Tomatoes. Beautiful & perfect tomatoes. Sun kissed.

Self-seeded & home grown in our garden. The neighbor in the raised bed: basil. The smell of both is amazing. And the taste… Yum!

So many. So good. It’s the season. Our neighbors call us the “tomato kings”.

And now what to do with them?

Making dried tomatoes in olive oil & rosemary in jars (quite a bit of work and already looking forward to eat them).

The classic dish: caprese or tomatoes topped with mozzarella (every other day…). Simple & delicious.

Gazpacho. Wow! So good!

Bruschetta the Irish way: Tomatoes on Irish soda bread with fresh garden tomatoes & basil.

Tomatoes part of the lamb shank.

The story to be continued… Spaghetti with fresh home made tomato sauce…

The rest of the tomatoes goes to mummy. Daddy. Brother. Neighbors. Friends. And more for our bellies. Yum!

Our little European world tour is ending. Unfortunately. It was fabulous. We made it all the way back via Ireland – Wales – England – France – Belgium – Netherlands & Germany.

The Irish Sea calmed down for us to cross over. Storms are gone. Bye bye magnificent Ireland. Cannot wait to be back.

Hello beautiful Wales! Nice to be back! This time for a wonderful sunset.

Good morning, England! A costa kind of morning.

Bye bye Dover!

I will definitely miss being called „my love“, “my darling” or „my dear“!

Our road trip continued from France to Belgium. We made it back to „our“ city Bruges. Including many beautiful memories from 10 years ago. Oh, it’s so wonderful to be back. This time only a quick stop for favorite beer & fantastic burger. Only in Belgium: served with chocolate sauce. OMG… this city is adorable. We’ll be back, promise!

And our trip continues. Everything is possible in Holland: Cadillac gummy bears. Yam!

We made it over the border to Germany. Ready for a good night sleep in the green.

And arriving for the weekend destination & family events in the north of Germany, Bremen.

Baking fairy muffins with my nieces.

Celebrating 1st day at school & 1st Kommunion. A festive & wonderful weekend with the family. We still have a bit of a hangover (that amazing red wine from Italy & Jan Torf…).

Our road trip continues back south with 2 stop overs meeting good old friends.

Lunch in Hildesheim, the city we met & lived before moving abroad. Great to be back.

(Spanish) Dinner stop in Göttingen.

Friends & breakfast. Excellent combo.

Taking a 2nd souvenir back home: another wasp sting. Ouch! (Started wearing a leather jacket now so both arms are safe… fingers crossed).

We had a fantastic road trip. Met lots of family & friends & visited old places we loved to hang out in the past. So good to see you all!

Happy to say that the dog is still alive (many many thanks to my parents). The van is still running and did an amazing job (total distance: 4600km)! Yeah! We successfully imported beer from almost each of the 8 countries we passed on this trip and will enjoy (of what’s left) in our garden back home.

Back at home & back to work tomorrow… and sure very soon back on the road… van life to be continued! And in-between we will serve coffee in royal cups – received many requests already. Lol.

Tonight’s dinner is local ribeye steaks on the BBQ, hubby’s birthday dinner.

…and just before we arrived back home… the last curve… the self-installed battery system started smoking… all good. A bit excitement on the last meters. What an adventurous trip!

Back in Ireland. And that means surrounded by the lush green, quite a bit of rain, afternoon tea with scones, the best cooked lamb by mother-in-law, a good book followed by sipping Guinness, Kilkenny, Smithwick’s or Harp and a bit of Irish music… what a beautiful relaxed vacation. Surrounded by Irish family.

Cottage love.

Ireland, the green fabulous island.

Hubby finding old & new cooking books (there will be loads of soda bread back home…). I am gifted by granny’s old china made in England and hand painted – wow, loving it. All boxed up and on the way back to Germany. Whoever visits us next, cake & coffee will be served royally!

Listening to Irish radio (and not understanding a word!).

Irish summer can also mean quite a bit of rain and cool temperatures (which is actually not so bad after the heat in Germany). And hey, there must be a reason why this country is so amazing & green, right!

Getting spoilt by the family: Irish breakfast(s), lamb shoulder, beef roasts, carrot & parsnips, fresh garden tomatoes & lettuce, home made lasagne, steaks… and sometimes it just had to be a fish & chip or Indian take away.

That’s also Ireland: you are either hot or cold. Sometimes both within minutes.

Happy 70th birthday, so good to see you and share this special occasion! The main reason why we came here.

Atlantic Ocean near Wicklow: wild, wet, rough & just amazing (you wouldn’t get that on a sunny day!).

…and the next day…

Cruising through the Wicklow mountains all the way to beautiful Glendalough. Tucked away amid deep forests and surrounded by rolling hills. This misty glen is a truly magical place.

Tea time!

