I came to Hokkaido in the company of my friend. It was a long journey and I was grateful for her company. (When I’m in a hotel room in Japan I usually have the television on for company until I go to bed.) I’m in my Japanese friend Tomio’s house in Hokkaido. He’s just popped upstairs to get a book. His elder brother has popped to the bank to get some cash while his younger brother has popped into a music store to get some violin scores. His cousin Risa will pop over and see us later. Her boyfriend will pop in and visit us tomorrow as well. She told me that she deserved a promotion but instead her colleague was given the promotion because her boss is biased in favour of her colleague. I said that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Apparently her manager is also biased against her but towards her colleague. Oh well. She told me not to mention it when we’re in company. By all means. I’ll pop over to her home to play her violin next week. I prefer the company of musicians. Right now she’s browsing in Zara. Before she pops in, I’ll go for a browse around a bookshop and then pop to the bank to open a bank account. Risa enjoys her own company and so do I. By the way she’s just called and said she finally got a promotion. The opportunity she’d waited for so long has finally come along. Opportunities like this don’t always come along. After she left the clothes shop, her friend came along in her car and offered her a lift to a bar to celebrate with her. I enjoy strolling hand in hand with my girlfriend along the nearby beach. In fact I went there yesterday. With only my thoughts for company, I lay on the beach reading a book. It felt very enjoyable! Risa has just arrived. I didn’t know she had company. If she’s the last person to leave tonight I’ll keep her company until the bus comes.