Our television isn’t connected. 

And that means that we don’t see many adverts nowadays. 

I don’t miss the television, but I do miss watching English adverts. Especially the ones before Christmas.

But we now can watch them on YouTube. Did you know?

One of my favourites is this year’s John Lewis advert.

It tells the heartfelt story of one man’s determination to connect with a young girl, showing the power that kindness can make in someone else’s life.

Do you have a favourite you’d like to share with us?

You’ve probably seen the Christmas lights go up in your town. If not, you might like to take some time off to go and see them.

This is precisely what we did as a family years ago.

We travelled up to London to see the spectacular Christmas lights on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street. 

Take a look at the top 16 Christmas lights in London this year.

Have you seen anything as spectacular here in Germany?

Get in the holiday spirit AND improve your English with me.

You won’t find any gifts or chocolate here behind the doors. But you will learn something about Christmas in the English-speaking world—and possibly some new words.

The countdown to Christmas has begun … Today is the traditional start of the Christmas season.

Did you receive an advent calendar this year? With chocolate in Christmassy shapes or just one with an image behind each window?

Don’t worry if you didn’t. You’ve got mine to look forward to. Every day during Advent.

And to help end world hunger.

How?

By playing the “Free Rice” game from the United Nations World Food Programme.

For every question you answer correctly, the cash equivalent of 10 grains of rice is donated by a group of sponsors.

And if you want a bit of a challenge, you can always change the level of difficulty. 

Enjoy—and do good!

Here’s a wonderful breathing technique I learnt from Dan Pink, who learnt it from neuroscientist, Dr. Andrew Huberman.

If you find your stress levels slowly creeping up, try the “psychological sigh”.

1. Inhale twice through your nose.
2. Hold your breath.
3. Exhale through your mouth.
4. Repeat a few times.

According to Dr. Huberman, it’s the fastest way to calm our brain and nervous system.

And I’ve found that it works.

Perhaps it can work for you, too!