And here it is...
The package turned out to be a birthday gift from the Leon family - a fancy Tea steeping device, a cup and an assortment of tea leaves. I was very excited to make myself a cup of Irish Breakfast tea before leaving for the office this morning - so excited that I actually made myself a few minutes late just so that I could enjoy it! It was lovely.
Thank you all very much - it was a nice surprise and will get lots of use. And, yes, you are the first people to send me a package to the apartment in Tokyo. Not even my wife or my mother have done that yet! ;)
Check out the Flickr site for a couple of extra unpacking photos for your enjoyment.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Mystery Package
I had been in suspense all weekend having found a strange note addressed to Craig Spencer Sullivan, but otherwise written in Japanese, in my mailbox after getting back from the airport on Saturday. It was too late to ask the receptionist about it then as they finish early on Saturday so I went to see them around midday yesterday, only to learn that they didn't have the key to the storage compartment that it was safely stowed in. So it wasn't until this morning, when I stopped by reception on the way back up from the gym, that I was able to collect it.
As you can see, it was pretty sizable although not too heavy. What immediately caught my however was the Senders name - neatly typed in the top left-hand corner of the label.
Who was it from and whatever could it be? Find out in the next installment...
As you can see, it was pretty sizable although not too heavy. What immediately caught my however was the Senders name - neatly typed in the top left-hand corner of the label.
Who was it from and whatever could it be? Find out in the next installment...
Tokyo Sunset
It had been a pretty dull and grey day all day today - a meteorological representation of how I felt being on my own again, I think - and so it was quite exciting to see lightning and hear thunder later in the afternoon to break the mood.
It did get quite dark for a while and I had been lulled into thinking it was night time when all of a sudden there was some really bright light from the window facing to the west. This is what I saw. And it brought to me new strength, new hope.
And reminded me that I was hungry and should probably make something for dinner.
It did get quite dark for a while and I had been lulled into thinking it was night time when all of a sudden there was some really bright light from the window facing to the west. This is what I saw. And it brought to me new strength, new hope.
And reminded me that I was hungry and should probably make something for dinner.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Departures
It is with heavy heart that I have just arrived back to an empty apartment here in Roppongi after waving goodbye to the two adventurers at Narita Airport. It's very quiet, and quite tidy, and is littered with little momentos from M&M's visit - a sock here, a pot noodle there, etc. And in spite of the fact that I don't have to tell Meleena to move over to let me sit down in my spot on the couch and that there wasn't yet another episode of Dr Who playing on the tv when I got back, I'm quite sad. It's been a fun week.
So, as they wing their way across the Pacific Ocean, en route to Los Angeles and then on to Fresno, enjoying the in-flight snacks and playing games on their Nintendo DS' I just wanted to let me know that I miss them.
But before you start to worry about whether I'm going to cope with being on my own again, just glance over to the 'Where's Craig' section on the right and note that I'll be joining Michelle in San Diego on Wednesday. It'll be tough, but I think I'll manage until then.
In the meantime, I'm hoping they've left me at least one pack of those Crunky chocolates to help keep my spirits up tonight.
So, as they wing their way across the Pacific Ocean, en route to Los Angeles and then on to Fresno, enjoying the in-flight snacks and playing games on their Nintendo DS' I just wanted to let me know that I miss them.
But before you start to worry about whether I'm going to cope with being on my own again, just glance over to the 'Where's Craig' section on the right and note that I'll be joining Michelle in San Diego on Wednesday. It'll be tough, but I think I'll manage until then.
In the meantime, I'm hoping they've left me at least one pack of those Crunky chocolates to help keep my spirits up tonight.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Psst! Toby - How did it go?
Hey Toby,
I've managed to infiltrate this site again, at great personal risk, to see how things went on your 1st birthday.
It appears that the UlloaSullivan folks haven't heard anything from your Mummy and Daddy about the events of July 4th in Brackley - at least, there's no pictures on their Flickr site and no updates relating to you on this one - and so I decided to take things into my own hands and find out for myself.
Did my message reach you in time? Were you able to follow my instructions precisely? Did you manage to perform the '1st Birthday Gift Opening Ritual' as I suggested? And was it successful?
