Nov. 4^th, Sunday 

As per forecast, weekend was going to be ‘cold, rainy & windy’. Though I had plans to drive to the suburbs (for this purpose, took the car from office), the forecast cast shadow on my plans. Nevertheless, weekend to be enjoyed, rain of shine!

Horserace is in big way here in Melbourne. Coming Tuesday (6^th Nov) it s Public holiday due to Melbourne Cup. Horse race capable of stopping the nation! The prize money, as heard, is more than M$.  It is ‘world cup’, hence participation from all over the world. City hotels are full.

And yesterday (Saturday) it was Victoria Derby Day – Day of high class fashion and horse racing. Prize money $ 1.5M or more. It was time for the girls to dress up and celebrate with spouse/friends. Could see many girls dressed up in new (and skimpy!) dresses, and guys in Tuxedo’s. Girls were wearing hats with some kind of decorations – mostly feathers- on them. Am sure, most of the guys and girls have nothing to do with Horses, but use this occasion to dress up, scout in the city and celebrate. As currently I am staying in the midst of city, looking thru the window, I could see colorful couples. Being a windy day, some  poor (poor in clothes!) girls were trying hard to grab the end of their frocks (which hardly reached lower of thighs) together to beat the power of wind. Some of the sights reminded the ‘Marlene Monroe’ scene – the one where she tries to push down her skirt! As my friend said, the ladies buy expensive dress for the day, and costly high-heeled shoes; and during  the day they get drunk; and by evening they could be seen walking barefoot , with shoes in hand.  If not such a scene, I could see the ‘guys’ without jacket – as in the cold night, the scantly-dressed girls got covered with their guys’ jackets!

Another weekend getting over. To say about driving, I did drive to the suburbs to have a look. Nice grand houses, and greenery everywhere. It was drizzling (and the dirty car looks new now!). I think I feel jittery when I drive on the tall (as tall as around 15 storied building, I think) Westgate Bridge.

I try not to look thru side window, and concentrate on the road ahead.

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