lunch.

To start I had the Cigares de Crabe, which was served with a salad of mixed leaves, red onion, tomato and orange in a light dressing. The crab was lovely and delicate, with a very fresh taste, and the combination of the crispy filo pastry that it was wrapped in with the soft crabmeat produced a wonderful texture in the mouth. It said on the menu that it contained coriander, which I was wary of as I dislike the taste of the herb, but it was subtle enough that it didn't ruin the dish for me. The salad on the side despite being simple, provided a little extra flavour and jazzed up the plate so that it was pleasant on the eye.

I followed my crab starter with another seafood dish for my main course, Saumon au Cresson. The cajun spice seared salmon was served with sauteed potatoes, which were deliciously crispy on the outside; on a bed of rocket, with lardons and boiled egg mixed into it. The saltiness of the bacon lardons and peppery rocket went well with the salmon, which I often find quite bland, but it wasn't so overpowering that the taste of the salmon was smothered. I personally felt that the egg didn't really add anything to the plate, but then I am not a huge fan of boiled egg to begin with.

It was a generous portion, which I couldn't finish, the salmon steak was huge! I was actually quite surprised that a good quality restaurant like Francs gave such large quantities of the food; my mum and sister shared a mixed paella that was meant for two people, but there was easily enough to feed all four of us! It wasn't just bulked up with rice either, there were lots of prawns, scallops, chorizo, catfish, salmon and chicken pieces, even right at the bottom of the bowl.

The only disappointment for me was the fact that the house wine was Isla Negra, which is Italian, so not what I would have expected to be served in a French restaurant! It was nice wine though, so it didn't really affect my overall experience, and I would definately go back again, as I liked the sound of plenty of the other dishes that were on the menu.

Summer Reads...

Eve Green by Susan Fletcher- 4 stars ****

This was my first read of the summer, and one that I found particularly touching. It is the story of a young girl, whose mother dies when she is just eight years old, and she is sent from inner city Birmingham to live with her grandparents in the Welsh countryside. It is written in the first person, and skips from the present day back to the days when Evie (as she was then called) first arrived at Pencarreg, her grandparent's house.

Throughout the book, she talks about a shoebox that her mother never allowed her to look in when she was alive, which contains souvenirs, trinkets and notes telling of a mysterious K, her mother's only love; and Eve's father. Punished for asking her grandparents any questions about him, she uses the box that she now possesses to create her own story of what happened.
The book is well written, and contains some thought provoking descriptions of events in Eve's life, such as her first kiss:

'Kisses open doors, I've noticed. That one gesture can unlock secrets, ease open feelings. It can't be prevented - these kisses just are. It's how they work. They break into basements you never knew you had.
But kisses can close doors, too - a kiss goodbye, a consolation prize - and in a sense I think these are the better kind. They're safer. Less risky. You know where you stand with a closing kiss. You can turn from them, inhale, smile to yourself and move on: such kisses make you stronger. And such kisses are my speciality. I'd throw them out to boys and then walk away. Until Daniel, I scarcely knew the other kind.'

The way that Susan Fletcher depicts Eve's life is very realistic, and I could really associate with her way of thinking. The book, essentially, is a series of character studies through Eve's eyes, and there are a few mysteries that become unravelled as the plot continues. Even at the end though, the answers are not handed to the reader on a plate, and you have to do a certain amount of deciphering to come to the overall conclusion.

I was surprised upon researching Susan Fletcher that this is her first book, and that she is only thirty one years old, as it reads like a classic that has been shaped by a much more mature novelist. Eve is twenty nine in the present day of the story, so perhaps because the author is a similar age to her lead character she could draw upon her own life experiences in order to make the protagonist's voice so convincing. Her manipulation of words creates beautiful descriptions that despite tackling common subjects seem fresh and innovative:

'Love, he mumbled into my collarbone, was a funny sort of thing. And isn't it? The things it makes us do. And the things we feel love for - it has no logic to it. Love is as varied and unpredictable as the rain is: it comes in constant summer drizzles, or sudden, unforeseen storms that make rivers burst their banks and Cornish fishing boats rock and spill and lose their crew in the Atlantic. It patters into you, or it washes you clean of your senses. It can drip or come in a downpour. It is strange, manipulative. So perhaps Gerry was half correct - it is a funny thing.'

