All By Myself..
Friday 22nd December
Well Vero had to go home today. The government gives students an allowance but they have to go and sign for it. So she had to catch the bus spend 2 hours on it then her dad was picking her up. So Last night I gave her some money for helping with project and a Xmas bonus because she has given up xmas and new year with her family to come and help me. Now I was told to pay 15 -35 pesos which I thought was per day. Apparently not. I gave her 200 pesos and we had a no si no si conversation and then the dictionary came out. It seems I should have paid 35 for the whole 2 weeks so roughly 6 pound for 2 weeks hard graft often 12 hour days. Thats probably an hours min wage for a 16 year old these days. Even 200 pesos is 35 pound which is nothing, so eventually we comprimised of putting it towards binoculars or a book something that would be useful and practical and a couple of beers. Which caused more confusion because she was going to bring beer for me and all sorts eventually we got it sorted!
The thought of spending the night in the cabin by myself kinda half appealed that I could be big and brave and half terrified me. When we found another smaller tarantula it confirmed the ïm a big wuss¨theory. So Vero headed off for the bus and me to the citrus area. An hour later Vero caught the bus and 4 hours later I gave up Toucan watching.
Back at the cabin I started compiling lists of what I have learnt over the last 3 weeks and I have to say I was quite impressed with my little self I didnt think |I had found out that much but putting it in bullet points with 5 categorys and it looks quite good. I then started a map of hot spots within the farm of where we could definatly spot Toucans at some point. Carlos then turned up to invite me to lunch so I grabbed a few things and went down to the house.
Everybody arrives tommorow for Navidad (xmas) so Silvyia had turned into Monica. She has a housekeeper Naddi who apparently doesnt clean properly, argues in jest with her and is not very good generally but she trusts her 150% is honest so wont get rid of her.
It was a good time to continue my office day and got quite a bit done. Carlos and I went back to the farm later in the day and I managed to get some photos of the birds but they were on edge with the Landrover being about. After a quick look at the base of the tree Carlos found some egg shell its too small for Toucan so I think Parrot. After driving back to the house it was suggested a trip to internet I was a vv happy bunny I can tell you!!