I found this recent blog from Meleena quite thought provoking.
Check it out and share your thoughts in the Comments section also.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Poor, poor Robin
I told him to be careful. But would he listen? No! I do hope he's ok, though - there's probably a Mrs Robin somewhere worried sick about where he's gotten to. And what if they have kids? I can't bear to think about it.
Oh, and poor, poor tree, too.
Oh, and poor, poor tree, too.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Xmas from UlloaSullivan.com
Although you might think this Robin would be concerned about being buried alive if the snow that is clinging tenuously to the branches above it should happen to fall, it is actually quite happy and chirping away a Xmas message from us to you.
It is saying: We hope that all the friends and family - old and new! - of us here at UlloaSullivan.com have a wonderful Xmas/Holiday Season, that you keep safe and warm (if you're in the UK, cool if you're in Australia) and that Santa/Father Christmas brings all that you wish for in the physical sense.
As for us - well, the Tamale making events have begun and our house is fully of lovely smells and cheery people and we're looking forward to the usual fun and craziness this evening and a day of restfulness and gluttony tomorrow.
Have a good one!
C & M
It is saying: We hope that all the friends and family - old and new! - of us here at UlloaSullivan.com have a wonderful Xmas/Holiday Season, that you keep safe and warm (if you're in the UK, cool if you're in Australia) and that Santa/Father Christmas brings all that you wish for in the physical sense.
As for us - well, the Tamale making events have begun and our house is fully of lovely smells and cheery people and we're looking forward to the usual fun and craziness this evening and a day of restfulness and gluttony tomorrow.
Have a good one!
C & M
Look what Helen got for Xmas
Apparently it's a baby Feathertail Glider - a common but rarely seen tiny Possum that is found along the east coast of Australia - that she found on her doorstep this morning. It was alive and well, wanted to sleep and cuddle in her hand and she's handed it over to the local wildlife preservation people.
It's probably the cutest thing we've ever seen and we're just glad that it didn't turn up on our doorstep - because it would probably have meant that Cornflake had found it already and 'played' with it to death.
Merry Xmas Helen!
It's probably the cutest thing we've ever seen and we're just glad that it didn't turn up on our doorstep - because it would probably have meant that Cornflake had found it already and 'played' with it to death.
Merry Xmas Helen!
Introducing Elliot Henry Sullivan
Congratulations to Neil and Maya on the arrival of Elliot Henry Sullivan on Dec 23rd at 3:56pm, weighing in at 7lbs an 1oz.
Mummy and Elliot are doing just fine and should be home tomorrow afternoon.
We're looking forward to meeting him soon.
Congratulations and Merry Xmas!
Mummy and Elliot are doing just fine and should be home tomorrow afternoon.
We're looking forward to meeting him soon.
Congratulations and Merry Xmas!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Pssst! Happy Christmas Toby!
Hey there Toby! It's me, Fluff. You're friendly representative of the Squirrel Gang. Thank goodness that I found you - you gave us a bit of a run around when you moved from Brackley up to Derby a few weeks ago. Fortunately we were able to put two and two together and, after hiding in the tree at Nana and Grandpa's house the other day we were able to track you down as you headed home to your new house again.
I know, I know - you didn't recognize me in this fancy Father Christmas suit. It's a pretty good disguise, huh? You won't believe how many times I've had children come up to me and ask if they can sit on my lap so they can tell me what's on their Christmas list this year. They are (mostly) very sweet and I am only too happy to oblige, except that as a squirrel it is a little dangerous for me to let them sit on my lap. That and they don't seem to understand me when I speak to them in Chatteringlish - British Squirrel speak. But I digress...
So, it's come to the attention of us here in the Squirrel Gang that there are a couple of pretty important events about to take place for you. And, as usual, as your self-appointed advisors for all of the important things that you will be dealing with as you grow up we felt it only appropriate to drop by and give you a couple of tips on how to successfully navigate (a big word, which in this context means 'to deal with') them.