The relationships that Eve has are powerful, mainly because she is always seen as being a bit of a loner, and there are a few throughout the book that created quite intense reactions of empathy from me, particularly the friendship she has with Billy Macklin, who all the village people say is 'mad'.

But I don't want to give too much away, it is a clever and well thought out story, and one which is well worthy of a read.

If troubles were bubbles...

Have a bath and burst them all!

I have just experienced a bathing revelation.
I do like a good bath, and I sure as hell miss them whilst at uni, but even if I'm having one to relax a little, I always multitask and fit in the routine of shaving the ol' pins at the same time. Because of this, I've never been one to overdo the bubbles and wallow for hours (pruny fingers aren't becoming; they just make you look as if you've been washing up all day). Following a particularly long day at work however, I kept the razor in the cupboard, went overhaul with the Olay bubblebath and lit a dozen mismatched candles and placed them around the room.

It looked pretty for a start, and once I'd lowered myself into the fluffy lather, I was hooked. As I had the house all to myself, I tactically 'borrowed' a bottle of rosé that my sister had bought, so an ice filled glass of the substance was cradled in my hand. I put on Little Dragon's self-titled album, which may be from 1997 but get hold of it; Yukimi Nagano's voice is an absolute gem to chill out to.

I must have been in a dream world for about forty minutes, before I realised that the bubbles had disappeared, and once you're left staring at your body without it being draped in iridescent bubbles, only the vainest of people (surely!) can remain in a tub of luke-warm water.
Nonetheless, the encounter has had a positive impact, and bathing is now definately on my list of ways to unwind. Good job I have a bath in my house next year then, as I'm sure I'll feel the strain in dissertation year!

Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 5

Sunday
We wandered down to The Park Stage at the beginning of the day, and saw The Travelling Band and Villagers, who were both pleasant enough, the first reminding me of The Magic Numbers. During the set, five differently coloured balloons of varying sizes were thrown into the air, so that everyone helped in keeping them bouncing for the duration of the gig. It was nice just to lie on the grass (which was more like straw at this point) eating pate on toast from the tea and toast tent, absorbing what could be some of the up and coming bands of 2010.

The Temper Trap
After hearing 'Sweet Disposition' on the '(500 days of) Summer' soundtrack I decided to get hold of The Temper Trap's album, and I was impressed. I love the contrast of Dougy Mandagi's high pitched voice with the dark and dramatic percussion the band uses. We must have arrived at The Other Stage quite early, as we were literally 3 people behind the front row of the crowd, and it was amazing to be so close for such a good show. The bassist (and his hair) thrashed around the stage, clearly giving it everything, and Mandagi looked relaxed and suave when he blasted out piercing notes which were immaculately delivered. At one point he poured a bottle of water onto a large drum and hit it, sending up an artistic spray, which was refreshing for the front of the audience! I was thrilled upon returning to spot myself a number of times in their crowd on the highlights show on BBC3, proof that there are other benefits of being near the front, not just a good view!

We Are Scientists

I first saw these guys in Manchester when I was a fifteen year old moshing teenager and remember them being good, so to see them again at Glastonbury five years later was awesome. The two frontmen had some great comedy banter between each other, which was a welcome change from a straightforward music performance, and lead singer Keith Murray has a voice that is made for indie pop. The great thing about a lot of their tracks is that they are instantly recognisable, so whenever they started playing, the crowd all got involved and sang along, and as it was the last day, everyones' hearts were fully in each word.
Faithless

Maxxi Jazz looked awe inspiring in a white suit, bare chested as usual, as he stood to view the masses before Faithless started their stint. Because of the sheer energy of their tracks, you could almost feel the floor vibrating from so many people jumping up and down to them. When they played 'We Come 1' (which lasted quite a while!) everyone had their finger in the air, which was quite a sight on the screens either side of the stage. Despite being around for a decade and a half, it is obvious that they haven't lost their touch on the dance world and they certainly deserved to gain the prime spot on The Pyramid Stage before Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder

