I haven’t been handling this retirement caper very well at all - especially not in recent months.
So having a couple of weeks break has been fantastic. Recommend it to anyone.
I just need to work on having them a little more often that’s all.
Anyway, we had the good fortune to take a trip south and look at the magnificent scenery along the Great Ocean Road. Truly something special.
I realise that one of the worst things one can do after being on a great holiday is bring out all the piccies and start boring people with them.
So I have left the family alone and instead, will tell (or is that bore?) you all about it in future editions.
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There’s no doubt the Melbourne Cup is a truly special event.
‘The race that stops a nation’ - it really does.
But I do have some reservations about declaring it a public holiday here in NSW.
Apparently this is the latest move being put forward. It is coming from Racing NSW.
They say that thousands already take the day off and treat it like a quasi public holiday anyway. So it should be formalised.
I can’t see a problem with a public holiday in Victoria, but here - surely they are joking, having a lend of us.
Maybe we should seek a public holiday - why not a week? - for the Elvis Festival in January.
Anyway, the Cup has come and gone again, and what a Shocking result it was.
Certainly for me.
It’s the only betting splurge I have each year and I went into six different sweeps.
Finished up with 17 different horses - and got one third!
Way short of the outlay.
But the race is what it’s all about, and it was terrific watching such a great finish.
It never surprises me how people arrive at their choice to back in the Melbourne Cup.
One told me her father enjoys his beer and is now a Pop, so obviously it was Alcopop.
All of the local constabulary were out in force to enjoy the race, yet none backed Crime Scene (which came seccond).
Then there was the woman who was looking for inspiration and had a blue with her child who she described as ‘shocking’.
So that was the obvious choice - and now she thinks her kid is wonderful!
Yep, it’s a great occasion, but let’s forget this public holiday rubbish.
- - - -
Before we went away for the break, we had the pleasure of enjoying the open gardens which were on offer in Parkes.
I can’t believe what magnificent displays we have here in Parkes.
You would never think we were ten years into a drought - these oases (is that plural for oasis?) were amazing.
We visited ten gardens - each quite different and all unbelievable.
I was almost (almost, I said Chris) inspired to get home and get into the garden myself.
No doubt there are many others around as well, but on behalf of the hundreds of garden lovers who were out and about that day, I thank those who did open their private wonderlands to all of us.
The Quota Club arranges the open gardens every two years.
If it ever does rain - a decent drop - again, maybe there will be others who will feel confident enough to open their gardens in the alternate years.
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There have been some changes here at the Champion Post as we prepare for life after someone retires.
I’m thrilled to be able to welcome two new journalists - Christine Speelman and Luke Merriman.
Chrissy as she has already been named, has settled in particularly well and is almost a local after three weeks!
Her weekly column has also received a good response, and will now be published each Wednesday.
Luke filled in while I was aware but had commitments back in Wagga this week.
He starts in earnest next week and will bring some fresh new ideas to the paper.
He has already purchased a house in anticipation of a long stay.
We’ll introduce him in more detail next week but I am confident locals will welcome both in the normal warm fashion Parkes is so well known for.
They are keen for residents to come in and say g’day.
- - - -
And finally, yet another of those terms which has been changed (as I commented on a few weeks back).
I’ve had a few peo ple point plenty of them out but I can only remember the one brought to my attention this week.
No longer do we have ‘saleyards’ but ‘livestock exchanges.’
Obviously!
- - - -
THOUGHT FOR
THE WEEK:
‘Live for today, and tomorrow discover it all again.’
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