About a week, if you keep them in the fridge.

Bad Dates.
 
I've had a few.

not that keen on 'em mesel...

Speaking of dates, my wife made a date cake last evening which was exceptionally good. One of the main reasons  was that the dates were of very high quality (given to us from an Egyptian friend). I generally don't care much for dates, but these were something else.....not the usual crap you get at stores.  

sounds nice Mesh
 
I know they are sometimes used in chocolate cakes, but I tend to avoid any kind of cake with any kind of fruit in it

synkrotron
sounds nice Mesh
 
I know they are sometimes used in chocolate cakes, but I tend to avoid any kind of cake with any kind of fruit in it

Same here......Date cake is about the only one I'll try. Give me some chocolate cake covered in chocolate ganache and I'm good!!
 

A strange but delicious combo that my late father-in-law told me about - slice of fruit cake, piece of extra mature cheddar, glass of single malt. Laaavlee.

So booze and stinky cheese are what's required for someone to actually EAT a fruit cake?  Good to know! 
 
I thought fruit cakes were only good for being door stops or re-gifting... 

What's wrong with fruit cake? It's got to be well made obviously, but that applies to anything.
 
Oh, and extra mature cheddar isn't stinky.

Cheddar Cheese, the more mature the better for me.
 
Cheese and drink? I went through a faze of soaking a blue cheese with Port. Not had it for a bit, probably because I am supposed to be "tea total..."