I was so excited to see Stevie Wonder, not because I love his songs, or even that I was curious as to what he would do to make the last Glastonbury 2010 performance extra special, but because I knew that the audience would be in a state of euphoria after a gorgeous, sun soaked festival. When 'Superstition' began, everyone was dancing away, alcohol in hands and smiles on faces, making it a truly magical moment. Of course, for the festival's fortieth anniversary, what would be more appropriate than a rendition of 'Happy Birthday', where Stevie was joined on stage by Michael Eavis, the organiser of the whole event. It was pretty funny to watch a grey haired seventy five year old farmer sing along with Stevie Wonder, if you can call it singing, it was quite a bad kareoke rendition! Complete respect to him for doing it though, it was just what was needed to finish the set.

Shangrai- La
After a phenomenal last performance, we decided to celebrate our final night with a trip to Shangrai- La once again, but not before we stopped for a spot of (very improvised!) salsa dancing in the Cuban Dance tent! This time we walked through The Unfair Ground to get to Shangrai- La, where a fountain of fire, a crash landed aeroplane and half naked women suspended from poles greeted us. It is obvious why it is called The Unfair Ground, as it was exactly that- a funfair gone wrong. Bez's Acid House had a giant baby head above the doorway, and there was a working coconut shy, with celebrity faces (such as David Cameron and Tracey Emin) as the targets! We ended the night in Hotel Slumbarave, which had a confusing maze to conquer before we could enter the main room. It had beds complete with duvets and pillows around its edge, and as soon as we arrived, a pillow fight ensued! It was the perfect closure to an amazing six days.

So, six days of heat, drink, music, dressing up and performance, and an uncountable amount of memories. Over in the blink of an eye, yet photos (and these blog entries!) will help it to last forever. As well as the artists I have written about, I also saw The Courteeners, MGMT, The Hold Steady, Dizzee Rascal, Grizzly Bear, The Cribs, and part of the Scissor Sisters; basically enough music to keep me happy for a fair while! I would gladly go again, camp in the same place, with the same people and have an absolute ball as I did this time. On a finishing note, I would say my top five acts were:

1. Florence and the Machine
2. The Temper Trap
3. 2 Door Cinema Club
4. Snoop Dogg
5. Stevie Wonder

I have had serious withdrawal symptoms since returning, and cannot wait to go back again!

Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 4

Saturday

The first artist we wanted to see was Imogen Heap, who wasn't playing until mid-afternoon, so we slept in (for as long as the heat would allow us to) and then wandered down to West Holts. The Phenomenal Handclap Band, who were recommended in the guide that we were given at the start of the festival, were due to play a set on the stage there just after we arrived. Their sound was upbeat and modern, but I couldn't help feeling slightly sorry for them, as they were given a relatively early slot which didn't do wonders for the lively atmosphere that they were trying to create. I found overall from the festival, that anything on before about 3pm should be made to lounge around to, as a lot of the audiences are still tired and hungover from the night before!

Imogen Heap

I have been a fan of this quirky lady for a fair few years, so was excited to see her live. The stage that she had was very intricate; there was a metal tree structure in the centre and various bizarre looking instruments scattered around. Quirky and bizarre are exactly the right adjectives to describe Imogen Heap, as she wandered around the stage, dressed in draped shawls and scarves, muttering to herself. She reminded me of someone's batty old aunt, or perhaps Emma Thompson's portrayal of Professor Trelawney from the Harry Potter films. That is not to say that her performance was a let down, far from it. She involved the audience constantly, splitting us into thirds to do harmonies, and getting us to sing along to her classics, such as 'Hide and Seek' most well known for being used in 'The O.C'. Having always thought she was American, I was thrilled to hear her British accent as she spoke to the audience. That's another one we can add to our repertoire.

Kate Nash

Miss Nash was on next after Imogen Heap, so we stayed to watch. I know a few songs, but have never gone so far as to buy an album. She was OK, it is obvious that she doesn't lack talent, but I held a slight grudge after she heckled the crowd for not cheering enough. In my mind, if you're doing a good enough job, people cheer, so perhaps that is something she should have taken on board. Just a hint. And as my friend commented halfway through, she had a lovely scum of purple lipstick above her top lip, so no gold star for maintaining poise and dignity.

