The movers arrive in just over 9 hours. I think we’re ready. 😰

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I’ve seen these ceramic graters being sold at every market and festival in Germany for the past year, and yesterday I finally got one. It mushified a clove of garlic nicely, though getting it out again took some finessing. I used it in my homemade ranch salad dressing alongside the Snook’s spicy baked chicken strips.

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Hosting my final event in Germany tonight – AWS Munich User Group. Thank you to @osterjour for being such a great friend and inspiration! The whole DACH AWS Community are wonderful. I’m going to miss you all. 😥❤️🇩🇪

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Winter Tollwood art festival on the Theresienwiese. We had sausages and crepes for lunch, and then I had Heisse Drachensblut (“Hot Dragon’s Blood,” aka cherry mead) while the Snook had Mead Beer. (2022 Christmas Market count: 7) 🎄🍷🔥

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Inspired by the “7 Days Out” episode about Eleven Madison Park, we have made an epic punch list with everything we need to do before we leave in 11 days. 😰

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Cheering on the Aussies with a Negroni Sbagliato. (With Prosecco.) COME ON AUSSIES COME ON!! 🇦🇺❤️🦘⚽️ #worldcup

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The Aussies may have lost, but I made good progress on my pullover. I’m onto the waist shaping and the blue has finally appeared! 🧶 #knitting

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Only a few opportunities left for a Munich bathroom selfie… This is one of my favorite handknits – Jo Sharp “Solstice” in their DK wool. I love the colours, and it’s held up so well considering I finished it in 2004! ❤️🧶

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The Mittelalterliche (Middle Ages) Christmas Market did not disappoint! It was all woodhewn huts and vendors in Ye Olde Cloaks. I had a Feuerzangenbowle (flaming mulled wine) while the Snook had hot mead. We also had dumplings and sauerkraut. (2022 Christmas markets: 5) 🎄🍷🔥

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Straight on to the Christkindlmarkt! This is the market in the Munich Altstadt in front of the Rathaus. Lots of stalls selling gifts and decorations, and many treats. We walked up to Stachus where they’ve set up Münchner Eiszauber (“Ice Magic”), a skating rink with an outdoor viewing bar! (2022 Christmas Markets: 6) 🎄⛸️

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Only a few weeks left before we head back to Australia… I’ve finally blogged my work trip to Bangkok, Thailand back in September for the AWS APJ Community Summit. I even snuck in a quick trip to the Moomin Cafe! ❤️

AWS APJ Community Summit in Bangkok, Thailand

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We’re both feeling a bit under the weather after a week of travelling, so it’s homemade Glühwein on the couch time.

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My first and only keynote at a Luxembourg tech event! I got to kick off tonight’s Techsense TNT Symposium talking about human-first innovation. I also shared some stories of how Luxembourg companies are making people’s lives better, and how Amazon is trying to help address the climate crisis and the technology skills gap. ❤️🇱🇺

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I managed to escape the conference for a final fancy dinner with the Snook before we head back to Munich. I had potato soup (with mushroom and truffle), chicken stuffed with escargot 🐌(delicious!), and a chocolate dessert. He had butternut squash soup with scallops, veal with truffle and celeriac, and white chocolate mousse. A lovely way to end our final trip in Europe!

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Heading to one last new country – Luxembourg! “You better enjoy this high-speed rail one last time. We won’t be going this fast in Australia without an airplane…”

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Luxembourg Wantermaart! Glühwein and roasting chestnuts and lots of holiday gemütlichkeit. 🍷🎄🎅 (2022 Christmas markets: 4)

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When we were at the Tuileries Christmas market the other day we saw several stalls selling what appeared to be potato casserole. I later learned this is ”Tartiflette” and I had it for dinner last night. YUM. It’s potatoes and bacon and onions with cheese melted all over the top. (And they served it with even more potatoes and a salad!) Today I’m bookmarking the recipe so I can make it at home… https://www.seriouseats.com/tartiflette-recipe-5217300

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Walking tour of historic Paris. Sadly Notre Dame is off-limits due to the reconstruction, but we still had a lovely time exploring the Left Bank and Les Halles. Made a special pilgrimage to the Centre Pompidou before refueling with pizza…

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Time to finally see the most famous painting in the world… #monalisa

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We were watching the #WorldCup earlier, so dinner obviously was a choice between Argentinian empanadas and Mexican tacos. The empanadas won. 🇦🇷

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Highlights of Versailles. The statues and fountains were sadly packed up for winter, but on the plus side, the palace itself wasn’t crowded at all. I was also particularly delighted to visit the Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s hamlet where she’d pretend to be a shepherdess. ☀️⛲️🐑

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