Oy vey! It's a thing of beauty.

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Look what I made today. Ain't she a thing of beauty? And to think that I wasn't going to bother with a Christmas cake this year! But I had most of the ingredients in the house already; I remembered to soak the fruit and nuts in brandy overnight; and today after church, I lovingly sifted and mixed and poured and baked and waited as the most glorious smell filled the house. .


And I'd like to thank all of my bloggy friends out there who left comments encouraging me to go ahead and bake it. Ya know! You're kind of like my very own Jewish mother. Always looking out for my interests and my health .... encouraging me to "EAT".



"You should bake that Xmas cake," you said! "After all," you said, "it's one of your traditions." And even though no one said it, I swear I could hear you saying "You have to bake it! What would you eat when you drink your vat of Xmas wine while you're doing your jigsaw puzzle?" "And don't worry about the 10 lb of fruit and nuts that you're putting into your already ample body." (Now you're really sounding like my mother!)


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But like any good daughter, I listened to you. I baked a half recipe. And I'm so glad I did! So, thank you for your encouragement.
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Just don't go complaining that I never call or visit!

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Beattie, the middle-aged London Jewish mother in the British Telecom TV ads:
Beattie (sitting next to the phone, talking to a photo of her child):

So you can't phone. You can't pick up a phone and dial. You got maybe something wrong with your finger. It's a phobia. You're telephobic.
The phone rings. Beattie picks up.
Child (on the other end of the phone): Hello, Mum.
Fade out; fade in on Beattie putting the phone down.
Beattie (to the photo): So you can't visit. You can't call round. You can only phone. Never mind. It's a pleasure to hear your voice. (pause) Little more often wouldn't hurt...