It’s January 3rd 2023. Our last visitor is gone. The Christmas tree is loosing its needles. Time to say bye bye!
It was a very beautiful one. And the size was chosen wisely. Big enough to shine and small enough to fit through the window. It lasted 5.5 weeks!
Pushed through the window into our garden. Will be moved to our outdoor fireplace next. Listening to Pink. Time for tulips. Happy new year!
2022 – The year of crisis: a war in Europe. Energy crisis. Environmental crisis. Covid is still around… all of it leading to price explosions and a shortage of goods. Is that all 2022 has to offer? It wasn’t an easy year, that ́s for sure. But there was much more…
Solidarity in blue-yellow, or how Russia started a war against the Ukraine and the whole world stands by with the Ukraine. I’m especially proud that my country shows solidarity & support since day 1.
Before Putin started the war lots of politicians tried to convince him otherwise: on a table 6 metres apart from Putin. His excuse: Covid. The social media world laughed about the piece of furniture.
We are wowed how the Ukrainians try to keep a “normal life”: getting married in war, school continues in bunkers, children playing on a playground surrounded by destroyed buildings & houses, dining in the dark due to cut electricity, dancing in the tunnel, celebrating school graduation, “dance me to the end of rave” – a DJ supporting supporting people building up houses after they got destroyed.
Sabotage in the sea end of September: gas is leaking out of the gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 & 2. It’s still not clarified who did it… we all have a guess…
2022, also the year of the biggest delay of Deutsche Bahn ICE trains.
Tennis & crying men. Goose bumps. Roger Federer is retiring and him & his competitor are crying together. The world is good, isn’t it?
It seems to be the year of retiring athletes & actors. Serena Williams retired, too! And so did Bruce Willis! And Sebastian Vettel.
Swim WM in Budapest: Last minute, the US synchron swimmer Anita Alvarez was rescued from drowning by her own coach.
Greetings from the Sahara dessert. Hot dessert winds blew sand all the way to Europe! Munich was glowing in a deep orange. The sand includes a lot of minerals which works like a fertilizer for our plants. Yeah!
The famous 9€ public transportation ticket made it into the news around the world. 9€/month traveling by train, tram and bus in June, July & August pro environment. The successor, the 49€ ticket, is still in negotiation. The cool tag is kind of gone with it.
And the Oscar goes to… slam. A bad joke ended with Will Smiths hand in Chris Rocks face. He apologized months later. Too late, Smith has been blocked for the Oscar’s for the next 10 years!
Tom Cruise & Top Gun 2! Yeah!
Congratulations to Taylor Swift for being the most popular pop singer in 2022. Her new album “Midnights” hit all world records next day – most sold album of the year.
And the “wildlife photographer” of 2022 is… Karine Aigner for taking photos of bees having sex. Bee happy!
Goodbye, majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She named Liz Truss to the new premier of the UK and a couple of days later passed away. She’s been the queen for 70 (!!!) years! London is showing respect. Thank you, Ma‘am!
Our ice caps keep melting. Nowhere else than in Spitzbergen can the environmental change been seen clearly. The temperature of that region is warming up twice as fast as the rest of the world. That is causing new risks: snow landslides.
The new normal? 2022 was a very hot year and never has as much land been on fire within Europe as this year.
Extreme heat in August everywhere in Germany. Ships are stuck due to very low water level in our rivers.
Another country effected by the environmental change: Rock Islands / Palau. The sea level is increasing and eating up beaches, tree roots becoming looser, houses must be moved.
The Finish President Sanna Marin just behaves like a woman: partying, laughing, a drink. And the world is discussing it. Sanna, I am celebrating you!
Rugby Six Nations Cup – and the winner is…. France! The cup goes back to the European mainland. Congratulations!
One winning against England, the German ladies soccer team loosing in the Wembley stadium in June. Ladies, you are the winner of our hearts!
2022, the year with the most Germans on sick leave. Sickness no.1: catching a cold in summer months. Or sick of life?!
Rihanna is pregnant and the whole world knows! This baby was already famous before it was born! She’s definitely made a statement: being pregnant is sexy and pregnant women can wear anything, even nothing!
Protest in Iran against their regime & the rest of the world is supporting. Since the death of Masha Amini on September 16 people worldwide show solidarity and lots of women cut their hair. Sadly, we count >300 death and >15000 arrested demonstrators in Iran.
