Tractor Queen

We began our day by setting off with one of the workers (the only non-gypo) to the shops for a grocery top-up, and on the way back I ended up in the driver's seat. In good ol' red. But M had tinkered with it so it didn't stall every time I stopped or slowed down, so that was a positive outcome for the freeway situation.

Having been in Europe two months now, driving on the right hand side is no trouble, but the crazy overtakers in Romania are. I didn't try to overtake myself, just idled along in the lane, and let the others risk their lives. I noticed that M, in the passenger seat, was putting his foot down on an imaginary brake every time he thought I should slow down. Bless him, he was trying to pretend he wasn't freaking just a little bit.

When we returned, the gypsies realised I could drive and promptly appointed me the new driver of the tractor when they started bailing hay later in the day.

So, when the time came, I pulled myself up into the driver's seat, got some half-assed Romanian instructions from the gypsies and launched into first gear, or some kind of gear. The machine rumbled away around me and as I negotiated the poorly graded road, I glanced occasionally at the poor souls bumping away behind me in the trailer.

Eventually, I was getting pretty pro at the whole operation, except I just didn't have the muscle to shift gears. So the boys had to climb in and carefully and modestly try to help switch the gear stick from one direction to the other, in between my legs. It would've been quite a sight to any of the locals to see a young, fair girl grinding away at the gear stick in her short, leopard print skirt, braless singlet top (why didn't I wear one on such a bumpy ride?? why?) and cowboy hat. I do try to fit in.

So there you have it. I'm now officially a tractor driver. I can add that to my CV. I'm sure my new bosses, whoever they are, will be well impressed.

In the hands of the gypsies

I think one of the gypo lads has a crush on me. That, or his incessant staring at me yesterday was a mixture of curiosity and possibly bewilderment. Not quite sure they shower that often so I think I'll steer well clear of that little situation.

It's weird, the girls don't really know what to think of me because I'm kinda equal to the boss because I am just here to exercise the horses so they still wait on me. I feel slack so I like to saddle my own horse and make some of my own food but it is nice to sit down to a pot of tea and plate of food every morning. And not have to clean up. Or wash my own clothes. Or feed the horses. Just ride. Super sweet.

It's now day 3 and I'm still really enjoying my time in Transylvania, Romania. H has started to trust me to do whatever I want, so today I went out riding solo while he went to the shops. I went for a couple of hours but it was getting stinking hot so retired about midday. The horse was about to die I swear. I would've followed soon after, but with my ultra-trendy straw cowboy hat I was pulled from the brink of heat exhaustion. I'm tempted to tape my conversations with the horse (or just ramblings to the horse) while I ride by myself, even I find it quite entertaining at times. Lucky I encounter absolutely no one else on my rides.

This morning I was awoken by scratching at my door and, holding my breath it wasn't rabid gypsies, I opened it to find 4 happy dogs bounding in to say good morning. Much nicer than an alarm!! They're so sweet. There are about 20 dogs on the property here and almost all are lovely, I'm getting to know their names and personalities. Bertis came with me today which is good cos I am a bit worried about encountering the shepherds' dogs alone.

We pick up the 2 Swedish girls on Sat, which will be good - I'll have some company and we can go swimming in the river down the rd. Also, in a couple of weeks I want to start getting the younger horses out to a flat paddock to do some ground work with them. Maybe take some of them swimming. Fun times.