I've got a cough and a runny nose ... it's not fair! It seems everytime I go to England I get a cold. Anyway splutterings aside I've been around to Yannick's this week playing whilst mummy and daddy work. Yannick is fun he is always smiling and lets me play with all his toys. He has a baby-sitter called Andrea, she's from Portugal and is very nice and kind. It is very sunny and warm today and that means that I get to ride my bike until quite late, I pretend that I can't hear mummy when it's bathtime and she chases me around the garden!

Just back from London, where we saw all sorts of lovely relatives who made a big fuss of me, which was great and only natural really, seeing as I am so gorgeous. There was a lovely black cat at nanny and grandad's but every time I went to stroke it it ran away. I closed the catflap so it couldn't get out, but grandad came and opened it again, which I thought was a bit unfair.

Nanny and grandad took me to the swings a few times, and there were climbing frames for very small people like me, slightly bigger people and giants. Mummy took me on the giants' slide, which was much faster and more exciting than the little people's slide. I saw my first squirrel, but it didn't want to be stroked. English animals are a bit more stand offish than the ones at Andrea's in Switzerland, where I go when mummy and daddy are at work.

Went to visit great nanny Bance on Monday and she was rather surprised by my ability to open up all her kitchen drawers and cupboards in quick succession and start the washing machine. She lost no time in calling for reinforcements and a nice lady called Reny came to see us and sat on the floor with me. My great uncle Alan was there too but he didn't sit on the floor.

We visited Nanny Flood in Ilford and Uncle Robert and Aunty Joy were there. They are very smiley and cuddle me. Uncle Robert often says things that make people laugh so I try to join in although I don't know why it's funny. The things I laugh at are tickling and when people make faces, do silly walks, or hold me upside down. Daddy and grandad are funny because they do all those things.

Aunty Joy is kind and gave me a lovely bucket, spade and fork for the garden and I have already helped a bit with the digging but got bored and had to throw the spade down the steps in a violent way, in order to liven things up a bit.

Joy also gave me a great book with pictures of babies and keys, and animals. I can now make the noises of cows, dogs, sheep and cats. My cow impressions are very realistic.

Grown ups like it when I dance. But I don't like it if they laugh when I dance. If they do that, I have to throw myself on the floor. When I'm dancing, I bend my knees or spin around, holidng my arms like a Kosak. It's a technique I have developed over the past weeks. My favorite songs are Row Row Row Your Boat, which I can sing the Row Row Row bit of, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Mum and dad said I was very good on the plane going home as I didn't scream or wriggle too much. All the other babies cried but I was quiet and watched the clouds going by through the window. A couple of times I grabbed the woman in the chair in front, who seemed to like it.

I have a new tricycle and my feet can touch the pedals but I'm not quite sure what those pedals are for as the tricycle has a big pole on the back for mummy and daddy to push me with! I like to steer my tricycle off the path, and look behind me when we are going forward. I am a really excellent driver, like mummy. I am George Darwin the Explorer.

Rather late for writing now but just wanted to tell the world that I had a great time with nanny and grandad, who came to visit us but went home last Wednesday. They played with me a lot and brought some fab videos, which means I don't have to watch Pingu any more for a little while at least. It rained a lot. Mummy had a birthday and got a brilliant seat for her bike where I get to sit. We had a test drive and it was very exciting. For some reason mummy didn't turn round and look at me while she was riding her bike, even though I was talking to her a real lot.

Latest photos from my adventures are in the photos section. Don't know why mum and dad are so hesitant about letting me feed myself. Ok so the food goes everywhere except in my mouth. What's the problem with that?

Had quite a good weekend although mum decided to take me swimming in Murten on Saturday. First I had to put on these tiny trunks, then she made me wear some ridiculous pink plastic blow up things on my arms. The water in the pool was a bit nippy and I got splashed a lot by huge girls who must have been at least 3 years old. It was horrible and I cried.

Mum and dad have been gardening and fixing things up around the house. I help where I can with my watering can. This morning I watered a large patch of paving stone.

I tried to help with the dusting but mum wouldn't let me keep the duster. It's the same with the hoovering. Just as I'm getting into it, they take it away from me again. It's hard being a baby.

They've put a great box in the front room for me. I can climb in and out of it. Peter rabbit, Rabbit Rabbit and monkey come in with me sometimes. But I prefer the wood box, where there's a chance of getting splinters, and the toy box in the chimney downstairs, where I can reach up and get my hands all black. Much more satisfying.

Jin is here til the end of April and she takes me to interesting places. Last week we visited an old lady across the field. On Thursdays I go to visit Yanick, who has a big head and red hair and is 8 months older than me. He calls everyone "Papa", even my mum. He shares all his toys, drinks, food, potties and dummies with me. My mum thinks he is really lovely.

Andrea looks after me when I go there. She is Portuguese but speaks French with the family. There are two other girls called Charlotte and Zoe. Charlotte plays with me a lot. Andrea is so nice that I did my first potty poo for her last Thursday (7th April 2005). Mum was very excited when she found out. Women are weird.

Andrea cooks nice things for us and I gobble it all up. Mum and dad complain about my garlic breath. I now weigh 12.8 kilos and have lots of teeth. I won't let mum and dad count them though - it's my secret. They are always trying to sneak a look and sometimes they try to even stick a toothbrush in there, which is a right cheek. I am forced to protest in the loudest terms.

I can now explain to people where my nose, eyes and ears are: I've already told mum and dad a few times but they keep asking and I keep pointing. They'll get the idea eventually, no doubt.

George and his Mum and Dad had a great weekend together, four days without having to be apart due to work or other reasons!

Graham had been in London on Wednesday and Thursday meeting representaives from Comic Relief to do with his work so he was very glad to be back home again.

Friday and Saturday saw the family tackle various garden spring-cleaning tasks with young G helping with supervision from his brightly coloured toy car.

Our garden is such a daunting prospect and it's difficult to decide where to start. We must make some major changes this summer, such as re-landscaping the lawns and flower beds. A mechanical digger will be neccessary if Graham and Julie are not to end up in traction almost immediately!

The weather was lovely. lots of sunshine and clear skies. This has been the first chance that George has had to run around without fear of getting muddy, wet or burried in snow. He has such a nice personality he constantly expores everywhere he can and curiously examines everything and then looks around for approval and totters over for a cuddle from his doting parents. George spends most of the time smiling or laughing - usually at the strange and mad antics of his parents!

Sunday, we went to an antiques fayre, funnily enough George was not totally sold on the idea that the afternoon was better spent looking at other peoples old junk than playing and generally running around. He squirmed like a wild thing whilst we carried him around- to prevent breakages.

Monday we went to Avenches, a lovely Roman town (actually the former Roman capital city of CH - or whatever it was then) and walked a little, played in the childrens playpark, which George enjoyed tremendously and generally relaxed.

We are so lucky, we have a fantastic (collective) life and are blessed with dear and special family members and friends.