h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well here we go again.

A 6.3 magnitude quake erupted almost directly under Christchurch at 1 o'clock this afternoon. I was in an office which, mercifully, did not fall down. After hiding under my desk, I vacated along with all my colleagues.

A spell of shaking and gibbering insanely eventually wore off and I was able to find my car and friends and drive home with them. Virtual gridlock, but the police were brilliant at keeping things on the go, where they could.

My house is fine (30kms from Chchch), although the aftershocks are rattling it regularly.

The city is smashed. Some offices flattened. People stuck inside. Fatalities will be significant.

I'm still in shock and am about to head for the Emergency Box, wherein lies a small bottle of brandy. A mouthful will do me good and steady my shakiness.

I'll keep you posted....

Frenchbean - glad to be alive

I am very, VERY glad to see you. I've even broken my rule about posting from w*rk to say so.



Do take care... *thinks: what a futile thing to say* Oh, you know what I mean.

Ivan - it means a huge amount that you sent a post from w*rk. Thank you...

The death count is 65 and growing What can you say?

Online at the unusual hour of 7.30am as I heard the news. So glad you are ok, or as well as you can be. Thankful too that you still have communication.

Keep us posted we will be thinking of you.

Websailor

Hi frenchbean, just dropped by from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F19585?thread=8081057 Glad to hear you're OK kea's OK (she lives somewhat South & I'm 30 - 40 km outside Chch). We three chickens are the only ones I know of on this island. Rod

It's great to know that our friends are OK at least.

Vestboy is currently in NZ, but he is OK, too.

Oh, and Reddyfreddy lives in NZ, but he's in Wellington.

Vest boy I didn't know about. RF I know of - but he's on that other, overpopulated island.

Glad you guys are ok. I was thinking of you when I saw the news this morning.

a bloody big PHEW! from a worried Prof - glad your safe and I hope the same for any hootooer and their friends and relations down there

I am also glad to hear my friends down under are safe, but seeing your lovely city in ruins is heartbreaking. And also the people who have died, and survivors who are trapped, are all in my thoughts and will be in my prayers tonight.

Stay safe FB

so glad to hear you are safe

I hope things settle down soon and life can be lived again

Very relieved to hear that you, Fb, and the other Antipodean Hootoo people are safe and well.


Hope all your friends and relatives are safe and well too...





GT

Glad to hear you got out ok Frenchbean. Take care

Thank you all I was hugging friends and strangers quite indiscriminatorily in the street yesterday They were all hugging back. Hard.

I can't watch or listen to the news: it's too unbearable to see the stories coming out of the city that I know so well.

Delayed shock hit me at about 7 last night, when I realised the scale of the tragedy and the fact that it was a pretty close call for me and all my friends. There but for a recently strengthened building.....

I ended up shaking so hard that I couldn't stand up or operate the phone... so after an hour of it, crawled into my bed under the (substantial) kitchen table and watched cricket to distract my brain. It wasn't much of a sleep - and I saw most of the England-Netherlands match - thanks to a string of aftershocks in the 4s which rattled and rolled through the house all night.

I'm pooped, but need food and a walk, so I'm off into Rangiora for a legstretch and brunch.

Rod.... where are you? I'm 30km out of Chchch. Are you in this same direction?

Fb - very thankful for modern building codes

and did I say

Frenchbean, Yes I'm in that general direction - western edges of Rangiora ekturally. If you're interested, there's a thread (started by kea after the Sept quake) going on, sporadically, at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F2893226?thread=7737329.

What would we do without cricket

You sound like you're doing well Fb. Those after reactions are normal, glad to hear you know how to take good care of yourself