This was Christmas Eve dinner at Jake's. And they havent even seen what was to be excited about yet.
B.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Yea! It's Christmas!
Sienna and Rebecca are excited about Christmas.
This was Christmas Eve dinner at Jake's. And they havent even seen what was to be excited about yet.
B.
This was Christmas Eve dinner at Jake's. And they havent even seen what was to be excited about yet.
B.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Flying the Maple Leaf
We have brought a new rig into Trinidad to help with our exploration drilling program. We are just commissioning the rig on location.
In this area, we name our wells after snakes, this well is known as Mapepire 1. A Mapepire is not a very nice snake, but we hope it is a very good well!
I was out on location and was quite proud to see our Maple Leaf flying on the top of the derrick.
B.
In this area, we name our wells after snakes, this well is known as Mapepire 1. A Mapepire is not a very nice snake, but we hope it is a very good well!
I was out on location and was quite proud to see our Maple Leaf flying on the top of the derrick.B. Cuban curiosity
I 'stumbled' into a full blown security detail here at the Kapok hotel here this morning.
Cuban President Raul Castro is here for a conference and was refused accommodation at the Hilton because the Hilton is a U.S. company - so he ended up at the Kapok. In fact, they had to move the conference as well because it was being held at the Hilton. It was a bit of a PR stumble for Trinidad resulting in an apology from the TRinidad Prime Minister. I was at the Kapok for an industry meeting.
My meeting ended 15 minutes before the security team escorted Castro through the lobby on his way out to start the day's itinerary. They were all waiting around for him to come out of the elevator.
I was conspicuous by my presence in the lobby. Profiling might suggest I could be a disgruntled US businessman out to settle a score with Cuba (or the Jack Ruby type). My briefcase looked too similar to the security team 'briefcases'.
Regardless, as far as they were concerned, I looked out of place. I ended up with two guys (really big guys) standing next to me while Castro came through the lobby. I kept my hands where they could see them and I resisted taking a picture (so this might actually be the first blog post I have made without a photo).
Given that guns attract guns, I should probably have moved away from the area but I was curious. My observations - Raul is much shorter than his brother, Fidel; he looks a lot healthier...and his security team are the guys in suits and white sweat socks.
B.
Cuban President Raul Castro is here for a conference and was refused accommodation at the Hilton because the Hilton is a U.S. company - so he ended up at the Kapok. In fact, they had to move the conference as well because it was being held at the Hilton. It was a bit of a PR stumble for Trinidad resulting in an apology from the TRinidad Prime Minister. I was at the Kapok for an industry meeting.
My meeting ended 15 minutes before the security team escorted Castro through the lobby on his way out to start the day's itinerary. They were all waiting around for him to come out of the elevator.
I was conspicuous by my presence in the lobby. Profiling might suggest I could be a disgruntled US businessman out to settle a score with Cuba (or the Jack Ruby type). My briefcase looked too similar to the security team 'briefcases'.
Regardless, as far as they were concerned, I looked out of place. I ended up with two guys (really big guys) standing next to me while Castro came through the lobby. I kept my hands where they could see them and I resisted taking a picture (so this might actually be the first blog post I have made without a photo).
Given that guns attract guns, I should probably have moved away from the area but I was curious. My observations - Raul is much shorter than his brother, Fidel; he looks a lot healthier...and his security team are the guys in suits and white sweat socks.
B.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Our next exploration program
If we are unsuccessful exploring for oil here in Trinidad, I think I may have found my next exploration program - searching for valuable items on the beach.
These two were up at Maracas Beach recently.
B.
These two were up at Maracas Beach recently.
B.
Knollys Tunnel
We were out scouting a new drilling location a few weeks ago. On the way out there, we went by the only man made tunnel in Trinidad. It was built in 1898 for the train line from Cunupia to Tabaquite. 
At this time, Cocoa was King and the cocoa estates in the Tabaquite region were heavy producers. As a result, the railway system was extended to allow these estates to move their produce to market.
At this time, Cocoa was King and the cocoa estates in the Tabaquite region were heavy producers. As a result, the railway system was extended to allow these estates to move their produce to market. 
Knollys Tunnel was named after Acting Governor Courtney Knollys and operated until 1965. 
We drove through the tunnel and it was in remarkably good shape AND full of bats! B.
Meet out little Flames fans
Hockey season has begun.
Both granddaughters, Sienna and Rebecca are ready to cheer on the Calgary Flames.
Sienna likes the cozy sweatshirt look.....
and Rebecca goes for the 'pants are optional' look...
B.
Both granddaughters, Sienna and Rebecca are ready to cheer on the Calgary Flames.
Sienna likes the cozy sweatshirt look.....
and Rebecca goes for the 'pants are optional' look... 
