Chocolate is particularly popular at certain times of the year, such as Easter, Valentines Day and Christmas. As such, chocolate shaped gifts are popular. Hearts for Valentines day and cute bunnies at Easter are two high up on the gift selection list. Here are 10 interesting facts about chocolate:

1. Chocolate is lower in caffeine than tea, coffee and coca cola. A one ounce bar of chocolate contains about 6mg of caffeine, whereas a five ounce cup of regular coffee contains over 40mg.

2. Chocolate was regarded as an aphrodisiac by Aztec Indians.

3. Chocolate contains antioxidants which may help prevent cancer and heart disease.

4. Chocolate is the favourite flavour in the United States Of America.

5. The shelf life of a bar of chocolate is approximately one year.

6. In 1842 Cadbury’s in 10 Amazing Facts About Chocolate that everyone should know!England created the worlds first chocolate bar.

7. The Swiss eat the most chocolate. The average person eats 19lbs a year.

8. Chocolate contain theobromine, which is a mild relative of caffeine and magnesium. This chemical is found in some tranquilisers. Because coffee also contains caffeine, it both picks you up and calms you down.

9. It is widely believed that chocolate consumption releases a chemical into your body very similar to what is produced when you are in love.

10. Chocolate manufacturers use 20% of the worlds peanuts and 40% of the worlds almonds.

Chocolate is mildly addictive, but a bar now and again is not going to hurt. With all those great antioxidants it contains, it may even help you live longer. After all, as the saying goes, “A little of what you fancy does you good”.

Article by Richard Davies of http://www.chocolateorg.com covering a wide variety of information on chocolate.

On Thursday I got talking to Dominic on the phone and the first thing that struck me was how passionate he was about the range they had produced and was very knowledgeable on the whole food-science bit and a lot of thought had gone into their foods. It was very apparent that a lot of feeling had gone into what was being served up and this became very evident when a delivery of some of Gleann Gabhra‘s range arrived on my office doorstep at 8am this morning. Among the range was a tub of mint ice-cream and because I hadn’t a freezer, the only thing to do make sure the ice-cream didn’t go to waste. So we shared it out among myself and three other colleagues – there was a unanimous agreement that “This ice-cream was to die for…” and it really was that good. It was very smooth, with a light creamy texture. I couldn’t wait to get home and sample the rest of the range made from natural goat’s milk: the cheese, milk, yoghurt, ice-cream and even the fudge.

I often heard it said that goat’s milk can taste quite strong but that isn’t the case at all with the Gleann Gabhra milk.  Quite the opposite - the milk and cheese have a lovely fresh, delicate flavour and work really well in recipes as the pancakes I cooked up for an evening meal proved. Best of all, it’s natural and if you like food, you have to try Gleann Gabhra, it’s that simple! And why not check out the recipe below on Pancake Tuesday – Gleann Gabhra Goat’s milk makes Perfect Irish Pancakes.

If you are interested in finding out more about this home grown family business give Dominic a call on 087 417 3529. You can also visit the Honest 2 Goodness market that is on in Glasnevin , Dublin every Saturday 9.30am – 4pm.

Real Irish Pancakes

50 g (1 ¾ oz) plain flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 lemon

½ lime

2 eggs

1 teaspoon real butter

200ml (6 fl oz) Gleann Gabhara goat’s milk

Low fat cooking spray

2 tablespoons honey

A little brown sugar to sprinkle

Takes 15 minutes to prepare. 10 minutes to cook.

To prepare the recipe:

1. Squeeze lemon and lime and set aside.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and add the salt and sugar.
3. Put the low fat spread into a large jug and microwave for a few seconds on high until melted. Add the Gleann Gabhra goat’s milk and eggs and beat together to create a medium to thick, fairly smooth mixture. Pour this into the dry ingredients and gently beat together with a whisk to form a batter.
4. Heat a flat non stick frying pan to a medium heat and spray with the cooking spray. When hot, pour in enough batter to thinly cover the most of the pan. Cook the pancakes for 1-2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned turning them gently with a large palette knife.  When cooked, remove and keep warm while you cook the other batch.
5. To serve spread a little honey on the warm pancake and drizzle some of the lemon and lime juice before rolling the pancake up. Sprinkle with a little caster sugar and serve on a warm plate.

