Hello.
Nice to meet you.
It’s been a while since we spoke.
I’ll fill you in on everything that’s been going on later.
For now I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!
I’ll be spending my holidays in Marble Bar, Australia.
This little hole-in-the-wall has about 200 residents, half of which are not here right now because they left to spend their holidays somewhere else.
There are no tourists around (except me) because it’s too hot this time of the year (40+ degrees every day).
Some of the residents nearly didn’t make it out in time. Cyclone season has started in this neck of the woods, which means heavy rains that will leave many roads flooded and therefor closed. Some people actually didn’t make it out in time and are forced to spend their holidays here. Away from their loved ones. Thank God there is a pub in this town!
If the weather is one big difference for me during Christmas, the way of spending it is another. For me personally of course, because it’s the first time I won’t be home for Christmas and have to find other people to be merry with. In general as well, as people here don’t confine their holidays to their family. At all. On Christmas Day, the biggest event in town will be the orphans lunch.
In short: if you have nobody to spend Christmas with, or if you want to get away from your family, or if you want to take your family out and see other people, you go to the orphans lunch. Everyone is invited, as long as you bring some food. All that food will be shared into a massive spread for everyone to enjoy.
Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? It’s a great solution for someone like me. But also for plenty of other people in town who’ve moved here for work and left their families behind (or don’t have a family) And if you’re not a great cook, you just bring a cheese platter and enjoy everyone else’s home cooked meals!
There’s a lot to be said about small communities, but when it comes to Christmas, I’m happy to be here: it’s not gonna be a lonely Christmas this year.
Merry Christmas!
