Adventures at Home

We've had some hectic mayhem since the time we got here to warm, wet and wild Bombay, last Sunday. I'd thought Snorky Figgles would have trouble with the weather and the heat and humidity, but he coped much better than I did!! No jetlag, either. I think the answer to that lies in the touching first meeting of the two brothers, Piglett's Piggles and my Figgles. Take a look.

We've had several other activities, including but not limited to
i. Playing with a Figgles-colored balloon:

ii. Meeting a "real" Butterfly:
iii. and, Getting very excited about some wall murals depicting pigs:

Snorky Figgles even tried to make an international call to Fi, to tempt him to come home, but unfortunately Fi isn't that easily persuaded. Nevertheless, we HAVE had a lot of fun! My only worry is that Snorky Figgles will make a fuss once it's time to leave.

P.S. Like the previous post, this one too has been sitting here because I haven't been able to upload the pictures for so long. Well, we're getting there! (Actually uploaded 10/06/2008.)

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??

Silent 'Night'

A few days ago, we talked about how I've been trying to create as dark an environment in my room as possible so that my little Figgles sleeps soundly, like all other babies. Pigglett came up with the very interesting and relevant comment that babies need darkness and pin-drop silence. Well, I'm not certain how easy it is to get that quality of quiet, but I don't want to take chances with the sleepy-time of my darling little Snorky Figgles. So, we've come up with an idea. Here goes....


All interested parties: Does this meet with your approval now?