​The Great Aussie Christmas: Where the Prawns are Big and the England Wickets Fall Fast

G’day from Gerroa: Prawns, Poms, and Peculiar Sleeping Arrangements

The roar of the ocean and the sweeping sands of Seven Mile Beach greeted us in Gerroa. We were there to spend Christmas with my childhood friend, Estelle, her husband Scott, and their son Nick. It has been 38 years since Estelle and I lived together on the edge of the Thamesmead Estate in South East London, and it’s fair to say that Gerroa is about as far from those days as you can get—both geographically and aesthetically.

Back then, our living situation was very "Morecambe & Wise." We shared everything—clothes, secrets, and even a double bed, simply because it was the only way we could afford the rent. It wasn't unusual to be walking down the street, see a woman, and think, "Blimey, she’s got the same dress as me," only to realize it was actually my Estelle wearing my clothes (and vice versa).

More Than Just a BBQ

While our surroundings have leveled up, our friendship remains exactly the same: filled with laughter, fun, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. The only difference now is that the quality of the food and wine has significantly improved!

It wasn't just prawns being tossed onto the barbie; they were joined by a literal seafood symphony of lobster tails, Balmain bugs, salmon, and scampi (or langoustine, for those of us from the UK). Some Wagyu beef was thrown into the mix for good measure. Honestly, the only thing preventing this from being the "Stereotypical Aussie Christmas" we’re sold back home was the weather.

We managed a couple of glorious sunny days before the clouds rolled in for Christmas Day. However, I made sure to get in the sea every single day. I can confirm for rowing friends: it is definitely warmer than the Thames!

We made good use of a music quiz game called Hitster. A massive shout-out to Nick for buying it as a gift for his mum; it was the gift that kept on giving (mostly to our competitive streaks). I can highly recommend it if you want to test your musical knowledge and your friendships.

Boxing Day brought the arrival of 12 more Australians. Unfortunately, this coincided with the start of the Fourth Test. Mark quickly realized he didn’t need to waste any mobile data to check the score; he was made fully aware by the locals every time an England wicket fell. If only we’d all been together the following day when the tables turned!

With the festivities winding down, Mark and I apaced up the car and headed off on our road trip down the Sapphire Coast.

Greenwell Point, Bermagui, and Eden—here we come!