Martin Shwartz, of the ‘Another Day‘ blog (we were both heavy contributors to Iain Dale’s Obama Night Live Blog, incidentally), emailed me a few days ago asking me to visit his new online cheese shop The Cheese Yard.

As he mentions on his blog, the idea is simple – buy cheese from the shop, then eat it once it has been delivered. Preferably with Port. I am a true sucker for a good cheese and, while not experienced enough to call myself a connoisseur, have sampled many a fine cheese in my time. There is an especially good cheese counter in the Eagle Centre Market in Derby, in fact, as well as several good delis about the place who serve fine cheese boards and in times of prosperity (I miss university – not only did we have more time, we had more money!) I would often be found there with my wife sampling the fine dairy products on offer.

Unfortunately, being just a shave above ‘the poverty line’ (and, indeed, joining Blue Eyes in asking Santa for socks this Christmas), I won’t be able to buy any of the delicious looking cheeses from The Cheese Yard – but I would encourage others to support this venture. Cheeses do make excellent Christmas gifts, after all.

Get in before they run out – there’s nothing more frustrating than an an out-of-stock cheese shop, you know.