Please try and get a message encoded in the contents of your nappy (as you still can't speak) or in a photo from your parents to the Squirrel Gang as soon as possible.
I'd better get going before they discover I've been here again...
Good luck,
Fluff and the Squirrel Gang
I've managed to infiltrate this site again, at great personal risk, to see how things went on your 1st birthday.
It appears that the UlloaSullivan folks haven't heard anything from your Mummy and Daddy about the events of July 4th in Brackley - at least, there's no pictures on their Flickr site and no updates relating to you on this one - and so I decided to take things into my own hands and find out for myself.
Did my message reach you in time? Were you able to follow my instructions precisely? Did you manage to perform the '1st Birthday Gift Opening Ritual' as I suggested? And was it successful?
Please try and get a message encoded in the contents of your nappy (as you still can't speak) or in a photo from your parents to the Squirrel Gang as soon as possible.
I'd better get going before they discover I've been here again...
Good luck,
Fluff and the Squirrel Gang
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
July 24 Earthquake in Japan
This one woke us up with the building move around just after 12:30 lat night. It was pretty big up at the epicenter - around 6.8, apparently - and was between 3 and 4 in the Tokyo region.
No injuries or problems sustained by the UlloaSullivan Adventures crew. The Dr Who DVDs are still intact and we won't have any problems finding some good local food later this evening when M&M get back from their daytrip to the Shingawa Aquarium.
No injuries or problems sustained by the UlloaSullivan Adventures crew. The Dr Who DVDs are still intact and we won't have any problems finding some good local food later this evening when M&M get back from their daytrip to the Shingawa Aquarium.
Marine Day out in Kamakura
After a couple of days of acclimitization here in Tokyo - venturing out to wander around the local area and buy food before returning to the apartment to watch back-to-back episodes of Dr Who - we took adventure of Monday being a holiday (Marine Day) here in Japan and got ourselves up and dressed early on Monday to get the train down to Kamakura for a full-on touristy day out.
We had arranged to meet up with a local guide who would show us around. He was in his mid 70s, quite short and tricked us into thinking he was quite frail. He was, in fact, amazingly fit - as we found out when he took us on a cross country mountain trek between the Fox Temple and the Buddha Shrine (pictured). He barely broke a sweat whereas we were not only struggling to keep up but struggling to deal with the heat and humidity. He was, in short, quite incredible.
In any case, we had a great day visiting some amazing traditional Japanese cultural sites, drinking green tea overlooking a tranquil zen garden, eating traditional Japanese noodles and encountering local cats pretty much everywhere we went.
Yesterday, I had to head back to work while M&M got back in to the acclimitization mode.
We had arranged to meet up with a local guide who would show us around. He was in his mid 70s, quite short and tricked us into thinking he was quite frail. He was, in fact, amazingly fit - as we found out when he took us on a cross country mountain trek between the Fox Temple and the Buddha Shrine (pictured). He barely broke a sweat whereas we were not only struggling to keep up but struggling to deal with the heat and humidity. He was, in short, quite incredible.
In any case, we had a great day visiting some amazing traditional Japanese cultural sites, drinking green tea overlooking a tranquil zen garden, eating traditional Japanese noodles and encountering local cats pretty much everywhere we went.
Yesterday, I had to head back to work while M&M got back in to the acclimitization mode.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Tough Life
I know, I know. It's been over a week since my last update on this site, but what can I say? I've been busy.
I got back to San Mateo and spent a couple of days in the office for back-to-back meetings before heading back down to Kingsburg for a fancy dinner at Denny's with the Lambs, attendance at Matthew's birthday party and feeding the cats before I was off again on a place to Cancun for 3 days of sun and partying with some company folks. There was some serious business to be done with my colleagues while I was there, I assure you, but there was also ample time to do a bit of swimming in that turquoise sea, drink a pina colada in that gorgeous pool and to sleep in until noon on a couple of occasions.
And then, after a morning of fishing (see the Flickr site for photos) with some of the International team, it was back on a plane to head home to Kingsburg for an overnight layover before heading back to Tokyo with Michelle and Meleena for the latest UlloaSullivan adventure!
