Another day of work, almost a week since I had my last day off. I wasn't really tired when I got up, I was actually already awake waiting for my alarm as the night was quite peaceful and comfortable. Still can't wait til I wake up next to a certain someone though...
I knew the day wouldn't be too busy, so I was happy when there were a couple of rides already booked and we ended up having a few more walk-ins. My first ride was late not because of the morning showers but because they came from the cruise ship and were on cruise ship time, or something. Anyway, they'd booked the ride last May so they weren't going to let a slight tropical shower stop them.
They were a nice, easygoing couple from New Jersey, as most of my rides seem to have been this week. Last week it was Canada, this week it's NY/New Jersey! Good for me, though, as they pretty much always give me something at the end. This ride enjoyed themselves, the wife said it was the best they'd been on ever and she was so relaxed, and they gave me $8. OK. Better than nothing, as they say. I just hope they do actually write us up on TripAdvisor like they promised (maybe mention my name...??).
My second ride was just one hour, what I can assume was a grandma and granddaughter or maybe just an older mum?? But they were NYers, also nice, bit more effort to get warmed up but they ended up giving me a decent tip so not complaints here. It's nice that we've got the foal and the baby rabbits (although one of them fell out of its box and was half eaten in the night by a mongoose or something through the mesh flooring in the cage - grooooooooooss) to show them too.
J and i had a bit of a "Day" today, him pointing out a couple of things I did wrong in my work. Now I am the first to admit I am not perfect at my job, but for some reason the way J explains my errors makes me feel like I am 2 ft tall. I got angry at him and stormed off the second time it happened, and almost exploded in front of the rest of the staff before I realised there was a guest waiting for a ride nearby, Probably a good thing, as it allowed me to take lunch and calm down, managing to talk myself into explaining my point of view to him.
That I did, later in the afternoon, and for some reason almost cried during the process. The girls at work tell me I need cock - hell knows what caused my behaviour. Maybe I do just need to get laid.
Didn't make a helluva lot of tips today, in fact more than double on my 1-hour ride than my first 2-hour. But it all adds up. It wasn't the greatest week of tips in my history here, to be honest, I wonder if the new year has left people skint but at the same time every time I ask my co-workers if they made tips, they seem to make more than me. I wonder, also, if my white skin works against me sometimes... like I'm not the "real" Caribbean experience. Hmmm...
There were no rides much after lunchtime so we got to finish right on time, me taking a couple of beers and watching the sun set behind a masquerade of clouds, streaking above and below its mystery... what a beautiful scene to capture with my eyes. My camera didn't do it justice.
Back at home, I had a few beers in celebration of the fact I'd finally get a day off - a week since my last one - and catch up with E to explore the French side. Got in the mood to talk to my boy and ended up using all my credit doing so... as did he, stressing about his visa, calling me back and talking about it til the phone cut off. I hope he managed to find some more credit and get through to the bastards at the visa bureau. I already told him I'd travel to whatever outside country he chooses if he doesn't get his visa, so that's all good. I just hope he gets it for ease sake.
I reminded him it was 3 weeks til my return. His response: "Yes, 3 weeks til your surprise... I mean your return." Don't think I didn't hear that....................
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Just don't vomit in the water
My hangover day began at first light, when I woke to a full bladder and dry mouth. What a day this is going to be. Too much sun yesterday from not wearing my hat (I look better on camera without it) and too much alcohol after work (that early finish got me so excited!) was not a combination.
I got to work, but just wanted to crawl back into bed. Or nestle myself between some saddle blankets, hiding out the back. But alas, twas not to be. Instead, I was fighting to put drops into stubborn horses' eyes, traipsing around with a muddy hose, trying to dodge the dust from the horses I brushed and sneezing from the hay flying about when I raked and swept in the rising wind. Fun times.
The pounding in my head did not go away, in fact it got worse as the day wore on no matter how much water I drank. On one of my rides, I was going through the water and actually wanted to throw up from the nausea. Would NOT have been a good look (and no one would have bought the DVD of photos then!).
My first ride didn't tip me much, but my second made it for me. Funnily enuf, it was the woman who fell off at the start from a spook at the stable and her sister that tipped me the most. $40! And the other lady tipped me $10. That at least made my headache more bearable. Also the painkiller I took, which eventually dissipated the throbbing.
The bastard taxi driver no longer comes into the nature park, instead has started telling his guests that they won't have time to have a drink or buy the photo DVD because they were running late. I just couldn't believe it. My boss was again on the phone to his boss, telling him that this was not on. The office manager went out to give him a piece of her mind... I stayed out of it. I'd be surprised if the driver kept his job after all this, as the taxi company could well lose the contract with the cruise ship (since people complained after yesterday). I know my boss would have thrown me on his ass already if it was us getting complained about. The cruise ships are big business.
Pimienta is running around now all crazy like, she is so adorable and seems fighting fit. The guests all love her too. There is also a bunch of baby rabbits (batch? gaggle? what do you call them?), so small they're just little hairless moles at the moment. Gross but kinda cute.
Had one ride which didn't tip, but that was to be expected - they were from the activity desk we do the most business with. The two girls were young and nice, one Dutch and one from the island. The islander was a first-time rider, but they both did well and seemed to enjoy themselves. Also told me I'd no doubt be able to do the Rhino (or their version of it, Rock n Roll) for free because I work here. Woot woot! I'm calling up tomorrow.
Was meant to have Thursday (tomorrow) off, but D has hurt his hand and the rasta guide is busy so I have to work AGAIN. Friday will be my day off, a week since my last day off. I know it doesn't sound that hard, but at this time of year I like my days off. Not that I do much resting on them, but at least I don't have to wake up to an alarm. This time, though, the change in plans meant I had to cancel on E, who I've been trying to catch up with for a week now since she landed back in SXM. Oh well, fingers crossed something can happen on Friday!.