Firstly, Mummy is going to be a little pre-occupied this week with the arrival of a little brother for you. That's right - he's just for you. Pretty cool, huh? It's going to take him a little while to get good at doing stuff - well, pretty much anything actually - but once he starts to get the hang of things I'm sure you guys are going to become firm friends and get into all sorts of fun adventures and whatnot. Don't expect much for the first 6 months or so, though - he probably won't be to interested in playing cars with you for example, that will come later - and just know that all the time Mummy and Daddy spend helping him eat, burp, poo and wee (repeated at a frequency that you won't quite believe you also managed just a couple of years ago) is only so that he can grow big and strong so that you can play together. And, of course, so that you can blame him if you accidently spill some food or colour on the table instead of the paper. More on that another time, though.
Mostly what you should know is that there is nothing more special than having a sibling (another fancy word - means brother or sister) to share all of the wonders of life and the world with. I should know, I have several hundred brothers and sisters (and a ton of American cousins) and literally thousands of nieces and nephews. And while you're going to need to be a little bit patient with everybody it will all be worthwhile in the end. If you need any additional advice on this topic you can always ask Uncle Craig as he had a very similar experience when your Daddy was born.
Now, about that second thing... Christmas. Oops! Looks like another one of those kids has spotted me and wants to come and sit on my lap so I'd better get going. But just quickly... I think you're big enough to be able to figure out Christmas just fine this year... The key is that when you wake up early (which you will - it's super exciting) to see if Father Christmas has visited you must assume that everyone else is as excited as you and go and wake them up too. The rest will pretty much just take care of itself.
So, with that, I will wish you, Mummy and Daddy and the new arrival a very Happy Christmas. Let me know how it all works out for you.
Until next time,
Fluff of the Squirrel Gang
I know, I know - you didn't recognize me in this fancy Father Christmas suit. It's a pretty good disguise, huh? You won't believe how many times I've had children come up to me and ask if they can sit on my lap so they can tell me what's on their Christmas list this year. They are (mostly) very sweet and I am only too happy to oblige, except that as a squirrel it is a little dangerous for me to let them sit on my lap. That and they don't seem to understand me when I speak to them in Chatteringlish - British Squirrel speak. But I digress...
So, it's come to the attention of us here in the Squirrel Gang that there are a couple of pretty important events about to take place for you. And, as usual, as your self-appointed advisors for all of the important things that you will be dealing with as you grow up we felt it only appropriate to drop by and give you a couple of tips on how to successfully navigate (a big word, which in this context means 'to deal with') them.
Firstly, Mummy is going to be a little pre-occupied this week with the arrival of a little brother for you. That's right - he's just for you. Pretty cool, huh? It's going to take him a little while to get good at doing stuff - well, pretty much anything actually - but once he starts to get the hang of things I'm sure you guys are going to become firm friends and get into all sorts of fun adventures and whatnot. Don't expect much for the first 6 months or so, though - he probably won't be to interested in playing cars with you for example, that will come later - and just know that all the time Mummy and Daddy spend helping him eat, burp, poo and wee (repeated at a frequency that you won't quite believe you also managed just a couple of years ago) is only so that he can grow big and strong so that you can play together. And, of course, so that you can blame him if you accidently spill some food or colour on the table instead of the paper. More on that another time, though.
Mostly what you should know is that there is nothing more special than having a sibling (another fancy word - means brother or sister) to share all of the wonders of life and the world with. I should know, I have several hundred brothers and sisters (and a ton of American cousins) and literally thousands of nieces and nephews. And while you're going to need to be a little bit patient with everybody it will all be worthwhile in the end. If you need any additional advice on this topic you can always ask Uncle Craig as he had a very similar experience when your Daddy was born.
Now, about that second thing... Christmas. Oops! Looks like another one of those kids has spotted me and wants to come and sit on my lap so I'd better get going. But just quickly... I think you're big enough to be able to figure out Christmas just fine this year... The key is that when you wake up early (which you will - it's super exciting) to see if Father Christmas has visited you must assume that everyone else is as excited as you and go and wake them up too. The rest will pretty much just take care of itself.
So, with that, I will wish you, Mummy and Daddy and the new arrival a very Happy Christmas. Let me know how it all works out for you.
Until next time,
Fluff of the Squirrel Gang
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Motivation
Yesterday was a long and tough day. Up at 3am with my friend Mr Jetlag, miserable cloudy and rainy weather, tough and largely disappointing meetings and little to look forward to for the rest of my week here in Tokyo.
