Happy Christmas from The Bahamas!

John and Laura Mollen have called The Bahamas home since September this year. Based in the capital Nassau, the couple, John from Ferbane, and Laura from nearby Clonfanlough, Clonmacnoise, previously lived in the Middle East for close to nine years, predominantly in Qatar.

“We are still settling into our new life, here in The Bahamas, but up to now, it’s all about the glorious beaches and blue, blue waters! Really it's breathtaking!

“The greatest adjustment for us is the change of pace, after previously living in the Middle East, where we were go, go, go, all the time. Now we have to frequently have to remind ourselves of the no rush 'island mentality,” John jokes, saying he loves waking up to sunshine, but electricity cuts frequently happen in the country, which lies only 80km from the eastern tip of Cuba, and 100km from the southeast coast of the state of Florida, so being prepared for that is a challenge!

He says the hardest thing about being abroad at Christmas is “being away from our family and all the traditions that accompany that. Also meeting and catching up with old friends is something we miss… and of course, we miss having a real Christmas tree from our own bog in the house,” he quips.

Depending on the work schedule, John and Laura plan to get together with some of their new friends and work colleagues on Christmas Day to celebrate and have a few festive cheers!

Asked his favourite festive tradition in his adopted home, John replies: “Due to our ex-pat life, we have experienced the Christmas traditions of so many different cultures! We love it! From Christmas day BBQs, to Christmas Eve gift exchanges (instead of the 25th), to the Kiwi version of secret Santa, to drinking upside down and slapping wine bags! Each year brings something new.”

Looking back to Christmas times past back home, the Ferbane man's best memories were waking up as a child to all the Santa gifts. In more recent times, he enjoyed the charity one-mile runs and festive GAA matches at his local GAA club in Ferbane.

The Offaly couple are keen to send special Christmas greetings to “our fantastic families of course who we miss dearly also to our many, many friends at home in Ireland and across so many parts of the globe”.

For 2022, John and Laura Mollen plan to travel to a new country or city to ring in the New Year there, or as he says himself “start the year with a bang!”.