h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today we celebrated the Melbourne Cup: a horse race run over the Flemington turf and a carnival for a day.

The first Tuesday in November is a Public Holiday in Victoria but not up here in Queensland. This doesn't seem to concern anyone very much however: for most office parties and sweepstakes fill the working eight.

I am lucky and draw one of the short-priced horses, the second top-weight and Japanese import Delta Blues in the depot $5 sweep. At 1:59pm we settle in front of a television. A moment on, shortly after 2pm (we're an hour behind Melbourne's daylight savings) they're "racing"; for just over three minutes the party gives way to the competition.

3200m later, my horse holds off a challenge from stablemate Pop Rock and takes the Cup by a nose. That's seventy dollars in my pocket thank you very much.

Ah, in the other thread I asked if you were now in Oz - from this I see that you are. Is it a permanent move, or are you just there for a project?

Well done for winning the sweep!

Closer to permanent than temporary I'd have to say. Can't rule out some more of the expatriate existence in the future, but nothing is planned.

MT