Pineapple Pete's is my saviour

Another beautifully sunny day greeted my 6am wake-up. I knew it was gonna be a good'un when I ate my breakfast, looking at the growing light and near-cloudless sky. Mozzies still about, though. Speaking of, have been sleeping without the net lately, just spray myself before bed and that seems to work. I remember when I used to wake up with a million bites and incessant scratching. Maybe my "new blood" has become old.

Another segway actually... I finally found the formula to not getting any attention on the roads. Go on your lunch break, in your oversized work shirt, dirty jodhpurs and fashion contraceptive Crocs, sweating slightly and stressed, hair flying in all directions... yep, that does it. No "hey rasta" calls there!!

Because of my 7am start, I had a 2-hour break, but this time I'd had enuf of the temperamental internet and I was about to walk to Pineapple Pete's when H told me she was also leaving so took me almost all the way there. Phew! I was stressed about my boy and his visa, which must be processing as we speak, and I knew he'd wonder why I wasn't online for a few days. Thinking I was off galavanting with newfound friends that buy me dinner for a wink or something. Bah!

I managed to get online at PP's, thankfully, though had hardly any activity on my Facebook there was a few messages from A, the last saying ever so eloquently, "Where the fuck are you?" Sorry sweetie, had some internet issues... I knew he'd been stressing. But it's kinda sweet. Not to worry, soon we'll live together and he won't have to worry one bit about my whereabouts!

Got back in time for the end of my break, not that there was much happening. We had hardly any rides, in fact nothing after the only cruise ride that came late morning. So I kinda wafted around feeling useless for most of the afternoon, helping here n there until some pony rides for a kid's birthday party.

Urgh, the pony rides. Some of these kids were plain brats. I certainly hope that when I have kids, they don't turn out like this. Where do these creatures even come from? And how do their parents not realise? This group of people seemed of Indian-esque origin, although clearly have lived here a while... and I must say, these children were NOT cute. In fact, ugly, already, at this age. Monobrows. Guts. Crooked teeth. Poor things. What a life they have ahead of them.

So two other horses have developed some eye conditions, great since the horse that actually needs drops is not cool with someone shoving a bottle of medicine in its eye several times a day. This is how Bonita started. Rearing, kicking, stepping on my toes, trying to bite me... Sigh. So for now, it's a group effort. Hopefully in time, Paco will give in to the fact it's going to happen and just let it happen. And Fuerte, will we assume it's just an irritation. For now, I have a sore hand surely about to bruise from my efforts today.

We noticed Black Beauty was actually dripping milk today... she is heavily pregnant and we actually thought she was going to drop before the boss went away early December but it's dragged on. Now she is so full of milk it's incredible, I've never felt an animal with such a hard udder. Maybe she's overdue. But all signs are pointing to a foal coming in the next 48 hours... hope so!! Exciting!

All in all, it was a boring day. Not many rides and barely any tips. This is meant to be high season, what's the dealio?? I was itching for it to be over. At least I got a slice of birthday cake... I am a sucker for cake!!

It was a beautiful sunset, a clear night and with a teensy chill in the air, I was happy - the only sounds that reminded me it was Saturday, an occasional yell from the street or car pumping loud, offensive R&B on bad stereo systems. Maybe I'll get a good sleep this time. This morning I woke from my alarm, I certainly was not awake when it rang as so often I am. And no one told me to come in early tomorrow so I'm coming in at 8 - I want a sleep in!

Blessed be my (early) day off

Another day, another set of problems for the little island of St Maarten. Firstly, my fan finally kicked in at 4am after the night-long power blackout came to an end. Then the internet was down at Seaside. And then later at the sports bar. Probably the whole island. So I'm glad I spent most of my day washing clothes and napping, or I'd have been wasting a lot more of my time.

I had the biggest sleep-in since I got to the island, granted mainly by the fact I smartly put my phone on silent, predicting a call or message from J seeing if I wanted to hang out on my day off. He doesn't listen very well, so the fact I was so tired and sounding fatigued on the phone the previous evening wouldn't have resonated and I was sure he would call early morning to check my plans. I was right. When I finally woke, I had 2 missed calls from him.

Didn't respond as I just felt like being alone today - washing my clothes, cleaning my room, having a swim, checking my emails... When the internet didn't work at Seaside, I had my swim and indulged in putting my whole head underwater because I'd planned on washing my hair straight after. For those without dreds, it is funny to hear but I hardly put my head underwater because it takes so long to dry and is super heavy.

I then promptly fell asleep on the banana lounge at Seaside, and afterwards headed home for more housework. I was doing everything in a daze, so tired from the previous days and their heat, and I was eternally grateful to my bosses for letting me have the day off. Turned out better for them in the end, too, because today was dead and tomorrow they need an extra guide because it's cruise ship day.

So that's what I have to look forward to, 2 consecutive days of cruise ship and some quieter days before Saturday's cruise ship again. My lessons haven't begun yet because the people who used to book them haven't re-confirmed. So hopefully I will get some time to do training with the young horses. I momentarily thought about taking one swimming today but I just had no strength in my body.

My walk to the sports cafe tonight had the regular "hey baby, hey rasta" calls but this time one guy actually yelled for a good minute "hey beautiful, hey girl, hey, hey, English, England, England, rasta, England" and so on. I had to cross the road. Fuck, don't they get it??? Not interested. If I could walk around in a habit I would, but it's fucking hot so I walk around in summer dresses. And the kissy-kissy noises, and the cow-like whistles... do they really think calling me like a farm animal is going to get my attention??? REALLY pisses me off. Just keep eyes on the ground.

When I realised the internet was also not working at this place, I had already ordered a beer so I moved to the stools facing the water and just watched the sky's brilliant flashes of lightening as I got lost in my own thoughts and daydreams. I'm not gonna lie, they were all about my plans with A... where we will travel, what our wedding would be like (forward thinking I know, but a girl can dream), when we see each other next...

The mozzies have started to attack. I spray before bed but I still have bumps all over my body. At least I'm getting a tan. Things are looking up!