8 000 000 000 – that’s how many people are living on earth in November 2022. The number has doubled since 1974!
“If it’s not your body, it’s not your choice!” Americas end of freedom. The Supreme Court skipped the law which was ruled for the past 50 years! Ouch!
Fashion week in Paris in October: Model Bella Hadid for Coperni came on stage only dressed in a slip. And left stage in a body painted white dress. Wow!
The end of Covid in Germany. We are back in the office since May.
China is the only country whose kept the zero Covid policy. End of November the Chinese citizens are protesting against the continuous lockdown and travel stop. The remaining problem: too many (elderly) people are not vaccinated & a government who doesn’t want to loose face. It’s causing an impact to the rest of the world material & Supply chain crisis! In December China stopped their lockdown and a lot of Chinese suffered Covid.
The crown witness: 25-year old Ms. Cassidy Hutchinson is doing what most people of Mr Trumps team would never do: saying the truth in court. Respect! Thank you! You are our hero!
That was the world news. We supported a friends medical plan who’s suffering from long Covid & crossing our fingers that the therapy in January will be successful! I was happily coaching younger colleagues and helping them to become confident in their jobs. We keep supporting the Ahrtal…
Goodbye 2022! Wishing all of us a happier & healthier 2023!
Happy New Year! 🎆
In 2023, let’s say yes to new adventures!
December 2022. Mum & I in New York City ~ a dream becoming true. Christmas spirits everywhere. This city pulls all stops when it comes to celebrating. Christmas trees and trimmings everywhere.
After a long & by many hours delayed journey, we finally made it. Made it to the city that never sleeps & fell heavenly into our beds.
Good morning, NYC!
Goosebumps while dancing on Fifth Avenue to the Saks Christmas show with music from Elton John. Mums happy face. Priceless. Her, flirting with a French men. A drink with friends from SC. Frank Sinatras “New York, New York” in the hotel room. Cheesecake New York style. A pizza New York style. Yellow cab rides. Broadway strolls. A show. A Horse ride through Central Park. Those window displays. Oh mei!
We all like to have our homes decorated for Christmas, no matter what part of the world we live in. Residents of New York, however, they bring the decorations to a higher level.
Rockefeller – The Christmas tree is decorated with about 50 000 LEDs in all colors and a proudly placed Swarovski star, on the top. We went to Rockefeller Center both during the day and at night. Every day. Of course. It has been a NYC staple since 1931, and every year its lighting ceremony kicks off the holiday season.
Everywhere ~ magic.
In steak heaven. And burger heaven.
New York during Christmas is indeed magical.
One of the biggest holiday traditions in New York is strolling the glitzy stores on Fifth Avenue, and admiring all of their spectacular Christmas window displays. Window shopping!
If I had to choose one city in the world to spend Christmas every single year, it would definitely be New York City.
4 days in NYC filled with sparkle, glitter & laughter. Fun, fun, fun! We had a blast! Thanks, mum, for coming & making this such a special & enjoyable time! I’ll miss the singing Starbucks lady at 7am handing me over my coffee.
Greatest city in the whole world ~ Frank Sinatra.
Time to go back home! We’ll ring in the new year hopefully from home with hubby & friends.
Christmas. Love it or dread it, it’s the one time of the year where everyone is on the same page. Want to turn your house into a temporary Mardi Gras celebration? No worries about your neighbors getting mad. They’ll turn out in drives to admire it instead.
Haven’t seen your relatives in a while? Take those travel delays in stride, friend, you are not the only one making a journey to reconnect. For a short time, the pressures and the deadlines of our fast-paced world give way to tradition, both old and new.
It’s Santa’s Christmas. He transcends country and religion. And he is unrivaled. Either you believe in him or you don’t. And we should never doubt the power of taking our little leaps of faith.
Faith may be the least universal concept holding the whole world together.
And besides, a little magic never hurt anybody.
Merry Christmas, anyone.
Today all four candles on the Adventskranz are burning, each with its own meaning… The candle of Hope, the candle of Love, the candle of Joy, and today the fourth, the Peace Candle.
Dreaming of a white Christmas…
… well, the weather forecast for next week is +13C degrees! Merry Grill-Mas!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go.
Mulled wine & Feuerzangenbowle with our neighbors. Invented last year due to Covid pandemic & keeping the good things alive.
Less than a week to go until Christmas! (And more importantly, only 3 more work days in 2022!!!).
Merry merry!
