Back To Trinidad.
Well there’s no news like old news, so here goes. We did leave the UK with a little sunshine but all we received after returning were comments as to how awful the weather was once we had left!
We finally reached Piano at 3.30 am on the 7th August, after a dreadful flight. The Monarch flight had been detained by air traffic control at Manchester unable to leave its hanger or refuel, so arrived at Gatwick 2 hours 55 minutes late! Then slight headwinds so we were almost 4 hours late, Malcolm had left 4 hours between flights from Tobago to Trinidad knowing we could take some beach time to acclimatize, not to be!
We were put on standby and managed to catch the last flight out at 1.45 am on the 7th all thanks to the sterling work done by Caribbean Airlines staff doing their utmost to get us all home. (After complaining to Monarch we have heard nothing as yet, in the way of apology)
We have been back for a month and have settled in nicely. Abdu has been to re-varnish a few spots where seawater has done its worst. Kay has made alterations to the dinghy chaps , spray hood and bimini, and we are very pleased with her work as usual. Ian has helped Malcolm to drill out the screw from the staysail furler and is as I write replacing the thread. The new anchor has been marked ready for use , installed and is ready to do duty. (Its home has been cleaned and polished too!) The lads from Dynamite have been to rectify the fuel tank fitting and are in the process of sorting out the small hatches which seem to allow seawater to ingress.
On the bright side we have been to listen to the Trinidad & Tobago Youth Philharmonic playing Tchaikovsky at the new Queens Hall in Port of Spain. How amazing that this was the day that our dear friends Otto and Esther came to visit unannounced!
We must have missed them by a few hours! hopefully we will catch up with them in Curacao in November.
and the Starlight Steel Pan Orchestras' Independence Day Celebrations. This meant missing two sessions of Mexican Train Dominoes with both events being on a Sunday.
Shopping takes place each Tuesday or Friday which ever is more convenient.
The new watch which I bought in the UK has fallen to pieces ALREADY so I shall be sending it back! and the mobile printer which was supposed to be the answer to our printing problems has been giving Malcolm big headaches.
Well there’s no news like old news, so here goes. We did leave the UK with a little sunshine but all we received after returning were comments as to how awful the weather was once we had left!
We finally reached Piano at 3.30 am on the 7th August, after a dreadful flight. The Monarch flight had been detained by air traffic control at Manchester unable to leave its hanger or refuel, so arrived at Gatwick 2 hours 55 minutes late! Then slight headwinds so we were almost 4 hours late, Malcolm had left 4 hours between flights from Tobago to Trinidad knowing we could take some beach time to acclimatize, not to be!
We were put on standby and managed to catch the last flight out at 1.45 am on the 7th all thanks to the sterling work done by Caribbean Airlines staff doing their utmost to get us all home. (After complaining to Monarch we have heard nothing as yet, in the way of apology)
We have been back for a month and have settled in nicely. Abdu has been to re-varnish a few spots where seawater has done its worst. Kay has made alterations to the dinghy chaps , spray hood and bimini, and we are very pleased with her work as usual. Ian has helped Malcolm to drill out the screw from the staysail furler and is as I write replacing the thread. The new anchor has been marked ready for use , installed and is ready to do duty. (Its home has been cleaned and polished too!) The lads from Dynamite have been to rectify the fuel tank fitting and are in the process of sorting out the small hatches which seem to allow seawater to ingress.
On the bright side we have been to listen to the Trinidad & Tobago Youth Philharmonic playing Tchaikovsky at the new Queens Hall in Port of Spain. How amazing that this was the day that our dear friends Otto and Esther came to visit unannounced!
We must have missed them by a few hours! hopefully we will catch up with them in Curacao in November.
and the Starlight Steel Pan Orchestras' Independence Day Celebrations. This meant missing two sessions of Mexican Train Dominoes with both events being on a Sunday.
Shopping takes place each Tuesday or Friday which ever is more convenient.
The new watch which I bought in the UK has fallen to pieces ALREADY so I shall be sending it back! and the mobile printer which was supposed to be the answer to our printing problems has been giving Malcolm big headaches.
Most stuff is proceeding at the usual Caribbean slow rate here, The main upset has been that Malcolm lost his wallet while cycling between two cash machines and to cut a long story short the guys who found it and gave us the run around finally brought it back sans 350 TT $ (£35) so no reward for all the problems they caused us. We have had to cancel 2 cards and his driving licence, but all are winging there way home with some Brits who are also bringing spares back for us. The forestay is now fully operational after a weeks work with Ian the winch guy to help, the dinghy chaps have been modified to stop water syphoning in at high speed, and the bimini has also had modifications to stop some tiresome drips so all is now watertight and usable in all weathers! Varnishing has been finished indoors ( as it is the RAINY season and a neat thing to do if not reading or swimming etc) another leak in the mast boot has too been fixed along with a cycle repair puncture and 2 new spokes by Maxwell for only 100 TT $. (£10)
That just means the new main, freshwater pump for the generator, and troublesome leftovers since the re gel job last year namely re-seating the port light windows and rewiring the aerial for the furuno box of tricks which is not receiving any satellite info for the nav systems! eeek the list just gets longer!!!!!
that's enough to let you get the picture.
Next update just before we sail or early October whichever comes first!
Next update just before we sail or early October whichever comes first!
