Grandmother Barbara Pitt has recently created the scent of Southport in a fragrance. She drew on the towns attractions to create the scent which captures the towns essence. Costing £25 it is on sale at a gift shop in the town and should be the perfect gift for those visitors to the town that want a unique souvenir.

This is interesting its a fence made of bee hives that helps deter elephants from areas populated by humans. Biologist Dr Lucy King came up with the idea after studying the African Savannah elephant. She noticed that the elephants refused to feed on acacia trees which housed African honeybees for fear of getting stung. Based on this she developed the beehive fence to stop elephants entering farm land. The fences have now been tested in three different districts in Kenya. Since they have been installed a total of 90 different raids by elephants have been monitored but there have only been six incidents of elephants actually crossing the fences.

It never fails to amaze me how many new species of plants are discovered, even now. One of the more recent is what is thought to be the world’s first flowering orchid. Discovered by botanists in Papua new Guinea, the plant has been called Bulbophyllum nocturnum. it is the first known example of a nocturnal orchid that consistently flowers after dark and closes in the morning. The discovery was made after orchid specialist Ed de Vogel took the species for cultivation. He found that when the orchid grew buds they quickly withered as they reached the size when he have expected them to open. It was only when he took the orchid home one night that he realised the buds opened only at night, flowering for only a few hours before dying.

Tesco are selling a Christmas pudding topped with gold leaf in the run up to this Christmas. The pudding costs £16 and is topped with real 24 carat gold. It looks quite nice but I’m not sure I would pay £16 for one.

If you are living on a tight budget then you might want to eat more toast sandwiches. According to this article they are Britain’s cheapest lunchtime meal. The dish which was apparently popular in Victorian times costs just 7.5p to make. The recipe comes from the brilliant Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management which contains many recipe gems. Whether the toast sandwich is one of the better of them is up to you to decide. If you want to make one it consists of a piece of dry toast sandwiched between two slices of bread and butter and seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. It doesn’t sound that appetising but is certainly cheap and cheerful.

Toy story makers have created a new range of clothing for adults. The clothes will be available in a limited number of Disney stores in the USA and will feature alien inspired tops and a Mr Potato-head hat. Looking at these outfits I’m not convinced it will be that popular.

I get a bit sick of seeing the adverts for payday loans offering a quick fix solution particularly when you notice the small print at the bottom of the advert citing an interest rate of 300% APR or similar. Reading this article, it seems there is now a new type of loan targeting consumers that offers a 0% rate but only for 8 days. For the first 8 days of the loan period you can borrow a sum of money interest free, the catch of course is the interest rate after this period which is charged at 50p a day for every £100 borrowed. This equates to 448.3 % APR. There are no other hidden fees to take into account but I do wonder who takes on this type of loan.

As someone who relies upon Smartstamp to process my business mail the last few days have been what is best described as difficult and frustrating. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the service, Smartstamp is a subscription based service provided by Royal Mail that allows you to print your postage directly to your home printer. I use it in conjunction with my Royal Mail business collections in order to save me time queuing at the post office with several sacks of mail each day.

The usually reliable service has now been down for a period of 4 days, as I write this on Tuesday morning. It appears, although no one is completely sure, that Royal Mail decided to carry out a system upgrade of their website some time after Friday night. This seems to have brought down not only most of the Royal Mail website but also the Smartstamp service, the online business accounts and the ability to print postage online. Whilst the lack of service is inconvenient at best and at worst means many small businesses are unable to function properly if at all, the main problem here appears to be lack of information.

Royal Mail are very active on Twitter, as are many of the customers complaining about the lack of service for the past 4 days. They still, however, fail to directly answer customer questions about when if ever the Smartstamp problem will be resolved. They allude to “problems with their website” which they “are working to fix” but do not directly mention the Smartstmap outage nor give any indication of when customers can expect the service to be up and running again. Likewise there is no mention of any problems with the service on the parts of the Royal Mail website that do still work only a generic message about technical difficulties. Whilst I appreciate Royal Mail are going to be very busy fielding queries from frustrated customers, the main point here is that communication is the key. If customers are aware the service will be unavailable for a number of days, it is no less inconvenient but it does allow them to plan for the outage and make alternative arrangements, to simply ignore the issue and not give any timeframe as to when it will be resolved is a fail of epic proportions and not what I would expect from a company that is meant to specialise in communications.

Update as of 15.00 Tuesday afternoon.

