While in Trinidad the preparations for Carnival are in full swing, we (and also the Barborassa and the Jonathan) are under the spell of 'pimping' our boats. With us it will take a bit longer than expected, but with the Barbarossa and the Jonathan it's running more smoothly than expected, and so we expect all three of us to be ready on Monday to sail to the next island Grenada.

The pimping of the Brandaan is mainly aimed at charging the batteries faster and more efficiently so we don't have to make as many engine hours to get the batteries full when we're not in a harbour. We have a new larger alternator placed that can charge 150 amperes (instead of 60 amperes) and a 'smart' charge controller that handles the charging itself more efficiently. The parts arrive on time with the mail from America and also the placing of the parts goes very well. But then it turns out that the engine has a pulley that's too small (rotation axis that makes the alternator work for the battery charging from the rotation of the engine) which gives the engine a nasty beep at low revs. Not insurmountable, but tricky and because Trinidad really is the place for boat repairs (good yards, expert personnel and cheap rates) we decided to have those engine parts replaced here as well. However, they have to be made to measure and now they are working this weekend to get it finished on Monday.

The other pimp work for the Brandaan consists of having a large sun tent made over the bimini so that we also have shade on the sides and back while anchored. This turns out to be really necessary in this real heat. We also buy a new VHF because the old one in Suriname broke down (button for operating the horn to talk is broken). A good VHF is a must because it is a safety-item at sea. Toine also carries out various repair work, such as checking the top light at the very top of the mast.

The repairs of the Barbarossa are going very well; Jan and Ellen are busy during the day; it is just like a very busy working week in the Netherlands - they are being lived. Luckily the result is there too and the Barbarossa can be pimped and back in the water on Monday morning. Pimped with a nicely repaired keel, a new bimini (sun tent), new cushions for in the cockpit, everywhere nice fannets in the boat, a new engine (9.8 hp !!!) for the dinghy and a very big and heavy new anchor inc; new anchor roll. And also the Jonathan has been pimped with a repaired mainsail and a new alternator. All in all this 'pimping' takes quite a lot of time (especially from Toine). What else do we do?

Every morning we pay a lot of attention to the girls' schoolwork. We're completely up to date again and just like the class in Holland we made CITO tests. The girls then have a great time and spend hours in the pool and play a lot with Koen, Giel, Daan, Nikki and Luuk. Their hair is even a bit green from the chlorine. For me the days also fly by with various household chores.

On Tuesday the 19th of January we spend a day with the Jonathan on Maracas Beach; a beautiful beach on the north side of Trinidad with lots of palm trees and high waves. The trip there is beautiful through mountains and dense rainforest. For lunch we eat the local delicacy 'bake and shark'; a sandwich with fried shark. Lovely! On Wednesday the 20th of January the four of us go in the afternoon to a real shopping mall (almost American, that's all there is to get) and we 'pimp' ourselves with bikinis for the girls, swimming trunks for Toine and some t-shirts and slippers for me.

And we celebrate two birthdays. First Koen's on Tuesday 19 Jan with a BBQ on the lawn in front of their apartment. With homemade chocolate and apple pie and tasty meat from the BBQ. Then mine on 21 Jan with in the morning nice craftwork from the girls, through the day all nice e-mails, text messages and phone calls from the Netherlands and in the evening a drink on the Brandaan with homemade pizza's on the Cobb (BBQ), with the Barbarossa and Jonathan. On the other evenings we usually have a drink together (before or after dinner) and talk about our 'pimp'-activities.

And now it's the weekend ... still we just do school and the pimping goes on, just a bit calmer. Soon we'll go into town (Port of Spain) together with the Barbarossa to eat japanese and then listen to a saucepan belt. With our own van with driver that will take us everywhere. That's quite safe. Trinidad is quite criminal, there have been 30 murders in the first 20 days already. We read that in the newspaper that is still brought in every morning. That newspaper is also full of news about the earthquake in Haiti. What a misery there. Fortunately we're (still) far enough away from there so we didn't notice anything about the earthquake.