This was my seatmate on my flight to Houston on the way to Calgary before Christmas.
Yes, that is a hard hat he is wearing.B.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Trinidad - an industrial island
Or......Safety First?
This was my seatmate on my flight to Houston on the way to Calgary before Christmas.
Yes, that is a hard hat he is wearing.
B.
This was my seatmate on my flight to Houston on the way to Calgary before Christmas.
Yes, that is a hard hat he is wearing.B.
2011 Year End 'Letter'
While flying back to Calgary for a white Christmas, I am penning this note. I have received several year end/Christmas letters and I enjoy reading them. If you dont, read no further....
It has been an interesting year for Mimi and myself.
Trinidad has grown on us. Nothing much surprises us anymore. When the international press reported that an assassination plot on the Trinidad Prime Minister and 3 of her Ministers had been foiled, we thought it was just another Friday in Trinidad (BTW all 16 people arrested for the plot have since been released). When someone stole $1 million worth of cashews from the port, it got a bit of chuckle. We know that unfortunate things happen in the rest of the world but with 3 tabloid national papers here, it is front page news here with a splash every day.
This year, we have been through a State of Emergency and a curfew (9 pm to 5 am) which did put a crimp in going out for dinner as restaurants had to close at 6 pm so the staff could get home. It also meant that Mimi had to cook most nights! There were reasons for the State of Emergency (I think). It was alleged that a drug war was about to break out and the SoE was put in place to deal with it. I did have a curfew pass for work (Mimi didn’t) but I didn’t have anywhere to go so it wasn’t of much use.
My own work milestones have come slower than anticipated (dont tell my boss) but now as we end the year we have traded some delays with some other successes - we have imported a new drilling rig from Canada, commissioned a new service rig and we expect the arrival within days of a big rig to drill our deeper wells. The industry here had been in a bit of slowdown and we are still the only company to have drilled exploration wells onshore in a number of years. In February, we tested the first onshore oil discovered here in 50 years. Not bad. As I have grown the office here, I am no longer ‘indispensible’ and have left others in charge of the operations so I could get back to Calgary for Christmas. We are still exploring for oil here but the approval process has been more difficult than the actual drilling for the oil. I (ok, Mimi and I) have signed on for another year here. I want to be here when we get the regulatory, operations and production all aligned and working.
Mimi and I have learned more about being expats and we both now have Canadian passports that have been issued outside of Canada, Mimi’s in Buenos Aires and mine now in Port of Spain. I had to get a new passport early because I had run out of pages.
We have seen a bit of the Caribbean and as you probably have guessed, I have taken more than my share of photographs. The kids have been great about sending us photos almost daily of Rebecca and Sienna. I think we have received about 700 photos of them as they have grown. It is a treat for us. We have two more grands on the way as Kelli and Katie are both expecting in June. Skype video has been a godsend for us. The babies do recognize us (ok, they recognize Mimi more so than me – she works hard at it).
I have not kept up on my blog (www.ibelimin.blogspot.com) but every so often, I do several entries in a row. I think my stories might becoming stale. We need to get away from Trinidad a bit more often and find more stories to share.
My commute to work is still 75 minutes each way (I cant believe how many new cars get imported into Trinidad each week) but now when I leave the office, I dont turn off my computer. I write emails on the drive home and when I get home, the internet reconnects and they all get sent. We are 3 hours ahead of Calgary now so the office is still open on my drive home. No, I dont text and drive. This is the last place on the planet to do that – a recipe for highway disaster for sure. For the last year, I have had a driver in order to get more work done on the commute and to come home a little less tired each night. The highway wrecks here are truly spectacular (in a negative sense) made worse by the lack of car seats for little ones.
As we start year 3 in Trinidad, Mimi and I are changing apartments. We are moving into one that has an office. It will give me space to spread out and not be underfoot as my old ‘office’ was set up on the kitchen island. Mimi has been a really good sport about it for two years.
