Vodka is EVIL!!!!
So, I did something new on Friday night. I went sleigh riding through the Polish forest in -11C weather with a thick layer of snow all around. Cold as all get-go, but I had an absolute ball! And it was a relatively clear night so the stars were out and all shiny (except when we went through patches of fog).
I finally understand Jingle Bells. The horses had bells on their harnesses.
Woke up Friday morning to my mobile ringing. Agnes was calling me to ask if I wanted to go sleigh riding that night followed by a bonfire dinner. This is the sort of experience I'll never be able to get in Australia (I've done the 12 oxen cart thingy at the Petrie markets back home, but we don't really have the weather for sleighs). Of course I said "Hell yes!".
After work (I don't usually work on Fridays, but my boss asked me to work for her this Friday) we dashed back to her place to pick up her husband and then drove out to the forest (don't ask me where. It was dark and everything looks the same in the snow). It took us a while to find the place, but in the end we found it (the sleigh kinda was a dead giveaway). It was this old Polish farm which looked really really cool, especially in the snow (I have pictures, but there was a lot of moisture in the air so the flash kinda reflected off it a bit), but that place was amazing! If I had to describe it in one word I'd probably use the word 'rustic'.
The sleigh was big enough to fit 10 people in it comfortably and it was made of wood. No-one really spoke English except for Agnes and her hubby (some of the women were able to go "Sheena! Dance with us!" but that's about it). There were a few Ukranians (who spoke Polish) and the rest were Polish.
So, into the sleigh we get and off we go. It doesn't take long for them to break out the shot glasses and the vodka. They start passing the glasses around and doing vodka shots while we're going through the forest. I seemed to be a favourite victim of theirs. I've discovered that I don't really like normal, straight vodka (that stuff burns on the way down! They thought it was funny when I started coughing after my first shot), but they had this honey vodka there which was very nice.
Every now and then the driver would stop, give a little chat about where we were and give them time to do a round of shots without the bouncing of the sleigh. They handed the driver a can of beer at one point and it was quite odd to see him driving with one hand and drinking in the other. Another time they handed him a vodka shot.
The forest at night in the middle of winter is magic! Snow is clinging to everything and just looks amazing! Our only real light was the stars and these two flame torch thingies that the driver had the guys at the back of the sleigh hold.
The most interesting thing was going under branches just as they decided to dump their load of snow *laughs*. Snow cold! Thankfully there some of the people had bought blankets that they spread out over the laps of everyone. I'm greatful for those, I don't think I would've enjoyed it nearly as much without the warmth of the blankets.
About halfway through the sleigh ride the driver stops at this little pub/shop in the middle of the forest! (seriously, there was nothing else for miles around!). All the women made a beeline for these pipes going along the wall. They were the central heating pipes. We all hugged ourselves to them for the 10 minutes or so we were there. They were warm!
The vodka shots didn't stop when we were at the pub. Oh, no! They bought the bottles of vodka and the shot glasses into the pub with them (and I've a sneaking suspicion that one of them bought another couple of bottles of vodka for later).
Oh, I've never seen horses steam before, but I did that night when they stopped at the pub. Masses of steam just rising off the horses.
One thing I forgot to mention about this trip is the singing. I heard many, many Polish drinking songs on that sleigh ride. Starting from the second we got in. They were constantly singing during that trip *laughs*. They even got me to sing something (the first verse of a sea shanty that I know really well).
We hit a flat bit of land eventually and the driver got the horses up into a run (can't remember the word for it right now) and that was fun!, cold, but fun!
Finally we got back to the farm and we all piled out of the sleigh and watched as they put the horses away in the stables (one of the horses pulling us had a foal and we all got to see it. It was so cute!). The driver showed off the other horses that he had and they were all so big!.
Then it was time for the bonfire. We all trouped across the road to this little hut/tent thing set up in the backyard of the farmhouse. There was a fire and this grill thing hanging from a chain over the fire. We put sausages (and bread) on the grill and lowered it down over the fire to cook ('twas nummy!). The driver bought in a cd player and a cd of Polish pop music and there was a lot of dancing and general silliness going on (especially as the night got later). Yes, the vodka kept coming, too. I seriously think they were playing 'get the Aussie drunk'.
