I spoke to my friend in Christchurch again last night.Their house only has minor damage compared to the last earthquake,and they’re not planning to leave the city.
They were awaiting the arrival of their daughter and her family,who live not far away,but have no electricity or water.
They heard the September earthquake on its way from the west,like a train rushing towards them,but this one just erupted without warning.

I still can’t get in touch with my other friend.

Thank you kev,that’s good.
She works shifts,so she could have been in either place.
It’s really bad luck that this one happened at lunchtime on a working day.I wonder if there’s any hint that it’s about to happen ?
Mr.Bee says he thinks cats run away,which is a fat lot of good if you don’t own a cat.

Thanks Dave.

Not good news,she lives in a 100 year old house on a hill near the harbour.I took this picture from her garden in 2009 –

I still can’t get through to my friend in Lyttelton,does anyone from NZ know if there’s been any damage there ? I haven’t seen any mention of it online.
She works in the city,so I pray it’s just that the phones aren’t working.

My thoughts are with everyone in Christchurch,a beautiful city in a wonderful country.

Just spoke to a friend in Christchurch,can’t get through to another one yet.

It’s dreadful,the floor was shaking as I spoke to her and pictures falling off the walls.She’s terrified,and her husband can’t get home from work as the traffic is gridlocked.

Poor people,poor Christchurch,so soon after the last earthquake.

Not good enough.

The mandatory punishment for murder should be life imprisonment – meaning imprisonment for life.

Someone who has taken it upon themselves to waste the life of another should be forced to endure the experience of having their own life wasted.

Day by dull grey meaningless day, with the certain knowledge that today will be exactly the same as yesterday and that tomorrow will be the same. Same cell, same clothes, same routine, same food.

For the rest of their life.

Would you apply that sentiment in the case of a parent,driven mad by their child’s suffering,who seeks to end that suffering by what they see as a loving release ?

Lincoln7,Comet’s a lady and we’re not generally known for rejoicing at the sight of human suffering,but then it takes all sorts I suppose.

This looks like another of those discussions that goes round and round,then disappears into its own orbit in a cloud of acrimony.

if it is a digital make sure you have a high capacity memory card, or SD card or whatever your camera takes, as you will find yourselves taking many, many photos on a journey such as your taking. Will you be hitting route 66?

Lincoln. 7
:diablo:

Yes,it’s a digital camera,though I managed to lose 600 photos of New Zealand in 2009 by accidentally reformatting the memory card,then overwriting them when Mr. Bee said I’d lost them forever.

No, no route 66,it’s mostly by train.
Thanks for the Grand Canyon tip,though as it’s an organised tour we have to go where we’re told.And get up at the crack of dawn,I shouldn’t wonder.