First of all CONGRATULATIONS to Melbournians for tolerating months of lockdown, but you have done it! No cases for a week. Hopefully, you can start to enjoy life again a little. All states in Australia are down to zero or single digit cases now. We have adhered to strict restrictions and now we are so lucky compared to Europe and USA.
Every year on the second Tuesday in November, The Melbourne Cup horse race is run. It is our most famous race nicknamed, 'The Race That Stops a Nation' because everyone stops at 3:00 pm to watch the race. There are many parties and sweeps arranged around the country. However, due to Melbourne's Covid restrictions the race was run without the thousands of spectators that usually go dressed in their best or most outlandish costumes and hats.
Naturally, our village joined in the fun. The staff organised a luncheon and viewing of the race in our community centre. We had prawns, chicken, salad and bread rolls a typical race day lunch. We had winners of the sweeps and winners of the best dressed. Annie, one of our residents, made hundreds of hats for us to hire for $5 and then she donated the money to an animal refuge.
Wonderful! Loved all the photos, especially the last one :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Cup you have had, you all look great and happy.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a lot of fun. Gatherings like you're having are only a dream in much of the world at this point so well done to Melbourne and to all of Australia.
ReplyDeleteThe hat hire to raise money for a charity was an inspired idea.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we will ever see buffets again. Were they ever a good idea really anyway?
And I don't think we will see people blowing out candles on cakes that others will eat either. Was that ever a good idea either?
The last photo is great. Super hats!
Hello,
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, celebrating the Melbourne Cup! The luncheon looks great, yummy food. The Covid cases are going up all around the USA. Take care, enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy weekend!
Oh, you have such fun there, don't you? What great ideas. So glad the Covid news from Australia is positive. One day, hopefully, we'll get there too but we are in the midst of it again right now. Stricter lockdown - I believe it's necessary but it is a bit tedious.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun Diane, love the shot of you both, Bill's top hat is classic and your fascinator fascinating 😉
ReplyDeleteI was happy to hear that all of Australia has done so well beating down Covid. I think it will be quite some time before we reach that state of affairs. It looks as if you had a great luncheon and lots of fun celebrating the Melbourne Cup.
ReplyDeleteAmazing that you can all be together and not fear the virus!! Good job.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to be jealous! It looks like so much fun and I love your hat. And as always the food looks delicious and everybody looks happy happy. You are truly blessed to be in a country that's almost free of the
ReplyDeleteThat all looks like great fun. Glad to hear of the good news from Melbourne, not least because I have several friends who moved over there many years ago.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the COVID lessening.
ReplyDeleteWell done and wow, your place certainly has a lot of fun celebrating.
Love all the photos.
Sue
When I thinnk of the Melbourne Cup I think of my Nana she loved the cup
ReplyDeleteLove the hat for hire idea. Having a fancy hat adds to enjoyment of The Cup.
ReplyDeleteFun, fun, fun! So glad many of your restrictions have been lifted. Stay well.
ReplyDeleteAnother fun party gathering that was also sports related and with more great food, Diane. Congrats to Bill on the win as well. It was also nice to see that people were able to get together and have fun, something that’s sorely missing many places now.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have the best dressed, best fed, best fun of anyone I know! Yay Bill for the winning pick!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear your numbers of Covid are so low. You have so much fun in your retirement home. Well done to Bill for winning the sweepstake.
ReplyDeleteYet more fun!
ReplyDeleteIt all looks good.
All the best Jan
You are lucky compared to us ... well, really not luck, it is the result of hard work and willingness to sacrifice some for the good of all on the part of all of you ... and of course of good leadership, which we have lacked obviously. .... you all deserved the fin time and it looked like you enjoyed it !
ReplyDeleteLooks/sounds like another fun event at your place, and how wonderful to hear the Covid numbers are so low. People over here have been so resistant to obeying the restrictions and wearing masks, and have made light of the seriousness of the pandemic, calling it fearmongering, and as a result we're having another serious spike.
ReplyDeleteIts fun to see what you did on Cup Day Diane. Great food and good times with lots of happy smiles! Yourself and Bill look charming too xx
ReplyDeleteI was in the city (Sydney) on Cup Day. It as very subdued, I hardly saw any people let along party goers. I am so pleased for Victoria - that horrible time seems to have paid off.
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