I have just received the following email from Royal Mail below stating the current situation. It really is unforgivable that it has taken 4 days for them to even acknowledge that there is a problem and inform customers. In my opinion this should have been sent out as soon as they were made aware of the issue. I wonder how many more days of no service we have to look forward to.

Dear Customer,

As you may be aware, we are still experiencing technical difficulties with our SmartStamp® product on our website and the service is not currently available.

We are really sorry for the problems you may be encountering and the inconvenience this may be causing. We are still working to fix the issues with SmartStamp® and our website as quickly as we can.

We will send out a further email to let you know as soon as SmartStamp® becomes available again.

Again, we would like to apologise for the inconvenience this is causing our customers. Until SmartStamp® becomes available, customers with urgent mailings can take their mail to their nearest Post Office branch which can be found at: www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder.

Regards,

The SmartStamp® Customer Service Team
Royal Mail
http://www.royalmail.com

This is interesting its a coating that can repel water. Called NeverWet it could have a number of uses such as keeping shoes and clothes dry. It can be immersed fully in water and still allow the coated object to be bone dry afterwards. NeverWet is a superhydrophobic spray which actively repels water. it has been developed by Ross Technology who were looking at the solving the problem of rusting pipes under the sea. The coating is impervious to any liquid substance and deflects moisture leaving no trace on the surface. You can see here the example of a pair of shoes after the wearer has jumped into a muddy puddle. The treated shoe emerges unstained and dry whilst the untreated show is clearly covered in mud. It can also be used to treat gadgets, for example in an experiment an iPhone treated with the substance was left in a bowl of water for 30 minutes and came out unharmed. My only question is where can I get this product.

Have you ever worked out much time you spend commuting each year? The average it seems is five weeks a year. That’s based on research by the TUC on official figures from the Office for National Statistics. People working in London have the longest commuting time with the average worker taking 277 hours a year travelling to and from work, that’s about 37.8 minutes per journey. Those in the East of England and the South East have average commuting times of 205 hours a year with workers in Northern Ireland and Wales having the shortest commutes of 164 hours and 166 hours. I would also  be interested to see the average amount of time workers waste being delayed by late running and cancelled transport particularly during the winter months when in some areas the transport system seems to break down completely.

This is interesting it’s a wedding dress made of human hair. The dress has been made by seamstress Thelma Madine using 250 metres of hair extensions. It also includes 1500 crystals and 12 underskirts. it certainly is unusual although perhaps a little garish for bridal wear. When you think it took a team of 8 people 12 days to make, you can’t help but admire the work that has gone into it.

This is interesting it’s a papier mache wine bottle. The bottle has been invented by British inventor Martin Myerscough who is currently in talks with supermarkets who he hopes will use his invention. Called the Greenbottle it is made completely of papier mache meaning it has a carbon footprint of just 10% of the equivalent glass wine bottle. It is biodegradable so you can compost it and it should break down within a few weeks. The bottle itself does not actually come into contact with the wine but includes a plastic liner within the box which is presumably not recyclable, similar to the idea of cardboard wine boxes which are currently available. It’s an interesting idea but I wonder how many wine manufacturers will choose to put their wine in paper bottles rather than glass ones.

The heading says it all really. George from Rainbow has been pictured in a tree at Scotney Castle. If you have forgotten what George looks like, he is pictured to the right. I will leave you to marvel at the uncanny resemblance.

It seems men can now get away with wearing many things you would usually only associate with women. Last week we had fake eyelashes for men, now it appears it is also acceptable for men to wear heels. It seems heels for men are becoming popular with styles such as this Mohawk wedge and knee high boots selling well. I don’t think my husband is convinced but then I think I am more comfortable wearing the heels in our household.

This rare yellow pear shaped diamond is due to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Geneva this week. The diamond which is being referred to as the Sun-Drop Diamond is a vivid yellow, the highest colour grading by gemstone experts. It is the largest known diamond of its kind at 110.3 carats. It is expected to fetch between $11 million and $15 million and the buyer will also have the chance to name it.

