It’s the first day of two consecutive long weekends for us Canberrans.
The traditional Labour Day Holiday is on Monday of course and here in Canberra we get “Community and Family Day” next Monday which is certainly welcome. Anything that cuts the week down at Australia Post is a welcome addition to the calender.
Community and Family Day began life as a union picnic day and was held for many years in Canberra before John Howard in all his wisdom passed a law that did away with it much to the chagrin of the local unions and the gleeful delight of the local Trades and Labour Council who always seem to be on TV complaining about public holidays. They usually present their case via a dour looking spokesman who conveys their message with all the charm of the Grinch who stole Christmas. I swear they would love to have us all on the pay rate of those who work in the Saigon underpant manufacturing industry.
The ACT Government which of course has been Labour for many years responded by making Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday which has morphed, despite the harrowing, deathfull squeals of the local business council, into the Family and Community Day. Despite the most fervent hopes of those who run the TLC and local businessmen, the sky has not fallen in nor has there been wholesale sackings or business closures in the ACT because of our extra public holiday. As far as I know the ACT economy remains buoyant despite the extravagance of the working class.
It’s not the traditional “Last Saturday in September” but it is Grand Final Day in Melbourne with Collingwood and Geelong playing off in the big one.
I don’t really care who wins but I guess if I had to make a choice it would be Geelong as any Richmond supporter who offered an ounce of sympathy to Collingwood could quite easily find themselves trussed up in Punt Road, Melbourne, facing rock wielding Tiger fans incensed that anyone could bring themselves to offer the Magpies any support.
It’s a rough day in Melbourne and heavy showers and hail are predicted which should be a leveller and make the the match quite close and low scoring.
The weather across the entire south east of the continent is very ordinary this weekend and the heavy showers Canberra had this morning have cleared for the moment and the sun is trying hard to break through but I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of the inclement weather. The bureau has forecast continuing rainy weather across the weekend.
It’s okay by me. I don’t mind a bit of the wet stuff but I can virtually see the grass and trees in the yard growing before my eyes so there will be some work for me to do before the week is done.
Linda is away until tomorrow dealing with family matters in Wagga so I got to sleep in a little. I woke up with a slight headache and dizziness perhaps resulting from too many late nights and early mornings this week.
With no one about this afternoon it might be the perfect time to catch up on some sleep or at the very least sloth around a bit.
So, with 18 minutes to go until the bounce in Melbourne I might turn the TV on and catch the excitement of the opening exchanges. May the best team win!
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 