Start spreading the news
I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York
These vagabond shoes
They are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York
I want to wake up in a city
That never sleeps
And find I’m king of the hill
Top of the heap
These small town blues
They are melting away
I’ll make a brand new start of it
In old New York
If I can make it there
I’ll make it anywhere
It’s up to you
New York, New York
New York, New York
I want to wake up in a city
That doesn’t sleep
And find that I’m number one
Top of the list
Head of the heap
King of the hill
These little town blues
They’ve all melted away
I’m gonna make a brand new start of it
In old New York
And
If I can make it there
I’ll make it practically anywhere
It’s up to you
New York, New York
New York
-Frank Sinatra
I’m delivering on a promise I made about 8 years ago: inviting my mum for Christmas shopping to New York City.
We are all checked in and departing in a few minutes, Frank Sinatra with us on the MP3, of course!
I cannot wait to be back in my favorite city.
New York, we are coming!
A very relaxed 3rd advent weekend.
It’s snowing! The very first snow of the winter season is the best. Watching the tiny single snow flakes coming down to earth.
Wrapping Christmas gifts. Posting Christmas post (some of them have a long way ahead…). Listening to favorite Christmas songs. Hubby made kimchi. And new beer.
-1C degree and it’s snowing. That’s when the mulled wine is tasting best (or a hot Aperol, Glüh Gin…). It’s about time to get into Christmas mood – discover the magic of Christmas markets. No matter if big ones, or tiny markets, all of them are very enjoyable.
Christmas markets in Germany are unique. Historical town squares form a romantic backdrop to many markets. Streets, pedestrian malls, public buildings and shops are decorated with lights and Christmas trees and add to the beauty of the scenery.
The oldest markets date back to the 14th and 15th century. The original purpose of these early markets was to stock up for the long winters, and to add a bit of light to the dark months. The first markets were certainly not as enchanting as they are these days. During the centuries Christkindlmarkets became a source to buy Christmas presents for children, and an opportunity for local craftsmen and artists to sell their work.
Romantic scenery, an easy-going atmosphere, German Christmas traditions and the smell of mouth-watering treats are the main attractions of a Weihnachtsmarkt in Germany.
Although it seems that all Christkindlesmarkets offer the same range of goods to buy, there are many local variations. Additional cultural programs, local arts & crafts markets, the scenery and surrounding architecture make each German Christmas market unique.
Look around and find some unique gifts for your loved ones.
One thing is for sure, you’ll never leave a Weihnachtsmarkt hungry. I don’t envy you the hard decision which market to visit! 🙂
Get your winter coat and boots on & enjoy the magical places! 💫 Germany is really wonderful at Christmas time. Especially after 2 years pandemic – it’s the best! Happy 3rd Advent!
The 4 weeks before Christmas are the best (almost better than Christmas itself).
Another wonderful German tradition for kids & everyone else including pets: the Advent calendar, counting down the days until Christmas Eve. 24 little surprises to shorten the waiting time until Christmas with the major function to keep kids from asking everyday how far Christmas Day is away… it works! Even for adults! And it has a wonderful side effect: you can support the ones in need.
Arrived at the Christmas wonderland. Where? North of Stuttgart. No, not the North Pole. A little more south, Bremen. (And I’m back in my routine when it comes to packing for traveling).
That’s another tradition: spending a Christmas weekend with my sister & family, and my mum. And what a wonderful Christmas weekend it was. Hours filled with baking cookies, building a gingerbread house, watching Christmas movies with the nieces, a little bit of Christmas shopping, Christmas concerts, Christmas dinner, Christmas market, reading to the nieces… and more Christmas movies.
Lots of reasons to celebrate. Cheers to our reunion, mum retiring, Christmas…
Today the first of four Advent candles will be lit in homes in Germany. The Prophecy Candle… the Candle of Hope. A candle will be lit on the Advent wreath each Advent Sunday until Christmas Eve. Then all four will burn. That’s just one of many traditions that make a Christmas in Germany.
+1C degree, fog & icy wind – perfect weather for the first hot Aperol Spritz!
Castles are always beautiful. At Christmas, some turn into a majestic magical winter dream. Goose bumps inclusive. Wow!
Our tradition continues: first Advent Sunday means enjoying Irish breakfast with friends, followed by finding the most beautiful Christmas tree(s), cutting it down and taking it back home.
What a wonderful weekend kicking off the Christmas season.
Stuttgart547 