And the tradition continuous…. 2nd Advent weekend in Bremen with my sister, her family & my mom.

It was fabulous: strolling over Christmas markets, enjoying a wonderful Christmas concert, watching Christmas movies on the couch all snuggled together, an early Christmas gift exchange (we were all very good kids), decorated windows with hand painted winter pictures (until pens were empty), and of course we made the obligatory ginger bread house which was this year a Santa clause carriage pulled by two reindeers.

So much love. So much joy. So much quality time. Delicious food & cookies & home baked Christmas bread.

Love y’all! Merry Christmas!

And just like that… it’s December.

We came back from Thailand a week ago, took us a couple of days, but we are acclimatized (what choice did we have).

We found our winter coats, scarfs, long pants, woolen jumpers… and we got fire wood for our little Swedish oven.

Just in time for winter weather…

Time to continue our yearly tradition: Irish Breakfast followed by finding the best Christmas tree and taking it home. All of that in best company with our friends. What fun Sunday.

Happy first Advent!

The video:

https://news.sky.com/story/charlies-bar-christmas-advert-northern-ireland-pubs-tear-jerker-video-goes-viral-13017386

The bar’s manager says the reaction to the advert – which highlights how lonely people can feel over the festive period – has been amazing.

A budget Christmas advert by a pub in Northern Ireland has gone viral – with the manager describing the reaction as beyond her “wildest dreams”.

Charlie’s Bar in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, unveiled the ad on Friday, which features an elderly man walking alone after placing flowers on a grave.

After being ignored by several people, he enters the bar and is joined by a couple and their curious dog, who stay and drink with him.

The song People Help The People, originally written and released by English-band Cherry Ghost and covered by British singer-songwriter Birdy in 2011, accompanies the advert.

It ends with the quote: “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met yet.”

It has racked up millions of views on X, formerly Twitter, and more than 60,000 likes on TikTok after being posted online – but cost only £700 to make.

It even prompted reaction from John Lewis, which has itself become synonymous with tear-jerking festive adverts.

“We’re not crying, you are. Merry Christmas,” the department store’s official TikTok account wrote underneath the video.

Others even claimed it is better than the stores effort this year.

Lisa McGee, creator of sitcom Derry Girls, also praised the ad – while Catherine Nelson, a Sinn Fein councillor, said: “Oh my goodness me – I am a blubbing mess.”

Una Burns, the manager at Charlie’s, said she wanted to create an advert that would “resonate with people”.

She told Sky News the love shown for the ad was “completely overwhelming” and “never in our wildest dreams did we expect this reaction”.

On the inspiration for the video, she said: “It’s just what I had seen in the pub over the years.

“And I suppose I just wanted to get across that message that it’s not always a joyful, happy time for everybody – that some people find it really tough, and just to be kind – and that a smile or a simple hello can go a long way.”

Ms Burns said new customers had already visited the pub after seeing the advert.

She’s also now considering making it an annual event.

Star of the advert, Martin McManus, said a friend had put him forward and that he got the part after they saw his photo.

“I’m not hoping to get rich from it or anything like that,” he joked.

“I enjoy drama, I’ve been at it for years and years; it’s great to get success like this – it’s snowballed, you know?”

He said the ad sent an important message that some people are on their own at Christmas.

“There’s also a sad side to it – particularly as you get older because you’re thinking about all your family that’s dead and gone,” he told Sky News.

“There’s so many things that go through your mind.”

Mr McManus said he’ll be spending Christmas with his son and his partner.

Aoife Teague, the content creator behind the video, was reunited with Mr McManus and the other actors in the video on Monday.

She previously created a St Patrick’s Day advert for the bar, but said the reaction to the festive ad had been amazing – particularly the comparisons to John Lewis.

“It’s a dream, it’s absolutely unbelievable,” she said. “For people to think it’s similar – to say they like it as much as one of their ads.”

“It’s important to highlight that not everyone has that magical feeling at Christmas time,” she added.

Article from Lauren Russell, News reporter @laurenvrussell

Well, enjoy watching this beautiful video and don’t worry if one or the other tear is rolling… Merry Christmas!

‘There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met’ (W. B. Yeats)

„It costs us nothing to be kind, just a smile or hello makes a difference to so many.“

@Pitter patter nursery store: „Everyone is running round this time of the year & this video really makes you stop & think of what is important!! Best Christmas ad ❤️“

„@Xmas princess 2023: in absolute tears at this 😭😭💖💖 coming up to the toughest time of the year for many always remember kindest doesn’t cost a thing“

„@Sarah Arti723: Christmas captured. It’s about presence not presents ❤️🎄“

Christmas can be a lonely time. Take care of your loved ones and others! 💜

We are back in good old & cold Germany.

Temperature change from 30C degrees in Thailand to ~ -2C degrees in Germany. Brrrrr.

Changing from A/C to a nice fire in the oven.

Changing from bikini to winter coat.

