Around the same time in the last year, I knew that I will write this post. Melbourne Cup goes on every year but the most exciting moment for majority of people only lasts no more than 30 seconds. 3200 meters race is really not a long distance for horse. Without seeing clearly which horse actually first had rushed through the finishing line, the game is already over.

Money won, money blown up; people happy, people sad; the tiny sized jockey looked like a national hero, I can’t help asking “excuse me, didn’t the horse just run the whole course and get your ass to this position?” What the reward for the winning horse? Get well fed? or a luxury treat in 10 stars hotel or praised with a super beautiful female horse for one night, like all the heroes in those movies had?

So in my 3rd year playing with so-called sweep thing in an office, I decided not only blow up less money, but also walk one more step further, organising the sweeps. So I bought the paper in the morning, prepared sweeps in the basket, collected money from everyone, distributed prizes and giving the winnings.

Champagne is a perfect companion for this sort of occasion, so when we gathered up in our meeting room with sparkling pink liquor, all staring at a super small early 90s Television, I felt that actually I was not very interested in race itself, but other things, like the atmosphere and the culture behind this.

Office phone has been quiet. There was no traffic when we drove back home from my tonight’s Yoga Pilates class as restaurants in ACT all close today and Melbourne Cup Day was being enjoyed as a public holiday. Even if I once again blew up two dollars in this afternoon’s race, I still can say to myself: “I really had a very relaxing day”