B. Just over the wall
My office in Marabella is tucked into a mixed neighborhood - businesses, residential and retail. Over the wall of our parking lot lives this little guy. 
He is tethered but he does get around. He is also very cautious so I needed a telephoto lens to get his picture. 
Cute little guy.
He is tethered but he does get around. He is also very cautious so I needed a telephoto lens to get his picture. Cute little guy. B.
Tropical growth rate
The rate at which things grow down here is incredible.
You even have to be careful about where you place your billboards as nature can overwhelm your message....
B.
You even have to be careful about where you place your billboards as nature can overwhelm your message....
B.Getting ready for Christmas
Remember Kes?
As the country starts rolling out the costumes for those that play mas here at Carnival, the popularity of Mimi's favorite Soca artist is apparent all over the country.
He is bigger than life on billboards everywhere....
B.
He is bigger than life on billboards everywhere....
B.Rainy season flooding...again
Time to get back to blogging.....
A bridge near our apartment was damaged resulting in gridlock that took us 90 minutes to drive what usually takes 10 minutes.
Along the way, there were stalled cars that had gotten flooded out and lots of folks out inspecting the damage. Locals said they hadnt seen flood damage like this in 35 years. As we drove past the collapsed wall, the streets had water running across them.
This is the access to the parking lot of an RBC bank. The security guard is there to prevent anyone from driving in to use the ATM. The parking lot had over 2 ft of water in it.
The damage to the wall has actually become very political. It's design was initiated by the previous government, built as part of the redesign of the busy intersection around the corner by the current government and now the blame game begins - was it poor design, poor construction or just a nasty flood that would have knocked down anything in its path?
We went off to Maracas Bay for a bit of a break on Saturday. After a quick trip to PriceSmart (the local Costco) to buy a new microwave for the office, we drove up to Maracas. The rain had started but the weather can often be very different on the other side of the Northern Range so we continued on to Maracas.
When we got there, the rain had stopped but there were dark clouds off in the distance. We lasted about an hour when the rains came. We packed up our stuff and drove back to town. While were at Maracas, Port of Spain got hammered by a huge rain storm.
The rains had left quite a mark on parts of the the city.
This is a 15 ft wall that was built just 6 months ago along the back of the Country Club (an old club owned by our neighbor). 
The flood waters from the rains pushed the wall over onto the road. It happened maybe 30 minutes before we drove by.
The flood waters from the rains pushed the wall over onto the road. It happened maybe 30 minutes before we drove by. A bridge near our apartment was damaged resulting in gridlock that took us 90 minutes to drive what usually takes 10 minutes.
Along the way, there were stalled cars that had gotten flooded out and lots of folks out inspecting the damage. Locals said they hadnt seen flood damage like this in 35 years. As we drove past the collapsed wall, the streets had water running across them.
This is the access to the parking lot of an RBC bank. The security guard is there to prevent anyone from driving in to use the ATM. The parking lot had over 2 ft of water in it.We woke up Sunday to a beautiful sunny morning. The newspapers were full of flood damage homes, roads and....walls. The raining season continues for another 6 weeks here. It has become a soggy place to live.
The damage to the wall has actually become very political. It's design was initiated by the previous government, built as part of the redesign of the busy intersection around the corner by the current government and now the blame game begins - was it poor design, poor construction or just a nasty flood that would have knocked down anything in its path?
B.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A lost homing pigeon
We were preparing to BBQ when we noticed this guy on our BBQ. 
He thought he was home.
He thought he was home. He was not afraid of us....until I tried to 'shoo' him with a broom. That's when I scared the crap out of him....all over my BBQ cover.
B.
Kes and the Stanley Cup
It is the Stanley Cup finals - game 5. I have two guys here from the Calgary office. We went to Trotters (a local sports bar where we had watched the Olympic Gold Medal Hockey game).
There was a big cricket match in town that day (India vs West Indies) at the Queen's Park Oval and Trotters was full of post-match beer drinkers. We got a table in the back and we had 4 of the TV's showing the Boston-Vancouver. All good.
We noticed a couple sitting a few feet away. Mimi recognized the guy immediately.
We mentioned it to our server, who knew who he was as well. She asked if Mimi had a piece of paper that he could sign. We didn't have anything so he came over, introduced himself, signed a strip of paper from the cash register 
and then sat down with Mimi to chat for a few minutes. 
The reason Mimi is holding her phone is that her ringtone is Kes' Soca monarch-winning song 'Wotless'.
and then sat down with Mimi to chat for a few minutes. The reason Mimi is holding her phone is that her ringtone is Kes' Soca monarch-winning song 'Wotless'.He is up on Digicel billboards here in Trinidad but he impressed all of us with his graciousness with Mimi that night.
