About seven to ten days ago a wee weather molecule was lazing around the ocean just off the west coast of South America.

Slowly, it made a few friends, a few billion friends, and together, under the effects of the earth's rotation and differing air pressures they started heading west.

Life was easy, just bowling along under their new collective family name, the Trades. As they went along they picked up more friends including some wet ones.

Uninterrupted, progress was swift, gradually reaching a comfortable 15-20 knots with the heat of the day adding a vertical dimension to their path. So, along they went caressing the surface of the ocean creating some waves to accompany them on their way west to the distant horizon. Occasional they'd go up and down to join hands with their puffy white cloud friends, each time gathering new wet molecule friends.

Then, after 3,000 miles of clear ocean, WHOA! What's that up ahead? Right in front is an 800 foot mountain, 1 mile across slap bang in their path. Then strangely, having made their own way for thousands of miles, the Trades find themselves being sucked up and around the mountain as if pulled by some unknown force. With no alternative half the molecules headed up the hill, the other half dividing into two and heading either side of the mountain all parties being sucked up and around by the vacuum on the leeward side, because, as we all know, nature hates a vacuum.

The guys that went up got cold and clung together becoming new groups of molecules collectively know as Pelting rain.

"Whoo hoo. It's a free Disney ride" they shouted. "Let's do it again". However faced with the realities of physics they looked for another form of entertainment.

"Let's go buzz that boat". Whoo hooo. Whooooo hoooo. "Let's rattle these ropes...... whooooooo". Around and around they went. Like the demons in that final scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when the bad guys open the Ark.

All bloody night.

We've been right in the path of these accelerating and katabatic winds as they blast around and down off Bora Bora's vertiginous peaks.

Not a lot of sleeping last two nights. It's not all beer and skittles out here you know!!!