Sit back, enjoy and have a Safe and Happy Christmas!

Spare a copper

Spare a copper
hat in hand
help support
my one man band
music throbbing
in your head
looking in the eyes of dread
waiting waiting
for the sound
oops it’s rolling
on the ground
pick it up
your heart it pounds
I know it was silver
was it a pound?

- by Margaret Horan

Christmas Cheer

Dark night Christmas lights
jingle bell spend like hell
demented tormented
money counted
children’s toys damn the noise
turkey stuffed
bloody tough
laze by the fire
best attire
bizarre not funny
no more money
sore head go to bed
dark night turn out the light!

- by Margaret Horan

]]> http://patrickjames.ie/blog/christmas-poetry-poems-margaret-horan/feed/ 0 http://patrickjames.ie/blog/christmas-poetry-poems-margaret-horan/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PatrickJames/~3/64P6esQPvXw/ http://patrickjames.ie/blog/jaguar-c-x75-unveiled-paris-motor-show-2010/#comments Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:00:27 +0000 Patrick James http://patrickjames.ie/blog/?p=992 Possibly one of the nicest looking Jags ever built, the Jaguar C-X75 caused a major stir on the eve of the Paris motor show 2010 with a surprise ultra-low emissions supercar that could catapult it back into the rarefied market it left in 1994, when the 217mph XJ220 ended production.

Jaguar design chief Ian Callum is already on record with his view that this car is the most beautiful Jaguar that the company has ever produced — prettier, even, than the 1966 XJ13 prototype racer.

He said: “The C-X75 is as close to a pure art form as a concept car can get.” Its grille and headlights, and pure fuselage-like body surfaces, are also a clue towards the looks of Jaguar’s next XK, and its often-rumoured smaller sports car.

The C-X75 pictured here has been unveiled to the world’s media at the Paris show’s press day today. Jaguar officially describes it as “a commemoration of 75 years of Jaguar heritage, and a glimpse at the design cues and technology that will characterise our cars in the future.”

What makes the C-X75 particularly remarkable is its experimental powertrain. Powering this 4.6m-long, 205mph, two-seat berlinetta are four 195bhp electric motors, one at each wheel. They give a combined 780bhp and 1180lb ft of torque, and provide for zero-emissions running, dynamics-enhancing torque vectoring, and pace that even an XJ220 couldn’t match: 0-62mph in 3.4sec, 0-100mph in 5.5sec and 0-186mph in a Veyron-beating 15.7sec.

READ MORE: AUTOCAR.CO.UK

And just when you thought you’d found the answer to the Irish political situation, here’s a few more – the good, the bad and the plain ridiculous!
Angelocracy – angels
Aristarchy – the most qualified person
Aristocracy – literally the best person
Athletocracy – athletes
Foolocracy – fools
Heroarchy – heroes
Kakistocracy – the worst citizens
Meritocracy – the talented
Mobocracy / ochlocracy / pollarchy – a mob
Neocracy – amateurs
Riotocracy – violent action and disorder

One reader of my Blog emailed me with these simple words:

“So, Patrick James Blog – what the heck is up?… OK there’s still music, but what happened to the Fast Cars, The Words, The Writing, Food & Health, the tech talk and all the other interesting stuff you used to post about?”.

The bitter pill is that I have been neglecting my blog… apart from all the other excuses I might offer I have been more engrossed in the micro-blogging world of Facebook & Twitter. But no excuse is really ever a good excuse.

So I have decided to get back to writing more in this blogg and building up little by little until we have a blog that people will want to ready again.

If anyone has any suggestions on what they might like to see please let me know? I am counting on you guys!

The back story? Jamie was born and raised in Plymouth in what was he says a resolutely non-musical household. “No-one sang or played anything. We didn’t have any records. My dad would listen to Radio 2 a bit but that was the extent of it. Then the elder of his two brothers got me into The Smiths, The Housemartins, the Jackson 5, a disparate trio of early influences, you might think, but Jamie says not really. “They’re all very big on melody. And Morrissey and the young Michael Jackson both have a real passion to the way they sing.”

