Christmas in July

01 August 2024 / Story: Kim Mackechnie; Photos: Anda Clayton

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS Sunday 28 July


On a brisk winter’s morning we started our Christmas in July adventure at the Heritage Bakery at Milton with eight members and headed north. After a rendezvous with four members at South Nowra we travelled north to Gerringong for a cuppa and chat at the Sea Vista Café, where we met up with two more members. Despite being booked, our table wasn’t ready and people had to be moved to eventually accommodate our large group. This place was packed… but it was Sunday morning! Most of us just had a hot drink as we were all looking forward to lunch.

After being rehydrated we drove through Kiama, where we were joined by two more members, Jamberoo and Robertson to our destination at Bundanoon. A lovely drive with spectacular scenery. Green fields and rolling hills. Lots of bends and corners to test our driving skills. When we arrived at our destination, Bundanoon Hotel it certainly felt like a cold Christmas Day as it was minus two at 12:00pm. The wind was bitter and cut right through to the bones. Fred and Kim, Anda and Brian were the only people brave enough to go ‘tops down’ on the drive. Luckily, we were welcomed with our own private room in front of a log fire. Seven more members joined us here making twenty three members from four Chapters. The food was delicious - we dined on a succulent feast; roast turkey & lamb, cold ham, crispy roast potatoes, roast pumpkin and cold peas in fetta, followed by plum pudding with cream and custard. 

It should be Christmas every day ….. although our waistlines wouldn't agree.

Thanks to Anda and her assistant Brian for organising the run. Let’s hope this becomes an annual event.

Kim Mackechnie