Updates from Tokyo coming soon...
I got back to San Mateo and spent a couple of days in the office for back-to-back meetings before heading back down to Kingsburg for a fancy dinner at Denny's with the Lambs, attendance at Matthew's birthday party and feeding the cats before I was off again on a place to Cancun for 3 days of sun and partying with some company folks. There was some serious business to be done with my colleagues while I was there, I assure you, but there was also ample time to do a bit of swimming in that turquoise sea, drink a pina colada in that gorgeous pool and to sleep in until noon on a couple of occasions.
And then, after a morning of fishing (see the Flickr site for photos) with some of the International team, it was back on a plane to head home to Kingsburg for an overnight layover before heading back to Tokyo with Michelle and Meleena for the latest UlloaSullivan adventure!
Updates from Tokyo coming soon...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Happy Birthday Matthew!
Here's to you.
Cheers!
UCAM
Note for the parents: No alcoholic beverages were actually consumed in the taking of this picture. To the best of our knowledge.
Cheers!
UCAM
Note for the parents: No alcoholic beverages were actually consumed in the taking of this picture. To the best of our knowledge.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Heading Home to the Heat
I am happy to report that I am currently at the airport waiting for my flight back to San Francisco and a couple of days in Kingsburg.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and hanging out with the cats.
I'm not, however, looking forward to 111 degrees. Fortunately, we won't be getting back to Kingsburg until Friday afternoon by when it will have cooled down to a chilly 105!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and hanging out with the cats.
I'm not, however, looking forward to 111 degrees. Fortunately, we won't be getting back to Kingsburg until Friday afternoon by when it will have cooled down to a chilly 105!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Birthday Message for Toby
Dear Toby,
I am Fluff, a representative of the Squirrel Gang (we're Squirrels and we're in a Gang). I have gone to great lengths to infiltrate this Blog site in order to bring you an important message.
You might not be aware but as you wake up today it will be your 1st Birthday. Mummy will probably make a bit of extra fuss and sing you a special song called Happy Birthday. Daddy will probably sing it too, but not as nicely/in-tune as Mummy. They might make you what they call a special breakfast. It will probably be the same as what you usually have, except that Mummy will spend some extra time helping you eat it and/or entertaining you as you eat. Make sure you eat normally - you will need your strength later.
They will probably have chosen/bought a new outfit for you to wear especially for your birthday. It might be blue. It might have some reference to it being your birthday on it - the number 1, something about you being a big boy, perhaps a character from your favorite TV show holding a cake or a gift. You should just go along with this as it will be useful for getting extra attention from other people later on in the day. You usually won't have to wear this again as it will be put away in a sealed box to be used when you are much, much older. We will be in touch again in the future to teach you how to use the outfit to your benefit, e.g. when courting potential girlfriends.
The phone will likely ring quite a bit as family and friends call to wish you a happy birthday. Remember, you can't talk yet so you probably won't get to speak to these people. Don't let this bother you. Even though they are calling under the guise of wishing you a happy birthday, they most likely only really want to talk with your Mummy or Daddy. That's just part of the game and you should just be prepared to play along with it - you'll get more than enough attention when you see those same people later in the day (particularly if you have managed not to make a mess on the special outfit I referred to earlier).
At some point you should expect to be sat down on the floor (because you can do that yourself now) and be given something wrapped in funny, colourful paper. This is the good bit. However, it's important that you follow the rules in order to ensure that Mummy and Daddy get the perfect photo of you opening it. So, pay close attention to what I am about to tell you as it is the secret of not only a successful 1st birthday but also of how to ensure the portfolio of baby Toby photographs is complete. You only get one chance at this.
Ready? OK, so here it goes.
Whatever you do, DO NOT show any interest at all in the contents of the wrapping paper. The gift itself means nothing to you or to the photograph that will be taken. Instead, focus all your energy in making a mess of the wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, etc. Get it stuck to your hands. Try to eat it. Roll around on it and smile. Perhaps dribble a bit so the paper gets wet and sticks to your face. All of the above are great techniques to help you achieve the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT part of your 1st Birthday mission.