Spoke with my boy today as he's back in the land of mobile reception, and he's still waiting on confirmation of his second-year Australian visa. It's scary times. I'm crossing everything still and it's getting sore. But I'll be sore if it means I have him for another year at home.
I got to work, but just wanted to crawl back into bed. Or nestle myself between some saddle blankets, hiding out the back. But alas, twas not to be. Instead, I was fighting to put drops into stubborn horses' eyes, traipsing around with a muddy hose, trying to dodge the dust from the horses I brushed and sneezing from the hay flying about when I raked and swept in the rising wind. Fun times.
The pounding in my head did not go away, in fact it got worse as the day wore on no matter how much water I drank. On one of my rides, I was going through the water and actually wanted to throw up from the nausea. Would NOT have been a good look (and no one would have bought the DVD of photos then!).
My first ride didn't tip me much, but my second made it for me. Funnily enuf, it was the woman who fell off at the start from a spook at the stable and her sister that tipped me the most. $40! And the other lady tipped me $10. That at least made my headache more bearable. Also the painkiller I took, which eventually dissipated the throbbing.
The bastard taxi driver no longer comes into the nature park, instead has started telling his guests that they won't have time to have a drink or buy the photo DVD because they were running late. I just couldn't believe it. My boss was again on the phone to his boss, telling him that this was not on. The office manager went out to give him a piece of her mind... I stayed out of it. I'd be surprised if the driver kept his job after all this, as the taxi company could well lose the contract with the cruise ship (since people complained after yesterday). I know my boss would have thrown me on his ass already if it was us getting complained about. The cruise ships are big business.
Pimienta is running around now all crazy like, she is so adorable and seems fighting fit. The guests all love her too. There is also a bunch of baby rabbits (batch? gaggle? what do you call them?), so small they're just little hairless moles at the moment. Gross but kinda cute.
Had one ride which didn't tip, but that was to be expected - they were from the activity desk we do the most business with. The two girls were young and nice, one Dutch and one from the island. The islander was a first-time rider, but they both did well and seemed to enjoy themselves. Also told me I'd no doubt be able to do the Rhino (or their version of it, Rock n Roll) for free because I work here. Woot woot! I'm calling up tomorrow.
Was meant to have Thursday (tomorrow) off, but D has hurt his hand and the rasta guide is busy so I have to work AGAIN. Friday will be my day off, a week since my last day off. I know it doesn't sound that hard, but at this time of year I like my days off. Not that I do much resting on them, but at least I don't have to wake up to an alarm. This time, though, the change in plans meant I had to cancel on E, who I've been trying to catch up with for a week now since she landed back in SXM. Oh well, fingers crossed something can happen on Friday!.
Spoke with my boy today as he's back in the land of mobile reception, and he's still waiting on confirmation of his second-year Australian visa. It's scary times. I'm crossing everything still and it's getting sore. But I'll be sore if it means I have him for another year at home.
Early finish excitement beers
It was a jam-packed first half of the day today, with cruise ship rides back-to-back until at least 1pm and then whatever else books for the day. I was due in at 7am, in the hope that I'd be finished by 3pm and outta there! If the internet hadn't corrected itself by now, I'd have to go to Pineapple Pete's again and then maybe it'd be another beer, beer, pizza, beer expedition like last night. Bad girl, bad bad girl.
I was in an unusually cheery mood for the morning, singing away and making jokes with D and I. Both guides actually remarked at how happy I was. I don't actually know why, I guess I thought I'd be finished early and then head to Grand Cass for some nighttime festivities.
I'd been warned the day before that someone from the cruise ships was coming to film a promo for our riding excursion, but I kinda forgot. As it was, I wore a crisp new shirt to work and looked reasonably presentable. Changed my hair to a high ponytail for the camera, though. And didn't wear my ugly camo hat. Hey, I'll sacrifice one day in the sun if I'm gonna be immortalised looking half decent on this job!
The camera man could ride, so I found him waiting on hills for us to walk past, weaving in and out of my ride (much to my tourists' annoyance), crouching on the beach and even hiding in the bushes to get a good shot. Kinda snuck up on me sometimes!
At one point, I had to give I a talking-to as he pulled me up on not noticing a bit had fallen out of the horse's mouth on the ride - in front of the tourists! Way to make me look incompetent and the business look dodgy! I had to explain that if he wanted to speak to me about it, don't do it in front of the guests. Sure, we all make mistakes but it's really not a good look to bring it up for them, who would not have otherwise noticed. That put him in a mood all day, as he has a little-boy crush on me, and he was kicking himself that he made me angry.
The worst thing was, when that happened I was already annoyed because an asshole taxi driver was hustling the guests away and not letting them even buy the photos that N was taking. It's her bread n butter, and he wasn't even going to stay long enuf for one man to finish his DVD burning. Prick! She started yelling at him but I interjected, saying the DVD was going to be burnt and he was going to wait. Sternly. It was a mild scene but I had to interject or N would have erupted into an emotional fit. As it was, the guy tried it again later and she burst into tears. The boss told me not to react like that and I tried to explain. It was all so spur of the moment.
Then at the start of my last ride one horse decided to just stop at the back, the young boy at the front starting freaking about his horse, the cheeky colt of one of my other riders started trying to suckle at her mum AND my horse tried to make a break for it when I jumped down to sort out the situation. Not enuf hands, people!!! Somehow I managed to calm it down, luckily N was on hand to help, and just avoided brain damage from a kick from the bitch of a colt. Grrr.
It was around this time, when I walked up to the stables and readied myself for my third ride, that i wanted the day to end. Fast. I had no idea what time it was or how many more rides I had to do, but I just wanted outta there. The rides had tipped me, not everyone and not much, but something. And that's better than nothing. It was all just stressful for me - the camera man, the taxi driver, N, my boss, I... Stress. And who gets stressed in the Caribbean??
