We arrived back to Pied A Mer late afternoon on the 9th February to a filthy boat after sitting in the boat yard for 6 months and inside there was mould everywhere. Found the fridge did not go or the gas stove. However we do have a little gas canister one burner gas stove so managed to heat up some baked beans and Mi Goreng noodles for dinner. The next few days were spent getting things back into workable order and cleaning the boat. Fridge just needed more gas and we have the equipment on board to do that and the solenoid had frozen in the gas line so by passed that until Mike and Anna brought one up for us. It was several days before we could finish the last of the preparation for antifouling the bottom. Then of course we were held up with the weather as we would be just about to start and then down the rain would come. However we finally had the job finished by Friday, 25th February. Unfortunately we could not get black antifouling at the yard as they had run out and were not getting any in until this month so had to be content with blue. However, friend Brian from Destiny 111 had a tin of black left over so we bought it off him, hence the two toned bottom. As we had some left over we got a local Philippino guy to paint a seahorse on each side of the hull. I was going to do one on the keel but saw that this guy had done a fish on another keeler so decided to get him to do it as he could do a far better job than me. It was good to catch up with Brian and Gill from Destiny 111 and Lyda & Bill from Viajero who were in Kudat for a few days after we arrived. We had a few meals at the Golf Club with friends and Leo and Anne from Pewter arrived back from NZ to find their yacht had been broken in to while away. However the Police and a local managed to get the culprits and got most things back, except for money which Anne had hidden on board. Charma had also been broken in to so we considered we were very lucky. Anna and Mike Smith arrived on 24th and they are on board with us until we get to Pulau. We finally went back into the water last Monday (28th) and found Dave had to replace the impellors on the main engine as well as the dinghy motor. There were a few little engine jobs which could not be done until we got the boat back in the water. A few wires had corroded on various electrical things so they had to be replaced. On Thursday Jane & John from Barnacle C attracted our attention and it is a small world. They are English and Mike's brother and sister in law in England are their best friends so we joined them at the Golf Club for lunch and exchanged our Malaysian Ringitt for Philippino Pesoes and I also got their phone card and sim card for the internet. Unfortunately at this point we still do not have cell phone service with this provider, even though it is the main provider in the Philippines. Unfortunately after we arrived in Kudat my mother's health started to deteriorate badly and on Sunday 27th night she was rushed off to hospital in the ambulance with very low blood pressure - 60/40. She has been on a concoction of pills for years and they had finally taken their toll on her. She is now off them and is perkier than she has been for weeks and at this point as we are out of cell phone range am waiting for an update on progress as her BP was still a bit of concern but gather it is coming right. On Thursday Jane & John from Barnacle C attracted our attention and it is a small world. They are English and Mike's brother and sister in law in England are their best friends so we joined them at the Golf Club for lunch and exchanged our Malaysian Ringitt for Philippino Pesoes and I also got their phone card and sim card for the internet. Unfortunately at this point we still do not have cell phone service with this provider, even though it is the main provider in the Philippines. After hearing that news we finally left Kudat on Friday morning just before 7am and then 3hrs out the motor did a splutter and rev and stopped. The next 2 hours were spent sailing backwards and forwards while Dave cleaned out the fuel lines. Dirt had lodged in them after having sat in the bottom of the tank for months. Finally dropped anchor at Karakit Island and enjoyed a lovely swim and a snorkel. The next day we only did a 7 mile trip and anchored at Balak Island. Another lovely swim after arriving. Sunday we moved on another 17 miles and anchored off a beautiful tropical island - Batawan and spent the afternoon swimming and snorkeling amongst the coral, although Dave spent the afternoon doing repairs, mainly to the watermaker!! Yesterday we had an early start and put 47 miles under our belt, mostly motor sailing although did have a couple of hours of good sailing and spent the night at our first Philippino Island - Balabac Off again early this morning and we are doing another 40 odd miler and at this stage plan to anchor at Marintow Point in the Tuba River on Palawan Island. We are skirting around the outside of the islands at the bottom of Palawan in the hope of getting a better wind angle later on in the day. At present we have a NE of 0-5kts and on the nose!! From there we will have just over 100 miles to go to get to Puerto Princess where we will spend several days. Our phone number for the Philippines is: 0063 949-443-9971