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How Tim Minchin almost spoilt my Christmas

How Tim Minchin almost spoilt my Christmas

'White Wine in the Sun' uncorks an aching nostalgia, but ultimately reminds us what unites, rather than divides, the English and Australian festivities.

Christmas Day in Sydney is a far cry from wintry London. Getty

In the English autumn of 2009, my wife and I went to see the then up-and-coming comedian Tim Minchin during one of his epic British tours. He obligingly reeled off his usual repertoire of the rude, the funny and the irreverent; and at the end, the audience obligingly cheered wildly and demanded an encore.

So he sat back down at his piano, took a deep breath and began a newly minted song. “I … [pause] … really like Christmas,” it starts.

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Hans van Leeuwen
Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondentHans van Leeuwen covers British and European politics, economics and business from London. He has worked as a reporter, editor and policy adviser in Sydney, Canberra, Hanoi and London. Connect with Hans on Twitter. Email Hans at hans.vanleeuwen@afr.com

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Original URL: https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/travel/how-tim-minchin-almost-spoilt-my-christmas-20201111-p56dev