How to Celebrate Australia Day like an ExPat This Boozy Weekend
This weekend is set to be a boozy affair across the nation. Firstly, is it Burns Night on Saturday January 25th when the Scots get out the single malts. Not to be overshadowed when it comes to whiskey, someone decided to make the same date National Irish Coffee Day, ensuring Jameson’s kept it’s place on the bar shelf for the day. Fearing they were being left out, the Welsh made the same day – officially St Dwynwen’s day – their version of Valentines Day, with many a bottle of champagne being swigged by the fire.
If you make it through that triple celebration on Saturday, then why not finish off the weekend by making our Aussie visitors feel welcome as they celebrate Australia Day on Sunday 26th. If there is one nationality with any chance of out drinking the Scots, then it’s the folk from Down Under. Combining them into an actual weekend could lead to Sickie Monday being brought forward a week.
What is Australia Day?
I assumed it was the day Cook discovered the land, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only is that not the reason – but that Cook wasn’t even the first European to set foot there. When Cook arrived in 1770, he was actually 164 years after the 1st documented explorer and 80 years after the 1st Brit – William Dampier. Dampier, however, was apparently a pirate and not about to be given credit by the UK government of the time, so the PR machine went into overdrive almost 250 years ago and we all know the power of PR only too well.
In fact, 26th January marks the day the First Fleet, carrying 1400 ‘settlers’ arrived in Botany Bay. So, the Aussie’s celebrate this by …well… drinking, partying, pub crawls and BBQing meat and Shrimp.
I may be wrong, but I suspect most English people would align more with the Expat Party then the incomprehensible prose. So how can you join in.
1. The Pub Crawl – For authenticity head to well know Aussie focal areas such as Fulham, Clapham and Soho. Great start points include
a. The Redback – 490 Fulham Rd, SW6 5NH
b. Milk Beach – Queen’s Park; 19 Lonsdale Road, NW6 6RA
c. The Falcon – 33 Bedford Rd, Clapham, SW4 7SQ
d. Walkabout – Temple Place, WC2R 2PH
e. Aussie Ale House – 40 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PP
2. Attend an organised event – here are some ideas
a. Australia Day Stand Up Comedy – Comedy Carnival, Leicester Square.
b. INXS Tribute band with Split Frenz – Dublin Castle, Parkway, Camden. (Happening on 25th Jan, so you’ll have to forego Burns Night)
c. The Australia Day Gala – For those wanting something a bit more upmarket. – The Peninsula Hotel – 1 Grosvenor Place, SW1H
d. Aussies In London Expat Party – Electric Brixton, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RJ.
3. Barbie in winter – If you’re feeling really brave (or have patio heating) why not have your own celebration. Here are some of things to serve.
a. Beer – preferably and Aussie vintage like Tooheys, Coopers or James Boags
b. Meat Pie – made with flaky pastry and gravy
c. King Prawns – the bigger the better
d. Lamingtons – a square sponge cake, filled with cream and jam and covered in chocolate icing and coconut.
e. Damper – A thick bread traditionally eaten round camp fires
To help make your BBQ more authentic (LOL) – download the flag below and string several print outs together for your bunting.
I’ve added few other little graphics to help also.
So have a G’day when it finally arrives.
