James Van Dyne

6️⃣ This post marks 6 years of writing The Week. Technically it was last week, but I proper missed, without just flubbing the status, the 6th year anniversary post and I don't really remember what I did. When I started mid-pandemic, I wasn't sure how long I'd continue. And truthfully, in this age of LLMs stealing all the content and fakes, at times I question if I should continue, but if I stopped it's a win for the the bad guys and the closed internet, and we can't have that.🇦🇺 One of the…

📍 Starbucks Decompress after immigration Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, JapanComment by email

📍 Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau Yokohama District Immigration Office (東京入国管理局 横浜支局) Extending the period of validity on my resident cardLocation: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, JapanComment by email

📍 Air New Zealand Koru Lounge Short rest before heading home.Location: Mascot, NSW, AustraliaComment by email

📍 Denis the Menace Another magic 😋 Location: Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaComment by email

📍 Axil Coffee Roasters First Magic in Aus (this time) Location: Cremorne, VIC, AustraliaComment by email

📍 Pillar of Salt Location: Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaComment by email

📍 Sydney Airport (SYD) Transfer to MEL Location: Mascot, NSW, AustraliaComment by email

📍 ANA LOUNGE As is tradition. BRB, going to Aus Location: Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture, JapanComment by email

🛝 Leo had a field trip to Children's Nature Park nearby in Asahi-ward and he liked it so much we went again on the weekend. What an incredible park, absolutely massive. I had seen it on maps for years, but never went because it was usually the middle of summer and existing outside in summer in Japan is sub-optimal at best. The park is so large and green you can't even tell you're in Yokohama any longer. Seems like a fantastic place to go for a run.We rode down a big rolly slide that cuts…

📍 とりでの森 Big ass rolly slide ftw! Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, JapanComment by email

5am run clubGet some while it’s cool. I really should go to this coffee shop once before they retire and close up.Comment by email 5.0km 33.3min 56.7m climbed avg bpm

☀️ I signed Leo up for an intensive English class this summer. It's only a week, but it will be full of kids like him. Classes in the morning and activities in the afternoon. I am quite curious to see how much progress can be made in short, intensive sprints.☕️ Many moons ago when we were at T-Site Shonan, I remembered seeing a kid with his dad at the Starbucks and I looked forward to that day coming. And for the past couple of years it seemed like it wouldn't. But try hard enough and it does.…

Morning RunGet some!Comment by email 5.1km 33.5min 58.4m climbed avg bpm

Evening RunThankfully still cooling down in the evening.Comment by email 4.6km 30.0min 17.8m climbed avg bpm

🩺 We went to a local university festival and it was a lot of fun. It's not a regular festival (though there is yakisoba!) as there are a lot of educational / experience opportunities and the money you do pay (when required) acts as a donation. The first big standout thing we did this year at the Yokohama medical association where Leo and I got to wear the white doctor's coat, then practice our electrocautery skills on an eggplant.🫨 The second standout thing was this big earthquake simulator…

📍 Saza Coffee (サザコーヒー) Waiting for the trains to clear. Location: Minato, Tokyo Prefecture, JapanComment by email

☀️ It's the middle of May and it's already 30 degrees out. The few short weeks of spring are never long enough. At least it's still cool in the mornings and at night.🏨 One of my credit card rewards is a free night stay at a hotel. That free night was about to expire, so rather than let it expire I booked a guy's night at a hotel in downtown Yokohama for me and Leo. The overall day was a huge success but....🏊 The hotel's website says they have a fitness center and a pool. Naturally, I assume…

Evening RunBurning a bit of lunch off. Started off with some hills, think I’ll do that some more.Comment by email 5.0km 31.4min 36.8m climbed avg bpm

📍 Starbucks Breakfast with Boyo Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, JapanComment by email

📈 I noticed a few tech stocks (Digital Ocean, Intel) that I bought a few years ago that almost immediately went underwater have not only come above water, they've doubled. I generally don't like to hold too many individual stocks (it's a bit like gambling), so I took this as an opportunity to sell and buy my usual index funds.While they could (especially Intel) continue to go up long-term, I'd rather keep it boring.🎶 I've been listening to a lot of Deki Alem, the spiritual successor to The…

Morning Run5am run club. Should have pushed ever so slightly harder in that last km.Comment by email 5.0km 31.4min 18.8m climbed avg bpm

🇯🇵 A week after flying halfway across the world, I am back in Japan. Before my flight I've hung about in the lounge for bit. Being able to shower before the flight does make a large difference in comfort by the time you get off the plane. The flight back itself was pretty good: I had an aisle seat (as per usual) and there was nobody in the two seats next to me, I watched Immediate Family, a documentary about the session musicians (that also toured) with the whose who of rock-n-roll, and while…

📍 Gate B46 Almost boarding time Location: Hillingdon, Greater London, United KingdomComment by email

📍 Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Shower and a meal before flying to TokyoLocation: Hillingdon, Greater London, United KingdomComment by email

📍 Caffè Nero As is traditionLocation: Hillingdon, Greater London, United KingdomComment by email

Last day in London RunAll the runners are encouraging when you’re out tootling about.Comment by email 5.1km 32.0min 8.1m climbed avg bpm

📍 Maya’s Stores Flat white addiction. Location: London, Greater London, United KingdomComment by email

🇬🇧 I am in the UK for a short trip for work. It's good to be in these timezones and spend time with my team. The weather has also been really good, such that I continue to believe that the weather isn't as bad as they say it is in London. Or maybe I just time it right, every. single. time.✈️ On the plane I spent most of the time listening to music and watching the world go be underneath us. I really enjoyed flying over Alaska and Canada seeing the ice. Not normally something you get to see. Ice…

📍 Soho Square Taking a rest Location: London, Greater London, United KingdomComment by email