We were so looking forward to getting work because Ayr is so damn boring. I got my first job on Saturday, selling hot dogs, candy floss and drinks etc at the parade that was in town. It was so much fun! It was really busy but I enjoyed myself.
The next day I was down to work my first day on a farm. I had heard about the farm before because one of the girls in our room works there. The farmer is well known for being a bit of an arsehole so I can't say I was looking forward to it too much.
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| Work outfit |
I woke up at 5:30am as we start work at 6:45am and have to drive out to the farm. It's actually good to start that early because you get some of it done before the sun comes up. Once the sun is up you just sweat and burn, it's horrible.
It is a squash farm. Here is a picture of the little bastards:
And heaven help anyone that ever serves me one of them. I never want to see them again!!!
They grow on a plant that has needles all over it so you have to be totally covered up - in the heat! The first day I got scratches all over my wrists from where my shirt and gloves met so the day after I had to wear tubigrip bandages as well to cover up the gap.
The plants are very short so you have to bend down all day to pick the squash off. The difference between one being too big and too small is minute and I always seemed to be getting it wrong. You grab a bucket and have a very long row that you must pick. Some plants have 3 or 4 squash on, some have none that are big enough, so you bend down, lift the spiny plant up, pick whatever squash are ready and put them in your bucket, then pick up your bucket and move one step forward and repeat the process. The rows are loooooooooooooong and there are 7 patches of them, so you do 4 rows then have a 15 minute break and then do the last 3.
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| Even though I had shoes and socks on! |
On the first day my back was sore. On the 2nd day I thought I was going to be sick because of the pain. On the 3rd day my hands were so wet inside the gloves that a bunch of skin came off my fingers.
It is the shittest job I have ever done, and I've had some shit jobs. In the end, Mathias and I decided that it is not worth the money to feel so shit and in pain, so when I got back from the field today we asked the hostel to take us off their work list and now we are at the library coming up with another plan.
Never Again!!!!!
Awww you look so happy at the carnival. I'm glad you had fun. That kind of thing is right up your street I think. I see those pants are serving you well ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised you were sweltering in the heat on your work outfit, crikey.
What a mess you've made to you feet and hands. You poor things! Well done for leaving. This trip is about having fun and enjoying your time out there not being in pain.
Enjoy a rest now and you'll be back on top form for more work soon enough.
Lots of love, Jennywren.
Do the WWOOFing! You won't get paid but you can spend time in the country for a lot less work and pain. And you won't be spending any money because you get food and board and there's nothing to spend on anyway.
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