We have switched from accumulating Argentine wines to developing quite a collection of rums. Everyone here has a favourite so having them all on hand when friends drop by is a good idea. When I last checked – we have Angostura 1919, Single Barrel, Mount Gay Extra Old, Ron Zacapa 23 yr old (and a lovely bottle of XO), Ten Cane & Black Label – they are all quite good. We only really drink it when we have friends over. So the supply has built up significantly. Trinidad is a big scotch drinking country. I haven’t acquired a taste for it (yet).
The raining season this year (July – December) has been particularly wet. Flood damage has been significant across the country and it regularly wipes out houses and businesses in a single rainstorm. I often have to suspend conference calls because the sound of the rain pounding on the office roof makes it impossible for anyone to hear.
I am scheduled to officiate at a FIS race near Ottawa in February. I am timing the trip to meet with the Trinidad High Commissioner to Canada. It will be an interesting mix of reasons to travel. I am looking forward to getting back on snow. I will have to bring my gear down here with me so I can take it with me to Ottawa. I will rent skis when I am there but I will be hauling boots, ski pants, jacket, gloves, toque through Trinidad Customs.....I am sure they have seen far stranger things. We get CBC down here so I was able to watch the Lake Louise World Cup Downhills.
After 2 years, we are now seeing old friends leave and new friends arrive in Trinidad. Mimi is very much the welcoming type and has made entry into Trinidad easier for several new expats just as others have done for us in Argentina and Trinidad. Mimi is staying busy with the Canadian Women’s Club Welfare Committee where she does fundraising and directs it towards local charities. Her book club reads some interesting books and she has become very good at Canasta.
It has been an interesting year for Mimi and myself.
Trinidad has grown on us. Nothing much surprises us anymore. When the international press reported that an assassination plot on the Trinidad Prime Minister and 3 of her Ministers had been foiled, we thought it was just another Friday in Trinidad (BTW all 16 people arrested for the plot have since been released). When someone stole $1 million worth of cashews from the port, it got a bit of chuckle. We know that unfortunate things happen in the rest of the world but with 3 tabloid national papers here, it is front page news here with a splash every day.
This year, we have been through a State of Emergency and a curfew (9 pm to 5 am) which did put a crimp in going out for dinner as restaurants had to close at 6 pm so the staff could get home. It also meant that Mimi had to cook most nights! There were reasons for the State of Emergency (I think). It was alleged that a drug war was about to break out and the SoE was put in place to deal with it. I did have a curfew pass for work (Mimi didn’t) but I didn’t have anywhere to go so it wasn’t of much use.
My own work milestones have come slower than anticipated (dont tell my boss) but now as we end the year we have traded some delays with some other successes - we have imported a new drilling rig from Canada, commissioned a new service rig and we expect the arrival within days of a big rig to drill our deeper wells. The industry here had been in a bit of slowdown and we are still the only company to have drilled exploration wells onshore in a number of years. In February, we tested the first onshore oil discovered here in 50 years. Not bad. As I have grown the office here, I am no longer ‘indispensible’ and have left others in charge of the operations so I could get back to Calgary for Christmas. We are still exploring for oil here but the approval process has been more difficult than the actual drilling for the oil. I (ok, Mimi and I) have signed on for another year here. I want to be here when we get the regulatory, operations and production all aligned and working.
Mimi and I have learned more about being expats and we both now have Canadian passports that have been issued outside of Canada, Mimi’s in Buenos Aires and mine now in Port of Spain. I had to get a new passport early because I had run out of pages.
We have seen a bit of the Caribbean and as you probably have guessed, I have taken more than my share of photographs. The kids have been great about sending us photos almost daily of Rebecca and Sienna. I think we have received about 700 photos of them as they have grown. It is a treat for us. We have two more grands on the way as Kelli and Katie are both expecting in June. Skype video has been a godsend for us. The babies do recognize us (ok, they recognize Mimi more so than me – she works hard at it).