In the end, I did 3 rides back-to-back, just praying that my boss would let me off at 3pm like I'd requested. After my last ride, he told me I just had to get the horses and cows in (easier said than done!) and I could clock off. It was only 1:45pm - surely that's enuf time??
I took Chico, my little black Caribbean baby, out to keep training him and he did an awesome job. I found the cows and rounded them into their pen, no dramas (even had Chico nudging the little calf along with his nose!) and then the horses were even easier. Most of them were waiting by the gate to come inside. So I was finished well before 3 - super!
THEN the internet decided to work properly again - Facebook and Gmail were accessible!! Of course I had to celebrate all this good fortune with a beer... or 2.... or 5. Oops. I think S was punching holes in the bottom of the bottles. Damn you and your tasty yeast!! Didn't knock me about, though, and after I'd fooled around on the net for a while I went home to get ready to go to Grand Cass with N and her mum and daughter.
Tried to call her to no answer so couldn't make dinner, as she would no doubt call when I was halfway through and tell me she's on the way. When she did call, she said her mum and daughter didn't want to go anymore so I was out of a lift and out of time to organise a new one. Ho hum. N invited to her house for dinner anyway, so she picked me up and we ate and drank wine, before nipping to La Bamba for a couple of drinks.
La Bamba was packed, as usual for Tuesday salsa, and I ran into L smoking by the ganja dealer's car I met the first time I went to La Bamba all those months ago. My, how time flies. L must have been really stoned or drunk or both, cos he had this weird look in his eyes and it kinda felt like he was looking me up and down, which is not like him. I couldn't wait to get away. To the bar!!
Was actually quite drunk when I got home, a bit silly when I needed to be fresh for work the next day. It is much harder dealing with hangovers with this heat, unpredictable animals, pungent faecal aromas and of course, tourists. I don't know what's the worst. But I was about to find out...
I was in an unusually cheery mood for the morning, singing away and making jokes with D and I. Both guides actually remarked at how happy I was. I don't actually know why, I guess I thought I'd be finished early and then head to Grand Cass for some nighttime festivities.
I'd been warned the day before that someone from the cruise ships was coming to film a promo for our riding excursion, but I kinda forgot. As it was, I wore a crisp new shirt to work and looked reasonably presentable. Changed my hair to a high ponytail for the camera, though. And didn't wear my ugly camo hat. Hey, I'll sacrifice one day in the sun if I'm gonna be immortalised looking half decent on this job!
The camera man could ride, so I found him waiting on hills for us to walk past, weaving in and out of my ride (much to my tourists' annoyance), crouching on the beach and even hiding in the bushes to get a good shot. Kinda snuck up on me sometimes!
At one point, I had to give I a talking-to as he pulled me up on not noticing a bit had fallen out of the horse's mouth on the ride - in front of the tourists! Way to make me look incompetent and the business look dodgy! I had to explain that if he wanted to speak to me about it, don't do it in front of the guests. Sure, we all make mistakes but it's really not a good look to bring it up for them, who would not have otherwise noticed. That put him in a mood all day, as he has a little-boy crush on me, and he was kicking himself that he made me angry.
The worst thing was, when that happened I was already annoyed because an asshole taxi driver was hustling the guests away and not letting them even buy the photos that N was taking. It's her bread n butter, and he wasn't even going to stay long enuf for one man to finish his DVD burning. Prick! She started yelling at him but I interjected, saying the DVD was going to be burnt and he was going to wait. Sternly. It was a mild scene but I had to interject or N would have erupted into an emotional fit. As it was, the guy tried it again later and she burst into tears. The boss told me not to react like that and I tried to explain. It was all so spur of the moment.
Then at the start of my last ride one horse decided to just stop at the back, the young boy at the front starting freaking about his horse, the cheeky colt of one of my other riders started trying to suckle at her mum AND my horse tried to make a break for it when I jumped down to sort out the situation. Not enuf hands, people!!! Somehow I managed to calm it down, luckily N was on hand to help, and just avoided brain damage from a kick from the bitch of a colt. Grrr.
It was around this time, when I walked up to the stables and readied myself for my third ride, that i wanted the day to end. Fast. I had no idea what time it was or how many more rides I had to do, but I just wanted outta there. The rides had tipped me, not everyone and not much, but something. And that's better than nothing. It was all just stressful for me - the camera man, the taxi driver, N, my boss, I... Stress. And who gets stressed in the Caribbean??
In the end, I did 3 rides back-to-back, just praying that my boss would let me off at 3pm like I'd requested. After my last ride, he told me I just had to get the horses and cows in (easier said than done!) and I could clock off. It was only 1:45pm - surely that's enuf time??
I took Chico, my little black Caribbean baby, out to keep training him and he did an awesome job. I found the cows and rounded them into their pen, no dramas (even had Chico nudging the little calf along with his nose!) and then the horses were even easier. Most of them were waiting by the gate to come inside. So I was finished well before 3 - super!
THEN the internet decided to work properly again - Facebook and Gmail were accessible!! Of course I had to celebrate all this good fortune with a beer... or 2.... or 5. Oops. I think S was punching holes in the bottom of the bottles. Damn you and your tasty yeast!! Didn't knock me about, though, and after I'd fooled around on the net for a while I went home to get ready to go to Grand Cass with N and her mum and daughter.
Tried to call her to no answer so couldn't make dinner, as she would no doubt call when I was halfway through and tell me she's on the way. When she did call, she said her mum and daughter didn't want to go anymore so I was out of a lift and out of time to organise a new one. Ho hum. N invited to her house for dinner anyway, so she picked me up and we ate and drank wine, before nipping to La Bamba for a couple of drinks.
