Truvant proves its worth (nothing)

The most interesting thing that's happened in the last few days was the pub and party that followed we went to, perhaps which was entirely created for us, with a bunch of underage kids with nothing better to do. First, we started at the pub playing pool with them, then once that closed they told me to jump in a car and go to a party. So I grabbed the boys and we all piled into car after car to drive (drunk of course) up the road about 500m.

I still don't really know whose house it was or indeed whose alcohol I was drinking, however it was quite entertaining, particularly when the home-brewed palinka (although apparently you don't call it that here) came out. A few swigs of that and I had reached my limit - I asked to lie down somewhere (I'm getting old) and after shooing off a guy who came to sit (or hopefully lie) with me, I went to close my eyes. Next thing I knew I was being whisked into another car with the annoying, shirtless brut of a boy winking at me from the steering wheel. Not knowing what exactly was happening, I protested but then all the girls at the party (about 3) jumped in with me so I felt a little more safe.

The next day, slightly foggy, me and the 2 boys piled into the back of the Truvant (a hard task considering the American is about 10 ft tall). After a little while, we started to notice a particularly carbon monoxide-like smell and soon after, realised the exhaust pipe was dragging under the bottom of the car. So we jumped out and aired ourselves in the rain, already poisoned and more hungover than before, and eventually had to get the local bus to Reghin.

Today the boys are off trying to repair the shitbox which has given me and A some down time. I really like her, we get along well and she is so lovely. She showed me photos of her when she was younger, not that she's old now (just over 40) and she looked like she could've been a classy Romanian film star. Shame she gets to berated by the asshole she's with sometimes. Saying that, I've had a few more good moments with him and I guess we get along cos he realises I have a good head on my shoulders. Just wish he'd have the same faith in the one he loves.

Their builder has a nephew with a carriage he wants to sell, so unless he gets drunk he'll be taking it over here and showing us. If he has a harness small enuf, we could attach it to Gina and test her out the back. She was a little shit today, biting and kicking when she could. But we'll soon beat that out of her - kidding!

Looking up bus routes now, super fun... trying to get the route from Reghin - Budapest which A says does exist. But unless it's a train, any online information is hard to find! Only a few more days, though, and I'm back in Hungary - yay! I think I'll go visit that English school and have a chat with them about the details. I'm confused about what they say they pay because it seems very good... Anyway, I digress. Must stop writing and focus on less shiny but much more important matters at hand... or in the belly ;)

Potentially Attractive Australian Girl

So I finally made it to my new village of Idicel (only just, after having to bang on the train door as it pulled out of Reghin station because they didn't hear me cry that I had to get off - luckily they stopped again, the impatient cunts), and it's already quite a different experience to Halmeag. While the village itself is more affluent than Halmeag (they have FENCES here!!), the actual property I'm on is owned by possibly the most penny-pinching people I've EVER met. Now I don't mean this in a derogatory way but I have never had to go to 3 supermarkets in one sitting before just to save a few ban. And I'm talking ban, not lei, as in the smaller denomination below lei.

But I digress... back to the trip from Reghin station. I got in an hour late and they were there waiting - an English man and Romanian women. Both seemed lovely so I jumped in the back of their beat up Truvant (ie shitbox) and headed down possibly the most potholed road in the history of the world. And I've just spent 6 weeks in Halmeag. On the way we were chatting away, and I am told "I'm lucky" because the other helper boys have spent days speculating whether I'm a hot Australian or an ugly Australian - after first getting over the disappointment that I was arriving sans Swedish girls. They'd been contacted by these guys too on the same site but decided against coming because there is just one horse and it would've been boring, as well as probably not just horse work but fruit picking, hay baling etc.

Anyway, these guys had seen my pics on Help X but couldn't see my face properly apparently so they'd nicknamed me "Potentially Attractive Australian Girl". I'm sorry, how again was I "lucky" to be met with such expectations the first time I enter this house, I thought to myself as I sat stinking of horse poo and dog in the back seat. I was a goner. So after 2 nights with them and one night out at the pub (more on that later), I am pretty sure I haven't met their expectations. Oh well. One has a gf and although he's nice, he's English and really reminds me of Sam from Lord of the Rings. The other is kinda cute but has a bit of that American attitude I don't really like in a guy, although as friends they're both fine. So I guess we're all in silent agreement on the topic. However, give me 6 weeks here and you never know... I get ever so bored.

The first night I was pretty tired so went to bed soon after a bite to eat (had forgotten to buy food before the train ride and there was none on board) - vegetarian though, another big difference to Halmeag! The next day I met Gina, the mare I was meant to work with. Turns out she isn't a wild, crazy thing but just cheeky and untrained. If she can get away with something, she'll do it. Like most cheeky mares. A has done a great job, considering her lack of experience, in training her so far and I think there is lots of potential to use her as a cart horse as I'm not sure who would ride her since no one here can actually ride and I feel too big to jump on her. She's probably only 13 hands. And just 3 years old. Was thinking of getting one of the gypsy boys to jump on sans saddle (they don't have one) just to get her used to the sensation. But we'll see.

I feel I've got the cushiest job here, with the other helpers going out to pick and peel fruit all day and me bandying around with horses. But hey, that's what I was asked here to do so.... I help A with the cooking too, which I don't mind, and anything else she needs but she does a lot herself so hasn't asked me for much yet. Such a difference to Halmeag, I feel so lazy!!

One thing, though, which does get on my nerves here and that's the geezer husband. At times, he can be a self-righteous prick and his attitude to his partner does nothing to endear me to the male species. Dominating, berating, condescending... everything I'd hate in a partner, I don't know how she stands it. She's so easygoing, relaxed, kind, helpful. But whatever, it's none of my business how they run they relationship so I'll just ignore it - I just have to try and not spend too much time with him when he's in a group because that's when he starts talking condescendingly to everyone around him, thinking that makes him look good. Sadly, sadly mistaken.

But on the horsey side of things, the first day I brushed Gina, got kicked by her little shit of a foal, put a neighbours harness on her as a test and lunged her a bit. And taught A some things. So it's slow progress, but it's progress.

And back at Halmeag, Swedish lass L is already making good progress flirting with my shepherd boy - bless them, the horny little things! I'm not sure if he's technically still employed anymore and I know she's being sly with the boss etc, so not sure how it's gonna work but best of luck to them - 2 year age gap is certainly more appropriate than 8. Eek!