Commonsense.......REALLY!!

Now don't get me wrong, I really like having an orchard but sometimes it is a hassle. The fruit gets to the point where it looks at you and says "I'm ready" (Steve and Kathy I know that you guys will know how that is said in my mind)
Anyway the fruit says "I'm ready" and I say "Oh bother - there are other things that need doing."
Anywho the fruit waits for no one. If you don't pick it in time the birds DO and then there is NO fruit and you feel guilty, sad, and disappointed no homemade jam for the year. So seeing as we were currently consuming the final batch from last year I was keen, despite the inconvenience to make the jam. I am getting to the real story, just slowly.

So today I have picked, washed, chopped, measured and .......
Having the short term memory I do, I could not remember which recipe that I have used these past 6 years. So I did what seemed sensible and turned to the old Commonsense cook book. All was going well until it said
bring rapidly to the boil and then spoon into jars when ready. Now I know how to tell when the jam is ready but i just needed a ball park time of how long it would take to get there. Like 5 mins. 20mins. an hour and a half WHAT?????
Right, I am meant to use commonsense.... so off to the computer to google slightly more detailed instructions. The recipes varied considerably BUT should have all started with
WARNING DO NOT LEAVE YOUR JAM UNATTENDED!!

The 2009 batch of Lagoon Homestead Plum Jam is
*Low in fruit (stuck to the bottom of the pan)
*Not set
*slight charcoal flavour on the palette

We SLIGHTLY burnt the jam last year. WE being Mum and Aunt Joy. But at least we laughed a lot and actually the jam tasted fine. Not so confident this time.
NOT happy Jan.
Can't wait to start the Nectarine Jam :} when I get the saucepan back in working condition.
On a more positive note the stewed apple and Nashi pear was just as you would expect it - STEWED.