La Bamba was packed, as usual for Tuesday salsa, and I ran into L smoking by the ganja dealer's car I met the first time I went to La Bamba all those months ago. My, how time flies. L must have been really stoned or drunk or both, cos he had this weird look in his eyes and it kinda felt like he was looking me up and down, which is not like him. I couldn't wait to get away. To the bar!!
Was actually quite drunk when I got home, a bit silly when I needed to be fresh for work the next day. It is much harder dealing with hangovers with this heat, unpredictable animals, pungent faecal aromas and of course, tourists. I don't know what's the worst. But I was about to find out...
All in the ass-end of the day
We saddled half the horses we caught, to save trouble by the end of the day - if only we knew what kind of end day we'd have!
It was a Monday, and with no cruise ship rides I expected it to be a bit slower. I didn't expect to be SO slow. With not one ride booked for the day, J and I were confined to the daily chores at an agonisingly slow pace, just to kill time. I think at one point I even fell asleep in the tack room.
At lunchtime, I took the opportunity - since the net still wasn't working properly - to go bareback riding into the water, hopefully with some swimming involved this time. I chose Prince, a 4-year-old cheeky bastard who'd knocked up the horse who'd just had her foal before he was castrated, as I'd always wanted to ride him. He looked comfortable enuf, wasn't as comfortable in reality but does love the water so was no problems getting him in.
It is much harder to get them to swim in the ocean as you need them to go deep deep to let yourself float above them, but to do that you need control of the reins to guide them out there. And he kept trying to go back in, cos all his friends were up at the stable. I secretly think he hated me for it.
Regardless, I got pretty wet and J took some good photos so I was happy. Then Tom, with his abscice in the foot, needed attending to so I took him walking in the water, me on foot. Well, sometimes... I fell over a couple of times in there and ruined all chances of keeping my t-shirt dry (which I'd taken off for the ride with Prince). Came up dripping with water and sand to show the boss his foot, he wondered what the hell I'd been up to in there.
The afternoon was where it really started to get entertaining. I noticed one horse getting all colic-like on me, doing some weird shit and trying to lie down all the time, so we called the boss who was off-site at the time, and he said I needed to give him a shot so there I was again - Romania Pt. II - jabbing a needle, untrained, unknowing, unwise, into the neck of some poor animal. Anyway, it seemed to work and shazam, he was better! Phew.
Unfortunately, this all happened about the same time as the
Noticed something weird today... I have 2 scabs on my hands just like stigmata. Weird because I was just reading about stigmata in the Bob Marley bio L lent me, and now I have managed to get 2 marks on my hands just like it! Ha! Won't read TOO much into that.........
So we were about to feed all the horses and be out right on time, when I hear the walky-talky call. "Guides, come in. Guides, come in." Shit. What now? "I have a ride for you, 6 people, 4 - 5pm." OK. So we need to have 6 horses, and I need to saddle my horse. "Oh, sorry, also R wants you to work tomorrow and have Thursday off instead." OK... did have some plans but I guess they'll have to wait...
First, I was actually not put on the ride because she thought I'd want to rest for my big day on the next day. Hell no, I want to ride and I want to make tips!! So J kindly told the office manager he needed to milk the cow so I should take the ride. Next thing we know, "Guides, come in. Guides, come in." Yes????? "I have another ride for you, 4 people, 5 - 6pm." Are you serious?? Fuck's sake.
So I took the first ride out. Turned out to be 6 NY adolescents, I guess they were 18, half of which had never been horseriding before. Man, they were annoying. I found myself saying, before the ride even started, "OK, so what I'd like is no screaming. That will get you nowhere. Also, if you remember the simple instruction about how to stop the horse - yes, that's right, just pull back - then we are on the same page. You are controlling the horse, no one else."
But I tell you what, they were hard work. Actually got a little better towards the end, and I think they even enjoyed themselves, but when the still-working father of someone came back to pick them up, in between checking his Blackberry and trying to say thanks (it was hard for him to concentrate on me) I thought I'd get no tip. I actually walked away before he called me back to give me a 20. How about 100??? I wanted to yell. But I smiled sweetly and said thank you.
But the day was not over yet. I had a pony ride for the little girl too young to join her sister and dad on the ride J took out. Actually, I ended up getting a $5 tip from that, so that was something, at least! Pony rides don't usually get tips.
Had to go back up to the horses and unsaddle and prepare to feed for when J returned. Except that I lost my horse. I'd tied none of them up when I walked the Terrible Turds down, and all but my horse was in the rack, of course. Found him looking over the pen that Black Beauty and her foal - now named Pimienta (meaning Pepper, as that's the colour I think she'll end up) - that all the horses are wildly fascinated with. One horse, Tornado, honestly thinks he's the dad. The actual father, Prince, is not at all interested in her. Bad daddy.
And so it was that I didn't finish until just before 7pm. Cannot believe it. After such a non-eventful day - 7pm!!! Geeeeez. At least I got some tips and went out for a ride. But I mostly remember today for my injuries. I slammed my finger in the gate and scratched myself a few times - but the biggie came on my ride, when Prince bit me in the water. Maybe he was going for Chico, maybe he was pissed off at me making him swim earlier in the day... whatever it was, it fucking hurt. One of the screaming girls reacted by laughing hysterically at my injury. Yep. Real. Fucking. Funny.
It's already welting up.
It was a Monday, and with no cruise ship rides I expected it to be a bit slower. I didn't expect to be SO slow. With not one ride booked for the day, J and I were confined to the daily chores at an agonisingly slow pace, just to kill time. I think at one point I even fell asleep in the tack room.
At lunchtime, I took the opportunity - since the net still wasn't working properly - to go bareback riding into the water, hopefully with some swimming involved this time. I chose Prince, a 4-year-old cheeky bastard who'd knocked up the horse who'd just had her foal before he was castrated, as I'd always wanted to ride him. He looked comfortable enuf, wasn't as comfortable in reality but does love the water so was no problems getting him in.