Marina and the Diamonds

After reading an interview with Marina Diamandis, the driving force behind Marina and the Diamonds, I was distinctly turned off. She seemed like a spoilt, arrogant rich girl who had her fame handed to her on a plate. But that aside, I love the songs, so thought I'd hop along and give her the benefit of the doubt. We sat outside The John Peel Tent on the hill, as it was crammed to the hilt with people, and listened to her performance. I must admit, she's not the best singer, but all her songs had pizazz and you have to give the girl credit for keeping her massive heels on throughout! I especially enjoyed her acoustic rendition of 3oh!3 feat. Katy Perry's 'Starstruckk' which was done gorgeously.

Editors
Editors were the perfect run up to Muse, well written songs, easily recognisable riffs and a rather handsome frontman. Lead singer Tom Smith looked brooding and in control suited up playing an impressive black grand piano centre stage. They opened well, and although there was a slight lull in the middle while people waited for their favourites, (probably Munich or End Has A Start) they didn't disappoint and ended perfectly, leaving people pumped up and ready for the meander to The Pyramid Stage.

Muse
This time, the headliners didn't disappoint. The crowd was immense, easily the largest I'd seen so far and we had a good vantage point from up on the hill, avoiding the crush of the masses below. They played a good long set, full of epic guitar solos, and a guest appearance from The Edge of U2 fame, who sang 'Where The Streets Have No Name' with the band. There were lights and lasers, fireworks in the distance and a whole lot of cheering. It definately made up for the poor effort made by Gorillaz previously!

Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 3

Friday

The first 'proper' day of music retained the soaring summer temperatures, and put everyone in the mood to sample some live audio action. In the gaps in between performances we mooched around the Circus Field, encountering a scary alien creature, a very agile performer, and playing catch with a giant rubber globe! Obviously being unable to split myself into however many alter egos would be needed for the many music stages, the following is a selection of the performances I chose to view.

Rolf Harris

When I first heard Rolf was opening The Pyramid Stage, I didn't really know what to expect. I know barely any songs (although I did recognise more that I thought I would) and have only really seen as as the presenter of Animal Hospital.However, the atmosphere was electric; and whether it was because it marked the official start of the festival, or that people were in awe of a man aged eighty who still managed to perform 'The Court of King Caratacus', the crowd went wild.

The Stranglers

Having grown up listening to my dad playing his Stranglers collection, I thought it would be a nice break from the more modern artists to shimmy along to their session on the Other Stage. They played all the classics; ‘Golden Brown’, ‘No More Heroes’, ‘Peaches’, ‘Walk On By’ and ‘All Day And All Of The Night’ and for me, it was the signal that the real music had begun.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop got the punters moving even in the lazy afternoon heat, with his brilliant set which merged his old and new songs effortlessly. Clutching a customised crystal encrusted microphone, he got chants going, shuffled around the stage and had charisma by the bucketload. He attempted a few collaborations single handedly, notably 'Signs' and 'P.I.M.P' (usually featuring Justin Timberlake and 50 Cent respectively) which I felt were just as good as the originals. And you have to admire a man who is seen as cool despite wearing knee high socks with shorts, and having the hair style of an eight year old girl.

La Roux

After Snoop, I walked quickly to The Other Stage, as I wanted a prime spot near the front for Florence and the Machine. Because of my speediness, I managed to see the whole of La Roux's set from a pretty good position. I was rather wary of watching her live, as a lot of her records are heavily synthesised and her voice often feels manipulated electronically. I was pleasantly surprised however. All the tracks that she perfomed sounded exactly like on her album, and the crowd were singing along in force to 'In For The Kill' and 'Bulletproof' which made watching the gig alone a much more enjoyable experience. She sported her trademark huge ginger quiff, a white suit jacket and skin tight leggings adorned by buttons down the sides, which as a fashion lover, gave me even more respect for her.

