Merry Xmas from US

Decisions Decisions

My two favourite German car manufactures recently unveiled the next generation versions of the cars. Thoughts on which of these two beauties should be on my shopping list when I am ready for the next change?

2013 Porsche Cayman S

2014 BMW 4 Series

Picture of the Day

Dance The Dance Electric

2012-10-23 Jimmy Kimmel Live - The Dance Electric by F-emale

Home Sweet Home

Coming Soon...

... some proper updates on this blog.

Honestly - we can't quite believe how quickly the time has flown by over the last few months with all the visitors and visiting, travel and travelling, towels and towelling (?) that have been going on.

But that's not your fault - well, actually, in some cases it might be - and so we will be making an effort to get caught up, bring you up to date on all the fun that we've been having (for those of you that didn't get to participate in everything) and perhaps even launch a whole new look to the site.

In the meantime, keep watching the Twitter feed to figure out where we're at and what we're up to in close-to-real time.

Adios for now.

The UlloaSullivan Team

Happy 21st Birthday Matthew

Matthew as a Child
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

Many Happy Returns on reaching this momentous milestone.

Hope you have a great day!

With Love,

Uncle C & Aunt M

Happy Birthday Lizz

Lizz' Birthday
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

Wishing Lizz a very happy birthday from all of US at UlloaSullivan.com.

Many happy returns!

Craig & Michelle

CookAlongKids

Oxford Times - InBusiness
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

For those of that don't already know, my little brother Paul has recently started a business teaching kids the basics of where food comes from and how to prepare simple but delicious meals.

He was recently featured in the Oxford Times InBusiness supplement and is gaining increased recognition within Bicester and the Oxfordshire county region.

Click on the image to see it and read it in a larger size.

Congrats Sully!

Enter To Win

Enter 4 Prize 2
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

It was only afterwards she realized they weren't expecting passersby to interpret the sign quite so literally.

Haunting

Happy Birthday Maya san

IMG-20111203-00397
Originally uploaded by sullifam.

Hope you are having a great day and working hard to get 'Mojito Fit' for your upcoming California vacation!

Many Happy Returns!

Love
C & M

Happy 16th Birthday Meleena

Meleena and the Dinosaur Head
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

We know you had a great 16th birthday weekend (!) because we were with you and we similarly hope you have a great actual birthday today - including the Prize Cow Petting and dinner tonight.

Happy Birthday 2 U!

Nina & Nino

It Was 20 Years Ago Today...

... that I first began the epic international voyage of adventure, mystery, intrigue and excitement that continues to this very day.

Yes, on this day 20 years ago I boarded a Virgin Atlantic flight from London's Heathrow Airport bound for Los Angeles and the first encounter with the young lady who would greet me with an American flag and the kind of hug that melts your heart.

M - I know it seemed crazy, I know it seemed bizarre, but boy am I glad I bought that ticket, threw caution to the wind and let myself go 'ere it chose to take me.

And long may this voyage continue.

Happy 65th Birthday Dad / Trev

Sleeping Trevor
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

Wishing you many happy returns on this milestone birthday.

Look forward to celebrating with you in person in 3 weeks time.

Love,

C & M

Happy Birthday Paul

Wedding Day Golf
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

Many Happy Returns from the UlloaSullivan crew.

Hope you have a great day!

Love ya.

C & M

The Guy with the Dragon Tattoo

Those of you who are frequent visitors to UlloaSullivan.com and/or access our Flickr page to stay up to date with our various goings on might have noticed this recent addition from my trip to The Philippines last month.

In honor of the Year of the Dragon and as part of the team-building spirit of the events we undertook with our Manila and extended International product team I decided to join in and get a temporary Henna tattoo from the little booth they had in our resort hotel. It took them about 20 minutes to complete - done freehand by copying from their book of examples - and I was very pleased with the result; proudly displaying it for all to see on the boat ride back to the mainland (primarily so that it could dry and not get the Henna dye all over my new Porto Gallera T-shirt). Once we got back to the hotel I washed off the excess Henna to leave a lovely brown/black dragon coiling its way across my upper arm. I sent a picture of it to M and Neil showing it off and everyone that saw it marveled at it's beauty and how, if I flexed my bicep in just the right way, I could make it appear to roar.

This juvenile-ish behavior continued upon my return home to Kingsburg whereupon I would occasionally threaten Cornflake with it, expose it at opportune moments in order to get my way / make it clear that Meleena wasn't to mess with me regarding our choice of tv show/movie/restaurant/music in the car and generally make sure that as many people as possible got to see it in all its glory.

And so this continued for a couple of weeks until I woke up one morning last week and noticed that my shoulder was itchy. Upon further inspection I realized that it wasn't just itchy but that it was lumpy and that, in fact, the entire outline of the dragon itself had welted up so as to make it appear as if the dragon was attempting to extricate itself from my flesh, leave my body and begin a life all of its own here in California. I took a shower, scrubbed off the remaining Henna and realized that sure enough something was going on with my skin.

I waited a day or so to see if anything would change but the itching continued and the dragon-shaped swelling didn't subside and so I started to do a bit of research online - in the 21st century that basically just means I Googled the phrase 'Henna Tattoo Skin Irritation' - found a couple of articles along the lines of this one and pretty quickly began to get a little concerned.

And so it was that I made an appointment to visit our local doctor - yes, it was fun describing why I needed to see her to the receptionist over the phone - to see what she thought. When I met with her, after having a bit of a laugh about how it was lucky that I hadn't gone for anything offensive or jokey (a 'Hello Kitty' or a Skull-and-Crossbones or 'I Love Katy Perry', for example) we did get the slightly more serious part that there is a chance that I will be left with some degree of permanent scarring from the black chemical they put in the Henna mix. She prescribed a potent steroid ointment to help reduce the swelling and then asked if she could take a photo of it - I'm pretty sure it wasn't just for my medical records.

And so it's Friday, 4 days after I started using the steroid ointment and the swelling has gone down, leaving me with a pretty visible pinkish colored dragon on my right arm. I remain optimistic that it will eventually fade away to nothing again but I have to ensure I avoid black henna tattoos in the future and anything else that includes the PPD chemical that is found in it - including hair dyes.

In the meantime, please consider this another one of those UlloaSullivan public services activities; the ones where we try something so that you don't have to. I would also like to say to my Mum and Dad - yes, I know you always said when we were growing up that you forbid us from riding motorcycles and from getting tattoos and I have listened to you on both accounts for all of my 40+ years; this really was just an accident.

But it is kind of a cool dragon, no? Want to see it roar? ;)

Happy Valentine's Day From Dave Barnes

A special treat for everyone, courtesy of one of our favorite artists. Enjoy!

On Valentine's Day - A Message for all my Ladies

White Chevron

Very happy and proud to learn that Meleena was awarded a White Chevron at the DHS Back-to-School night earlier this week. Sorry we both couldn't be there in person to see it be presented, but glad that at least one of us was.

Bravo!

Happy Chinese New Year

Year of the Dragon
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

I was reminded that today is Chinese New Year by the abundance of decoration, partying and fireworks taking place in the hotel here in Manila last night and so thought I would take this opportunity to update the UlloaSullivan Blog for the first (proper) time today.

Here's what the wise old Chinese astrologers have to say about the Year of the Dragon:

"Occupying the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion."

So there you have it - I plan on living and breathing like a Dragon this year. What about you?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan.

Wishing everyone a wonderful, joyous, (challenging but ultimately) successful 2012.

From C, M, Meleena and Cornflake