With the official announcement now in circulation in Oxfordshire, I felt it was fair game to also make the legion of UlloaSullivan readers aware that Neil will be leaving Oxford United in the next few weeks for a position as Head Academy Physiotherapist at Derby County.
The newly-Wed, father and occasional bass player for The Blue Guitar Guy, claims he 'wasn't looking for this', that it 'came to him'; that he has 'mixed emotions' but is 'sad to be leaving'; and that he has complete confidence in the 'fierce...' Darren Patterson. Interestingly, we also wants to thank the 'professionals' in Oxford who people come from miles around to 'consult'.
Read everything he had to say in its proper context here.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Happy 5th Birthday Ellie
Hope you have a great day.
With Love,
Uncle Craig and Aunt Michelle
P.S. When we were looking for a recent photo of you we could only find this one that was taken on Uncle Craig's birthday in Heyford. Perhaps Daddy will send us some new ones for the site soon?
With Love,
Uncle Craig and Aunt Michelle
P.S. When we were looking for a recent photo of you we could only find this one that was taken on Uncle Craig's birthday in Heyford. Perhaps Daddy will send us some new ones for the site soon?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Script in Akasaka
Went to see a hot new Irish band called The Script in Akasaka on Tuesday night. Apparently they have the #1 album in the UK at the moment. Neil gave me the cd when I saw him in the UK a few weeks ago and I happened to notice they were playing just round the corner from our Tokyo office, so convinced Hanako and Yuka to go along with me.
It was a pretty cool gig in a small venue with a few hundred very attentive and polite Japanese music lovers. It was a bit of a surreal experience as between songs the crowd would go completely silent (after applauding the previous song) as they waited patiently for the band to start the next song. I'm used to loud cheering, talking and general raucousness at gigs of this size and it felt a bit awkward to me and the band.
The show was good - if a bit short. It appears that this was really a showcase gig in advance of the formal cd release here in October and try as we might we couldn't convince the security folks to let us hang around for the meet-and-greet after the show. Apparently we weren't wearing the requisite green wristbands for that. I told Hanako (who got us the tickets) that she must do better next time.
It was a pretty cool gig in a small venue with a few hundred very attentive and polite Japanese music lovers. It was a bit of a surreal experience as between songs the crowd would go completely silent (after applauding the previous song) as they waited patiently for the band to start the next song. I'm used to loud cheering, talking and general raucousness at gigs of this size and it felt a bit awkward to me and the band.
The show was good - if a bit short. It appears that this was really a showcase gig in advance of the formal cd release here in October and try as we might we couldn't convince the security folks to let us hang around for the meet-and-greet after the show. Apparently we weren't wearing the requisite green wristbands for that. I told Hanako (who got us the tickets) that she must do better next time.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Happy Birthday Jim
Hope you have a great day.
Sorry I can't be there in person to make it just that extra little bit special.
Sorry I can't be there in person to make it just that extra little bit special.
Monday, August 25, 2008
MOAB II
Who remembers the legendary MOAB trip to Vegas? We do!
Who wants to do it again? We do!
We're currently considering the weekend commencing Friday Dec 5th for the festivities.
Let us know...
Who wants to do it again? We do!
We're currently considering the weekend commencing Friday Dec 5th for the festivities.
Let us know...
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Lamb Procurement Services
Need something for a special occasion? Something for that special someone? Or just something you're buying on a whim for yourself?
Call Lamb Procurement Services. Our team of procurement professionals are ready and waiting to help you find just what you need. Nothing is too difficult or challenging to find. And we're usually out shopping anyway.
Let us know what you need - we'll get on it right away, while you sit back and relax. We'll let you know as soon as we find it - even if that means waking you up at 6am on a Sunday morning to let you know the job is done!
Whatever it is you need, don't be sheepish. Call Lamb Procurement Services.
Call Lamb Procurement Services. Our team of procurement professionals are ready and waiting to help you find just what you need. Nothing is too difficult or challenging to find. And we're usually out shopping anyway.
Let us know what you need - we'll get on it right away, while you sit back and relax. We'll let you know as soon as we find it - even if that means waking you up at 6am on a Sunday morning to let you know the job is done!
Whatever it is you need, don't be sheepish. Call Lamb Procurement Services.
Just another Friday night in Tokyo
Chinese Dance - Roppongi
Originally uploaded by UlloaSullivan
Yuka and Hanako decided we would go along to arena at Roppongi Hills to check out some dance thing that was happening. It turned out to be pretty strange and funny, so much so that Hanako insisted it wasn't actually Japanese dancing - "... it must be Chinese or Korean or something" she said. Check out the short video clip of a big hairy monster with a tiny head doing it's thing.
While we were there we also played a sideshow game where you were given a piece of paper with a hook on it that you were supposed to use to pick up some balloons that were floating in a paddling pool full of water. Of course, I failed but the guy took pity on my attempt and gave me the balloon anyway. Remember my post about how to be a winner? ;)
Anyway, from there we met up with some of Yuka's friends and went to get some dinner. It was the usual thing - the locals get to practice speaking English, ask me about the weather and if the food back home is 'very delicious?' and I get to make them laugh by pretending to speak Japanese and understand what they're saying about me.
It was just what I needed actually.
Anyway, from there we met up with some of Yuka's friends and went to get some dinner. It was the usual thing - the locals get to practice speaking English, ask me about the weather and if the food back home is 'very delicious?' and I get to make them laugh by pretending to speak Japanese and understand what they're saying about me.
It was just what I needed actually.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Matt El Camino
I'm a few days late in reporting this, I know, but Matthew took delivery of his fancy, spruced up El Camino at the weekend. It had been a while in preparation but the photos show that it was worth the wait.
I am also able to report that Matthew successfully completed his first fast-food run for Michelle and I the day before I headed out to the UK. We look forward to taking advantage, er, I mean, accepting his generous offers for future trips on a regular basis going forward.
I am also able to report that Matthew successfully completed his first fast-food run for Michelle and I the day before I headed out to the UK. We look forward to taking advantage, er, I mean, accepting his generous offers for future trips on a regular basis going forward.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Being a winner
Along with the rest of the world, I spent much of the weekend watching the Olympics via the messed-up NBC 'primetime' broadcast. Messed-up in that they seemed to forget we are in the 21st century and that people have access to news in real-time over something called the internet. That means that scheduling the broadcast of major events hours after they actually happened and still showing the 'Live' graphic on the screen is both frustrating (it was difficult to avoid already seeing the result on the Web) and misleading. But in spite of that I, like the rest of the world - or at least the USA - found myself glued to the TV any time Michael Phelps appeared.
Putting the incredible trawl of 8 gold medals, 7 world records and one Olympic record aside, what has left an indelible mark in my mind is the 100m Butterfly final and the breathtaking 1/100th of a second margin win over Cavic. But the margin itself is only part of the story. What amazed me the most was that he managed to touch ahead of his opponent at all. After all, he was in 7th place at the turn . He was behind Cavic all the way until that final stroke. And it was the decision to take that final stroke, going against the grain of accepted swimming race strategy, that won him the race. And that is what sets him apart from every one else.
If you want to win - a swimming race, a math test, a project at work, mario kart, a game of scrabble - you have to prepare and work hard, of course. That goes without saying. But when it comes down to it that just might not be enough. To win, at anything, you have to keep going right to the end.
Because only then will you know that you did your best. And in my book that is what makes you a winner.