It is much harder to get them to swim in the ocean as you need them to go deep deep to let yourself float above them, but to do that you need control of the reins to guide them out there. And he kept trying to go back in, cos all his friends were up at the stable. I secretly think he hated me for it.
Regardless, I got pretty wet and J took some good photos so I was happy. Then Tom, with his abscice in the foot, needed attending to so I took him walking in the water, me on foot. Well, sometimes... I fell over a couple of times in there and ruined all chances of keeping my t-shirt dry (which I'd taken off for the ride with Prince). Came up dripping with water and sand to show the boss his foot, he wondered what the hell I'd been up to in there.
The afternoon was where it really started to get entertaining. I noticed one horse getting all colic-like on me, doing some weird shit and trying to lie down all the time, so we called the boss who was off-site at the time, and he said I needed to give him a shot so there I was again - Romania Pt. II - jabbing a needle, untrained, unknowing, unwise, into the neck of some poor animal. Anyway, it seemed to work and shazam, he was better! Phew.
Unfortunately, this all happened about the same time as the
Noticed something weird today... I have 2 scabs on my hands just like stigmata. Weird because I was just reading about stigmata in the Bob Marley bio L lent me, and now I have managed to get 2 marks on my hands just like it! Ha! Won't read TOO much into that.........
So we were about to feed all the horses and be out right on time, when I hear the walky-talky call. "Guides, come in. Guides, come in." Shit. What now? "I have a ride for you, 6 people, 4 - 5pm." OK. So we need to have 6 horses, and I need to saddle my horse. "Oh, sorry, also R wants you to work tomorrow and have Thursday off instead." OK... did have some plans but I guess they'll have to wait...
First, I was actually not put on the ride because she thought I'd want to rest for my big day on the next day. Hell no, I want to ride and I want to make tips!! So J kindly told the office manager he needed to milk the cow so I should take the ride. Next thing we know, "Guides, come in. Guides, come in." Yes????? "I have another ride for you, 4 people, 5 - 6pm." Are you serious?? Fuck's sake.
So I took the first ride out. Turned out to be 6 NY adolescents, I guess they were 18, half of which had never been horseriding before. Man, they were annoying. I found myself saying, before the ride even started, "OK, so what I'd like is no screaming. That will get you nowhere. Also, if you remember the simple instruction about how to stop the horse - yes, that's right, just pull back - then we are on the same page. You are controlling the horse, no one else."
But I tell you what, they were hard work. Actually got a little better towards the end, and I think they even enjoyed themselves, but when the still-working father of someone came back to pick them up, in between checking his Blackberry and trying to say thanks (it was hard for him to concentrate on me) I thought I'd get no tip. I actually walked away before he called me back to give me a 20. How about 100??? I wanted to yell. But I smiled sweetly and said thank you.
But the day was not over yet. I had a pony ride for the little girl too young to join her sister and dad on the ride J took out. Actually, I ended up getting a $5 tip from that, so that was something, at least! Pony rides don't usually get tips.
Had to go back up to the horses and unsaddle and prepare to feed for when J returned. Except that I lost my horse. I'd tied none of them up when I walked the Terrible Turds down, and all but my horse was in the rack, of course. Found him looking over the pen that Black Beauty and her foal - now named Pimienta (meaning Pepper, as that's the colour I think she'll end up) - that all the horses are wildly fascinated with. One horse, Tornado, honestly thinks he's the dad. The actual father, Prince, is not at all interested in her. Bad daddy.
And so it was that I didn't finish until just before 7pm. Cannot believe it. After such a non-eventful day - 7pm!!! Geeeeez. At least I got some tips and went out for a ride. But I mostly remember today for my injuries. I slammed my finger in the gate and scratched myself a few times - but the biggie came on my ride, when Prince bit me in the water. Maybe he was going for Chico, maybe he was pissed off at me making him swim earlier in the day... whatever it was, it fucking hurt. One of the screaming girls reacted by laughing hysterically at my injury. Yep. Real. Fucking. Funny.
It's already welting up.
Monday, 23 January 2012
And I shall name thy foal...
It was an exciting day today, a day of new beginnings, the miracle of nature, fresh faces... and no, I wasn't returning home. I was witnessing a foal being born.
It happened when J and I were readying the horses for their day of work (and ours). I hear J call out to me several times, and when I look over I see Black Beauty, the heavily pregnant mare I mentioned in yesterday's blog, on the ground and pushing. Her water had already broken and by the time I ran down, camera in hand, the front legs were on their way out of the back end.
Trembling with excitement, I was already on the phone to the boss and by the time I hung up, the whole foal was out. Quickest birth ever! They say horses usually take 5 - 20 mins to give birth... oh, to be a horse! Then it was a matter of breaking through the birthing membrane, get some air and get it off the baby. We were under instruction not to touch it so we just stood and watched, warding off curious horses nearby.
The process wasn't entirely smooth. She had decided to give birth right on the fence line, so the baby fell out kinda half in the feeding paddock (with all the other horses in there) and half under the Tamaring tree we usually get guests to wait by to mount up. J ended up having to nudge the foal a little to get it more on one side, so the mum could lick her and start the imprinting process.
The boss arrived shortly, excited family in tow, and we watched as the foal got to her (we now realised it was a girl) feet within 15 mins of birth - again, horses are amazing - and stagger around her mum looking for the teat it desperately wanted to suckle, tongue hanging out to the side. I was like a proud mother, videotaping her first steps and brimming with smiles as all appeared healthy and well. J told me I could name her, even though he was the first to see the birth technically, so I spent the rest of the day deep in thought. The boss says something Spanish... I'm thinking Pimienta (Pepper), as once the foal dried you could see some small speckles of white on it.