We had an amazing time. Thanks for hosting & spoiling us – as always. The van is packed with many goodies (sauces, vinegar, mint jelly, lemon curd, Guiness, short bread, galaxy chocolates, local crisps…). Now back on the road returning to Germany via Wales, England, France, Belgium & the Netherlands.

Taking a little souvenir back with me: a swollen arm from a bee sting. Ouch!

Slan slan! Bye bye!

What do you do in corona times when airplane schedules are not back to normal? A road trip! Exactly!

Planning started only 3 weeks ago.

What a trip!

And that’s our rough plan:

2 adults.

1 van.

3 boxes of Weizenbier (gift).

6 countries (that’s the plan).

4 islands.

2 ferries.

3 family events.

Lots of chocolate & Haribo (gift).

1600km on the road (half of those Miles on the „left side“) & return.

7am first travel day: the trip turned already interesting before it even started. UK corona update includes now France on the risk list: that means quarantine for us once we arrived at our final destination (we missed the window by 4(!) hours!). Yikes! Van is packed, we are ready, we stick to our plan – let’s get on the road & sea the world!

First night at Cap Blanc-Nez in France. Camping 500 metres from the beach: sea eagles. Sea breath. Salty air. Waves. Beach. 9pm: a dip in the ocean. Ready for the holiday to start.

Bonjour, la mer! Salt on our skin and in our hair.

Ferry no.1 to England.

Hello Dover!

Finally an „Ulster fry“ or a „proper breakfast“ as my husband would say. Lol (already missing the French croissants).

Everything changing now: km/h to miles per hour, driving on the left (with steering on the left – very weird)… hubby is the driver from now on while I take drive through coffee orders on the passenger seat and pay the toll roads 🙂

Passing by Stonehenge.

Arriving to Wales – what language do they speak? Longest town name within Europe: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch (50 letters, no need to count I already did but try pronouncing it…).

Passing through beautiful South Welsh National parks. Beautiful flowers everywhere – summer in the UK. I am in love with Wales. So green. So lush. Mountains. Beautiful. We definitely have to come back and spend more time here. Maybe by motorbike…

Fish & chip for dinner. Hubby is happy. Super happy & back home.

Sleeping at the lighthouse in Wales.

Ferry no.2 to „baile átha Cliath“ or Dublin 😉 & Irish breakfast (of course).

Made it. 1600km and 2.5 days later we arrived safe & sound (as the Irish would say) in Northern Ireland. Home is also where everyone understands (and pronounces) my last name correctly 🙂

It’s a girl. Her beautiful name is Lina Madeleine. Born July 18. I became an aunt (3rd time) and a god mother (3rd time). So proud.

Congratulations to the new and first time parents! Welcome, little one!

So sweet.

So little.

So cute.

So tiny.

Home again.

Always admiring daddy’s garden. And since we got our own I understand how much time and work has been put in here. But totally worth it. Very beautiful to look at and be in. A little green paradise.

Spoilt by mums delicious dinner. Who cares about 35C when you can have „Kloß mit Roulade“? Sooooo good!

Can you say „no“ to another delicious dinner invitation from favorite aunt & uncle? All we were requested was to be hungry & thirsty.

And visiting the beer garden with hubbies favorite beer.

A wonderful weekend back home. So good to see you all again! Much too fast over, as usual. See you all soon again! And many thanks for all the delicious dinners. We enjoyed it all. So good!

On the road again for another van-tastic weekend. This time with ivory painted wheels (wohoooo!) & hubby’s self-installed disco LED lights (he’s so proud of them) and much more included in the van life upgrade 2.0.

This weekend is all about German wine & German castles (a perfect match). Discovering places we both have not been to. And making this weekend all about wine… similar to 6 years ago. Happy (5 day early) wedding anniversary to ourselves! Cheers!

In fact it’s pretty awesome. Pick a spot, grab wine (and some food), get in van, drive. Arrive & enjoy! And that’s what we did.

Cruising along the “Badische Weinstraße” to Heidelberg – the city of students and bikes, bars & a beautiful castle (only 302 steps & return).

Hmmm… It’s the season of chanterelles/Pfifferlinge.

This time we are trying something new: staying on farms (& vineyards) along our route we hadn’t planned so exactly. And that’s the deal: camp one night free & go grocery (or wine) shopping in the farmer shop. Excellent idea & a van-tastic experience!

Our first idyllic afternoon/night in the middle of nowhere somewhere around Heidelberg. Wild & free & wonderful on a goat & sheep farm.

Good morning, Heidelberg!

Our road trip continued towards the river Mosel. Wow! Stunning!

At 4pm: surrounded by steep vineyards (in fact the steepest in Europe). Time to check out the Vinothek: tasting the white & red gold followed by a hike. We truly arrived in wine heaven.

Sleeping in the vineyards (biggest advantage to drink and immediately fall into your bed). Peaceful. Beautiful! Enjoying the early vineyard walks with Charlie.