Florence and the Machine

And so to the woman well known for her (often bizarre) fashion sense- Florence Welch. Florence and the Machine were, without question, the band I was most excited to see when I heard that they were playing Glastonbury 2010. I fell in love with Miss Welch's voice upon obtaining the album 'Lungs', and her ravishing locks hark back to my own redhead days of which I am all too fond. Accompanied by 'the Machine' (her band) in a flurry of violins, drums and a gorgeous harp, I fell for her all over again, and sang to my heart's content, probably much to the dismay of the strangers next to me! The playsuit that she wore was stunning; pure white and ruffled to within an inch of its life, and it succeeded in making her unique look even more enviable. At various points throughout the performance, Florence appeared to be overcome with emotion, which was a good way for the audience to see how humble she is amidst the whirlwind of success that has encompassed her over the last 18 months.

Gorillaz

At the end of such an eventful day of performances, I was really geared up for the headliners. Gorillaz were signed up for the slot last minute after U2 cancelled a month before the festival due to front man Bono injuring his back. As it started, the aesthetics all seemed great, huge multicoloured letters declared who were on stage, and a large screen across the back of the set had continuous videos and graphics playing to accompany the music. Sadly, this was one of the better aspects of the show. Personally I found their choice of tracks a little self-indulgent, playing a lot of new material that many of the crowd didn't recognise, which wasn't great for creating a rapport with the audience.After about forty minutes, Damon Albarn introduced an Arabic orchestra, who despite sounding lovely, did make me feel a little cheated out of Gorillaz stage time. Even bringing on rock veteran Lou Reed mid-set failed to spark excitement in me, and I left after an hour!

Glastonbury Festival 2010: Day 2

Thursday
The second day of Glastonbury arrived in a haze of sunshine, and after a breakfast of porridge on our camping stove and changing into our bikinis we were ready for exploration part two. We headed towards The Park this time, a vast expanse of green looking over the entire site, dominated by a viewing tower that looked like a helter skelter. Up on the hill in big embroidered letters read 'Glastonbury 40' an ode to this year's 40th anniversary of the festival. Other features of the area included a sand sculpture, hammocks, people-sized bird nests and a bus full of junk!

We soaked up some sun on the hill and then moved on to the Healing Field, where everything from massages to palm reading and yoga classes to counselling were available all free of charge. The field was split into four; earth, fire, air and water, and each section was tailored to its element through use of colour, artwork and the activities available.

We decided to rest for a while, and this coincided with when Hattie Hatstar and her band were playing in the solar powered Small World Stage. The trio were lighthearted and comical, playing songs such as 'Sweat Shop' and 'Evil Twin' and used a variety of unusual instruments including the ukelele, accordion, kazoo and double bass. Their mix of topical lyrics and toe-tapping beats was perfect for a break from the crowds.

After a quick trip to the Greenpeace area to watch a friend on the climbing wall, I topped up my cider cup and ventured over to the Queen's Head Stage, for my first taste of Glastonbury music. I was pleasantly surprised at Two Door Cinema Club's set list, as baring in mind they were opening the Other Stage at 11am on the Saturday, I expected their 20 minute set on this day to consist of their B-sides and unknown album tracks. However, they played all their well known electro indie tunes including Cigarettes in the Theatre and Come Back Home, their latest release.

They were followed by Egyptian Hiphop, who I had been recommended to watch by a friend. The majority of their songs were good, but the overall performance was let down by the obvious fact that the 17 year old band members were scared stupid, not even introducing the band before beginning to play. The lead singer cowered behind Kurt Cobain esque hair, and the drummer even wore a plastic bag over his head! Not an act I would rush to see again.

Having been relatively tame the night before, just having a few drinks and going to bed early, our gang decided to be a bit more outlandish this evening and head to Shangrai-La. A maze of alleyways where you never find the same place twice, Shangrai La is the place of choice for the creatures of the night. We ventured into The Nanos, an area including The Drum Machine, where an array of electronic drums can be used by anyone to make your own tracks, and we watched a couple of really good dubstep DJs in Club Dada, which has played host to Lady Gaga and Damon Albarn in the past.