Then we got back to work as we had a ride coming in any moment, the same Dutch St Maarten woman and her kids I had a while back, this time with a bunch of visiting Americans with her. J and I had to split the ride, an irritating affair in itself, let alone the fact we had to deal with this bitchy, pushy woman for the ride. Of course, I was assigned her and her kids, the "faster" ride.
After the recent changes and mounting paranoia re safety on our rides, everyone wore helmets and I firmly told them the ride would go as to the lowest standard rider in the group. After the dad of 2 kids who could ride said to me while I fixed his stirrups, "We're not going faster than a trot, are we?" then one of his daughters telling me she only just learnt to canter, I thought, nope definitely NOT going faster than a trot!
The ride was uneventful, we did a few short trots but in essence, what they'd paid for (heavily discounted, thanks to this woman) was a walking ride so anything more was actually just out of kindness on our part. The kids and the adults would have been fine not even running, but this woman and her kids were pushing for it faster. I was having none of it. At the end, the Americans tipped me but of course the woman didn't. Again. Actually didn't even hear her say thanks.
Straight after, I had 3 more locals, this time from the French side. They also had only paid for walking so that's what they got. J asked me after if they tipped, I told him they were still wandering around taking pictures of the foal, and shortly after one of the girls came and gave me a small tip. Smaller than what J said he got, actually, so either the girl was really annoyed I didn't let her take her helmet off, she didn't have much money on her or I was just a shit guide. Whatever.
With the internet still playing up at work (I wonder if they've done some kind of blocking or changed their plan), I had to go to Pineapple Pete's for a beer and a surf. A was chilled now that he'd heard from me, had been worrying his little head I'd been up to... well, I dunno really. Who knows what goes on in there. I'm not sure how many times I can reassure him I am really trustworthy but I guess it'll wear thin soon. As long as he cuts it out when we're together again...
I think I got a bit of sun today as my body feel dehydrated. And my lips are a bit swollen from the sun, even though I've been applying lip cream like it's going out of fashion. But at least I got a good lunch, a soup gifted to me by my old neighbour. Bailed on my Spanish bar plans tonight as I have to work tomorrow - there was a mistake on the schedule so it seems I'm not off anymore. But Tuesday I'm hoping to get to Loterie Farm for some ziplining and then to Grand Cass for this weekly fiesta thing. It's go go go around here!
It happened when J and I were readying the horses for their day of work (and ours). I hear J call out to me several times, and when I look over I see Black Beauty, the heavily pregnant mare I mentioned in yesterday's blog, on the ground and pushing. Her water had already broken and by the time I ran down, camera in hand, the front legs were on their way out of the back end.
Trembling with excitement, I was already on the phone to the boss and by the time I hung up, the whole foal was out. Quickest birth ever! They say horses usually take 5 - 20 mins to give birth... oh, to be a horse! Then it was a matter of breaking through the birthing membrane, get some air and get it off the baby. We were under instruction not to touch it so we just stood and watched, warding off curious horses nearby.
The process wasn't entirely smooth. She had decided to give birth right on the fence line, so the baby fell out kinda half in the feeding paddock (with all the other horses in there) and half under the Tamaring tree we usually get guests to wait by to mount up. J ended up having to nudge the foal a little to get it more on one side, so the mum could lick her and start the imprinting process.
The boss arrived shortly, excited family in tow, and we watched as the foal got to her (we now realised it was a girl) feet within 15 mins of birth - again, horses are amazing - and stagger around her mum looking for the teat it desperately wanted to suckle, tongue hanging out to the side. I was like a proud mother, videotaping her first steps and brimming with smiles as all appeared healthy and well. J told me I could name her, even though he was the first to see the birth technically, so I spent the rest of the day deep in thought. The boss says something Spanish... I'm thinking Pimienta (Pepper), as once the foal dried you could see some small speckles of white on it.
Then we got back to work as we had a ride coming in any moment, the same Dutch St Maarten woman and her kids I had a while back, this time with a bunch of visiting Americans with her. J and I had to split the ride, an irritating affair in itself, let alone the fact we had to deal with this bitchy, pushy woman for the ride. Of course, I was assigned her and her kids, the "faster" ride.
After the recent changes and mounting paranoia re safety on our rides, everyone wore helmets and I firmly told them the ride would go as to the lowest standard rider in the group. After the dad of 2 kids who could ride said to me while I fixed his stirrups, "We're not going faster than a trot, are we?" then one of his daughters telling me she only just learnt to canter, I thought, nope definitely NOT going faster than a trot!
The ride was uneventful, we did a few short trots but in essence, what they'd paid for (heavily discounted, thanks to this woman) was a walking ride so anything more was actually just out of kindness on our part. The kids and the adults would have been fine not even running, but this woman and her kids were pushing for it faster. I was having none of it. At the end, the Americans tipped me but of course the woman didn't. Again. Actually didn't even hear her say thanks.
Straight after, I had 3 more locals, this time from the French side. They also had only paid for walking so that's what they got. J asked me after if they tipped, I told him they were still wandering around taking pictures of the foal, and shortly after one of the girls came and gave me a small tip. Smaller than what J said he got, actually, so either the girl was really annoyed I didn't let her take her helmet off, she didn't have much money on her or I was just a shit guide. Whatever.
With the internet still playing up at work (I wonder if they've done some kind of blocking or changed their plan), I had to go to Pineapple Pete's for a beer and a surf. A was chilled now that he'd heard from me, had been worrying his little head I'd been up to... well, I dunno really. Who knows what goes on in there. I'm not sure how many times I can reassure him I am really trustworthy but I guess it'll wear thin soon. As long as he cuts it out when we're together again...
