Round The World

So Jason’s dad arrived and took the bed that Stephen had been using. We were all set now, we had no problem housemates, at least not for another few weeks. We had tickets for the four race days so it was gonna cost quite a bit of money. Paul had since been let go from his job as there was no work for them, so he was living full time in the house with us now. Of course, he still wanted to be drinking all the time so the weekdays were getting just as expensive as the weekends. Jason’s dad had brought over our suits for us to wear to he races so we were all set.

The first day at the races was great. It was a Saturday, and the sun was shining. There was 130,000 people there, but we managed to find a decent enough spot for watching the races and getting our bets on. We had tickets for the Banks enclosure too for that day so we could get away from the big crowds and go in there for a while when we wanted to.

We had a few winners that day, the one in the first race and in the middle and then the last race too so we all finished in profit for the day. Of course there were thousands of women walking around us, all done up in their finest so sometimes it was hard to keep your eye on the horses.

After the races we went into P.J. O’Brien’s for a few more drinks but then headed home early enough to St. Kilda. The next race day wasn’t until the Tuesday so there was a few days off in between.

The Tuesday was Melbourne Cup day so that was the big one. Unfortunately though the weather had not been as kind that day and there was a good bit of wind which meant it got pretty cold at times. We weren’t having much luck on the horses that day either, with Irish horses losing in big races that we had all of our money riding on. We went straight back to St. Kilda that day and had a few drinks out there.

Paul decided he would come with us on the Thursday, so after using my trousers and shirts, all he needed was a suit jacket to make up a suit. He managed to get one just in time and so the four of us went racing on the Thursday which was Ladies Day.

This was probably the best day. The weather had picked up again and the ladies were out in their droves. There was a really good atmosphere at the track that day and we started on the beers a little earlier than before. Roisin met us at the races that day so there was five of us having a laugh but only four of us losing our money. Roisin happened to have a few winners so she was laughing in profit. Again, that night we hit P.J. O’Brien’s and while we were there we bumped into all the girls that had been on our Whit Sundays trip. The place was really buzzing that night and we had a fantastic time in there, arriving home in the early hours of the morning.

The final day’s racing was that Saturday which was known as Family Day. There were a lot of sideshows on that day to keep the kids entertained. There was a lot less people at the races that day too so it was much easier to get the bets on and get the beers in. Paul came with us again that day. The weather was really good again, but the horses were not coming good for us in most races. In the second last race myself and Paul had a big winner and so we were cheering and roaring him home down the home straight. We had watched that one from trackside so it was great when our horse came in first.

That night, for a change, we went into P.J. O’Brien’s again. There was not nearly as many people in there that night from the races so we spent most of the night playing cards at the table. We did manage to get a little gambling going but the bouncer was continuously checking to see that there was no money on the table.

Myself and Paul went into the city centre that night thinking we would get in anywhere as we were dressed up in suits and not looking like riff raff but no that was not the case. In Melbourne on a Saturday night, you need to be on a guest list which is done by booking a week in advance. Completely stupid if you ask me but ah well, we went back out to St. Kilda and had a great time in the Elephant & Wheelbarrow instead.