This is interesting its a potential new treatment that could change the colour of your eyes. The treatment which is being pioneered by Stroma Medical removes the pigment from brown eyes in order to turn them blue. The process involves taking a picture of the iris and working out which areas to treat. The laser is then fired using a pattern to agitate the pigment on the surface of iris. After the first week of treatment the eye colour starts to turn darker as the tissue changes its characteristics. After a further one to three the blue colour then starts to appear.  The treatment is still currently in the trial period and Dr Gregg Homer who is behind the idea is seeking further investment in order to continue clinical trials and finish safety tests. Some eye experts have expressed reservations about the treatment, however, warning it could lead to issues with glare or double vision. Personally although I did have laser eye surgery to correct my vision I would not consider what appears to be a purely cosmetic treatment particularly when there is a risk of side effects.

A rare bottle of 55 year old Glenfiddich whisky is to be auctioned in Edinburgh next month. The bottle is one of only 11 that were produced to commemorate the 110th birthday of Janet Sheed Roberts the granddaughter of the distillery’s founder William Grant. It is thought it will fetch in excess of £30,000 when it goes to auction and is expected to break the current UK auction house record of £29,400. The Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve was casked on Hogmanay 1955. It is described as pale gold in colour with aromas of orange blossom, delicate violets and toasted almonds.

If this article is correct then you might want to consider the music you are listening to when drinking a glass of wine. A study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that people who drink wine whilst listening to music perceive the wine to have the same characteristics of the particular artist. Those drinking Merlot for example should try listening to Tom Jones for the best earthy and full bodied taste experience. Pinot Grigio on the other hand would be best enjoyed when listening to Lady Gaga.

The study looked at 250 students, half of whom were male and half female. They were given either a Cabernet Sauvignon or Chilean Chardonnay and played one of four songs on a loop for 15 minutes. The songs included Carmina Burana by Orff  which was chosen because it is powerful and heavy. The Waltz of the Flowers from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker chosen because it is subtle and refined. Just Can't Get Enough by Nouvelle Vague chosen for being zingy and refreshing and Slow Breakdown by Michael Brook which is mellow and soft. A fifth group drank the wine with no music. The wines were given the highest ratings for being powerful and heavy by those who drank them to the tune of Carmina Burana. Those that listened to Michael Brook rated the wine as mellow and soft more than other tastes. The results of the study showed consistently that emotional connotations of the music influenced the perception of taste.

I had my 34 week appointment with the midwife earlier this week. Unfortunately it appears the baby is still happily lying in a transverse position, across my stomach rather than turning head down as it should be at this stage. If things don’t change then I will having an additional scan at 36 weeks to check the position. The doctor will then decide whether it is possible to turn the baby or to schedule a caesarean. I guess my main concern at this stage is if I were to go into early labour that the baby cannot be born in this position.  For now I am spending plenty of time on my hands and knees washing floors and weeding, which is supposed to encourage the baby to turn. There is definitely plenty of movement there but she seems determined to stay where she is.

If this article is to be believed fake eyelashes for men are becoming more popular. Called Guy Lashes they are stocked at stores such as Boots and Harrods and come in thick or fine varieties. They cost just £4.75 a pair, the question is, would you be seen wearing them?

The stone mason from Farmington visited this week to fit the new fireplace. Made from natural limestone it has been cut to fit the area exactly and makes a real difference to the room. The colour will change somewhat as the stone dries out and settles and it will be a little while until we can actually use it. We now need the inside of the fireplace to be fitted and within 3 weeks should be able to light our first real fire.

The wood floor is also nearly finished with just under half of it still to do. We hope to have this completed this weekend. Then we need to fit and paint the coving and paint the skirting boards and door frames. The rest of the furniture will come later as we put aside funds to pay for it but for now the bulk of this room is done. Time to start on the nursery.

This is interesting its a device that sits in the pan and stirs the contents allowing you concentrate on other tasks. Called the Robostir it sits in the pan on three metal legs and stirs the ingredients in circular motions. It has three different speeds for different temperatures and thicknesses of recipes. It is suggested for use for making soups, gravy, Bolognese, sauces and curries and is supposed to mean an end to the problem of ending up with the ingredients burnt on the bottom of the pan.

Since my last post the decorating has been coming along more quickly. Three coats of white base coat have now been applied to the walls followed by two coats of our chosen colour natural wicker. The ceiling has also had a coat of white ceiling paint. This should now complete the bulk of the painting. We have also started laying the floor, a process that started off going fairly quickly. Until that is, we came to what was the join between the old living room and kitchen, which now runs along the centre of our living room. Unfortunately this part of the floor where the old wall used to be was not level requiring parts of the floor to be chipped out so the new wood floor would lay flat. This process has set us back a little bit in our schedule and we now hope to have the flooring finished this coming weekend but the room is finally starting to look like we have done something. I can finally see an end to the project, whether we will have this and the nursery finished before the baby is due in six weeks time is anyone's guess but I am hopeful that the living room will at least be completed.