Jamie’s voice proved to be something very special indeed. No one who has heard him sing live would disagree, he has played with artists including The Frames, Martha Wainwright and Damien Rice, as well as having been chosen as opening act for outdoor gigs by both Van Morrison and Katie Melua. Even-keeled, even undemonstrative offstage, he comes alive in front of an audience and in the service of his songs. Jamie is not just a singer but also an exceptionally blessed and affecting one, whether with his regular band or in a solo and acoustic setting. His voice and songs have proven to work equally beautifully and well whether in a tiny indoor venue like London’s 12 Bar Club or outdoors before 10,000 people..”

Read more:http://www.myspace.com/jamielawson#ixzz10IFAp3sb

There is no easy cure for the current situation and I certainly have no clever answers but I have found something that has made things a little easier for me and might be of help to others.

I recently decided I need to take some time for “Me” and decided on trying something new…I started a course one evening a week to help me to unwind and it really did work -  I started sleeping better but quite unexpectedly started to feel more in controll of things that were happening in my life… it reintroduced a light  at the end of the tunnel. At my own pace and through simple, common sense and above all very enjoyable techniques I was able to make use of that one hour a week to make a change in how I was feeling and reduce some of the symptoms if fatigue that I was feeling.

Holistic Health

Excercise for energy

Achieving a Life/Work balance

Living with ease

Time and stress management

Healthy eating

This is by no means an advert (of any sort) but because I have  found something that has helped me, I want to pay it forward, anf if anyone else feels they need a little extra help they will at least have  the option. Next Thursday evening there is a “HEALTH & HAPPINESS” Course starting in the Carneige Hotel in Swords, Co.Dublin 7.30pm-8.45pm. The theme of over the 8 Weeks is well-being and having a more fulfilled life based on a simple principle of H.E.A.L.T.H.

The truth is people may find the course very helpful and if anyone is interested and mentions my name they are very kindly being given a €25 Discount (normally €135 down to €110) by Louise who runs the course. If you are interested or would like to find out more about how this course can help make things that bit better for you please give Louise Fagan of the Wellbeing Institute a call on Mob: 087 9910747 and she will be happy to have a chat with you.

If you like this music video The Saw Doctors have just confirmed a live concert in Waterford City at The Forum venue on Friday October 8. Tickets for this Waterford show by The Saw Doctors on October 8 are currently on sale from Ticketmaster outlets and online from http://www.ticketmaster.ie

Other Tour Dates:

THE SAW DOCTORS – IRISH SHOWS 2010

Sunday September 12
Co. SLIGO, BALLYMOTE
Temple House Festival
http://www.templehousefestival.com
http://www.tickets.ie

Friday September 17
MEATH, NAVAN LIVE
Teach na Teamhrach (formerly Balreask Arms)
Info: 087 940 0710
http://www.navanlive.com

Friday September 24
CORK, SAVOY
http://www.ticketmaster.ie

Saturday September 25
DUBLIN, OLYMPIA
Box Office: 0818 719 300
http://www.ticketmaster.ie

Friday October 8
WATERFORD, FORUM
http://www.ticketmaster.ie

Friday November 5
BELFAST – MANDELA HALL (Belfast BT7 1NN)
http://www.ticketmaster.ie
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk

With songwriters of Eleanor’s calibre, especially when the artist has written so much great music, I am always apprehensive of hearing their next offering… will it be as good as the last?  And so far Eleanor McEvoy’s music has never disappointed – and this forthcoming album is no exception, rather the opposite. This is Eleanor at her best, with a freshness that makes the bold statement that the past is exactly that, the past –  Eleanor McEvoy has found a new level in her songwriting. Eleanor continues to write in an uncompromising fashion about topics such as alienation, hypocrisy, recent Irish history and romance… but  never compromises the “feel good” undertones and humorous outlook. The album moves through a series of sounds that will have listeners singing along.

Recorded at Westland Studios, the team of Eleanor McEvoy, Mick O’Gorman, Peter Beckett (co-producers of LOVE MUST BE TOUGH) and Ciaran Byrne (engineer), has expanded with the addition of Gavin Fox (ex Idlewild), Ross Turner (Cathy Davey, Jape) and the Mixing skills of Ruadhri Cushnan (Mumford and Son) - this is the sort of album that will inspire other musicians, as it works on so many levels. This is a stunning album.

The album will be released in the UK and Ireland on Sept. 20, 2010  It is available for pre-order on Amazon UK.