It's Stir-up Sunday...

I'm in the middle of cooking our Christmas pudding (the kitchen is filled with damp clouds of steam) and I was reminded of this poem I use to teach at this time of year:

Mincemeat
Sing a song of mincemeat,
Currants, raisins, spice,
Apples, sugar, nutmeg,
Everything that's nice,
Stir it with a ladle,
Wish a lovely wish,
Drop it in the middle
Of your well-filled dish,
Stir again for good luck,
Pack it all away
Tied in little jars and pots,
Until Christmas Day.

Elizabeth Gould