Kellogg’s will start adding vitamin D to its cereals in an effort to help combat the recent rise in rickets. The disease which was largely wiped out after the Second World War has seen a recent resurgence. It cases softened bones and leaves children with bowed legs. The disease is caused by a lack of vitamin D which the body absorbs from spending time in the sun and eating food such as oily fish and eggs. 82% of paediatric dieticians have seen a rise in cases in the last five years with nearly half seeing cases in the last year. It is thought that doctors are starting to see more cases of the disease because children are spending more time indoors watching TV and playing computer games rather than on outdoor activities. At the same time parents tend to worry about exposing their children to sunlight, covering them in high protection sun creams. Although the move by Kellogg's is only a small change they hope to make it part of all children's cereals across Europe by the end of 2012. Parents are also being encouraged to ensure children get some sun exposure without sunblock and to use vitamin D supplements.

If you have a bit of spare cash and want something unusual then you might have been interested in this auction. Among the items up for sale were a large pair of Queen Victoria’s bloomers. They were expected to sell for around £3,000 but actually fetched £9,375. The collection which comes from the contents of Old Battersea House includes other royal artefacts such as furniture and paintings with the bloomers being one of the more unusual items.

The latest annual survey from The British Waterways has shown a 9% rise in bat numbers when compared to last year. It seems bat numbers are increasing along Britain’s canals and rivers. The predicted cold winter could also be good news for bat numbers as it will allow them to hibernate properly. Bats tend to use canals and rivers as corridors to travel and feed before hibernating for the winter. We have certainly seen large numbers of bats in our garden this year, although we are not really near any water sources.

A company is Cornwall has started serving up squirrel meat as a new pasty filling. The Cornish Food Box company say that using squirrel is the ultimate in free range sustainable meat. They are also selling a £2.95 ready to cook squirrel that will feed a family of four. With grey squirrels quickly becoming a pest in many areas it makes sense to me to make use of a source of meat that is local and easily available. I’m curious how it tastes, I wonder if I can get any squirrel locally to try.

I have always suffered from rather poor circulation so am careful to do what I can to limit the occasional leg cramps I normally get. Since I have been pregnant, however, I have suffered from almost nightly cramps. I still exercise, although not as vigorously, I tend to manage three or four times a week on the exercise bike  but unfortunately at 33 weeks pregnant can no longer endure my morning run. The exercise does help to limit the cramps but I still suffer several nights weeks. I have tried drinking tonic water (recommended by the midwife) which has little effect and leg massage before I go to bed with little success. I have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that until I have given birth and can go back to my morning run, the leg cramps are here to stay. Have you suffered from leg cramps in pregnancy? If so do you have tips to reduce them?

This is an interesting idea, it’s a detachable radiation meter that is designed to be attached to plates. The meter is able to detect whether your food has absorbed too much radiation and will warn you if your food is toxic. One ring indicates a small amount of radiation, however, the red LED lights indicate the food contains more radiation than the danger level you have specified. The meter ‘s sensitivity can be adjusted to which ever setting you are willing to accept and is designed to be taken off before the plate is put into the dishwater. 

According to this article the Co-op is planning a move into the online grocery market. Although the exact details of the what they will offer is unclear it appears they are planning to launch an online grocery service within the next year. Personally I really like many of the Co-op’s products which I find are often superior to those on offer at their larger rivals. The main problem that I find, however, is our local Co-op has a very limited range and often does not stock what I need. It is certainly not somewhere I could currently do my weekly shop and so I tend to use it, only for top-up shopping. If I could order from a larger range and have my shopping delivered I would certainly consider switching supermarkets. I will watching the developments with interest.

If this article is to be believed the future of perfume could be a a pill that is swallowed to release a unique fragrance. Swallowable Parfum is currently only in the development phase but it promises to deliver perfume directly into the body turning the skin into an atomiser. It is meant to work through the natural processes of metabolism releasing fragrance through the skins surface during perspiration or turning perspiration into perfume. As we are all unique the scent would take on an individual characteristic for each person. It’s an interesting idea but is currently still very much in the development process. Providing it were safe it would be reassuring to know that if you were to break into a sweat at least you would still smell nice.