WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt

Fully refreshed we woke up today and enjoyed a lovely German breakfast. The hotel had some additional outside features setup for the time of year.

After the disappointment of the Alexanderplatz Weihnachtsmarkt we headed out to the WeihnachtsZauber. Framed by the German Cathedral, the French Cathedral and the Konzerthaus, the WeihnachtsZauber Christmas market is located at Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin-Mitte.

This was more like what we had been expecting. We started off enjoying a little music

Next up was some fruit tea and glögg . The glögg was mine but I didn’t like it so we swapped LOL The alcohol and sugar went straight to Toni and she had to hold my hand for a short while afterwards (just in case)

No photos but these were accompanied by some glorious warm cheese balls. We did some mooching around, bought some things and just enjoyed the atmosphere.

We had a fantastic time, so much happy.

It would have been rude not have also tried a hot chocolate with cream :)

Our day finished off with a lovely meal at Peter Pane. We were no strangers to this restaurant having had a few meals here in the summer.

After the food we went back to the hotel to chill out and then have an early night ready for another day of action tomorrow.

Off to Berlin....

After all the excitement of Star Wars it was time for Toni and I to return to Berlin for a short break. We had to get up stupidly early but we were wide awake as we waited for take off.

It was an uncharacteristically slow trip through baggage collection and then we whizzed through to the hotel on the bus. Check in is usually at 15:00 so we decided to upgrade to a better room and check in immediately as it was only 10:45. The upgrade was worth it though. No more shower in the middle of the room like last time LOL

We too some time out to relax in our room before we headed out to Alexanderplatz to visit our first Christmas market.

It brought back many memories for both of us although this one was very touristy and was mainly full of food and tat LOL. It was all good though.

After wandering around it was time to fine food. I was in heaven as I tucked into a lovely Wiener Schnitzel with mushroom sauce.

After the noms we decided to head back to the hotel to chill out, relax and get some sleep so that we were all set for fun day tomorrow.

The Rise Of Skywalker initial reaction ***NO SPOILERS***

The Rise Of Skywalker initial reaction ***NO SPOILERS***
It's so embarrassing when you all turn up wearing the same outfit LOL

***NO SPOILERS****

So that's it then. The Rise Of Skywalker has arrived........ here is my initial reaction

***NO SPOILERS****

Well that was an emotional rollercoaster, the saga is finally at an end

I laughed, I shed a tear, I cheered and part way through the end credits my emotions burst out and I was crying. I couldn’t actually leave the theatre for a couple of minutes after the end credits had rolled. The Rise Of Skywalker is not the best Star Wars film but it sure as hell delivers and wraps things up nicely. It’s not perfect but then NO Star Wars film is.

I’ve been invested on this journey since I first saw Star Wars back in 1978 and it’s been a major part of my life for the last 41 years and suddenly it had all come to a spectacular resolution. Yes there will be more Star Wars but this was a significant milestone today

I was there from the start with the original trilogy, I proudly brought my kids into the prequel trilogy and the grand kids are now emerging into the sequel trilogy. It's a saga for the generations.

I loved it, loved it, LOVED it!

Here's the Star Wars cast in an interview talking stealing from the set and gifts from J.J. Abrams

One day to go and The Last Jedi

The final day before The Rise Of Skywalker is with us! Although says one day it's actually midnight today that this happens so the hours part is where we are at LOL!

The final film in the countdown was Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. We really enjoyed this film but it certainly caused some major controversy and angst with the Star Wars fan base!

***WARNING*** Disney+ have just run a Special Look Trailer that contains new footage, you'd be as well to avoid this before watching the film!!!!!!!!!!


Just in case you are behind on what this Star Wars stuff is all about please check out this hilarious overview of all the films and TV shows


....and with that dear reader we head into the night to watch The Rise Of Skywalker. A spoiler free reaction will be posted once we are out.

Two days to go and The Force Awakens

Two days to go. Almost there, almost there.....

Tonight we watched Episode VII: The Force Awakens. This was the film that finally brought the franchise back to the world following the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney. The hype was real, I might have gone a little bit Star Wars crazy at the time but this was certainly time to a Star Wars fan! Looking back it had some major issues but at the time it was just amazing!

Last night was The Rise Of Walker world premiere in the US in Los Angeles. It's classed as a Red Carpet event but it was actually a Blue Carpet LOL. Here's the coverage:


Here we have some interviews from the World Premiere:

Three days to go and Return Of The Jedi

Three days to go now, we are into the home straight!

Three days to go and today we watched the third film to be released in the franchise, Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi

Here's the latest episode of The Star Wars Show featuring the cast of The Rise Of Skywalker


We've also had this lush poster released for The Rise Of Skywalker

It's a wonderful nostalgic take on the classic Revenge/Return Of The Jedi poster:

Four days to go and The Empire Strikes Back

Four days left now!

