Beware of the teef

Had my first staff meeting today, the most alarming part of which was our conversation about "untrustworthy" types hanging about for the right opportunity to swoop n steal. Or as people in the Caribbean put it, "teeves". So funny for me and my Queen's English.

Apparently crime is on the rise here in St Maarten - yippee - so we must all be vigilant and report any suspect behaviour to the boss. He even said we should be aware at all times on the trail, as guys could leap out from the bushes and pull a gun on us, robbing us of our worldly possessions. Except that not many people go on a horseride that ends in the water with their worldly possessions. Still, it put the wind up me. Never thought I'd have to be briefed on highway robbery as a horse guide.

Was pretty busy today, I had 3 rides in total except either I was a shit guide or just lucked-out with my guests. Feel like renaming today Tightass Wednesday. Got just a fraction of what J got - peeved off at that. BUT, on the other hand, I can always tell myself that that money will just be spent on me next time we go out, right? So essentially, that money will come back to me, in a way, right?

Thursday is my day off, so that means hopefully chatting with my boy, doing some housework and heading to the beach. Nothing major. Just wanna get some sun time on the sand. Don't have anyone to go with so it'll just be me and my book. Unfortunately my iPhone is still locked so I can't even use the iPod on that. Boo. I hope it gets fixed at some point, so I don't have to lug around my laptop everywhere.

So, given I have tomorrow off, I just sat around in my apartment (room.... studio... dwelling) downing the rest of the 6 pack I had in the fridge then heading to the nearby supermarket for another.... only to come back having spent almost all my measy tips from today. Now I have $2 to enjoy my day off. But at least I have beer. And in hindsight, this is kinda like my night out. So woot woot to me!

The Sheriff was at the supermarket again with his reggae playing, the other night I saw him busting a move next to his pickup... haha, only in the Caribbean. The gross, fat guy that greets me with, "Hey beautiful" every time I shop (I think he works there, not sure what he does??) asked if I was to be enjoying these beers alone. Yes, I was. Oh, and the security guard reminded me I hadn't given him my number. Yes, that's right, I haven't, and I won't be because I have a boyfriend. These people...

Now it's just me, my laptop and all its memories. No internet, just memories. Oh, and the mac n cheese dish I've craved since my workmate talked about it earlier today. I think I'll be pretty sweet. Mmm, mac n cheese. And beer.

Actually, I lie. I made besties with the neighbour's cat and thoroughly enjoyed watching her slowly manouver her way around my room with cat-like trepidation... Good to have some neutral company, at least. And with the background lightening putting on a show for this lonely little lady... Oh, how sad my life has become, thriving from feline company...

Many options make a list grow...

Using the other Australian helper's computer, a Mac just like mine, I often forget it's not my machine and while away the hours while she no doubt sits upstairs tapping her foot in impatience. Oops! But, on a day like today where there is little else to do but scour the net for ways and means to carry out my latest travel whim, it's easy to do.

It started out nice yesterday but rained insistently from midday - all hopes of an outside lunch on the patio with the amazing view now dashed - and we scrubbed the horses clean from their muddy rolling patches with little room to move in the stable area while it became increasingly dark outside. Thanks daylight saving, you're a pal.

Experienced my first bad Italian mood also that evening when we decided to muck out the horses earlier due to the clock change - big mistake, as the host mum got all uppety about what time the horses get fed etc. Not that I was planning on feeding them til normal time anyway, I just couldn't work out why she got so upset. Maybe she thought we were trying to get it out of the way while they were visiting relatives in Rome. But hey, at least she was getting annoyed at us DOING work not avoiding it!

There is still at least 1 dog following me around all the time (esp at night which is good cos this property is prime real estate for horror movie fantasies) - just the way dogs should be. None of this bite yer finger off business (speaking of which, I'm almost healed completely yay!!). Now the ageing cat Jerry (who looks more like a mutated ferret with its cancerous ears now cut off and his white fur stained with more cancer scabs) also wants to jump up for cuddles every time it can, poor thing. It is a bit of a minefield patting him, though, I gotta be honest.

I've started scooping around the options on this new website where you can get paid to do horse work, which is a welcome relief, but now face the problem of too many options!!! Whatever am I going to do in 2011 before I have to return for my sister's wedding?? Oh oh, just found a place in SA that will pay for help training and exercising horses... sweet. And add it to the list.