I think I got a bit of sun today as my body feel dehydrated. And my lips are a bit swollen from the sun, even though I've been applying lip cream like it's going out of fashion. But at least I got a good lunch, a soup gifted to me by my old neighbour. Bailed on my Spanish bar plans tonight as I have to work tomorrow - there was a mistake on the schedule so it seems I'm not off anymore. But Tuesday I'm hoping to get to Loterie Farm for some ziplining and then to Grand Cass for this weekly fiesta thing. It's go go go around here!
Sunday, 22 January 2012
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!
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!
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Anguilla: simply stunning
Having not gone out the night before, I woke easily and early for my "Anguilla Day", my solo trip to the nearby island so many times delayed previously. I had planned to get to the island by about 11am, but as it was, I was up, fed and hung my washing by 8:30, so was at Marigot as the clock struck 9 - luckily, as that was when the boat departed. I was hustled through border control (it's an English island) and was the last to board the ferry.
All this time I thought the trip was about 45 mins, but it was much quicker, maybe 20 mins. On the boat, I mentally ran through everything I brought with me... packed lunch (I'd heard the island was expensive for a penny-pinching girl like me), sarong/towel, both ends of my swimming costume... but dammit, forgot my book again!! I swear I'll never get through that thing. And my riding boots. Oh well, flip flops will have to do.
I had planned to hire a bike for the day, since the island was only 16 miles / 3 miles, but at the ferry dock there were just taxi vendors, who just annoy me with their arrogant assumptions that they were the only way to get around the island (there is no bus or public transport system). Not this little lady!! I grabbed a free map, gave it a quick study and stubbornly marched past them, chin held high. Ain't paying your inflated prices, thanks! Don't you "rasta girl" me...
Saw a billboard on the side of the road reminding locals that "Tourism is key", which made me think they needed reminding how good tourists were for their island... I was later told this wasn't the case, but it started me off thinking the locals hated us visitors. Not a good advertisement.
The closest nice beach looked to be Rendezvous Bay, an easy walk down a side street. I got to the end and ran into a bunch of "Positively Private Property" signs, which besides being quite funny were annoying as that was positively the exact way to my beach! Fuck it, walked it anyway and found it was actually a derelict resort. Kinda spooky, with its sagging porches, dusty bottles of alcohol on the bar and boarded-up windows.
Towards the end of the road, I saw workmen (better get onto the beach!) starting to repair the buildings. From the beach, I saw it looked like major structural damage from a big storm or something. And not to be the first I saw on the island. Later I was told there hasn't been a hurricane since 1999 and not many big storms so I wonder what did it.
Rendezvous Bay. Wow. Possibly the clearest, most "azure" as they say, water and almost entirely deserted. The sand, as I found all the beaches on Anguilla to have, was so soft, almost mushy, but lovely and near-white. There were just a few super yachts anchored a short way out, and some resorts at the other end of the beach. But nothing near me. And it was stunning.
Floating in the water, all alone, looking at the blue sky above, I concluded this island beat St Maarten's beaches any day. So I guess there is some point to coming here - I wasn't quite sure after someone told me Anguilla was just "an expensive day at the beach."
The first resort I walked through was also amazing, I wouldn't even want to know how much it was a night. It seems that's the thing to do here, come and splash out on a resort so you don't really have to move from there the whole time. Cos if you do, you won't find much else to do, actually. Probably explains why the great majority of tourists here were old or virtually invalids. One guy I saw sat in a chair on the sand with his socks still on, almost dribbling as he stared monotonously into the distance.
After Rendezvous, I wanted to see another beach before heading to the next cove to find the horseriding place. It looked a reasonable distance on the map, but it was hot so I kinda didn't want to walk, but I made myself... stubbornly. However, it didn't take long before a kind gentleman offered me a lift and took me to the door of my next bay. Luckily I had somewhere to be in the afternoon or I would have backed myself into a corner of having him show me around the island. Thanks, but just the ride will do.
And so I made it to Meads Bay in plenty of time. There was a tiny little cove to visit first, but I vacated as soon as a Catamaran floated in to anchor. Then it was another lovely beach, with a few more people but still not many, and a few waves to swim about in. After a swim, I had a sunbake... but not for long. A huge rainstorm came out of nowhere (should really sleep with one eye open) and we all ran for cover. 5 mins later I was on my way to the horseriding place, the island already shaking itself dry.
I found myself walking through some small ghetto (just can't keep away), avoiding eye contact with the blabbering, cursing black man in a dress that passed me (he actually stopped talking to himself as we passed, like I couldn't hear him before or afterwards). Walked and walked and walked, and started to wonder if I was going the right way. Couldn't call T, the lady who ran the stables, as my phone didn't work on the island. Ended up walking into a resort and borrowing the cell of the man at the front gate, who also gave me directions to the stables.
And so it was that I walked along another beach, working my calf muscles, and eventually wound my way to the stables. Waited a short time before T came, looking at her half-dozen horses and playing with her kitten. The horses looked a bit bored, sitting in their muddy paddocks, and a couple looked past their best years. But they weren't skinny, just a bit befuddled from the recent rain (the albino was a murky yellow colour instead of white).
There was one horse that stood out, a gorgeous gelding Pace Fino with a blonde mane and livered chestnut colour, almost like a Haflinger. She asked which one I wanted to ride, and I chose that one at her suggestion. "He only got one ball chopped off cos the other was stuck up inside so he still acts like a stallion sometimes." Ahh, this should be interesting.
He wasn't too bad, just a bit spirited in the faster gaits, throwing in regular pig-roots (small bucks) and tossing his head around. I never felt unsafe though, and it was beautiful running along the beach I'd just walked. I lost a flip-flop at one point, thankful that's all I lost since I'd never really ridden in them, although for all my worrying T was wearing them too!
After the (free) ride, she gave me a lift to the ferry and I gave myself a mental high-5 that I'd managed the whole day without sacrificing any of my dollars to the taxi demons. The ferry left shortly after, in sync with the sun, and I enjoyed another breathtaking farewell to the day in a colourscape of pink, yellow and blue.
