An Unusual Visitor

Posted on 2006/05/13 13:42:27 (May 2006).

[Friday 12th May]
So here's an odd thing. The managing director of my previous company came to stay in my apartment this weekend. Football was at the root of it - he's an avid Scotland fan who has travelled all over the world to watch them play, and this weekend they were playing Japan in a friendly (the "Kirin Cup"). So I'd had an email from him a couple of weeks back saying he was thinking of coming from the UK to Japan for the weekend. Yes, 12 hours or so each way on the plane for 90 minutes of watching men run around a field. As someone who isn't really that into football I can't really understand it, but hey, whatever floats your boat! Almost as a formaility I had offered a makeshift bed on the floor of my apartment, and to my surprise he actually took me up on it - I think he doesn't like staying in hotels that much. It was a pleasure to have him stay though - not just was it nice to see an old friend in a foreign land, but he also came bearing some rather excellent gifts - two very nice bottles of whisky (Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old and a Talisker 18 Year Old), three boxes of Jaffa Cakes, and a huge block of really, really excellent Islay Cheddar. I think he may well have spent more on these gifts than he would have done on a hotel for the two nights!

So he arrived this evening, and we had a very pleasant night out, eating, drinking, and chatting. Chie joined us for the first part, in the area around where we live, where we went for a quick first drink at a bar near the station, then dinner and more drinks in an izakaya next door. After that Chie headed home, whilst me and the boss headed into Shinjuku, for more drinks and to allow me to demonstrate my karaoke prowess (I don't think he was that impressed!). We stayed out until about 3AM, then rounded off the evening back at the flat with a whisky and cheese session (both of which were fantastic).

It felt so natural to be back socialising with one of my former colleagues that it occurred to me I might not really have left that company yet, in my mind at least. Maybe I never will. It was always a very special atmosphere at that place, and I met a lot of great people there, many of whom I'm still in touch with. That environment has undoubtably had a significant role in shaping who I am today, not just in the context of my job, but also outside of the office.

As I've said a couple of times now - you can take the guy out of Softel, but you can't take the Softel out of the guy.

Good stuff, it is certainly a strange occasion! I don't think that my previous bosses would ask me to crush in my apartment, but I'd like to see them again nonetheless... Did you go to the Quercus? By the way I now officially pissed of at you since you clearly postponed the trip to Seattle to accomodate this person, in order NOT to meet me in two weeks time...

So I have found your missiles Mr. Hawkins!

:D

P.S.
Any chance of you coming down to England any time soon, maybe the summer (may I suggest)?

Posted by Lox at 2006/05/13 14:14:53.

Lox - no I promise I didn't stitch you up on the travel arrangements! This time I have no control whatsoever over the dates unfortunately...

...just to prove there's no hard feelings, then if you can manage to meet Chie during the week I'm away, there's a packet of Jaffa Cakes in it for you. I remember you quite liked these...

Oh and as for England - not really sure yet. I may just about be able to scrape together enough holiday for a trip in the summer, and did make a vague plan about maybe going at the end of August / beginning of September.

Posted by John at 2006/05/13 14:38:32.

I was joking of course!! :)

I'll try to call Chie, but this time I have the designer along with me, so it might be hard toarrange anyways.. :)

As for the summer thing keep me posted, maybe I can come to see you in England, mind you, if I don't change job, I0'll be in Japan at the end of October.

Posted by Lox at 2006/05/13 20:26:47.

Well, the Jaffa Cakes are there with your name on Lox, so if you can manage it I am sure the reward will be worthwhile!

...I'm sure Chie would be quite happy with just meeting up for a coffee or a quick beer if you're short for time.

Posted by John at 2006/05/14 05:11:04.

Truly cool.
But why did you quit your previous job if you liked it so much? Because you wanted to live in Japan with Chie? Merely out of love?

Posted by Sheri at 2006/05/14 19:57:43.

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