Yes you keep it till christmas, after you've steamed it for 8 hours, no you don't stir it after it's steamed. The stirring only lasts one night. as I said above they used to keep them for a year. It's basically booze dried fruit and sugar, it doesn't go off. Make sure it's cool and dark, an old fashioned larder preferably.

Sultanas raisins and currants are all dried grapes of various kinds, but distinctly different. Most of the brands available in the UK come from USA so you must have them, perhaps you call them something different.

Candied peel is the peel of citrus fruits preserved by impregnating with a sugar syrup, a vital ingredient in traditional English fruit cakes.

Pudding basins, difficult to describe, try here, can't do blue clickies sorry. http://www.be-ro.com/basics/puddbas.htm

Puddingg cloths, yes cheesecloth, or muslin, doubled over , would do fine.

You must steam it for 8 hours the day after stirring, or it will definitely go furry. Good luck.