If you follow my advice you will be successful. You will have a great day. Mummy and Daddy will have a great day. And they will love you even more. Which, of course, is what this little game is all about.
Happy Birthday T.
Good luck,
Fluff and The Squirrel Gang
I am Fluff, a representative of the Squirrel Gang (we're Squirrels and we're in a Gang). I have gone to great lengths to infiltrate this Blog site in order to bring you an important message.
You might not be aware but as you wake up today it will be your 1st Birthday. Mummy will probably make a bit of extra fuss and sing you a special song called Happy Birthday. Daddy will probably sing it too, but not as nicely/in-tune as Mummy. They might make you what they call a special breakfast. It will probably be the same as what you usually have, except that Mummy will spend some extra time helping you eat it and/or entertaining you as you eat. Make sure you eat normally - you will need your strength later.
They will probably have chosen/bought a new outfit for you to wear especially for your birthday. It might be blue. It might have some reference to it being your birthday on it - the number 1, something about you being a big boy, perhaps a character from your favorite TV show holding a cake or a gift. You should just go along with this as it will be useful for getting extra attention from other people later on in the day. You usually won't have to wear this again as it will be put away in a sealed box to be used when you are much, much older. We will be in touch again in the future to teach you how to use the outfit to your benefit, e.g. when courting potential girlfriends.
The phone will likely ring quite a bit as family and friends call to wish you a happy birthday. Remember, you can't talk yet so you probably won't get to speak to these people. Don't let this bother you. Even though they are calling under the guise of wishing you a happy birthday, they most likely only really want to talk with your Mummy or Daddy. That's just part of the game and you should just be prepared to play along with it - you'll get more than enough attention when you see those same people later in the day (particularly if you have managed not to make a mess on the special outfit I referred to earlier).
At some point you should expect to be sat down on the floor (because you can do that yourself now) and be given something wrapped in funny, colourful paper. This is the good bit. However, it's important that you follow the rules in order to ensure that Mummy and Daddy get the perfect photo of you opening it. So, pay close attention to what I am about to tell you as it is the secret of not only a successful 1st birthday but also of how to ensure the portfolio of baby Toby photographs is complete. You only get one chance at this.
Ready? OK, so here it goes.
Whatever you do, DO NOT show any interest at all in the contents of the wrapping paper. The gift itself means nothing to you or to the photograph that will be taken. Instead, focus all your energy in making a mess of the wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, etc. Get it stuck to your hands. Try to eat it. Roll around on it and smile. Perhaps dribble a bit so the paper gets wet and sticks to your face. All of the above are great techniques to help you achieve the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT part of your 1st Birthday mission.
If you follow my advice you will be successful. You will have a great day. Mummy and Daddy will have a great day. And they will love you even more. Which, of course, is what this little game is all about.
Happy Birthday T.
Good luck,
Fluff and The Squirrel Gang
Thursday, July 3, 2008
TJ OK
Not that there was much to worry about but I did want to share with you all that Trevor is recovering well and enjoying the pleasures of morphine after having knee replacement surgery in Banbury, Oxfordshire yesterday.
During a phone conference earlier this morning the patient indicated that he was being looked after well, was enjoying the pampering and had not asked the surgeon for his 'leftovers' after the operation. He will be spending the next 4 days or so in the hospital being pampered and physio-therapied by the same British nurses that appeared in the Carry On films.
Mum, who returned home after ensuring the surgery was successful, said this morning "4 days? Can't they keep him longer?"
During a phone conference earlier this morning the patient indicated that he was being looked after well, was enjoying the pampering and had not asked the surgeon for his 'leftovers' after the operation. He will be spending the next 4 days or so in the hospital being pampered and physio-therapied by the same British nurses that appeared in the Carry On films.
Mum, who returned home after ensuring the surgery was successful, said this morning "4 days? Can't they keep him longer?"
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Happy Birthday Sir James
Hope you have a great day on the occasion of your 11th birthday.
Will any fair maidens be accompanying you to partake in the celebratory events this year, per chance?
Will any fair maidens be accompanying you to partake in the celebratory events this year, per chance?