The Rate that Stopped a Nation

Will more people be interested in the 0.5 percent predicted cut in interest rates at 2.30pm or the Melbourne Cup at 3pm.

Which one will pay down your mortgage faster? I was surprised to hear that the pace of betting is consistent with two years ago and bets of hundreds of thousands of dollars are being placed. Tough times indeed.

Personally I like some of the horses names. Honolulu, Profound Beauty and Zipping.

It certainly is a fun day in the office.

Melbourne Cup Update

Seems that they have found enough healthy horses to run the Melbourne Cup this year. The Camel Racing and Pantomime Horse Back Ups have been canceled. Let the fun begin.

It is a fun time of the year, with everybody stopping for a short time to share time together to watch a horse race.

The political version from Nicholson is here. Funny.

Melbourne Cup Still On

Worried about the nation not being stopped, back up plans for the Melbourne Cup are still in place despite the arrival of 50,000 horse flu (equine influenza for the knowledegable) vaccinations from France this week.

Taking a cue from the outback race in Queensland that went ahead with no horse racing other than hobby horses, earlier in the year, hundreds of Pantomime Horses and other Human Horses are hard at work getting in shape. The back up plan ensures there will be at least some racing, the Milliners, the Caterers and the Designers can make a buck and that everyone can still get dressed up and drunk on that first Tuesday in November.

Melbourne to get the Eye

Melbourne has started work on their equivalent of the London Eye, which will be located in Docklands. The Southern Star Observation Wheel will open in late 2008 and is about the same size as the London Eye.

I went on the London Eye, the last time I was there in early 2000. Worthwhile to do once.

Melbourne Cup Day

Welcome to Silly Hat Day. Happy Punting Fellow Ozzies. More money for the Tab today than the rest of the year put together. Leighton's wife starred with the fashion faux pas of the day, although it looked better with a jacket. Two Japanese horses duelled for top honours. Today was the first time I had been in an Australian Office for the Melbourne Cup and it is true. Everything did stop (other than drinking). Fun times.