This is a good idea it’s an incubator that allows the baby to be closer to the mother. When I had Penny she spent a couple of hours in the special care baby unit but those first few hours are so important for bonding and it can be quite distressing to be separated from your baby. This incubator can be fitted across the bed of the mother allowing greater interaction. It has built in cameras that can be monitored at the nurses desk or from a mobile phone. Most importantly it means the baby can stay as close to the mother as possible.

I’m another year older today and this year I am feeling it a bit more. I guess having a daughter has made me realise it’s finally time to start growing up and becoming (gulp) responsible. My first present from Penny was an ipod/iphone docking station which is also a digital radio and alarm clock. I haven't quite figured out how to use it yet but will review it here later once I have set it up.

If this picture is genuine it is quite unique in that it shows an eagle holding a knife. It is claimed that it was taken by a photographer who cutting up chunks of meat to attract birds of prey dropped his knife in the snow. He later noticed the eagle flying away with the knife. I can’t help thinking the picture has been Photo shopped but none the less it’s a nice image.

It seems turtle doves could soon be a thing of the past if a RSPB rescue mission is not successful. There has been a dramatic decline in the numbers of turtle doves according to the RSPB who are launching an urgent mission to reverse the decline in numbers. As part of the scheme plots of farming land will be sown with seed rich plants to try and replace sources of food that are now scarce in the countryside. Captive turtle doves will also be studied to see which seed mixtures are most popular and nutritious for the birds. The decline of the species is not fully understood but it is thought that it is due to changes in farming methods which mean the wild plants the birds depend upon are now rare in the countryside.

Nevada has become the first state in America to allow driverless cars on the road. The technology which has been extensively tested by Google allows the car to drive itself using their maps of the route. Two people do have to sit inside the car and they are held responsible for the vehicle but do not actually drive it. The car relies on mapping created by Google’s staff who drive the route filling in the locations of lane markings and road signs. The car is driven using video cameras, lasers and radar sensors.

Progress at the allotment has stalled somewhat due to the recent wet weather. It has rained everyday for the last three weeks, which makes getting any work done rather difficult. The rain means that the weeds are growing thick and fast and the garden looks so green and lush. It really is becoming a jungle out there. I’m hoping we will soon get a couple of dry days to make a dent in the weeds and perhaps get a bit more digging done. A lot of veg is likely to be delayed this year as I lack an covered outside space to pot up the seeds. Fingers crossed this weekend will see some progress.

This is an interesting idea it’s an airbag designed for cyclists. It has been created by two Swedish students. The airbag remains concealed within a durable collar (right) which is worn by the cyclist. The bag is triggered by abnormal motion which inflates the helmet within 0.1 of a second to protect the wearers head. It certainly looks interesting and has the advantage of being less bulky than a helmet.

Not that I need another reason to drink red wine, but if I did, scientists now believe it could help you live longer. It seems that an ingredient in red wine boosts the body’s cell energy. Resveratrol has the ability to work against cancer, heart disease and obesity and has already been found to improve the health of mice and increase their lifespan when combined with a high fat diet. Well I’m convinced, time for some wine.

I recently did my first online order with Waitrose because they worked out cheapest based on the products I had in my basket on www.mysupermarket.co.uk I have avoided Waitrose in the past because they have a reputation for being more expensive, however, if this article is correct it seems they are matching more of their brand prices to the other supermarkets. Unlike other supermarkets which offer you a brand match voucher you can use on your next shop Waitrose claim to be matching the prices on the shelf so you benefit immediately. They certainly now seem to work out one of the cheaper alternatives particularly due to the fact they offer free delivery when you spend over £50. The quality of their own brand products is also very good when compared to the Sainsbury’s alternative. Perhaps I will be shopping with them more often.

Penny is now 22 weeks old and is growing so fast. Its hard to remember how small she was when she was first born. As we are fast approaching the 6 month mark we have been busy introducing lots of new flavours. Penny now has some food three times a day although sometimes just two of three spoons full. I am looking forward to when we can start to introduce finger food as it will make meal times a little easier.