Only very recently it's been reported that in Scotland there is a baby boom in our midst and in excited anticipation come plans in Edinburgh for a £2.5 million expansion of the city's maternity services. The arrival of hundreds of new babies has seen proposals for the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to open up a new centre, which would be run by midwives. Services for new mothers at St John's Hospital in Livingston would also be upgraded under the new proposals. Indeed the number of births in the Lothian area has shot up by 11% from 8,538 in 2004 to 9,456 in 2007. This can only be good news for the shops.

Meanwhile in England it's rather touching to see that the hearts of hardened security men at Leicester City football ground, really do care about newborn babies. One fan was left livid recently after his family was turned away from a home game because they had taken their

five-week-old son with them. Alan Cooper, his partner and their two sons travelled from Warwick to the Walkers Stadium only to be told the weather was simply too cold for the baby. A spokesman said the decision was made after consultation with the club's health and safety officer. Peter Jones, Supporter Relations Manager for Leicester City, was not only concerned that the weather was getting increasingly bitter, but also that wherever the family had sat there would have been people getting up and down going to get drinks. Now some people may think this is bureaucracy gone mad, I am very much anti the nanny state, but in this instance I suggest that this baby may not have been adequately protected from the temperatures and I applaud the officials for sticking their neck out and caring!

A warm welcome to 2009.

Emma