Reddy to go !

I'm heading up to the homeland soon for my Mum's 80th birthday.
She was born on the 11th of the 11th lest any of us ever truly forget!
She's quite excited about this birthday - more so than I can remember her being excited about any of her previous 'milestone' birthdays. The invitations went out weeks - maybe even months ago such is the anticipation!
I remember my Mother turning 40 and remember her turning 70 but I can't seem to recall 50 and 60. Maybe that's the reason for the excitement surrounding this birthday.

Everywhere I go lately I see quotes about life's journey being more important than the destination. On posters, engraved on jewellery, in books, all over the place. I don't like that the implication is that the destination is the final end.
I've had countless destinations in my life and it WAS all about reaching them. There is no doubt that the unexpected twists and turns of the journey are worthy of abiding respect but don't deny the destination doesn't warrant a mention also.
In my humble opinion.
I am fond of this passage though.






Take 'Red Cadeaux' for example.
Runner up in the Melbourne Cup for the past 2 years. And 3 times a contender.

Surely his journey has been about the destination? 
Standing up in a plane for 24 hours. Hello?
After the big race last year they interviewed the trainer.
He was very morose.
He said "no-one ever remembers the horse that came second".
I wanted to write him a letter assuring him that I do, I do, I really really do! 
How could we not - such a spectacularly close hold your breath finish!

My Mum phoned me this morning. 
Among the general chit chat she asked me if I had any tips for the Cup.
I said "Mum - it's a little early yet - however I am going to put a dollar or so on Red Cadeaux." She said "hold on I'll just write it down." And then she came back on to the phone and said "ok - Ready to Go - and which other horses?"
And I burst out laughing and said "Mum - not Ready to Go - Red Cadeaux!"
I've been laughing about it all day. It's a sign I'm sure.
My Mum has gone a little deaf along her journey to the destination!
My final selections come Cup Morning. 
Check back then!

It's a magnificent blue sky day in Melbourne today. 
One more sleep and we get 4 days off. I can't wait.
And on Tuesday I am off to the Cup! 
Expected temperature 29' with a small chance of an afternoon shower.
I am super duper excited!
I am almost embarrassed to say it but say it I will - I have never been to the Melbourne Cup before. 18 years living in Melbourne and not once!
Cup day has been a part of my journey since I was a child. My Nanna ..
( Ready to Go's mother ) LOVED Cup Day. And she always had a party. And I was always allowed to take the day off school. No questions asked. Emotional Cup Day betting, laughter and trifle. Her legacy to me. 
And I will love each of these things until my own journey's end. 


I almost have everything prepared.
New Dress - check
New French Lace Jacket to cater for all temperatures - check
Stylish but sensible shoes - check
Bag small enough for online check in but big enough for money, Myki, hairbrush, lipstick, perfume, phone, small fold up umbrella to cater for small chance of rain - which can be draped across body to allow for hands free - champagne in one and bet slip in other - check check check check ..

and check!
Hair 9:30 am Saturday - check
Nails - 2:30 pm Sunday - it's each way on pink or red - check
But the most exciting part is my new fascinator. It is  
A D O R A B L E !
I want to wear it 
E V E R Y  S I N G L E 
D A Y such is the adorableness!
Look! Even the back is adorable!
I defy you to say this is not adorable!


I am off to the races with my lifelong pal and his wife.
I think they are taking me along with them out of sympathy and also because they have an ulterior motive! 
The ulterior motive would be my phenomenal emotional tipping success rate!
In September it was Steve's birthday. 
So I found a horse racing that day called Captain Red. 
It was running in some two bit backwater race course, so insignificant I can't even remember where now. 



Steve's a Qantas Captain. 
So I thought it was a sign. 
An extremely emotional long shot sign.
It wasn't even a favourite - it was like $25 for a win and $3 for a place - or something close. 
I didn't want to appear to stingey so I put $2 each way on it.
For Steve.
Did I put $2 each way for me? 
No. I did not. 
Am I a fool? 
Yes. I am.






Steve appears in the onboard safety videos on Qantas flights.
The first time I saw it was when I was flying home to Qld last Christmas. A Jetstar pilot just flown in from Bali and on his way home to Cairns plonked himself down beside me as the doors closed.

I saw Steve's face on the screen and I started to giggle. I was given a rather chastising look from my seat mate. Did I have the audacity to laugh at the safety demonstration? And then there he was again. I could hardly say 'I know him' - how naff would that sound? I couldn't turn on my phone and say look - here he is with his wife and I in Church Street! Even more naff. So I just stifled my amusement and my seat mate proceeded to nod off to sleep. 
That's how interesting I am.

But when that damn nag came in that day at $28 for a win, I can assure you that my safety was not Steve's priority -  I did not sit back, relax and enjoy the flight! I did not enjoy the journey and the destination was even worse! Not that I was not happy for Steve .. but I wanted to be happy for me too! I could have used that little bit of fun money. Cup day glamour does not come cheap!




I have since discovered a Captain Orange out there racing as well. And from a distance I'll quietly and respectfully follow his journey. Roger that.

But back to Tuesday.
The Cup is the hardest race to pick. Too many newbies on the track.
And historically - the favourite does not always win.
And more often than not there's a story. I love a good story.
Of course there's the jockey to take into consideration - always out to prove something. And the weather. And the barrier. And the track. And the strategy. Remember - try not to attack too early!


See - it's so much easier to follow your heart. Trust your heart. Your open heart.

Keeping in mind all of our journey's take unexpected detours - here is my narrowed down field.

Admire Rakti
Lucia Valentina
Cavalryman
Brambles 
Who shot the Barman
Silent Achiever
Fawkner
Junoob
Red Cadeaux

Expected to narrow even further by Tuesday.

But my 3 emotional tips are:

Silent Achiever - The trainer is R James - that's my bro! The only problem is he's not a Roger - but that's good too!

Junoob - my Nanna would have chosen this one - no need to share all the family secrets!

And Red Cadeaux. He's flown into our lives three times now. Fourth time lucky? Ready to go?