Chapter 122: Sheet Lane and Piri-piri's Couch

nerd blog post #130

So Marie left on Sunday and it was a bummer to see her go. She was a real friend to me and I already miss our chats. So now the only volunteers are Latoya and I. Latoya and I get along just fine. She drove Marie mad, but I understand her a bit better, I think, because her attitude is a little like mine was some years ago. Latoya has a big group of friends in Amsterdam that she text messages morning to night, and a boyfriend that she talks about incessantly. This is the longest time she's been away from her family and the longest she hasn't seen friends. If she's alone for five seconds, she's bored. No lie. I remember what I was like as a teenager. I would spend all my time with my friends, and if I was at home, I was on the phone with them. If my parents grounded me (a frequent event), I would be bored within minutes, unable to entertain myself whatsoever. My dad suggested finding a hobby, but I HAD a hobby, and it was hanging with my friends. Duh. This is what Latoya is like, and this is why I can empathize with her boredom. I actually think she's quite brave coming this far on her own for her school placement, and she has a confidence with the horses that I envy. I learn a lot from her and enjoy working with her.

I had hoped that by now I would be able to say that I was wrong about Gemma, that really she's a sweetheart and we have become close friends. Unfortunately, though, Gemma's type is one I have not often encountered. In fact, I can think of only one person who reminds me of Gemma. She came in the form of an eight year old girl, and I babysat her about ten years ago. Her name was Lindsay and I was sure she had a red, pointed tail underneath her pristine, pink, party dress.

Luckily, I have been able to predict when the storm begins to brew, and have mostly stayed out of the way of Gemma's wrath. We have had three small disagreements, but have managed to exist together at the farm in an okay way. I guess the way I see it is that I'm a volunteer, an adult, and someone happy to work and work hard. But WWOOFing is an exchange, and there is a certain mandate that comes with it, and when I'm really upset with how I have been treated or when I think the work demanded of me is not of my responsability, I will put my foot down. Gemma doesn't like this, but I am not a slave. I don't want to get into it too much, because there is a lot that I like about being here. And I know that if I were to write it all out I'd have a small army at the farm ready to pick me up, with torches and spears like in Beauty and the Beast. I'm obvi Beauty.

One great thing about the work is that Gemma has assigned to me two projects that I enjoy very much. The first was announced about a week ago, and that it was that I was to "build a sheet lane," which I eventually discovered was to construct a road out of the manure of the horses that I clean after. The road will be about 500 metres, but first I had to weed it and turn the soil, a big project in itself. Everyday Sheet Lane is growing longer, and when it's finished, I'll lay down a second layer. It looks good and it's nice to have something to be proud of.

The second project announced was harder to decipher, and ended in Gemma yelling in frustration. She instructed me to, "paint ze couch." Which couch? "Ze couch in stock room!" I returned from the enormous stock room to tell her that I had searched everywhere and could not find the couch. She stormed off to the stock room and I followed, and she pointed furiously to a small carriage/cart, "Here! Paint zis! Paint Piri-piri's COUCH!" Oooohhhhhhh COACH. And so my second project began, first scraping and sanding, and now the first coats of the couch that Piri-piri will be trained to pull. I enjoy this job as well, because I do it on my own and, like Sheet Lane, can see the progress daily.

The other chores continue as well, which means my day has been stretched to about 3:30 on most days, and usually later. I have eight horsie stalls to clean, the barn to sweep, I ride Jacto, clean the outside paddocks, clean the houses, do laundry, clean the vehicules, oil the leather of the horse equipment, feed the horses, and do any other job I am given. Latoya mostly works with training the horses, which leaves the dirty work for me, but I like it so don't mind. Gemma sits on a chair in the shade and drinks coffee and gives orders. I take my first break at 11am, which is when I change from my jeans and t-shirt into my afternoon wear. I keep my half boot on, of course, but then wear a bikini. Latoya has taken to doing the same, and it keeps us cooler and works the tan. Gemma doesn't care what we wear, so it works out well. I also have Queen's-style coveralls when I work on Piri-piri's couch. I am notorious for painting myself more than the thing to be painted.

Since I arrived over two weeks ago, there have only been four afternoons where I have stayed on the farm. This is where Gemma shines. She likes the company, and so invites us to wherever she is going in the afternoon. Often it's to Alcochete where we split up. Latoya and I go on the internet, or to the beach, or have a coffee. I have also visited four or five nearby towns. We return around 8pm, when Latoya and I feed the horses, relax a bit, and wait for the late dinner. I try and go to bed between 10 and 10:30.

We have had two special outings, and have another one tomorrow night, but I will nerd blog about them latron. Today is my day off and decided to spend it in Alcochete. I had business at the post office, am now in the library, and then will head to the beach. Gemma drove me to town on the way to a meeting, but I'll find my own way home. She charges 10 Euros for pick up if they're not on her way, and she'd have to make a special trip for me. For financial reasons, and mostly out of principal (10 E is far more than it costs, and it's my only day off in a week, do a favour!), so I will walk the 12 kms back to the farm. But I am very happy for a day off to enjoy this little town!

I am healthy and happy and enjoying my time here. I love this country and the farm is beautiful and it's nice to be without electricity and living simply. I will be happy and ready to meet Steve in Vienna on the 19th of October!

Hope this finds you all well.

Much love,
Hincks.