Well it's now just over 48 hours since the main quake and so far we have had three aftershocks. Two yesterday morning (although I didn't feel them as I stayed up until about half three a.m. Friday morning so I think I was out of it when they happened), and one this morning which I definitely did feel.
The only thing I can liken the aftermath of an earthquake to is travelling on a ferry on a rough crossing, and when you get of the boat you still fill like you're going up and down - only in this case you feel like you're going side to side at the same time.
For all the jokes and jests that have been made, I'm scared. I hope that the worst of it is over, but everytime there's a loud noise I'm petrified it's a new quake coming. I know there's nothing I can do about it, but that's what makes it more scary - it's completely out of my hands and all I can do is pray it's not my time. I know that probably sounds morbid, but we're thousands of miles away from all the people we care about, miles away from everything that is familiar, in an area we are still getting to know, and damnit, it's bloody scary. I'm just thankful that for the main one we were with people that had experienced a quake before otherwise I think I would have lost it.
I'm trying to be philosophical and tell myself that flooding and storms and such like happen in the UK, and thousands of people have been affected through things like that - and considering the magnitude of the quake - we were lucky - the whole town was lucky that it received comparatively little damage in comparison to the strength. But unfortunately, that doesn't make it any less scary when it happens.
I also read in the local paper today - which amazingly is still printing - even though it's in the Central Business District that shed loads of lion's mane jelly fish have washed up on the shore in the last few days as well, so I think my Christmas day paddle/swim is definitely postponed!
But it has been wonderful to read about how local people have pitched in. Diners in restaurants that were hit badly had loads of people that had evacuated turn up the next morning to help tidy up, the library had 80,000 odd books hoofed off the shelves as well as structural damage - and again, loads of people turned up to help with the clean up - that's only a few examples that made it into the paper.
A lot of the shops managed to open today - the damage is more obvious in some than others, but sadly some of the oldest buildings in Gisborne (positively young compared to UK buildings, but even so) have been badly damaged and may have to be pulled down completely.
We were so lucky the quake wasn't further inshore, or strong enough to cause a tsunami - but the experience was bad enough. It's a hard time of the year for some anyway, but I can't even begin to imagine what it is like for those who are displaced from their homes. I'm not trying to be sanctimonious - but we all think it will never happen to us. But sometimes it does, so if you get a minute over the next few days, send a thought/prayer to who or whatever you feel looks after us all (or if you don't believe in anything send them your best wishes) for those people.
If I don't post before then I'll wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas, and we don't say it often enough, so we both love you and thank you for being our friends and family.
Soppy bit over, I'm going to try and persuade myself that armageddon is not coming and that it okay to go to sleep.
Night all.
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