You know it's getting close to festive season when Quota International Gloucester puts the call out for Christmas pudding orders.
Well, it's that time of year, when the ladies in purple don their aprons and take to the kitchen. For 30 years, Quota has been supplying the Gloucester community with the tradition dessert and things are about to kick off again. Each year it proves to be a community favourite with the group usually selling over 200.
Not only is it the organisations biggest fundraising events of the year, it's also a time for the women to get together and have a bit of fun. Taking it in shifts, over the four weekends of November, they work to create the traditional treat.
"We make them the old fashion way, like granny used to," member Claire Reynolds said.
They start out on Friday afternoon at member, Margaret Andrews' house with the measuring of ingredients and boiling of fruit. The following morning, they mix the ingredients, including the addition of an adequate amount of rum and sherry, before the puddings are boiled in cloth then wrapped in foil, ready for eat or to pop into the freezer.
Over each weekend, the group manages to produce 24 beauties per batch; but for these ladies, it's a labour of love and a chance to have fun together.
"It's good fellowship time; fun and fellowship," Margaret smiled.
This year, there's only one size, a family option, which serves about a dozen people. You can get your order in at Gloucester Health Foods, 47 Church Street for $35 each until November 22. You'll be contacted when your pudding is ready to be collected.
