Saving dollars n dimes

Got a big compliment from the boss today, as he explained to J and me which horses we were and weren't to use in certain ways, who was pregnant, who needs a soft hand... and when he came to Seductor, the horse I rode in my lesson the other day, he said he had never seen the horse look so relaxed as when I was on him. So that's good to hear! Nice that I'm doing something right :)

Took out a family of 5 today, holidaying on the island, and had a cute-as-a-button 6-year-old on lead behind me. Nothing bad happened, although I think the grandma was a little pissed she got the horse that ate all the time. But really, any horse she was on would have done the same, she had no strength to have any control at all. Felt like putting a lead between everyone and just caravan them along like camels, ffs.

I had just that ride today, since my afternoon people failed to show - the weather wasn't so bad so I don't know what happened there. At least I got a juicy $20 tip from the earlier family, and I managed to spend not a dime today (and it is literally dimes here!) as I packed my own lunch and just drank water. So my plan of putting money aside is working so far, and it's not even high season.

My actual plan is, hopefully, that I can put aside all my salary that I get minus rent and live off my tips, in high season even putting some tips aside as well. On a normal day, I spend just a few dollars on food at Seaside, and then it's the occasional grocery shop or phone credit-top up, etc. If I manage to put aside $500 a month for 6 months, well that's $3000! But I doubt that will happen, because I do want to see some other islands etc and I'd need to dig into my savings for that.

But..... now that my mate from Oz has confirmed her flights to St Maarten for NYE, I know I'll definitely have some big parties to spend my pennies at. Although, if we play our cards right, perhaps we can get someone else to foot the bill haha! Can't wait til she gets here, I am missing my friends from back home so it'll be good to not only have her here, but be able to get out n about with someone I trust. And a girl, for once!

I enquired about inter-island travel and it seems there's only a few islands the ferries go between, namely Saba, Anguilla, St Barts and Prickly Pear. I really wanna get to St Thomas but it looks only likely with a flight. So, what I really need is to get friendly with some of these yacht owners and just jump a ride with them! Ha! What a dream. Considering I'm pretty much prisoner in my room unless my workmates take me out.

Spoke with my boss today about the contract etc, and the topic of insurance came up. I must admit, I have been a bit lax about my insurance expiring and not renewing it, so I got straight onto that. I won't be insured for a couple of months, when I'm officially on the books here, so that's a fair amount of time considering the work I'm doing. I was kinda hoping for them to insure me through work and avoid having to pay for my own insurance, but alas.

Was told things were all positive with me though, that the guests were giving great feedback and I was learning fast, or already knew a lot before I came. Also was told I was the best at riding crazy Seductor, so hopefully he can become my new little project. He is a good horse, just ridden a bit hard in the past.

Still having difficulty getting through to A, for a couple of days now he seems not to be onlinie, I know he said he had trouble the other day so maybe it's completely down for now. Poor bugger, I know he must be itching to talk with me, as I am with him. He's gonna stress himself to an early grave this way!

Dancing my way to Vienna

Despite yesterday being largely lazy and relaxing, I still didn't get time to blog, so here we go. G left early in the morning and wasn't due back til the evening, so we did our stable work and then settled in for a chilled-out day. A good thing, really, as the previous days and coming days were due to be quite busy.

We continue to pile our dirty clothes onto the newly re-installed washing machine (feel sorry for the worker who does it) - now that our bathroom (with new shower for helpers) is almost finished - and I use the opportunity to get EVERYTHING clean. Including the jackets I'd have thought were dry-clean only. Because the worker who washes them seems to know how to handle any material, thank god. Who knows when I'll get this chance again.

My temper has settled a little, after we learnt that G was perhaps a little more stressed lately because of troubles with the elastics business and also because I realise she has been making extra effort to give us camel rides, training, etc so I am not going to bitch. Or at least try. Also, we found out she has ALWAYS had people cleaning up after her - from housemaids as a child to workers and helpers now - so that's probably why she doesn't think to clean up after herself. I just can't imagine that kind of life, even having grown up with my OCD cleaning mum ("You finished with that cup" "Actually, no I-" "Good, I'll put it in the dishwasher").

We used the quiet time also to have a sauna, probably the last one we'll get to have, and it was bliss. I could feel the camel smell pouring from my pores... and afterwards, that feeling of being in a cocoon of warmth... just divine. Like I could walk into the Austrian winter totally naked and still be warm.

Today we also don't expect much work, but G promises to get back in time for some afternoon riding so that's a plus. I am therefore trying to knuckle down with my Spanish (have now memorised all the 200 verbs in the little book G's sister gave me), organise my travel insurance claim forms for my broken camera (long story) and organise Vienna for this weekend. Have arranged a meeting place for my Couchsurfing friend, and then we're going straight to a free Belly Fusion dance class. Woot woot!!

Also, the countdown to Rio continues... Just 10 days to go now. I can almost feel the warm Brazilian sun... almost.

Tonight, however, we have a dinner party at J's house where I'm sure the alcohol will be flowing. We should set a curfew for ourselves (and stick to it) but I know myself too well... as much as I try to the contrary, I WILL choose a good, drunken time over a pounding head and extra early wake-up call tomorrow. Sigh. Maybe these dance classes won't be so fun after all.