Long time no write! We have been battling with freezing cold temperatures and a heating system that barely functions. We sit watching TV in the lounge, swathed in winter hats, coats and the duvet off our bed. We would like to call the heating engineers but we hate them too much (for nearly ruining the house when they installed the system in the first place!)

Yestreday we filmed a mock road block at a countryside train crossing, with Gaby as soldier number two and Anissa and Dominique in the hot seats. That was for the Essential Field Training film we are putting together to publicise the courses.

In the afternoon, Mummy took George to the butterfly sanctuary in Kerzers and he was fascinated by the beautiful, enormous insects and humming birds hovering around him. He was particularly interested in a very big, ancient fish that lives in a glass sided pond in the tropical gardens. It was the only creature that survived the fire in the previous Papilliorama in Neuchatel.

But the nocturmarama was less of a success. It was dark and stinky and I'm sure George didn't spot any of the owls and monkeys lurking in lofty recesses. He just thought, "what the hell did mummy bring me to this stinky place for".

Outside there was a kind of petting zoo and a lovely goat came over to say hello. George tried to kick it away because I think he thought it was going to eat him, but I patted it and all was well. George maintained his sceptical expression, however. Good to see his survival instinct is intact.