Put large
pot on stove, fill with water and bring to boil. Place clean pudding cloth in boiling
water, and boil. While this is boiling make pudding as below. Place flour, sugar, spices and fruit in bowl. Melt butter in 1
cup of boiling water. Add soda to the other 1/2 cup boiling water and add to flour etc. Add brandy. Mix well (if too thin
add a hand full of self raising flour). Take cloth out of boiling water. Squeeze out water. Spread out onto bench and rub
with plain flour. Add pudding
mixture into centre. Gather all corners of cloth into hands and try tightly with string
(leave loop at end for lifting in and out of boiling water). Make sure a small space is left between pudding and string for
expansion. Boil in cloth for 3 hours. Do not let it go off the boil or boil dry. This pudding can be made two weeks ahead. When
cooked keep in a cool dry
place. To reheat follow the same principal as for cooking, although only boil for 1.5 hours.