Introducing Xiao Guai

My lovely colleague and friend, S, gave me a Chinese panda, christened Xiao Guai, for my birthday. I asked her what the name meant, she said it meant 'small and cute', and suggested 'Cutie' as his 'English' name. I think I like the original (Xiao Guai) much better. Fi did some of his own research and was told that Xiao Guai meant 'small and naughty child'. After this revelation, he also absolutely refuses to call Xiao Guai anything but Xiao Guai. Good. Pigglett, though, has had some trouble remembering the name, and has rechristened him XYZ.

Whatever his name, I'm thrilled that Snorky Figgles has a companion to play with, now that I'm having frequent sixteen-hour work days. Look at my little philosopher and his latest victim new friend!

P.S. I wrote this on the date indicated, however, I was really involved with work all these weeks and couldn't take the picture. The mists are only just beginning to clear, and I hope to be posting much much more frequently from now on. (Actually uploaded 10/06/2008.)

A Little Break

Snorky Figgles and I have been very active of late, which perhaps explains, although it may not justify, our absence here. Snorky Figgles has had friends over, and so have I. We have both had Fi over, so my little darling Piglet was really excited and happy over the weekend! (So excited that I believe he's turned a shade pinker.) Also, I have been working hard over some preparations towards our vacation in August, so I haven't been able to document happenings at this end too faithfully. But, rest assured, we'll be back soon!

In the meanwhile, I got a lovely little birthday gift from the Fi. What made it lovelier was this wonderful surprise on its front page:
I didn't know Fi is an artist too! I'm thrilled!

I think the weird thing happened after we showed this picture to Snorky Figgles. He was quiet and didn't say anything (apart from the already high level of excitement he was under) but today, I found this on my desktop.
Apparently my darling Pig is also taking after me. Granted, he's had some trouble with the non-plottable curvy lines, but c'mon, these are fledgling attempts. He'll learn ... and soon!

Oh, wonderful life!

Bedtime Reading

I've been having some really hectic and stressful days, trying to get as much work done as possible so that we can take our vacation in August without a pang. However, I do try to spend as much quality time as possible with my little piglet once I get home from the lab in the evening. I know it is probably too soon to expect my little peachlet to read on his own, but it's never too soon to start reading aloud to him. I have been giving him the run of my general collection to see if there's something that appeals to him. Snorky Figgles is tiny but has a very decided taste in books, as decided as in melons, for example. He seems to have it narrowed down to two interesting books. Take a peek.

Which one do you think he will choose eventually??