Get a sugar thermometer for jam making
I've also been picking cherries this week but use gin instead of rum.I find that bird cherries or ornamental cherries taste best

Edit: If you can't wait 9 months try filling a jam jar 1/3 of sultanas, 2/3 of gin (no sugar). @ 5 days later eat sultanas with thick (clotted) cream and drink the gin as a liqueur
( CanonCaliber I'll laugh if you laugh, Sat 4 Jul 2009, 21:10, Reply)

heh
heh, nice. I prefer the fun of chancing it.
I now have a very nice cherry caramel because. But thank you for the advice.

I think ours are bird cherries.

9 months - an exciting wait. :)
(beard looking less like a homeless everyday, Sat 4 Jul 2009, 21:36, Reply)