Enjoying a ride along the German Wine Road to the next destination for the night: another beautiful vineyard. Sipping German-made style Aperol Spritz. Loving it!

Sunset over the vineyards to end another chilled day.

This farm is not only about wine but lemon trees and flowers – very Mediterranean. The secco & wine: delicious. Again in wine heaven.

Charlie got stung by a bee. First time. Ouch!

Cruising home via the German Wine Road all the way to the French border. Those green views – gorgeous and a feast for the eye!

And again we are impressed about the beauty of Germany!

We love summer and our Bulli. We had another van-tastic trip.

Bulli did great again and is now ready for a service check: getting ready for the big trip soon: all the way to Ireland! Wohooooo!

Not us. Our friends. (But yes, I would also marry the same man again).

We have been keeping all our fingers crossed for the past weeks that the wedding can happen this time.

A wedding or premier 2.0 as the bride & groom call it.

A Croatian wedding. Finally to happen. Postponed from March to July because of corona. Today is the day: Our Shanghai friends are getting married.

An outdoor wedding in a beautiful location.

Yes, I do and all my life… who cares about a wedding 4 months delayed – the words of the priest. The mass was just beautiful in the chapel.

Was es ist -Erich Fried-

Es ist Unsinn sagt die Vernunft.

Es ist was es ist sagt die Liebe.

Es ist Unglück sagt die Berechnung.

Es ist nichts als Schmerz sagt die Angst.

Es ist aussichtslos sagt die Einsicht.

Es ist was es ist sagt die Liebe.

Es ist lächerlich sagt der Stolz.

Es ist leichtsinnig sagt die Vorsicht.

Es ist unmöglich sagt die Erfahrung.

Es ist was es ist sagt die Liebe.

And the Shanghai connection was invited, too. Cheers to the beautiful newlyweds!

You are the Oscar winners of being the main actors. You chose us as best supporting actors. Thanks for the Oscars – we feel honored!

Thanks for making us part of your special day! An amazing party to remember!

Enjoy your new status & well deserved honeymoon!

First thought: oh no, I have to go back to the office (getting up one and a half hours earlier, driving, traffic jam, road works…. arghhhh. Nightmare thoughts. And yes, I got used to working from home). Second thought: yeah, looking forward to meet my mates again. Real coffee & real lunch breaks again (divided by transparent plastic walls).

I haven’t been wearing a watch while working from home… and funny enough all of them are still showing winter time… my last day in the office was 17 weeks ago. Isn’t that crazy?

Alarm clock (ringing early).

Shower, hair style & summer make up.

Dressing (nicely. My favorite part).

Driving (road work but no traffic jam).

Parking (early birds benefit…).

Pick up mask.

Walk to office passing by wild growing flowers.

Find right desk.

Coffee.

Meetings.

More coffee.

More meetings.

I love my huge monitor. After the laptop screen for the past months it almost feels like a cinema screen (the film is just not as nice. And I cannot choose. Lol.).

The new office rules:

Reserve a seat in an online list in advance (50% max.).

Only wear the mask you get provided in morning (in-house production).

Wear mask in aisles & buildings.

Only every other desk can be used. First come, first serve.

Allowed to take mask off at own desk.

Keep distance of 1.5metres.

Dispose mask at end of day.

A lunch date. It’s kind of nice to have a lunch break to spend with just eating and w/o cooking preparation.

A surprise: Chinese Sichuan pepper peanuts from a Shanghai colleague. He brought them back from a home trip and has been keeping them since March (I’m impressed. I probably would have eaten all of them by now).

Nice to be back (even my efficiency is higher in home office). I think I still will continue to work from home. New concept could be: 1 day in the office and 4 days working from home. Yes, I like that.

Looking forward to my routined working from home tomorrow. Good night!

Summer in Germany, between shorts and fleece jacket.

Summer these days starts in April (sometimes in March). And it possibly could just rain all June. Summers are no longer reliable (no, I’m not complaining, it’s better than 120% humidity, believe me). That’s why we have to be out and enjoy while the temperatures are up and the sun is out and the sky heavenly blue.

Summer is when most colleagues are on holiday. Summer is eating ice-cream. Summer is driving top down (if I had a convertible). Summer is sleeping with open windows (including mosquito bites). Summer is BBQ. Summer is Flipflops. Summer means wonderful smelling rose gardens everywhere. And the smell of tomatoes. Summer means Aperol Spritz after work. Summer time is awesome.

My favorite thing to do: laying in the lounger watching the clouds go by.

A cooling drink: water with fresh mint from the garden. Hubby’s comment: that’s a waste, better keep it for the mojito or caipirinha.

Summer is when the kitchen is flooded with first sun raises in the morning while making coffee.

Dear summer, please stay forever. Or at least a little longer?

Enjoy!