As you can imagine, I wasn't that excited when I woke up at 3:30am today expecting more of the same. As I sat and caught up on email, made a couple of calls back to the team in the US and thought about what needed to be done here the sun started to come up and it became clear that it was a very different picture from yesterday. The sky was clear and as the sun came up from over the horizon I was greeted with this view from the hotel room window.
And, you know what, all of a sudden everything seemed like it might just be possible after all.
As you can imagine, I wasn't that excited when I woke up at 3:30am today expecting more of the same. As I sat and caught up on email, made a couple of calls back to the team in the US and thought about what needed to be done here the sun started to come up and it became clear that it was a very different picture from yesterday. The sky was clear and as the sun came up from over the horizon I was greeted with this view from the hotel room window.
And, you know what, all of a sudden everything seemed like it might just be possible after all.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Relaxation Video of the Day
Video
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan
Sunday, December 12, 2010
It's like Narnia inside our house
A few weeks ago, M let me know that she had ordered this year's Xmas tree from the Dinuba High School fund raising effort and that it would be delivered to Bill and Rita's (for onward transport to us) a week or so before Xmas. I said 'great' as I remembered that pretty much every year we're a little late to the party and have a tough time choosing and transporting a decent tree to our house.
So, you can imagine my surprise when I learned last weekend that the tree had arrived and was being delivered by Bill that Saturday night - after M's birthday dinner. And you can probably also imagine my further surprise when it was actually delivered and it turned out to be over 11 feet tall.
After some head scratching, sawing of the trunk to fit in the base - suggestions that Bill and Mark did all the work are patently false as it was my saw that they used ;) - and a 6 man effort to carry it inside we finally got it upright and were thankful that our ceilings are of the 12 foot variety.
There it has stood for the past week, wrapped up to keep the branches under control and drinking just about as much water as we would give it until last night when M and Meleena took control of putting up the lights and with a final 3 person effort - that I was very much a part of - we put the star on top and moved it over to the central column to take pride of place in our family room.
Cornflake is delighted; as are we - it's starting to feel Christmas-y now and I'm only sad that I won't be around this week to help/watch the rest of the transformation of the tree and house as the decoration process unfolds. I did, however, manage to get the outside lights up and install a fancy light detecting power unit so they'll be turning themselves on and off at dusk and midnight for the rest of season.
Joy to one and all!
So, you can imagine my surprise when I learned last weekend that the tree had arrived and was being delivered by Bill that Saturday night - after M's birthday dinner. And you can probably also imagine my further surprise when it was actually delivered and it turned out to be over 11 feet tall.
After some head scratching, sawing of the trunk to fit in the base - suggestions that Bill and Mark did all the work are patently false as it was my saw that they used ;) - and a 6 man effort to carry it inside we finally got it upright and were thankful that our ceilings are of the 12 foot variety.
There it has stood for the past week, wrapped up to keep the branches under control and drinking just about as much water as we would give it until last night when M and Meleena took control of putting up the lights and with a final 3 person effort - that I was very much a part of - we put the star on top and moved it over to the central column to take pride of place in our family room.
Cornflake is delighted; as are we - it's starting to feel Christmas-y now and I'm only sad that I won't be around this week to help/watch the rest of the transformation of the tree and house as the decoration process unfolds. I did, however, manage to get the outside lights up and install a fancy light detecting power unit so they'll be turning themselves on and off at dusk and midnight for the rest of season.
Joy to one and all!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Happy Birthday Nick
Hope you're keeping warm and have a great day.
Many Happy returns from everyone at UlloaSullivan.com.
C & M
Many Happy returns from everyone at UlloaSullivan.com.
C & M
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Happy Birthday Sweetheart Dearest
Just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been spending this past year with you. And, I have to admit, I do think you might even be slightly cooler - and definitely prettier - this year than you were last year.
Hope you have a great day and look forward to a lovely dinner with you this evening.
Loving you at the speed of an Airbus A340-600.
C
Hope you have a great day and look forward to a lovely dinner with you this evening.
Loving you at the speed of an Airbus A340-600.
C
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Happy Birthday Auntie Melly
This was just too cute that I couldn't resist letting him have first place in the Happy Birthday posting race for M's Birthday.
Thanks Toby - Nice work!
Auntie Melly - what say you?
Thanks Toby - Nice work!
Auntie Melly - what say you?