Coronavirus: Fortunate Poms just happy to be here

Expatriate Brits and ­European travellers have enjoyed ­infinitely better Christmases than the COVID ones their families were enduring at home.

British expats, from left, Rich Garratt, Francesca Di Dino, Amie Lloyd, Abby Lythgoe, Lauren Stalker and Chris Bass celebrate in style on Sydney’s Bronte Beach despite the chilly weather. Picture: Nikki Short

Christmas on Sydney’s famed beaches was buffeted by a cold wind and regular doses of drizzle turning to rain — but for the hardy groups of expatriate Brits and ­European travellers, it was still ­infinitely better than the COVID Christmases their families were enduring at home.

As he celebrated the holiday with a group of friends on a rainswept Bondi in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, 23-year-old British traveller PJ Green said he would much rather be celebrating Christmas in Australia than in a Tier-4 lockdown back home.

“My family are all together, bubbled up in Gloucestershire, but I have friends who are in London in lockdown,” Mr Green said.

“I know they are trying to keep positive in difficult times, but I would rather be here.”

With many of their families enduring strict lockdowns, the impact of a Brexit breakthrough was also seen as something of a mixed blessing. Just days out from the deadline of December 31, Britain and the EU struck a trade deal on Christmas Eve after months of intense negotiations designed to soften the economic shock of Brexit.

Mr Green said he was personally disappointed by the Brexit decision but knew others would be glad it had reached a conclusion.

“I’m quite sad to leave Europe,” he said. “But on the other hand, everyone has been waiting for some good news, so it’s nice to see something come out of it.”

Fellow Brit Francesca Di Dino, who has lived in Australia for the past six years, said while she was glad to be celebrating Christmas at Bronte Beach, she could not help feeling guilty for those back home.

“I really feel for my family in England,” she said. “I feel a bit guilty for having such a good time here over the holidays when they can’t even leave the house.”

On Boxing Day, six million more people in England’s east and southeast are due to enter Tier-4 — the highest level of restrictions, which includes a stay-at-home order — after the number of new cases of COVID-19 skyrocketed.

Originally from Kent in southeast England, Ms Di Dino said she found Brexit “hard to talk about” and feared it was fracturing the country.

“It is so split between the younger and older generations, I really think it is creating a divide,” Ms Di Dino said.

“The majority of the UK are just glad the government has come to an agreement after all this time. But personally, I think it’s quite sad that we are leaving the EU.

“I feel lucky to live in Australia because it won’t affect me as much, but when you think about the next generation, they are not going to know Europe or be able to travel as freely as we did.”

Belgian Karen Biesemans, who was also among the visitors at Bondi, said she was curious how the impact of the Brexit move would impact on other European countries in coming years.

“I’m interested to see what will happen over the next few years,” she said. “I hope other countries will follow Britain’s lead if it turns out to benefit everyone involved. I think lately Europe hasn’t been doing the best in terms of its handling of coronavirus, as well as other issues like dealing with refugees.”

Under the new Brexit deal, Britain and the 27-nation bloc can continue to trade in goods without tariffs and quotas after the UK officially leaves the EU on January 1.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country had taken back control of its laws and its destiny. “We’ve taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation in a way that is complete and unfettered,” he said.