Handing in flip flops for winter boots.

Beach sand to snow.

Street food markets to Christmas markets.

Changing from Pina Colada to mulled wine.

Changing from a dip in the sea to the bath tub with hot water at home.

First day back at work: 7:00am -2C degrees and snow.

Brrrrrrrr. It’s cold outside, baby!

The only thing which remains: the Thai massage.

My mind is still at the beach 😎

Yesterday was our last day in Ko Lipe. Time to get our bamboo tattoos made 😎

All week prepared and discussed with the tattoo artists. Yesterday was the day.

Ready. Steady. Go!

The Tattoo Art Style of Sak Yant Bamboo tattoo has its origins in Kambuja, present day Cambodia, respectively in the ancient city of Angkor Wat, the centre of the Khmer empire that ruled over much of South East Asia.

Was it painful? Hell, yes! Do I regret it? Hell, no (at least not yet, lol)! 😎

The Thai artists added their art note into it and personalized it for us. We love it.

For the next 14 days…

Avoid sunlight – check (hello winter in Germany).

Avoid chlorine water – check.

Avoid salt water – check.

Now we are ready to leave! Bye bye, Thailand!

Let’s get out of Koh Phuket, lol.

Ready for our last island escape…

It wasn’t easy to get here… but all the effort was worth it (and that’s why island life here is still quite remote and not too many tourists).

A couple of hours later, we arrived on the white sanded shores of Koh Lipe.

Oh, hello paradise!

Koh Lipe is a small tropical island located in Thailand’s deep south, not far from the Malaysian border.

On this island, ‘paradise’ dream becomes reality. A real-life utopia of green palm trees, leaning over white-sand beaches, adjacent to crystal clear waters. Wow!

It can only be reached via speedboat(s). That was a ride (sailing was smooth in comparison). The small island can be fully explored on foot in under one hour, that’s how small it is, almost no cars on this island.

When you think of Thai islands there’s a specific image that comes to mind. Crystal clear, near impossibly turquoise waters, lapping up against a white sanded beach under palm trees beneath the blazing sun. Maybe there’s a long tail boat? Koh Lipe fulfilled all these stereotypes, honestly in any direction you looked, it could have been a postcard.

The sea water crystal clear, perfect for snorkeling. We just walked from our hotel room into the water and went snorkeling straight away. Amazing!

We also did a day trip on a long tail boat with a driver who found us the most beautiful coral reefs on the surrounding islands. Wow! Red, purple, pink and all the colorful fish in between. No camera but an underwater panorama!!!

We found Nemo (many Nemo’s actually). I could watch them for hours swimming in and out of the anemones.

It’s so beautiful, it’s hard to believe it’s real!

We loved the laid back atmosphere. Fresh seafood for dinner with our feet in the sand next to the sea. Beautiful.

Koh Lipe has some cool bars & night life.

And last days in Thailand… mean also, time for bamboo tattoos.

Koh Lipe, the tropical island paradise of southern Thailand. You may wonder how a day in paradise could look like… well, a very simple loop of getting up, swimming, snorkeling, reading on the beach, napping, finding a restaurant and a bar & getting stuck in said bar kept us happily occupied for quite some time on this picture perfect island.

I guess we’ve absorbed all the vitamin D we could want. Our batteries are recharged.

Leaving Koh Lipe is hard. Breaking the comforting cycle of beaches, blissful sunsets and sublime snorkelling is very difficult, but as with any island story there comes a time to leave. Time to go back home to Germany (not ready for the snow in the weather forecast).

Dear Thailand, khàawp khun 🙏

We loved being back. We had an amazing time!

Thailand. Sailing. Enjoying daily sunsets. And one is more beautiful than the next. Very peaceful. Nature pure. Pure bliss. What a wonderful world.

Marvelous sunsets. They became better day by day.

Moments that make us small.

“Don’t forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.” – Paulo Coelho

Sunrises are just as spectacular.

Those moments… wow! What an awesome trip!

Sleep. Swim. Breakfast. Nap. Swim. Sail. Lunch. Chill. Snorkel. Kayak. Nap. Swim. Dinner. Repeat for 7 days. So wonderful.

Beautiful Thailand. We are back on the Andaman Sea. We hopped on a sailing boat in Thailand and lived on paradise time: waking up every morning anchored in a beautiful bay, having a dip in the ocean and then set sail for our next spot. Snorkeling. Watching brightly colored fish swim by, and us in the middle of it. Panorama underwater world. Swimming. Kayaking. Shimmering turquoise water.

Pure happiness.

Star watching at The Beach. Walking on the finest white sand beaches. Watching the boat traffic and the people.

Chill out on deck. Wind in the hair. Sun and salt on our skins. Sailing by craggy limestone peaks. Clear water. Treated to some spectacular views you can only reach by boat or kayak.

