For as long as I can remember, actually for longer than I have been alive, my Dad and his mates have been going up to the Murray over the Melbourne Cup weekend. It’s a very relaxed weekend, and while the purpose is ostensibly fishing, there is no pressure to actually put a rod in. It’s as far as it is possible to get from the city lifestyle to which I have become accustomed and, while I love living in Melbourne, it is always a pleasure to get back to the my country boy roots and just relax. Every year I look forward to the trip and this one did not disappoint.

There were windstorms, sheep races, camp dogs, lots of anecdotes and jokes told around the fire and even a fish or two caught – though many were released back into the wild. Plus I managed to read a heap of books I had been meaning to for ages! So, now I feel refreshed and ready to face the stress of the pointy end of the year.

Then I got to travel back to my hometown and just to show that you never really grow up, Mum insisted on making me a thermos of coffee and a heap of sandwiches for the 4 hours drive home!

How did you spend your Cup weekend?