I love to visit smitten kitchen dot com

You learn about food and where it comes from,

Study conversions or some of Debs’ tips,

You can cook by the season or out of ‘topics’.

Try a parsnip latke, an apple scone,

Make your own orangettes, but blink and they’re gone!

Fancy a salad with feta, harissa and mint?

Want to make an iced coffee? She’ll give you a hint.

Try your hand at  tzatziki, or a blackberry gin fizz,

Read of a caustic confit – a disaster is what that is!

Wish to go Russian? Then make some black bread,

It’s a culinary cocktail – there, enough said!

[ http://smittenkitchen.com/ ]

I like to follow Shini Park’s blog,

She was born in Seoul and raised in Warsaw,

Because her blog’s not  just a fashion catalogue,

But oh, so very much more!

It features her photos and what she’s  thinking about, 

It highlights a favourite London spot,

Talks about Paco Rabanne, Hermes, designers with clout,

Of what’s indubitably ‘now’ and what’s not.

So if you love photos and graphic design,

Why not beat a path to her door?

Her blog is a ‘wee bit of everything’ shrine,

So I know you will be back for more!

[ http://www.parkandcube.com/ ]

Until quite recently rarely seen,

They are now quite common in the Forest of Dean,

Striped like tigers, in brown and cream,

The piglets are truly a visual dream.

They are fearsome and brave in defence of their kin,

With curving tusks and bristly skin,

They have large heads and very short legs,

Are they Italian? It’s a question one begs,

They forage for grass and berries and roots,

But if meat’s about they fill their boots,

They’re delicious to look at, delicious to eat,

One tiny taste and your life is complete,

So load up my plate, I’m in search for more,

Of that glorious dish that is known as wild boar!

How sweet it is to go to Jessica’s blog,

And indulge in black bean salad or chocolate log.

Try Thai crunch chicken or crispy kale,

Try beer battered shrimp or lobster tail.

Try her sangria or her whiskey smash,

Mango Margarita – go on have a splash!

She does poultry and pasta, she does pork, she does pie,

So if you’re a foodie, go give her a blog a good try…

Why not pay a visit to A Beautiful Mess?

Emily and Elsie attempt to address,

Issues as varied as painting your bike,

Or DIY tree swings – all this we like.

Make your own tea bags or a magnetic spice rack,

Cover boxes with fabric and learn how to stack.

Make smoothies and cocktails and baked pizza bites,

When taking a photo, the use of backlights.

Let’s not forget fashion and flea market finds,

Or decor and pimping your cushions or blinds.

Go take a look it’s a wonderful mix,

And you might just borrow one of their DIY tips!

Charlie and Caroline’s blog is a really good thing,

Be sure to peruse the Ode to Blackwing!

Then try your hand at Downton Abbey bingo,

Read about three things they wanted to show.

Go with them to enjoy the Goodwood Revival,

Learn about organic farming survival.

They sell vintage items at knock down prices,

Read of motorbikes and mid life crises.

Celebrate 4th July at Pedlars Notting Hill,

How Sodastream saves on a fizzy water bill!

This blog is fantastic, it’s truly eclectic,

Check out the music, it’s really electric.

Learn just which Land Rover is the best,

I’ve whetted your appetite – you do the rest!

Ronan Loughney is getting to grips,

With babushkas and Hermitage trips,

That a man always pays,

Which clubs have good DJs,

And if you ‘banya’ prepare for the whips!

As some of you know, food is my passion,

So it’s nice to find somewhere where it is in fashion,

Emily Ridley-Fink loves to eat Krispy Kremes,

I don’t blame her because these doughnuts are dreams!

She’s a medical student, north of the border,

Who loves music and food, maybe in that order.

She tries to go biking, but can’t turn a corner,

Don’t do it on gin girl – somebody warn her!

She travels to London for the Jubilee,

Fuelled by tequila, wine and cups of coffee or tea!

She makes cupcakes to keep the wolf from the door,

Apple pie for breakfast, then at lunch and dinner, she consumes more.

She talks of her family and her cockapoo,

Mourns dropping her iPod down a ‘clean’ loo.

So if you like food or a really good tune,

Beat a path to her door, and do it real soon!

The Londoner is a really marvellous place,

To travel quite widely, or just stuff your face,

Go fishing for tuna and catch your first fish,

Debate quite extensively what makes a good dish.

You might go to Cornwall, ‘to wine, dine and Rick Stein’,

Read of Marathon Cookies, which in my book’s just fine.

You’ll learn Taqueria is a great place to eat Mexican food,

Or that Duke’s Hotel for afternoon tea is particularly good.

Check out her lust list of items she’d like to buy,

The perfect chip, what is the best way to fry?

Try the Moroccan fish stall over in Notting Hill,

Or breakfast in Chelsea, it’s really brill!

Go for bruschetta instead of a simple sandwich,

For £3 get apple and crackling at The Albion, Shoreditch.

Rosie Londoner’s the author and she’s a food nerd,

Her martinis are probably ‘shaken, not stirred’.

I could go on forever ’bout these foodie posts,

But YOU check The Londoner to see what it boasts…

Another birthday in my family in March,

And this time it is my brother,

He’s been building a house so he needs some starch,

To weather living with builders and others.

He travels a lot all over the world,

Mainly for work, but also for pleasure,

He’s an optimist, so his flag’s always unfurled,

His wife and children represent his real treasure.

His family own a home down by the sea,

To mess about big time in boats,

So chances are , that’s where they’ll be,

On the nearest thing that floats.

So please give it up for my brother today,

And raise up your glass of champagne,

Wish him all the best! Huzzah! Hooray!

His birthday is here once again!