Every evening, I give myself a little treat: half an hour on-line reading my favourite blogs. Five of them.

This beautiful little girl grew up to become an accomplished artist and an outstanding teacher. She lives and works in Los Angeles, travels whenever and wherever she can and delights her many admirers with colourful, humourous reports and wonderful photographs. To read her is to feel you know her.

I was fortunate enough to meet up with Mary Ann in Paris. I'll never forget those two days.

Carol lives and works in Kansas City and tells Tall Tales with wit and wisdom. I love her sense of humour and her gorgeous photographs. She posts every day and is always a pleasure to read, hilariously funny and with a unique take on everyday occurences - not to mention a wide range of amazing cocktail recipes.

Incidentally, Carol and Mary Ann are sisters. No surprise to me!

Rachel was born and brought up in the very same part of London as I was, although quite a few years separate us. I read Book Snob for the excellent book reviews but also to keep up with her interesting life. Rachel spent a year working in New York and her readers accompanied her wherever her intelligent, lively and curious mind took her. Now she's back in London - lucky girl - with a brilliant career in prospect.

All comments to her blog are answered with attention and enthusiasm. I wouldn't miss a single entry.

Here's Penny, who seems not to have changed a bit from the sweet little person she was. She's a Scottish Vegan Homemaker, mother of two accomplished children whom she and her husband John very successfully educated at home. She blogs less frequently than my other Favourites but when a post appears, it's always well worth the wait.

Gentle, loving and very well read, Penny delights in her home and shares her quiet joy with her readers.

The Cornish flag flutters proudly on the web site of the RNLI Lifeboat Station at Sennen Cove, near Land's End in Cornwall. I click on every day to see what sort of weather our children and granddaughters are having.

A Crew Pool of 24 people are available to man the lifeboats - all highly trained and dedicated volunteers. This pool ensures adequate crew availability to man both boats immediately 24 hours daily 365 days per year.

I have immense admiration for all those courageous men who are ready to set out in any weather to help those in peril on the sea.