Deep in the arms of rum

Sunday December 7, 2008

We’re debating now about when we should start Christmas.  It’ll not be immediate–I’m pretty much over my cold and cough, needing perhaps one more day of being sensible, but Graham is still in the early stages, having deferred the beast so’s he could look after me.  Much as we love rushing around all glowing cheeks and jollity, we’re not inclined to leave it until the last minute, either.

My instincts tell me we should start on Thursday, giving us a full two weeks to get shopping done, cards posted, the decorations up and running, and to plan and prepare a four day feast for two blokes, neither of whom enjoy eating and drinking to excess. I have a feeling that Graham wanted to have more work done on the house before stopping for the big end-of-year pig out.  I’m gently steering him towards thinking of doing no more than a great clean and tidy, perhaps to include window cleaning.

Perhaps, before I go and collapse in front of the TV, ready for our evening wine, I should document my recipe for a hot rum toddy–best cold cure in the world:

Into a heat-proof glass, measure

• The juice of one large or two smaller lemons;  fresher the better.
• A large spoon of solid honey;  molasses will do if no honey to hand.
• A generous shot of good, strong, dark Navy rum;  try for Pusser’s or for Woods 100, both of them well in excess of 100% proof.
• Stir, then top up with hot, not boiling water, stir again, and sip gratefully, allowing the fumes to penetrate to the parts of your URT you’d rather not think about.

Variant:  Last thing at night the addition, just before you start sipping, of any soluble ‘flu and cold remedy in powder form.  This is likely to give you a good night’s sleep, free from coughs once you’re settled on your pillow.

Cheers!