What was even funnier was that she ran into him last week having lunch where they exchanged "Really, I am not stalking you" comments.
B.
Trini J'Ouvert
You cant explain it, you just have to experience it....
Friends from France, canada and the U.S. enjoying the allnight adventure called J'Ouvert.
B.
Friends from France, canada and the U.S. enjoying the allnight adventure called J'Ouvert.
B.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
A very wet dry season
Our first year here, in the dry season, it didnt rain for over 90 days straight.
We may be close to halfway through this year's dry season and it has rained most days. Occasionally, it really rains.
On the weekend, when we went golfing at Moka, the 4th hole was at the confluence of two rivers.
B.
Testing his candidacy
There is noise in the news that Donald Trump may run for president in the U.S. He may be test driving his popularity here in Trinidad by partnering with Angostura and promoting Single Barrel & himself. 
He is pretty good at that.
B.
He is pretty good at that.B.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Maracas Bay fishing
When visiting Maracas, we always walk the entire length of the beach.
At the western end of Maracas Bay, you will regularly see the fishermen bringing in their catch 
and their nets.
There are many fishing communities in Trinidad where this hard work is repeated every day.
At the western end of Maracas Bay, you will regularly see the fishermen bringing in their catch and their nets.There are many fishing communities in Trinidad where this hard work is repeated every day.B.
Kindle Bliss
...is reading a book on your Kindle in the shade at Maracas beach. 
Of course, I dont read much so there is always the opportunity for me to have bake & shrimp (or for many, bake & shark), beers for TT $10. and body surfing.
Of course, I dont read much so there is always the opportunity for me to have bake & shrimp (or for many, bake & shark), beers for TT $10. and body surfing.B.
Wine bottles dont bounce
We bought a bottle of wine at an auction at a Canadian Women's Club function. Unfortunately, we never got to enjoy it.
The bottle slid out of a lower cupboard in the kitchen and tapped twice on our white tile floor before turning the floor a lovely shade of red.
(I know you are thinking it but...) no matter how good the wine is/was, we did not wring out the roll of paper towels it took to clean it up, into wine glasses and drink it.
B.
The bottle slid out of a lower cupboard in the kitchen and tapped twice on our white tile floor before turning the floor a lovely shade of red.
(I know you are thinking it but...) no matter how good the wine is/was, we did not wring out the roll of paper towels it took to clean it up, into wine glasses and drink it.B.
Flat Stanley visits Trinidad
A friend here in Trinidad received a Flat Stanley from a youngster in the U.S. I offered to take Stanley to work and to tour a wellsite where we had drilling operations underway.
Stanley got his picture taken in front of the drilling rig.....
With a couple of our drill bits.......
On the drill pipe rack.....
And with someone who is smaller than he is....
I think Stanley enjoyed his day with us.
Stanley got his picture taken in front of the drilling rig.....
With a couple of our drill bits.......On the drill pipe rack.....And with someone who is smaller than he is....I think Stanley enjoyed his day with us.B.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Trini Sunsets
Our apartment terrace faces west so we see some nice sunsets. We have always enjoyed the summer sunsets in Calgary but in the last month or so, the Trini sunsets have been quite spectacular.
Here are a few of them...
This one does look a bit sinister...
This is a sunset in Tobago when we were there for a few days.......
B.
Here are a few of them...
This one does look a bit sinister...
This is a sunset in Tobago when we were there for a few days....... B.Sunday afternoon lime 'down the islands'
There is a chain of islands off the north west coast of Trinidad (in the direction of Venezuela).
If you head out to that area - whether it is to anchor your boat in a secluded bay or stay at a cottage/house on one of the islands - it is called 'going down the islands'. We quite enjoy it.
It is a social afternoon - folks bring cutters (aka snacks/appetizers), there is usually a well stocked bar and music. Friends with boats come and go.
There is usually a BBQ fired up...and some of the guests get fired up as well.
It is one of the great experiences of living in Trinidad. 
Going down the islands is a treat for us. 
We meet new friends each time we do it and it is a fun time for the two of us to spend some time together.
At the end of the day, we cruise back to Port of Spain. 
B.
If you head out to that area - whether it is to anchor your boat in a secluded bay or stay at a cottage/house on one of the islands - it is called 'going down the islands'. We quite enjoy it.
It is a social afternoon - folks bring cutters (aka snacks/appetizers), there is usually a well stocked bar and music. Friends with boats come and go. There is usually a BBQ fired up...and some of the guests get fired up as well.
It is one of the great experiences of living in Trinidad. Going down the islands is a treat for us. We meet new friends each time we do it and it is a fun time for the two of us to spend some time together.At the end of the day, we cruise back to Port of Spain. B.
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