Don't ask me how many shots I had. I lost count after about 6. I know I had a lot.
One of the Ukrainian guys got a little silly and started pole dancing. I kid you not! Swinging himself around the pole and stuff like that (he also, I think, was flirting with me much later. He gave up on it and dragged me out to start dancing. Lots of spinning and twirling). He missed at one point, knocked the last of the sausages and bread off the grill and landed flat on his back about 2 inches from the fire.
Idiot.
It didn't stop him, though, he was up and doing it again.
Idiot.
Another of the Ukrainian guys came up, did the whole vodka shot thing with me, the scooped me up bridal style and spun me around a couple of times....
..Yeah, I haven't quite figured what that was all about yet.
About this point the girls were going "Sheena, come dance with us!". Dancing involved going round and round the fire holding hands with everyone else in time to the music (there was a lot of shrieking and laughing going on). Then, when there was only four of us left, they linked arms and just started bopping from side to side while standing in place (also in time to the music. *bop to the left for four counts. Hold. Bop to the right for four counts. Hold. Repeat*
I had fun! I couldn't understand a word of what was going on around me but they didn't ignore me. They made sure that they included me in everything and made sure I felt like I was a part of what was going on *grins* Even if they did try to get me drunk.
The world was doing interesting spinning things by the time I got home. I don't really remember getting into bed, but I found a trail of clothes leading from the front door to my bed when I woke up the next morning. I was sleeping wrong way around, using the doona as my pillow while my feet were stuffed under my actual pillow. I woke up about 7am and the world was still spinning so I went back to sleep until about 2pm (probably slept through the worst of my hangover, too).
Miracle of miracles, I actually remembered to lock my door!
Oh, and I reeked of wood smoke. At first I thought my headache was from the vodka, but after drinking a gallon of water and eating breakfast it was still there. I had a headache for most of the day. Panadol and ibuprofen wouldn't shift it. By the time night rolled around I thought it might be from lack of food, but food didn't shift it. You know what did? A shower. I think the woodsmoke was giving me the headache 'cause as soon as the smell was out of my hair the headache went away.
But that was my Friday night ^__^
I finally understand Jingle Bells. The horses had bells on their harnesses.
Woke up Friday morning to my mobile ringing. Agnes was calling me to ask if I wanted to go sleigh riding that night followed by a bonfire dinner. This is the sort of experience I'll never be able to get in Australia (I've done the 12 oxen cart thingy at the Petrie markets back home, but we don't really have the weather for sleighs). Of course I said "Hell yes!".
After work (I don't usually work on Fridays, but my boss asked me to work for her this Friday) we dashed back to her place to pick up her husband and then drove out to the forest (don't ask me where. It was dark and everything looks the same in the snow). It took us a while to find the place, but in the end we found it (the sleigh kinda was a dead giveaway). It was this old Polish farm which looked really really cool, especially in the snow (I have pictures, but there was a lot of moisture in the air so the flash kinda reflected off it a bit), but that place was amazing! If I had to describe it in one word I'd probably use the word 'rustic'.
The sleigh was big enough to fit 10 people in it comfortably and it was made of wood. No-one really spoke English except for Agnes and her hubby (some of the women were able to go "Sheena! Dance with us!" but that's about it). There were a few Ukranians (who spoke Polish) and the rest were Polish.
So, into the sleigh we get and off we go. It doesn't take long for them to break out the shot glasses and the vodka. They start passing the glasses around and doing vodka shots while we're going through the forest. I seemed to be a favourite victim of theirs. I've discovered that I don't really like normal, straight vodka (that stuff burns on the way down! They thought it was funny when I started coughing after my first shot), but they had this honey vodka there which was very nice.
Every now and then the driver would stop, give a little chat about where we were and give them time to do a round of shots without the bouncing of the sleigh. They handed the driver a can of beer at one point and it was quite odd to see him driving with one hand and drinking in the other. Another time they handed him a vodka shot.
The forest at night in the middle of winter is magic! Snow is clinging to everything and just looks amazing! Our only real light was the stars and these two flame torch thingies that the driver had the guys at the back of the sleigh hold.