Finally feeling the gratitude

So after all my bitching and moaning about this self-righteous ass, when it came to farewell time he actually allowed me to say my piece about his behaviour and still poured compliments on me afterwards. They asked for feedback as to working on the farm etc, so after holding back from my true feelings, they pressed me for more and I thought fuck it, and said in a well-executed way that his yelling and cursing in front of me made me feel awkward, uncomfortable and I felt it was unnecessary in getting his point across. I also said I wasn't used to hearing someone speak to his partner like that and I preferred to walk away and not listen, but it was quite hard when it was dinner time or the like.

His response was that he appreciated my fiesty and upfront attitude, and candid nature, that in this sense I truly represented the stereotype of Australians, he was thankful for the progress made with Gina and A, he felt more confident with moving her onto the cart and one day learning to do it himself, and almost begged me to return if I came back to visit the other hosts one day. I was a little shocked, as I thought he thought I was a lazy little bitch but I guess it all is a front with him. God knows why anyone feels the need to hide behind a cavalcade of swear words and insults but each to their own.

I almost cried when I hugged A goodbye, though, she is such a beautiful person and we really did get along. I would almost brave going back there just to see her. On my last night there she brought in an injured cat from a car crash and nursed it all night. She had to get it put down the next day though, because of the injuries it had sustained. Poor thing.

So there it is. Goodbye Idicel, with your electrocuting shower, shitty toilet paper, carb-saturated vegetarian meals, angry male leader and cute little local banditos. I will miss some of you. Good riddance to the others.

RIP Bunka

I forgot to write in my last post that this morning, my boss had to break the neck of the family cat because it was just getting worse and worse after the dogs attacked it a couple of weeks ago. It hadn't really eaten more than a few tiny bits of food that whole time and just drunk water and some milk, it was really gaunt and just basically skin n bones. Even her eyes were sunken and lost in a sea of depression. It was frustrating because she was making progress with her back legs but nothing with her diet... anyway, it wasn't the best start to the day but that's life - or death - I suppose.

Today we helped with the grass pretty much all day, which was AWESOME. Wish I could do that every day. Not but seriously it was OK, we felt like getting away from the house for a while and the weather was a bit cold and wet so the grass that fell on us wasn't dry and dusty at least. And the gypsies, as gypsy-like as they are, are actually fun to work with.

But anyway, we went for a ride afterwards because otherwise I think we'd all go insane (it's our way of relaxing even though technically it's the work we came here to do). I think I had my last ride on Goody before we take him back to the herd tomorrow, and I leave, but at least we get to go to the shepherd boy's house. He is so very nice these days...

Chill time, if only for half a day

Well, the Dutch family has come and gone, and I'm already 1000% more relaxed. The village streets were absolutely empty when I went to the post office (which was closed, by the way, not sure when it was actually last open) and I can finally breathe my own air. The four young girls in the family were actually OK, I got along with them quite well and it was surprisingly easy to entertain them. Maybe I do have some maternal instinct buried in there somewhere.

Yesterday I organised for one of the Swedish girls to take the solo guest on a separate ride because she politely declined a second day of riding with the family. Don't blame her, I wouldn't want three little girls yelling 'faster faster' in my ear if I'd come for a couple of weeks of chillout time. Instead, I still had to listen to 'faster faster' in my ear and try to drown it out with my own wild imagination. Didn't always work. Turns out the guest really liked it and gave the Swedish girl money on the side for her efforts. Which was sweet.

Woke up today not really in the mood to go on a trail, I feel overworked and tired, and just need a break. Was thinking of going into Brasov today to pick up the 99p iPod shuffle charger I bought from eBay that they refuse to deliver locally (grr), but I've ended up just chilling out in the cool lounge room gently washing the cat. She's still weak with her back legs but seems to be improving slightly each day.

What isn't improving is the lack of men to look at here. I seriously mentally slap myself in the brain every time I catch myself flirting with the shepherd boy. Is this what I've been reduced to???? Heavy.

Sat down with the girls last night and tried to plan what to do next. I think I'll stay here for another week and then head to the other place, although I'll wait to hear more about the horses I'll be working with before committing to a certain period there. If they're rogue beasts I'll need more time that I don't necessarily want to give, so I'll just give some pointers and leave, whereas if I can get on them at some stage, it will be more enjoyable and the Swedes can come along and we can all ride together. I dunno, it's still a bit too much for my brain, even when I hadn't down a couple bottles of wine like last night.

All this writing's made me tired. I'll think I'll go rest with the cat. Shit, I only have about 10 mins before I have to get the horses in for another guest ride this afternoon.... and so it begins again.