Hi all, we finally have a land-line back, we've been reserving our GPRS link time for essential business stuff (I'll be posting this same message in a couple of places to hit all of our friends).

We made it thru TC Tomas, this is the second strongest cyclone I've been in down here in the past 23 years (Ofa was worse, a cat 5), and there were some very unique characteristics about it.

First, it was quite 'dry' for a TC, I'd doubt if we got 12" rain in total, start to finish. If that sounds like a lot, last years flooding there wasn't ANY circulation, yet Bua at the other end of this island (Vanua Levu) received that much rain IN THREE HOURS!!!!

Second, I've heard of, but had never personally experienced, was 'mini-tornadoes' in the transition between the SW and NW quadrants as the storm moved south. The damages occurred were during this period, as you really don't lash things down expecting wind from all directions all at the same time. Needless to say, a new note to self when preparing for future cyclones.

Third, this bugger was sssslllllloooowwww in moving. We started having the first gales on Sunday morning, the last gales weren't until Tuesday night.

All in all, things could have been much worse. The eye had been forecasted to go right over the top of us, as chance turned out, it was around 60nm away, sparing us the worst (the wall around the eye is the highest winds).

In dollar terms, infrastructure damage was minimal, largely because this part of Fiji doesn't have any infrastructure (in dollar terms) to speak of. Virtually all crops were wiped out. Since most people who live up here rely on agriculture/fishing for subsistance, not income, this is going to create some serious hard times over the next few months.

One yacht was lost, Jim and Kyoko's 'Also II' up in Udu Point (which really isn't a cyclone hole at the best of times). They're both very good people, and have a lot of good in their community (like Bebi) creating jobs.

Curly and Barb's boat, 'Stella Rosa' a 40 ton FC ketch, was unattended and ate her mooring pennant with bobstay chafe. She picked a nice muddy patch on Nawi Island and went bows in. Save the issues of trying to extricate a 40 ton boat with the police boat (twin 60s), recovery went very well and she took no major damage.

The mini-cruise ship, 'Tui Tai' (the one featured in National Geographic), went up on the reef in Viani Bay. Colin and the staff of 'Koro Sun Dive' were able to get her off, she's fine also.

Flight operations have commenced at the airport, but there's a horrid backlog of tourists either trying to get back or get in, I'd imagine that this won't be cleared until Monday.

Our son (26 months) delt with things quite well, as he knows no other life. His big beef was not being allowed on deck with poppa to check the mooring lines and such!