The Empire Strikes was pivotal in taking the Star Wars franchise to the next level and also kick started unexpected plot twists in films. I'll never forget that moment when I was in line with mum to see it for the first time in 1980 (I was 10) and a kid came out of the previous screening saying to his parent, "I didn't realise Darth Vader was Luke's father." There was innocent young me thinking, "He isn't". Oh that feeling of surprise when the truth became apparent. Such a brilliant film that at this moment in time site in my top spot. Yes, we watched Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back tonight!

Yesterday evening the Fortnite game ran a special event for The Rise Of Skywalker which gave us another clip. As usual, don't watch if you don't want......


Here it is without the fortnight overlay:


Here.s the next raft of TV spots....
31-34


If you fancy something Star Warsy that is a little bit different then here's a pretty cool fan film called Remnants Of The Order......

Five days to go and A New Hope

Five days to go until The Rise Of Skywalker. It's getting closer!

Today we went back to where it all began but watching Star Wars, or Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as it is now known. We watch the original cinematic release and the special edition for good measure.

In honour of A New Hope here is the trench run done with animals!

The TV spots are still coming for The Rise Of Skywalker fast erthan I can post.

Here's 27-30 (one of which has been posted on my blog already)

Six days to go, Star Wars Families and Rogue One

Six days to go......

StarWars.com has published this nice little video in association with eBay titled Families.


Our viewing tonight was Rogue One. This has to be one of my all time favourite Star Wars films.

Waking up to some kind of dystopian nightmare....

...left me feeling VERY flat. I make no apologies for this as it is how I feel right now!

Seven days to go, a new TV spot and Solo

Seven days to go. That's one week, ONE WEEK! Oh my gosh!

I missed this one when it came out although this countdown refers to the US release rather than the UK one, we get it a day earlier! Good to see it anyway! Here we have TV spot 27.


Tonight we watched Solo: A Star Wars Story. This film was really underrated and it's a shame it was received so poorly as we thought it was actually really good. Worth it alone for the Darth Maul reveal at the end.

Here's an exclusive scene from The Rise Of Skywalker. Don't watch this if you don't want spoilers!

Eight days to go and Revenge Of The Sith

Well here we are with EIGHT days to go until the release of The Rise Of Skywalker. I might be a little bit excited!

Tonight we watched one of my favourites, Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. Ignoring the 'Nooooo' sequence this film brilliantly portrays Anakin's final fall to the dark side and his emergence as Darth Vader. I'm still conflicted about Order 66 to this day!

The Rise Of Skywalker One Final Journey

Here is another short promo for The Rise Of Skywalker called One Final Journey


9 days to go!!!!!

Tonight we did Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. This is probably my least favourite of all of the films although it does have some shining moments. It's a Star Wars film every night now until we get to the release of The Rise Of Skywalker.

The Rise Of Skywalker interviews with Xilla Valentine

Tonight we started out official countdown to The Rise Of Skywalker by watching Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It's not to everybody's taste but I love this film!

Here are some interviews that Xilla Valentine did with the cast of The Rise Of Skywalker. Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Naomi Ackie, JJ Abrams, Anthony Daniel and Joonas Suotamo.

Video linked from the NOTHING BETTER TO YOUTUBE channel

The Rise Of Skywalker Full Press Conference

A few days ago there was a press conference held for The Rise Of Skywalker. The cast of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" sits down to discuss the upcoming movie and end of the Skywalker Saga. Director J.J. Abrams, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega and more share their thoughts during the global press conference. It's taken me a while to track down a vide for this but here it is....


The days are closing in.......

Tomorrow night we start watching a Star Wars movie every day to count down the days until we get to see The Rise Of Skywalker!

The Rise Of Skywalker Friendship featurette

The countdown to The Rise Of Skywalker continues and we are still getting given more good promotional material. Today StarWars.com released this Friendship featurette.

12 days to go!!!!!!!

More The Rise Of Skywalker TV spots

Sorry, not sorry. Perhaps you were reading my blog hoping to hear more about me and how my day went? It went well. Now, on to more pressing business.... Just when you thought they couldn't possibly have any more TV spots for The Rise Of Skywalker we get another SIX. Yes you heard that right, SIX more bringing the total now to 26!

So here we go, 21, 22, 23 and 24


25 and 26

13 days to go!!!!!!!!!!

Star Wars: Rise Of The Resistance

In other Star Wars news, Disney have now released some new images for the Rise Of The Resistance ride at their Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge part of their Disneyland park in Anaheim, California. It looks pretty cool....

At some point in the future I feel there might be a need to arrange a short vacation LOL

Two weeks to go!!!!!!!