This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Cup. I've been photographing the race since 1993. That was my first year, and I am ashamed to say that I was completely overwhelmed by the occasion and by the sheer noise of the crowd. I botched the finish completely. I did redeem myself a little bit my taking a very nice sequence from the top of the Clock Tower building. But given that the winner was Vintage Crop, that it was the first time international horses had competed in the race, and one of them had actually won the race, in large part I shall never forgive myself for this failure. I did take some good shots though, and wasn't completely hopeless, but admit to being overwhelmed come the Cup. Sigh... 1994 - kinder to me. I wasn't properly accredited yet, and it was cold and wet, but I did get some proper images of the finish. I really liked the winner, a stallion called Jeune, too (although didn't put any money on him, alas, he paid $20), but the Cler...

On the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend, we journeyed back down to Tathra. It was the first trip away where we got to take the WORK CAR! Ie - we didn't have to pay for petrol, or watch Dan's (Dan is my faithful, albeit slightly tired these days, Subaru) temperature gauge constantly to check that his engine wasn't doing anything evil. Although Stuart constantly grumbled about how he couldn't fit enough gear in to the work car (Rav 4), it was lovely and comfortable, and warm and I got to be a passenger for once, as only Stuart is allowed to drive it! We couldn't leave Canberra until Stuart finished work, so it was a late get away at 5pm. We stopped at the Bemboka Pub for dinner. I like Bemboka (although not in summer's, it's a stinking hot and evil oven!), probably because it has a terrific Bakery/Pie Shop, and it has a horse named after it. He was a little grey horse and he won the Stradbroke Handicap in 1980, and he was called Bemboka Yacht. This was during...