Many Brits hope for a white Christmas, sipping mulled wine watching Gavin & Stacey in front of the fire.
But mum-of-two Sarah Burghard has gone to great lengths to have a different kind of December 25.
Instead of sleigh bells and snow, interior designer Sarah, 56, has left her children, job and home in the UK behind, and will be basking in the sun of the paradise island of Lombok, Indonesia.
Sarah, 56, from Bristol, says: ‘If you had said to me this time last year that I’d be in Indonesia for Christmas, I wouldn’t have believed it.
‘I didn’t see it coming, but these are my golden years and this will be a golden Christmas.’
Before starting a family, Sarah had been a keen traveller, exploring bucket list destinations including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Peru, Ghana and Brazil.
But she hung up her backpack in 1998 when she had her son, Dylan, now 26, followed by Blake, 22.
As a busy mum building her business, Sarah thought her travelling days were behind her. But in 2023, her beloved mum, Sue, passed away aged 87, which led to a period of self-reflection.
By then, Sarah was divorced and her boys had both left home, so it was time for a change of scene.
Sarah says: ‘I decided to take a semi-sabbatical and go to Lombok. I had travelled there when I was younger, but hadn’t been back since.’
She packed her suitcase in November 2023, and flew out for a ‘magical’ month, before heading home to the UK for Christmas.
She says, ‘Back in Bristol, I had a small tree but the Christmas stockings were full of Indonesian spices and oils which I’d bought over there – reminders of that wonderful time I’d had.’
And, in the midst of an English winter, Sarah’s mind kept wandering back to Lombok.
Unable to get the island out of her head, she returned for a holiday with her sons in August 2024. She says, ‘They had a great time and both boys could see how happy I was here.
‘When I got back I felt totally refreshed, as if every cell of my body had been renewed.
‘I was determined to make this sense of well-being a continued part of my life.’
Keen to return her island paradise, Sarah started making plans. She says: ‘I looked at my diary and decided I would go in February 2025, but then I thought about it some more. I was just itching to get on with it.’
Sarah already knew she wouldn’t be spending Christmas with her children, as the boys would be with their dad. And, after the pandemic, her interior design business had diversified. meaning she was now able to work online, consulting and designing for people over the internet.
‘As someone who is divorced, there’s a lot of time to fill over the festive period,’ Sarah says. ‘I’m used to filling it with chocolate and wine but it can be quite a solitary time – I fancied something different this year.
‘In October this year, I spoke to my sons and asked how they’d feel if I lived in Indonesia for a while. I wanted their blessing.
‘They both encouraged me to go for it, and that was all the encouragement I needed.’
Sarah had already made friends on Lombok during visits, but she also took to Facebook, reaching out to the community, making business connections and friends.
She also arranged for friends to stay in her Bristol house to take care of it, and secured a visa.
She says: ‘I enjoyed final catch ups with clients and loved ones, and then packed my bags.’
Finally, on October 18, she took the 20 hour flight to Lombok. She says: ‘I had the belief and love of those close to me, and I was ready for the adventure.
‘I had connected with an expat property agent who found me a great deal for a flat. When I first arrived I took an AirBnB on the beach for £30 a night while I got my new home ready to settle into.’
Sarah documented her adventure on social media and through her blog, posting diary entries and photos to her followers and family as she settled in.
She says: ‘At the start I felt a sense of discombobulation as I wasn’t on holiday and life took a while to get into a routine, but now I have lots of ‘pinch me’ moments that this is my reality.’
Now, Sarah swims most mornings, she’s hired a motorbike to explore the area, and attends regular yoga classes. She’s even visited neighbouring islands such as Gili Trawangan,
Sarah says: ‘Living in Lombok costs a tenth of the price of living in Bristol. Out here, massages cost around £5 so I can do it every other day if I want.
‘The local people view it as an intrinsic part of selfcare, alongside swimming in magnesium pools and having saunas and ice baths. It’s what life is about.
‘There are also places serving the best food I have eaten.
‘I’ve got into a really nice routine, and most evenings I’m on a WhatsApp call with someone back home, which really makes me feel grounded and connected to my old life.’
And, Sarah says arriving in the rainy season has allowed her to slow down. ‘We get torrential rain once a day for about an hour,’ she says. ‘I find it very cleansing, it makes everything cooler and you just have to sit still.’
Now, Sarah’s been enjoying life in Lombok for almost two months and has no regrets. She’s planning her first Christmas in Indonesia and is looking forward to a very different celebration.
She says: ‘I haven’t got a clue what Christmas will look like for me.
‘I think I’ll be walking to the beach and sitting there all day, swimming and drinking fresh juice. I’ll video call my sons, who will be eight hours behind.
‘It doesn’t have a shape or structure and I have very low expectations – I just want it to be happy. I certainly won’t be seeking out a traditional roast!’
She adds: ‘So far, so grateful.
‘I’m doing what a lot of people wish they could do, but always find a reason not to.’
For more information about Sarah’s life as a digital nomad, visit her blog.
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