So let's start this week's review on the day that I was a big Loser. Melbourne Cup day, the day whereby Australians around the globe go to special super expensive lunches, drink too much, wear ridiculous headwear and bet on the outcome of a sporting race. I went to a lunch for about 200 at Wilderness (girl's school in Adelaide). It's a major fundraiser for the school, it turns out. So I donned my best cup finery (Milly dress, Alannah Hill giant poppy fascinator, Gary Castle wedges and giant Clic Clac bracelet in red). Here's a visual of me with my friend Anne, who had the most beautiful Ferragamo clutch (not seen in this photo) and killer shoes that she bought last week in Hong Kong. Sorry, we're standing in the dappled shade here....


So why was I a Loser? Well, I managed to select the two horses that came last in the sweep (just as hard as picking the winners, sadly not as lucrative), didn't win any of the raffles, and came runner up for Best Dressed (must say, Best Dressed was kind of random - I hadn't realised I was in it, until they announced I came runner up). I'll just have to try harder next year. At any rate, it was in fact really fun, up until the point I left to go and do the school run.

And onto pageants. Not the type with tiaras and sashes in them, but the biggest day for children in Adelaide. Today was the Christmas Pageant. This year was the 80th Christmas pageant, and it gets bigger each year. It's a huge event for Adelaide children - this signals the start of the Christmas season. I can remember being so overexcited myself as a child, it's fun to go along and see my own children awe struck (in the case of my 2 year old, S.) and squealing with excitement (my 4 year old daughter E.). There are around 60 themed floats, with the parade lasting an hour, and in between the floats are various marching bands, clowns, high stepping dancers, and Pipe bands. Quite a lot of pipe bands. Nothing gets you into the Christmas spirit like hearing "Jingle Bells" wheezing away on the bagpipes, does it. Anyone visiting would have thought the Scots had staged an invasion. There are a lot of pipe bands in Adelaide it appears.

Flo the dragon

Bollywood float - this one's for Romy

Unfortunately, Mr AV missed it. He was stuck in New York due to a snow storm for 24 hours, so he arrived home today, just after the pageant.

Candyland

Fergus the Fire engine

 And aside from all the drafting/ meetings with Engineers/ meetings with Builders I've done this week, I had some friends over for morning tea on Friday. After rushing around tidying up the mess my children generally leave around the house from the morning rush, I didn't have much time to whip up anything too time consuming. So I made a batch of scones. I use the CWA recipe - it's the officially sanctioned recipe, used for countless Field Days and Royal Shows around the country. If you haven't tried it, do. It's extremely easy, very quick, and foolproof.

Scones on my favourite tray

CWA Scone Recipe
3 Cups Self Raising Flour
1/2 Cup Cream
1 Cup milk
Pinch of Salt

Mix together into a slightly sticky dough. Cut out into rounds, bake in a 220 degree C oven for 8-10 minutes.

So Mr AV kindly brought me a gift from New York - an orange Hermes box was produced. I was very excited until I found that they were the scarf tying cards. Nice, but I am thinking I should have got a scarf with them? My Birthday is in a couple of weeks, so I'm suspicious that he may be holding out on me, having bought something a little bit more substantial for my gift and hidden it somewhere in the dressing room.... time to do a big tidy up of the dressing room this week methinks.

Enjoy your weekend x