[lettie]

I used to make my Christmas cake in September and keep it wrapped in tinfoil in a big biscuit tin under the stairs. Every few weeks I would douse it in a miniture bottle of Brandy, then decorate it a few days before Christmas. It melted in the mouth and I would certainly not recommend driving after eating it... I haven't made a Christmas cake for years and don't know where I've put my old recipe, but one day I may find it and give it another whirl.

I hate that Christmas starts so soon, putting up decorations in November and early December is complete overkill. The shops start selling Christmas food like Mince Pies so early that they have expired before Christmas.