Melbourne Cup

The money was being put on the table. The pre-lunch nibbles were being consumed. A great start to the celebration of the annual horse racing event that everyone around the country stops for. True. Example: I was in a bank a few years ago in NSW about to be served by the teller when someone suddenly turned up a radio with the calling of the race. Everyone froze listening intently and "business as usual" only resumed when the race had come to an end. That wouldn't happen in Melbourne now because it's been declared a holiday and no banks would be open but you get the idea.

Every year we join 8 or 10 others, all dressing up to some degree to get into the spirit of things. We run a small sweep and we each contribute something towards lunch after which we watch the running of the main race on TV. This year I looked after dessert - thank you Jamie Oliver! 'New York baked vanilla cheesecake with blueberries' and since I'm aware not everyone likes cheesecake, I also made his 'Strawberries with lemon & mint'. 

The 2015 Melbourne Cup offered a purse containing AUD$6.2 million in total prize money (1st prize AUD$3,600,000) so it's no small fry in the spring racing carnival calendar. A lovely afternoon and we didn't lose any money; didn't come home with a profit either but that's OK.