The most interesting thing was going under branches just as they decided to dump their load of snow *laughs*. Snow cold! Thankfully there some of the people had bought blankets that they spread out over the laps of everyone. I'm greatful for those, I don't think I would've enjoyed it nearly as much without the warmth of the blankets.
About halfway through the sleigh ride the driver stops at this little pub/shop in the middle of the forest! (seriously, there was nothing else for miles around!). All the women made a beeline for these pipes going along the wall. They were the central heating pipes. We all hugged ourselves to them for the 10 minutes or so we were there. They were warm!
The vodka shots didn't stop when we were at the pub. Oh, no! They bought the bottles of vodka and the shot glasses into the pub with them (and I've a sneaking suspicion that one of them bought another couple of bottles of vodka for later).
Oh, I've never seen horses steam before, but I did that night when they stopped at the pub. Masses of steam just rising off the horses.
One thing I forgot to mention about this trip is the singing. I heard many, many Polish drinking songs on that sleigh ride. Starting from the second we got in. They were constantly singing during that trip *laughs*. They even got me to sing something (the first verse of a sea shanty that I know really well).
We hit a flat bit of land eventually and the driver got the horses up into a run (can't remember the word for it right now) and that was fun!, cold, but fun!
Finally we got back to the farm and we all piled out of the sleigh and watched as they put the horses away in the stables (one of the horses pulling us had a foal and we all got to see it. It was so cute!). The driver showed off the other horses that he had and they were all so big!.
Then it was time for the bonfire. We all trouped across the road to this little hut/tent thing set up in the backyard of the farmhouse. There was a fire and this grill thing hanging from a chain over the fire. We put sausages (and bread) on the grill and lowered it down over the fire to cook ('twas nummy!). The driver bought in a cd player and a cd of Polish pop music and there was a lot of dancing and general silliness going on (especially as the night got later). Yes, the vodka kept coming, too. I seriously think they were playing 'get the Aussie drunk'.
Don't ask me how many shots I had. I lost count after about 6. I know I had a lot.
One of the Ukrainian guys got a little silly and started pole dancing. I kid you not! Swinging himself around the pole and stuff like that (he also, I think, was flirting with me much later. He gave up on it and dragged me out to start dancing. Lots of spinning and twirling). He missed at one point, knocked the last of the sausages and bread off the grill and landed flat on his back about 2 inches from the fire.
Idiot.
It didn't stop him, though, he was up and doing it again.
Idiot.
Another of the Ukrainian guys came up, did the whole vodka shot thing with me, the scooped me up bridal style and spun me around a couple of times....
..Yeah, I haven't quite figured what that was all about yet.
About this point the girls were going "Sheena, come dance with us!". Dancing involved going round and round the fire holding hands with everyone else in time to the music (there was a lot of shrieking and laughing going on). Then, when there was only four of us left, they linked arms and just started bopping from side to side while standing in place (also in time to the music. *bop to the left for four counts. Hold. Bop to the right for four counts. Hold. Repeat*
I had fun! I couldn't understand a word of what was going on around me but they didn't ignore me. They made sure that they included me in everything and made sure I felt like I was a part of what was going on *grins* Even if they did try to get me drunk.
The world was doing interesting spinning things by the time I got home. I don't really remember getting into bed, but I found a trail of clothes leading from the front door to my bed when I woke up the next morning. I was sleeping wrong way around, using the doona as my pillow while my feet were stuffed under my actual pillow. I woke up about 7am and the world was still spinning so I went back to sleep until about 2pm (probably slept through the worst of my hangover, too).
Miracle of miracles, I actually remembered to lock my door!
Oh, and I reeked of wood smoke. At first I thought my headache was from the vodka, but after drinking a gallon of water and eating breakfast it was still there. I had a headache for most of the day. Panadol and ibuprofen wouldn't shift it. By the time night rolled around I thought it might be from lack of food, but food didn't shift it. You know what did? A shower. I think the woodsmoke was giving me the headache 'cause as soon as the smell was out of my hair the headache went away.
But that was my Friday night ^__^