melbourne cup

♘ my winning outfit, 2004











































































♘ ive just been browsing facebook and noticed that 'oak's day' has just passed- the best day of the melbourne cup and horse-racing at its finest....although to be honest- does anyone actually watch the horses racing?

oaks day used to be one of my favourite days of the year. i can still feel the buzz of excitement that spreads over the whole city, through all the trams, packed with people on their way to to the races, dressed up as ladies and gentlemen in tuxedo's, cocktail dresses, hats and fascinators, with their picnic hampers full of gourmet nibblies and a bottle of grog hidden somewhere (it's always discovered by the bag-checkers at the entrance, but worth a shot all the same).

the most important thing was to get there as early as possible so as to snatch the best space on the lawn for your picnic blanket. then you'd proceed directly to skull champagne under the blaring hot sun, meanwhile judging and criticizing the outfit of every girl walking past. after all, it's not called 'ladies day' for nothing. of course it's a competition!

one year i went with my swedish girlfriend, jeanette. on her way to the bar, she walked past the snazzy grand-stand, reserved for all the high-roller businessmen and they called her over to tell her they'd unanimously voted her as the best dressed of the day!

later that same day i had my drink spiked (for real) and gained consciousness while walking along the middle of the train tracks in some industrial suburb, still in heels and black evening dress! i was bagless and clueless but unharmed. i found a policeman who i ran to sobbing, but i couldn't remember a single phone number to call for help, which seemed to irritate him so much that he sent me on my way!

apparently i'd told jeanette i was going to the toilet and just never came back! i found my way home in the end, and of course it didn't put me off returning to oaks day the following year! one year i went to the 'tatura cup', the country races, and won the 'fashions on the field' with a vintage outfit i'd put together. i scored a spot on tv and an all-inclusive weekend away at a health resort!

i think jerry would love the melbourne cup. fingers crossed (please immigration!!!) that we can make it next year....

♘