Chanel_no5 Posted August 4, 2015 Posted August 4, 2015 So we had a hay delivery this evening (hottest day of the entire summer, and of course this was the day they picked!), and we were six ladies gathered. Now, one of them actually is allergic to hay, but I didn’t think there would be any sneezing - I’ve never seen her sneeze before. She usually just gets stuffed up and says her chest feels a bit tight, but that’s it. Now I don’t know if this particular load of hay was dustier than usual, or if there was more pollen in it, or if everyone were simply sneezier than usual, but three of them ended up sneezing, one of whom had a STUNNING fit!! First out was C, the one who is allergic. She’s in her early 40’s, petite, about 5’2, shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. She’s the kind of quiet, seemingly shy person who surprises you with having a hilarious sense of humour. When we first started carrying the hayballs and rousing a lot of dust she grew congested right away, not sniffly, just stuffy. After only a few minutes she got a very itchy look on her face, rubbed her nose a couple of times, and then pinched it and stifled twice. ”Huh-nnkkt! Nnnkt-huh!” She removed her hand and immediately inhaled again, sneezing into her wrist; ”AeeSSCH!” It sounded incredibly itchy! Nobody blessed her and she just sort of shook her head and groaned, rubbed her nose again and went on carrying hay. After this triple, she was sniffling a bit, and her eyes were slightly watery.I figured this was just a fluke, but a while later, L also sneezed. She’s in her late 30’s, also about 5’2, lean but strong, shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair, freckles, blue eyes. One of those people who seem to have a quicker pace and more energy than anyone around them. She had just heaved hay up on top of the pile when her breath hitched a couple of times. She turned away and sneezed once into her elbow. Medium volume, somewhat harsh, and muffled by her sleeve. It sounded like ”HAA-ISSCHH!”, plain and simple. No difficulties spelling that one. She recovered quickly and there was no post-sneeze sniffling or anything. My guess is that she simply got some dust in her nose.Number three was K, she’s probably in her late 40’s or early 50’s. We joke that she is like the stable stereotype of a German dressage judge, even though she’s neither German nor a judge. She is extremely - and I mean extremely - disciplined, both in the saddle and out of it. Nice, but very driven and more than a little intimidating. She’s about 5’7, blue eyes, auburn hair in kind of a messy bob haircut, very athletic built. And she has an amazing nose, rather large but very beautiful shape; those of you who know Criminal Minds would know what I mean if I say it looks a lot like Emily Prentiss’s nose.Well, given that K is such a strictly controlled person I had assumed she either had a mental block or a completely silent stifle. Boy, was I ever wrong! I think she might have tried to stifle the first sneeze, but it ended up turning into one of those failed stifles that sprays even more than a regular, unstifled one, impossible to spell out or even describe properly. It was just this big, wet, 1/3 nasal, 1/3 throaty and 1/3 held back sneeze, and she was so taken by surprise she dropped the hay she carried and nearly stumbled over it. She wiped at her face and sniffled, and then she got into this really desperate, really wet rapid-fire fit, she sneezed one right after another, only having time to take one quick gasp between each sneeze. She sneezed eight times (!), cupping both hands over her face but not trying to stifle or hold back. Each sneeze sounded like ”EISSHH!”, and the last two had an added sort of sigh/moan at the end. As soon as she was finished she just turned around and left without a word, probably to go and blow her nose. She returned a few minutes later and was back in control again. There was not as much as a sniffle from her the rest of the evening. Nobody really commented on it, but C stifled another sneeze just before we were finished, a tiny little ”Nnkkt!”, and remarked that she ”literally has hayfever”, to which one of those who hadn’t sneezed replied ”Yeah, I don’t know what’s the matter with everyone today.”I was blushing so hard, but luckily I think everyone just thought it was because it was so damn hot up there.Which it was. But maybe not for the same reasons they thought… In general there is very little sneezing in the stable, but this evening definitely made up for it... I'm still all hot and bothered.
Sternuto Posted August 4, 2015 Posted August 4, 2015 (edited) OMG! I have to become a stable boy!! (unfortunately, Im allergic to horses... prolly hay too!) GREAT obs. you lucky bitch Chanel! Edited August 4, 2015 by Sternuto
Anonymouse Posted August 4, 2015 Posted August 4, 2015 I loved the descriptions of each person and their sneezes. Sounds like a lovely bunch. Hay allergies rarely make an appearance in my neck of the woods which makes them a treat to read about. Horse allergies, too
Claire89 Posted August 5, 2015 Posted August 5, 2015 So strange that not a single person said bless you!
A440 Posted August 5, 2015 Posted August 5, 2015 Wow, that's an abundance of sneezy riches if I ever saw one. Lucky you for getting to see it!
SneezyHolmes Posted August 5, 2015 Posted August 5, 2015 Sounds fantastic! I wanted to make some sort of horse related pun but failed, where's Joal?
Chanel_no5 Posted August 5, 2015 Author Posted August 5, 2015 Sternuto: Teehee, maybe that would be a reason as good as any. AnonyMouse: They are! Before we moved there I thought the people in this stable were a bunch of snobs, but they're really great! Mr Sneezy: Indeed. claire89: Not really, actually. In my country we've weeded out that tradition about 2 generations ago. If anyone under the age of 70 blesses a sneezer it's mainly done in a mocking way, but mostly we tend to ignore it altogether. For which I am very grateful. It's bad enough trying to keep a straight face without the added awkwardness of blessing.A440: Oh yes, it was incredible! You'd think there would be more sneezing in a stable given that there is always dust and hay and straw and dander in the air, but in my experience people very rarely sneeze there. However, when they do... it's beautiful. SH: Hahaha! I can deliver one while we're waiting; all that sneezing must render them hoarse/horse! Got it? No?
smooshi Posted August 5, 2015 Posted August 5, 2015 (edited) I wanted to make some sort of horse related pun but failed, where's Joal?A horse pun would be wonderful, but it seems that neighther of us are capable of doing it. ( )Seriously, Joal, enlighten us, this was lame.And holy shit, Chanel, this was awesome! I would like to be able to spend some time in stables... But my last attempt to volunteer with the horses has been spurned, and I don't think my mother has recovered from that time I expressed a wish to keep bees. Edited August 5, 2015 by smooshi
NoV Posted August 5, 2015 Posted August 5, 2015 This obs is even hotter if I imagine it set back in the 1800s I think i would have to join Sternuto as a humble stable boy 'Be blessin' you me lady... a handkerchief me lady...?' Ah, I can but fantasize... Congratulations for keeping your cool (despite the heat!)
littleOthree Posted August 8, 2015 Posted August 8, 2015 Thank you for this great description. I would go insane with that kind of distraction at work.
March Hare Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 Goodness. Such goodness. What a wonderful setting. And how well you described everything. Thank you!
Eights of Spades Posted March 24, 2017 Posted March 24, 2017 What a great obs, hope you spend more time in with them!
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