Was considering going to Pineapple Pete's to check my internet as I hadn't gone online properly for 2 days now, and what if A was trying to get through to me?? Leave it, I reconsidered. I was tired from my big day and needed water and rest. I'll check it on lunch tomorrow. If I get one.
All this time I thought the trip was about 45 mins, but it was much quicker, maybe 20 mins. On the boat, I mentally ran through everything I brought with me... packed lunch (I'd heard the island was expensive for a penny-pinching girl like me), sarong/towel, both ends of my swimming costume... but dammit, forgot my book again!! I swear I'll never get through that thing. And my riding boots. Oh well, flip flops will have to do.
I had planned to hire a bike for the day, since the island was only 16 miles / 3 miles, but at the ferry dock there were just taxi vendors, who just annoy me with their arrogant assumptions that they were the only way to get around the island (there is no bus or public transport system). Not this little lady!! I grabbed a free map, gave it a quick study and stubbornly marched past them, chin held high. Ain't paying your inflated prices, thanks! Don't you "rasta girl" me...
Saw a billboard on the side of the road reminding locals that "Tourism is key", which made me think they needed reminding how good tourists were for their island... I was later told this wasn't the case, but it started me off thinking the locals hated us visitors. Not a good advertisement.
The closest nice beach looked to be Rendezvous Bay, an easy walk down a side street. I got to the end and ran into a bunch of "Positively Private Property" signs, which besides being quite funny were annoying as that was positively the exact way to my beach! Fuck it, walked it anyway and found it was actually a derelict resort. Kinda spooky, with its sagging porches, dusty bottles of alcohol on the bar and boarded-up windows.
Towards the end of the road, I saw workmen (better get onto the beach!) starting to repair the buildings. From the beach, I saw it looked like major structural damage from a big storm or something. And not to be the first I saw on the island. Later I was told there hasn't been a hurricane since 1999 and not many big storms so I wonder what did it.
Rendezvous Bay. Wow. Possibly the clearest, most "azure" as they say, water and almost entirely deserted. The sand, as I found all the beaches on Anguilla to have, was so soft, almost mushy, but lovely and near-white. There were just a few super yachts anchored a short way out, and some resorts at the other end of the beach. But nothing near me. And it was stunning.
Floating in the water, all alone, looking at the blue sky above, I concluded this island beat St Maarten's beaches any day. So I guess there is some point to coming here - I wasn't quite sure after someone told me Anguilla was just "an expensive day at the beach."
The first resort I walked through was also amazing, I wouldn't even want to know how much it was a night. It seems that's the thing to do here, come and splash out on a resort so you don't really have to move from there the whole time. Cos if you do, you won't find much else to do, actually. Probably explains why the great majority of tourists here were old or virtually invalids. One guy I saw sat in a chair on the sand with his socks still on, almost dribbling as he stared monotonously into the distance.
After Rendezvous, I wanted to see another beach before heading to the next cove to find the horseriding place. It looked a reasonable distance on the map, but it was hot so I kinda didn't want to walk, but I made myself... stubbornly. However, it didn't take long before a kind gentleman offered me a lift and took me to the door of my next bay. Luckily I had somewhere to be in the afternoon or I would have backed myself into a corner of having him show me around the island. Thanks, but just the ride will do.
And so I made it to Meads Bay in plenty of time. There was a tiny little cove to visit first, but I vacated as soon as a Catamaran floated in to anchor. Then it was another lovely beach, with a few more people but still not many, and a few waves to swim about in. After a swim, I had a sunbake... but not for long. A huge rainstorm came out of nowhere (should really sleep with one eye open) and we all ran for cover. 5 mins later I was on my way to the horseriding place, the island already shaking itself dry.
I found myself walking through some small ghetto (just can't keep away), avoiding eye contact with the blabbering, cursing black man in a dress that passed me (he actually stopped talking to himself as we passed, like I couldn't hear him before or afterwards). Walked and walked and walked, and started to wonder if I was going the right way. Couldn't call T, the lady who ran the stables, as my phone didn't work on the island. Ended up walking into a resort and borrowing the cell of the man at the front gate, who also gave me directions to the stables.
And so it was that I walked along another beach, working my calf muscles, and eventually wound my way to the stables. Waited a short time before T came, looking at her half-dozen horses and playing with her kitten. The horses looked a bit bored, sitting in their muddy paddocks, and a couple looked past their best years. But they weren't skinny, just a bit befuddled from the recent rain (the albino was a murky yellow colour instead of white).
There was one horse that stood out, a gorgeous gelding Pace Fino with a blonde mane and livered chestnut colour, almost like a Haflinger. She asked which one I wanted to ride, and I chose that one at her suggestion. "He only got one ball chopped off cos the other was stuck up inside so he still acts like a stallion sometimes." Ahh, this should be interesting.
He wasn't too bad, just a bit spirited in the faster gaits, throwing in regular pig-roots (small bucks) and tossing his head around. I never felt unsafe though, and it was beautiful running along the beach I'd just walked. I lost a flip-flop at one point, thankful that's all I lost since I'd never really ridden in them, although for all my worrying T was wearing them too!
After the (free) ride, she gave me a lift to the ferry and I gave myself a mental high-5 that I'd managed the whole day without sacrificing any of my dollars to the taxi demons. The ferry left shortly after, in sync with the sun, and I enjoyed another breathtaking farewell to the day in a colourscape of pink, yellow and blue.
Was considering going to Pineapple Pete's to check my internet as I hadn't gone online properly for 2 days now, and what if A was trying to get through to me?? Leave it, I reconsidered. I was tired from my big day and needed water and rest. I'll check it on lunch tomorrow. If I get one.
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