Hi Richard.

It is good to hear that you were not as badly affected as many of your countryfolk but still an unnerving experience for you nevertheless.

It seemed so weird that we were walking Manhattan and riding the subway on the Sunday afternoon, before our return flight that night, and then woke up to the incredible scenes of the Superstorm's aftermath.

We Brits complain about our weather (especially as this summer has been the wettest on record) but it is nothing compared with the destructive violence of yours. We should be grateful we have roofs over our heads unlike so many of those poor souls in your State and beyond, some of whom won't even be insured. Still, we hope Mayor Bloomberg will continue to be as impressive as he has been so far with the re-building programme.

Best wishes.

Peter