I have not kept up on my blog (www.ibelimin.blogspot.com) but every so often, I do several entries in a row. I think my stories might becoming stale. We need to get away from Trinidad a bit more often and find more stories to share.
My commute to work is still 75 minutes each way (I cant believe how many new cars get imported into Trinidad each week) but now when I leave the office, I dont turn off my computer. I write emails on the drive home and when I get home, the internet reconnects and they all get sent. We are 3 hours ahead of Calgary now so the office is still open on my drive home. No, I dont text and drive. This is the last place on the planet to do that – a recipe for highway disaster for sure. For the last year, I have had a driver in order to get more work done on the commute and to come home a little less tired each night. The highway wrecks here are truly spectacular (in a negative sense) made worse by the lack of car seats for little ones.
As we start year 3 in Trinidad, Mimi and I are changing apartments. We are moving into one that has an office. It will give me space to spread out and not be underfoot as my old ‘office’ was set up on the kitchen island. Mimi has been a really good sport about it for two years.
We have switched from accumulating Argentine wines to developing quite a collection of rums. Everyone here has a favourite so having them all on hand when friends drop by is a good idea. When I last checked – we have Angostura 1919, Single Barrel, Mount Gay Extra Old, Ron Zacapa 23 yr old (and a lovely bottle of XO), Ten Cane & Black Label – they are all quite good. We only really drink it when we have friends over. So the supply has built up significantly. Trinidad is a big scotch drinking country. I haven’t acquired a taste for it (yet).
The raining season this year (July – December) has been particularly wet. Flood damage has been significant across the country and it regularly wipes out houses and businesses in a single rainstorm. I often have to suspend conference calls because the sound of the rain pounding on the office roof makes it impossible for anyone to hear.
I am scheduled to officiate at a FIS race near Ottawa in February. I am timing the trip to meet with the Trinidad High Commissioner to Canada. It will be an interesting mix of reasons to travel. I am looking forward to getting back on snow. I will have to bring my gear down here with me so I can take it with me to Ottawa. I will rent skis when I am there but I will be hauling boots, ski pants, jacket, gloves, toque through Trinidad Customs.....I am sure they have seen far stranger things. We get CBC down here so I was able to watch the Lake Louise World Cup Downhills.
After 2 years, we are now seeing old friends leave and new friends arrive in Trinidad. Mimi is very much the welcoming type and has made entry into Trinidad easier for several new expats just as others have done for us in Argentina and Trinidad. Mimi is staying busy with the Canadian Women’s Club Welfare Committee where she does fundraising and directs it towards local charities. Her book club reads some interesting books and she has become very good at Canasta.
At this time of year as hectic as it is, we just wanted to check in, say hi and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Mimi & Brian
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy New Year!
So much fun getting together for a family New Year's Eve fete.
We traded scarlet ibis for pink flamingos. It may not be a Trini Carnival theme but the palm tree looked perfect. Nothing like having a loonie store in the neighborhood to pull a theme party together in no time! 
Devin, Rebecca & Katie saying 'Happy New Year'!
The boys did dress up...
Sienna like the hula skirt, the lei not so much.
Rebecca liked a big hula skirt herself.... 
Jake celebrating with Sienna...
Sienna enjoying her evening...
Gran with Bex....so much fun. 
From all of us to all of you - the very best in 2012!
B.
Devin, Rebecca & Katie saying 'Happy New Year'!The boys did dress up...Sienna like the hula skirt, the lei not so much. Rebecca liked a big hula skirt herself.... Jake celebrating with Sienna... Sienna enjoying her evening... Gran with Bex....so much fun. From all of us to all of you - the very best in 2012! B. Christmas morning
Always good to start Christmas morning with the same hairdo's....
Rebecca and Sienna had the same pyjamas on for Christmas morning - not a grandparent conspiracy in any way!
Rebecca and Sienna had the same pyjamas on for Christmas morning - not a grandparent conspiracy in any way!
Christmas morning playtime!
Christmas with the little ones was a treat.
We are pretty lucky.
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.
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