An amazing drill bit - Yes! Really!

I can honestly say that I never thought I’d hear Nerea utter the words “This drill bit is amazing” but yes, it’s happened!  With Dave away for the weekend, after doing a lighting job in Carnforth, Nerea came home to make up some sockets for a construction site. The job involved a fair amount of hole drilling and wire stripping so she decided to make the most of the fire in the living room and sit and work in front of it. After all, what’s a little plastic waste between family? Any way, it’s evident that she’s loving her job!

Men in skirts

Since Nerea met Alex well over five years ago, kilt wearing has been a feature of my extended family life that hitherto had been unimagined. A proud Cumbrian Scot (just don’t ask how that’s possible or seek an explanation about dogs being born in stables…..), understandably, Alex always wears a kilt on special (and plenty of not so special) occasions.  I just never expected Mr Glis to grab his own Scottish heritage with both hands and take to kilt wearing with such enthusiasm that he would buy his own! But he has and very dashing he looks in it too!

Dance until you drop

Andy and I went to Steve’s  5^th leaving do last night; a ceilidh at Kirkoswald Village Hall, where a good time was had by all although by the last dance, I was exhausted! I’d had a later finish at work than intended and as I’d agreed to bake a quiche  for the supper, when  I got home, I was elbow deep in flour so  didn’t get my usual sit down with a cuppa!  The evening was unusually energetic for a Friday with lots of dancing and laughter, meaning I was asleep as soon as my head eventually hit the pillow! 

The Lonnnnnng Farewell

It feels like the “Month of the Long Farewells” as a colleague who is retiring holds two further leaving “dos” this week. I managed to avoid two of the three held last week and intend to wriggle out of one of the latest invitations but Andy is keen to go to the ceilidh on Friday and ordinarily, I do the driving when drink may be taken.  I appreciate that remote workers have a network of different groups of people to bid “adieu” but as someone who personally would prefer to fade into obscurity, it’s all a bit OTT to me

Allonby again!

With the kilt-wearing Mr Glis cheering on the Scottish rugby team and Miss Glis prepping a construction site portacabin, I was home alone at the weekend. So, after completing some (but not many) of the necessary jobs on the ever increasing long list, I decided to go to the coast and take in some fresh air. Although Allonby isn’t the most picturesque beach in the country, I always enjoy a brisk walk in the relentless wind and on a good day, the views across the Solway to Criffel are stunning. And there’s always ice-cream from Twentyman’s. Yes. Even in February!

Just what is it?

I’m a tourist at heart so during a whistle stop visit to London on Monday, I got off the tube a couple of stops early at Charing Cross. Before wandering along the Thames riverbank to the office, I nipped over to Trafalgar Square to view the Hans Haacke’s artwork currently residing on the Fourth Plinth. The statue of a skeletal, riderless horse, adorned with ticker tape showing stock exchange prices was worth admiring, not least because it represents City excess and political austerity.   But secretly, I actually thought the installation looked more like a T Rex than a thoroughbred horse!

The Flying Scotsman flies again

I was thrilled to see the Flying Scotsman when she came into Carlisle today. Being a railway child (the railway line between Blackpool and Preston ran past the bottom of our garden), it was a real trip down memory lane as I have a clear childhood memory of her racing by on her way to Blackpool (and thanks to the interweb, I now know it was in October 1966!)  Despite her being in black wartime livery today, it was a wonderful and emotional moment to see, hear and smell that beautiful, proud, steam engine as she rode the tracks again. 

More marmalade

Despite my love of oranges, I have come late to marmalade making. Mum always made a few jars when the Seville oranges appeared in the greengrocers but for some reason, I never followed her example, possibly because Mr and Miss Glis prefer Marmite on toast.  But last year, I took the plunge and surprised myself by making a successful batch. So last weekend, when I saw a net of Seville oranges in Morrisons, I decided to make another lot.  And I was glad I did as not only did the house smell lovely but the end result is very tasty

Marmalade

1kg Seville oranges

2 lemons

1.5kg sugar

2L water

1. Wash the fruit and cut in half. Remove the pips and tie in a muslin square.

2. Thinly slice the fruit skin and place the strips in a large bowl. Add the bundle of pips, cover with the water and leave overnight.

3. The following day, pour the contents of the bowl into a large pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for an hour until the skin is soft.

4. Remove the bundle of pips from the pan and allow to cool.

5. Add the sugar to the pan and squeeze any residual juice from the bundle of the pips

6. Bring the pan to the boil, stirring continuously until the sugar dissolves. Boil rapidly for about 20 minutes or until setting point is reached

7. Allow to cool slightly before pouring into warmed jars and sealing

For ever in low heels!

Yes!  My daughter really did wear these shoes at the weekend. Although I made the usual parental noises about broken ankles, there was a secret part of me that was actually quite impressed, not least because she’s clearly not influenced by the pitiful bleatings of her mother AND she can actually walk in them. Part of my awe is no doubt connected to the sad fact that I have large feet and until comparatively recently, the opportunity to purchase and wear anything other than flat, masculine styles was limited. Am I now too old to learn to walk in heels?