Some days we went on-shore and enjoyed coconut ice-cream, banana shakes, pina coladas, mango sticky rice, Thai lab, foot & head massage. So good. So fresh. So exotic. So relaxing.

Sailing from coral island for snorkeling to coconut island…

Is there anything more relaxing than sleeping out beneath the stars, rocked by the gentle pitch of a yacht? (We had some windy & shaky nights, too…)

Feasting on delicious food prepared by our onboard chef „Ice“, whipping up Thai favourites daily: Thai curries, banana bread, fresh fish, mango ice cream, laab, Pas Tai, fresh exotic fruits…. OMG. Soooo good! She spoilt us. Can we please take her with us?

The hardest decision we had to make: whether to swim with the tropical fish or kayak around the gorgeous spots.

We spent the evenings slumped in a bean bag surrounded by turquoise blue water to watch the sun dip beneath the waves.

Sleeping on deck under the stars and waking up to this:

Chilling out on deck with a good book and a bowl of fresh fruit.

We love the colors of Thailand: blue sky, white sand beaches, turquoise sea, yellow mangos, white coconuts.

My favorite of each day: chilling in a bean bag after a good swim and watching the sun go down followed by an amazing clear sky with stars & shooting stars wishing for a never ending holiday.

A last swim & snorkel before a bumpy sail brought us back to Phuket. Our Andaman seafaring odyssey comes to an end. It was amazing.

We arrived in the “Thai Highlands” & the spiritual capital of Thailand: Chiang Mai. It’s our first time in the north and quite a breath of fresh air after the beautiful chaos in Bangkok.

It’s exciting to go to a place we have never been before. We (have to) trust the taxi driver because we neither speak nor read the Thai language (no more English here…). Our “La Maison” is about an hour north of Chiangmai city. In fact, it feels like being in the middle of nowhere. And that’s fantastic! Finally, we arrived in the little village, together with the cows.

Life here seems very laid-back and it is a fantastic place to experience different things in life and turn your usual 9-to-5 (or 8-to-7 lol) routine to 180 degrees. That’s exactly what we were looking for.

Doing „nothing“ needed to be practiced at first. Now we got the hang of it and cannot stop it anymore (good that this vacation continuous…). Also being bored can be wonderful. Besides, we had so much time for sleeping. Plenty of time for relaxing. Time for swinging! Time in the hammock. Time for reading. Time for listening to all those natural exotic noises (a bit scary sometimes, too). Time to see the sun set at 6pm (we missed the sunrise). No appointments (just breakfast, dinner and elephant dates).

It was very relaxing living for the past days in this wonderful lush green garden. So calm. So peaceful. We spent 24 hours every day more or less outdoors for the past days. It’s been wonderful. We fell asleep listening to crickets and the birds woke us up in the morning. A healthy natural paradise.

We keep enjoying >30C degrees, which feels much cooler (and still hot) in the north compared to Bangkok. Doing not much helps to cope with the heat.

Our accommodation, a heaven of peace, the kindness of the host, the place, the calm, everything was perfect!

No WiFi. No A/C. Surrounded by rice fields. 3 dogs, sometimes 4. 3 cats. Geckos (good for eating the mosquitoes). A pool with very refreshing cold water. Fresh cooked Thai-French style dinners: simple, fresh and so delicious.

May I introduce the most wonderful 3 elephant ladies who are 84, 42 & 8 years young, gorgeous & all the time hungry.

Elephant Sanctuaries are committed to the rehabilitation and rescue of elephants. We learnt about their habitats and feed and bathed them in the river. They are magnificent creatures. Elephants are holly in Thailand, even islands and beer are named after them: Chang.

We had a traditional lunch at Mae in the Akha tribe with these beautiful ladies:

Another beautiful day is leading us to the Wat Ban Den, the „Blue Temple“.

Wow! Those vibrant colors! A pink elephant. A baby blue elephant. Blue roofs of the temples. Opulent golds. We found the entire temple truly mesmerising, maybe one of the most stunning temples we have ever seen!

Climbing up a sticky waterfall „Buathong waterfall“, named after a mineral deposit, which is very grippy. The water is cold and crystal clear, and comes from a mineral spring.

Goodby, little paradise! We are on our way south to Phuket.

9:00am: Thai chef Angie arrived and took us shopping on a local market. We bought all ingredients fresh for preparing a pad tai, som tum (papaya salad) & mango sticky rice for dessert for lunch. Yam!

Shopping at the market itself was already a fabulous experience: spices, fresh produce, seafood, meat, supplies and so much more! I love shopping groceries in foreign countries. There’s so much to see… (and buy).

It’s amazing to see the fresh produce that’s available at the local Asian market. That must be the reason why Thai food is soooo delicious.

The choice is huge… we decided for a fresh coconut milk shake to cool down for the way back. Sooo good!

Let’s start cooking!

The result is amazing & soooo delicious. To all future guests back home: be ready for Thai home prepared meals! 😎

Bon Appetit!

Now we need a siesta!