Melbourne Cup 2012

Today is the day when a horse race stops this nation, The MELBOURNE CUP. On the strike of 3pm in Melbourne a bunch of horses at Flemington start racing anti-clockwise around and everyone watches it in Australia. Australia comes to a stop. Except school teachers, Diane tells me, have to watch a replay after school.

Or friend Colin has been excited for weeks studying the form and picking a winner. Once again, Diane and I had a quiet lunch for two on the balcony before the race.

For our overseas readers, here are some pics of the event, taken off the telly:

Our Melbourne Cup Luncjh, cheers.....

Here we go.

A couple of Royals came out to watch the race.

There in the starting gates.

Let's go...

...and they're off.

A real shot of the field

Coming up to the first bend

the field approaches

The winner GREEN MOON passes the gate

The proud winner

The winner gives a TV interview.

No doubt, we'll do it all again, this time next year.