We decided to take George on his first sledging expedition. Found the little resort of La Burra in the Gruyère mountains, fourty minutes drive from where we live. It was a little cloudy but not too cold, and we dragged George up the piste in his little baby bob, then either Graham or I would catch him at the bottom of the slope. He went quite fast and once he turned upside down but he didn't cry. He was more surprised than anything! It was a great introduction to the snow and we were surrounded by other small children in toboggans and on skis. Two toboggan pix in the photo gallery.

Today is George's first birthday and you can see him in the picture, unwrapping his fisrt pressie of the day - a Noah's Ark from mummy and daddy, with a keyboard and lots of animals on board who make the appropriate animal noises when you move their heads. More photos in the latest pix gallery on this site.

He also got some new skittles from us - the skittles are made of brightly coloured cloth, with animal heads, and a bell in them. You are supposed to knock them down with a ball (also with a bell in it), but George didn't quite get the hang of it. He just wanted to put the skittle animal heads in his mouth and chase the ball. Oh well. Time might sort that one out.

George received a beautiful cloth book from his godmother, Marion, with a teddy bear on a string, who fits into the various forms of transport on every page. So he gets to fly in a ballooon, explore space, and go diving in a submarine. He loved that.

Aunty Carla and Uncle Steve gave George and England rugby type shirt and some fab jeans, which fit him perfectly, so he is going to be the smartest boy on the block today.

Jin gave George a magic drawing block, so he can scribble away and then erase his masterpieces with no wasteful paper!

We are meeting friends this afternoon - his other godparents Raffaella and Daniel - then going to Faryal's birthday party at 6pm. She shares her birthday with George and is 31. Her little girl, Merle, was born in April 2004, so they can play together. Or at least steal toys off eachother and cry about it.

George still has a cold and runny nose and sore bot. But not so sore as yesterday. It is a beautiful sunny day and Graham is next door teaching Gaby and Dominique how to role play a car accident for his pre-deployment training day next Saturday, at which the swissinfo English Departent will be heavily represented. They will enjoy the acting - especially Dominique.

Better go as George is throwing things down the loo. Thanks to all friends and relatives who so kindly thought of George on his special day. He is a very privileged - and much loved - little boy.

Back at work but still feeling crappy, with this enduring cough and headaches. At night I sweat it out and Graham coughs and coughs.

George has an ear infection resulting from his cold, and has to take anti-biotics as the anti-inflamatories didn't work and he was inconsolable last night. It's a terrible thing not to be able to comfort one's own child.

Our sufferings are, of course, minimal compaired to the poor victims of the Tsunami, which struck Asia on Boxing Day. There has been an unprecedented worldwide fundraising effort. Mum and dad have even donated money for George to the relief effort, as part of his birthday present.

At work I am cutting the footage related to the Swiss relief effort. The videos are littered with images of the mangled bodies of children. I sit and work with tears streaming down my face. Inky, my Icelandic friend who works at the BBC in London, says the same. As a parent, you feel it much more acutely, the sense of loss.

The Swiss President made an excellent speech at the memorial service in Bern for the 150 thousand dead. Here is a copy of his words:

"How can I answer the question – why them? It can’t be a punishment. The creator does not use nature to punish people. But nature is more powerful than us. It is beautiful, has many secrets and reveals itself to us in all its splendour. But nature operates according to its own set of rules. It brings us beauty and destruction. Death is part of life and we are destined to live, even while we are dying. Let us not be vanquished by grief, but let us embrace life".

Maybe he forgot about the Noah's Ark story. Didn't God create a flood to wash away the sins of man at the beginning of time?

Happy New Year to friends and family. May you prosper and fulfill your dreams!

Christmas and New Year have been a wash out for us as we have all been sick. Terrible virus caught from mum and dad resulting in flu like symptoms and long term hacking bronchial cough, which keeps everyone awake all night. George was vomiting last night and now won't eat. Graham was also sick all night and had to sleep downstairs. But he was still sweet and romantic enough to come upstairs at midnight with a cup of tea for me and a candle, to wish me Happy New Year.

We hope to be better soon! A word of warning - do not go near anyone with a bad cough!!!

It is snowing and beautiful outside. All the trees are frosted like Christmas cakes. Only the footsteps of small animals have indented the smooth surface of the snow, covering all the paths and grass. The Shetland ponies in the field still seem to be nibbling away at something, but goodness knows what they find to eat in this hostile terrain.

I am sick as a dog. Can hardly muster the energy to turn over in bed. Why is it that sickness so often strikes on one's day off - it's just not fair.

George seems ok so far although he did have a screaming and coughing fit around 6pm last night - I think he had a bad dream then we poured Calpol down his throat while he was still crying, so that might have something to do with the spluttering.

He had a very unquiet night after that, and Graham went to comfort him no less than four times. Said father is now sleeping it out. And mummy is avoiding baby so he doesn't catch the dreaded lurgy. Jin gallantly agreed to come in and take care of the infant so that his poor parents could get some rest and recuperate.

Today is my parent's wedding anniversary. 46 years ago, on a rainy Boxing Day, they tied the knot that has kept them together for all these years. Congratulations mum and dad. You pulled it off!