Thank you for even more welcome messages! You are all so kind. Blackwood, I work in Wantirna, maybe meeting up is a real possibility Are you going to the next cooking class in Chirnside Park? It is the "festive season one"

Thanks for the advice Chookie! Now that it has cooled down completely, it is a lot less doughy, so it is quite edible. The first rise was about 9hrs, the second rise (after shaping) was probably only an hour to 90min. Do you mean that the 2nd rise was too short? Is that the reason for the sour taste as well?  I am not at home and forgot to bring bread tin, next time I'll try baking it in a tin at least until I get the feel for what it should look like.
Thanks again!
Klara

Mmmmmm sounds yum!

Chookie, I need your advice. I have made white sourdough today. Mixed it last night and left it to rise overnight. Found a beautiful, risen dough this morning. I baked two smallish loaves (have no tin here with me). The loaves look quite good but they are a bit "doughy". It maybe my oven as I am not at home. I had a dish with water in the oven and added in ice cubes just before placing the bread in to create steam. The taste is also quite sour- I used your basic recipe at the beginning of this thread. What do you think, I would appreciate your advice.
Cheers,
Klara

Thanks Wonder, I am in Eltham. Where are you? Good going on the SD starter. I have started keeping mine in the fridge now, I have heaps now, ended up with two jars as I wanted to feed the one I got from the bakery to make sure it becomes "my pet" , plus I used a bunch for the cobbs.  I just hope I don't kill my pet with kindness. Maybe if I think of it as "animal" it will work better as I am good with animals but terrible with plants LOL

AB, your bread sounds great! I had a good giggle at wanting to impress your friends 
I never thought of baking bread in Pyrex etc but I will experiement, let me know how it goes if you try it AB.

Chooky, sounds like I really underestimated the fruit for my bread, I probably only added about 100-120g all up. Wow, walnuts sound like a great idea! Must try!

Thanks all for the encouragement!    I am a bit excitable when it comes to bread... Chooky, I did  two rises and got a nice bit of rise in the oven as well. I read someone's tip to put a handful of ice cubes into the baking dish of water just as you put the bread into the oven so I followed  that advice. I have cut into one of them and it is sooo yummy! It's not too sweet, there is cinnamon and mixed spice in the dough, which smells divine. In hindsight I was a little conservative with the dried fruit, which I might remedy next time. All in all, a very good first effort, even if I say so myself . Especially given that I am in our holiday house, where my oven leaves a bit to desire.

 Chooky, I have one of those old fashioned Romertopf clay bakers, I might try baking bread in that.