We used to live on the beachfront in a tiny flat at Wamberal.
It was in a block of units next to Wamberal Surf Club car park, long since demolished for more modern housing.
On days when we weren't working, we'd surf the Wamberal to Terrigal stretch, depending on what break was working best.
We'd walk that same stretch of beach at night, going out at Terrigal beer garden - a place that used to be known as Peppers.
Now it's known as the Florida Beach Bar at Crowne Plaza.
Anyhow, as you may have seen in the news, you can't walk that same stretch of beach at the moment.
The ocean has consumed it and expensive houses are close to falling into the sea.
What was that Jimi Hendrix song?
And so castles made of sand, fall in the sea, eventually.
Wamberal is famous for its Wambie Whopper hamburgers at a takeaway shop not far from the beach. It's also famous for its epic erosion, which has been happening for decades.
Two homes fell into the sea at Wamberal in 1978 during big seas, as this image shows.
Working for the Central Coast Herald in 2003, the recently retired journalist Joanne McCarthy reported that the then Gosford City Council was "about to decide whether to lobby for $10 million" so homes wouldn't fall into the sea again.
"The loss of more homes along the Wamberal beachfront known as 'Millionaire's Row' is inevitable if nothing is done," Joanne reported at the time.
Another former Newcastle Herald journalist, Carrie Fellner, reported on the Wamberal situation in the SMH on Monday, mentioning the 1978 incident.
Carrie spoke to Garry Egger, who "lost everything" when his mother's home was one of those to fall into the sea 42 years ago.
Garry sued Gosford council over rocks that had been placed in front of a neighbouring property. He asserted that the rocks contributed to the destruction of his mother's home. He lost the case.
"I have every right to be bitter with the council but to be honest I don't think it's the council's fault. These buildings never should have been built in the first place," he said.
And now, we really can hear Hendrix's signature whirring guitar sound and soulful voice. Figuratively and literally. We have Spotify.
Life's A Beach
Stockton has, of course, been in the news a lot for its erosion. And last week, Jimmys beach near Tea Gardens was back under the spotlight as an erosion hotspot.
The big picture isn't a pretty picture.
"Sandy beaches comprise about a third of the world's coastline. And Australia, with nearly 12,000 kilometres at risk, could be hit hard," UNSW Professor John Church wrote in The Conversation.
To adapt to the beach erosion we can no longer prevent, we need "beach nourishment (adding sand to beaches to combat erosion) and other soft and hard engineering solutions," John wrote.
"In some cases, we'll even need to retreat from the coast to allow the beach to migrate landward. And if we are to continue to enjoy our sandy beaches into the future, we cannot allow ongoing and increasing greenhouse gas emissions."
Non-Viral Jokes
What did the ocean say when it saw the beach? Nothing, it just waved.
What did the beach say as the tide came in? Long time, no sea.
What's the best beach day? Sun-day.
