Rock solid cold

The cold weather has well n truly returned, this time bringing with it an icecold wind to really dig deep into my warm layers of clothing. Fun times. I have conveniently misplaced my scarf and warm beanie hat so I just had to shrug my shoulder deeper into my jacket and pull my hoodie around my neck.

The water has gone back to freezing in the horses' boxes so that's more work for me, making sure they have enuf to drink. But I can't leave the hose out because that too freezes up and I can't fill up the water bucket. The ground has also turned rock solid underfoot, so while it's not so slippery, riding is harder on the horses' hooves and the camels - already lazy - are even less inclined to move their asses when I try to exercise them.

Today I had the "help" of one of the younger students, who is a nice Austrian girl of about 13 but actually, when it comes down to it, pretty useless at moving the camels. So while I was relying on her to help keep things in check, I soon realised I would have to do it myself. Oh well, luckily G didn't make us try for too long. I would like to keep my voice intact, for now.

There are 10 more days until this British bird apparently comes to help at the farm for a month. It will be nice having someone younger to hang out with and also the help! But with me here alone I don't get asked to do too much in between the stable work, so it's pretty chilled. Maybe with another person G will start amping up the workload again. Urgh!!

Though, to be fair, I do enjoy working for G because she appreciates the work I do and tries to thank me often for it. I don't feel she overworks me and I know if it's too much I can just tell her, and she'll organise someone to come and help me or do a shift instead of me for a day or two. She consistently says she is glad I stayed, and I am glad too, but I feel a little bad that I had to be paid to stay. But it was the only way. I'd be heading to the brats in Bratislava if it'd gone any other way.

Going nutty for Nutella

Three days into the proper work schedule of Torre Amena (Red Tower) and I will give you a little indication of what my days and nights consist of. Firstly, we help with the mucking out, grooming, feeding and stable tidying of the horses. That's pretty simple but does involve getting up before the sun which is a bit unnatural in my eyes, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I just like complaining! And anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a morning person. But the cool morning air does help to give me a quick wake-up call once I step out.

The horses are a bit flighty but nothing unexpected from semi-young competition horses. They're all quite big, esp Edwi who I reckon is over 17 hands. The dogs, 5 in total, are adorable. All really sweet, particularly Ariel who is the 'helpers' dog... she follows whoever is visiting on the farm helping out, sleeps in front of our cottage door and always stays watching us work. Cute!!

Dinnertime, and in fact any other meal-related event, usually involves chocolate which is totally fine with me. But sometimes even I have to say no (not often) because of choccy overload!! They esp like Nutella... and choc and bread... But having just eaten lunch before writing this I need to stop talking about food or I'll feel sick. But it's Italy, they like you to eat well! Although I am chided often for my method of eating, esp spaghetti which I cut with a knife once. Mistake!

What else?? Oh yeah, we started picking olives yesterday but only got half a day in before it started to rain. Today is another story, beautifully sunny but windy as hell. It's ok in the olive grove as it's pretty sheltered but I'm about to have my first ride on the horses so who knows if it will spook at the wind and I go flying! Guess we can only wait n see! I'm just glad I've been asked to ride, I was getting such itchy feet...