There are two ways to make decent plum jam
The men's way:
4 jars £3.60 as a side buy on visit to Tescos job done
The woman's way
1. Wait til tree we were sold as cherry tree looks vaguely ready for picking greengages
2. Say "oh dear they are not ready yet" and "they'll do for plums"
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 several times
4. Say "you don't have to help me pick them you know"
5. Give that stare when I say fine I'll watch footie then
6. Pick ~ 6ibs of greengages
7. Buy ~£10 of jam jar associated jars, labels, covers, waxed circles (WTF?), special sugar etc
8. Wash jars
9. Make jam and put in jars
10. Decide it's too runny
11. Visit 3 shops to buy preserving pan for £36 (only £25 ish on Amazon I plead)
12. Wash etc etc
13. Start recooking jam on a hot sticky day
14. Start moaning about the very expensive jam thermometer unused since bought 5 years ago
15. Get husband to change battery in thermometer
16. Say "no I don't think so" when husband points out the expensive pan is way too big for the quantity and the thermometer is barely in the jam
And that's so far and at least £12 a jar of greengage jam that's still not ready to eat
And some wonder why there's a glass ceiling
If she sees this I'll be a dead man so please play November Rain at my funeral