Melbourne Cup adventures

We woke up on Saturday morning ready for a big day of shopping and catching up with Tammy and Paul who we have not seen for 2 years.  Our first stop was to South Melbourne to get the ingredients for dinner that night.  After our week of eating out I decided that I would surprise our guests with a home cooked meal for their first couple of nights.  Also they had had a big couple of days flying from Derby to Perth on Friday and then to Melbourne on Saturday so I decided that a night in might be very welcome.

We filled the trolley with lots of fresh fruit and vegies, salmon and cheese at the market before visiting the local supermarket for the more mundane milk and bread.  We stopped for a yummy brunch at Panette's once more before walking home to try and fit it all in the fridge.  A couple more hours of washing and soon it was time to head for the airport to meet our weary travellers.

It was so good to see them both again.  We soon arrived home and settled in an evening of eating, drinking and catching up on all their news and adventures of the past two years. 

On Sunday Paul wanted to have a look at the NGV so we all walked up to the gallery and spent a couple of hours wandering through the European Art rooms and some newly opened short term installations.  The photograhic display had us scratching our heads as did this colourful marching band but as I've said before art is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

We left soon after and had a wander through the St Kilda Rd markets before crossing the road to grab lunch at Riverland Bar by the Yarra.  Sausages and cider was a pretty tasty lunch and soon after we climbed the stairs to see the Ian Potter Gallery at Fed Square.  Some great Australian artworks here but again some odd bits and pieces as well.  Home again and dinner that night was Pumpkin, Spinach, Fetta and Pine nut pizza with a few glasses of Red before we all fell into bed after our day of culture.

Monday was a day of shopping as we joined the rush in the millenery depts of Myer and David Jones.  I can't believe how many people leave it until the day before.  At least Tammy had an excuse this year!  Paul and I just stood back and watched in amazement at what could only be called a 'feeding frenzy' as everybody searched for the perfect hat, hatinator and or fascinator.  With mission accomplished we lunched at Brunetti's in Myer  before returning home for a rest before dinner.  Tonight we were off to Moreton's in Carlton where we had another lovely dinner and a great night.

Cup Day dawned quite grey and the forecast wasn't so great but we all got up, donned the glad rags and crossed our fingers that the weather would hold.  We arrived at the track just as the thrid race was running and found our little piece of grass to settle our rug on right in front of the Fashions in the Field and the Yellowstone Marquee.

It is a favourite place and we were surprised to find that there was room left but perhaps the weather had put people off coming out too early.  We were soon settled in with a few bets and a bottle of Yellow to start the day and not long after my horse ran 3rd in Race 4 so a good start to the day though it seemed that we weren't going to break any records in the winning stakes this year with each of us not doing much better during the day.  Still it's all about the event on Cup Day but it's still nice to win a little.

This year Flemington played host to HRH Prince Charles and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall.  It was a little difficult to see them clearly as they drove past in their car but I did manage to see 'the royal wave' as they passed.  After that I just watched the big screen where I could see them properly.  Camilla presented the Cup to the winner and seemed to be enjoying her day - albeit a little different from our day on the grass!

Not long after the main event the sky went very black and on seeing the lightening in the distance we decided to beat the crowds and leave the track while we were still dry.  We made it to the train before the rain really came down and once back in town stopped for a drink at The Leftbank before catching a tram up to South Melbourne where we had an early dinner at The Blue Room.  We had a great day and really enjoyed the spectacle that is The Melbourne Cup once again.  It really is something that everyone should experience at least once.

Bill had to return to work on Wednesday but I was on leave so spent most of the day with our tourists.  Leaving them to visit the State Library, I went to Myer to pick up a couple of things I had seen the week before.  No frantic shoppers today so I was in and out fairly quickly.  Once we met up again we had a wander through some smaller shops before heading to South Melbourne Markets and then lunch at Chez Dre before making our way home for Tammy and Paul to pack.  They were flying back to Perth that evening.  It was great to see them both again even though it was only for a few days and we look forward to next time.

Thursday and Friday were free days for me, still on holidays but I kept busy with housework first before catching the train down to Mum's where Bill met us for dinner at the Chelsea Pub.  It was nice to be able to take some time out and just get everything done in my own time.

We drove to Healesville on Sunday morning to see Astrid and Hans and spent a few hours over a lovely lunch on the balcony of Mt Rael restaurant.  It was a long overdue celebration for Astrid's and Bill's birthday and we all enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in the sun.  It was with great difficulty that we dragged ourselves away for the long drive home.

The following Wednesday night we met Maree at the Caulfield RSL for dinner and had a great night having a quite catch up and reliving some old memories.  It was at this very RSL that we saw our first Total Eclipse back in '75 or '76 and that very morning I had watched this years one from Qld.  How about that.  Uncle David used to live in the next street in Elsternwick and so Bill and spent some time with him in the lovely old building.  It is a new fence line but otherwise is still the same and the food was very nice.  We will return!

And so there ends our weeks adventures around Mebourne's Cup Day and we are now looking forward to the coming weekend when we hitch up the camper trailer again and head for Echuca.

until next time......