First Earthquake!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Thursday the 20th December 07...we had out first experience of an earthquake...well when I see 'we', I mean 'I' experienced an earthquake!! We had gone to Helen and Jon's, as the boys we're going out fishing. They left the house at about 7.30pm and headed to Ocean Beach which is about half an hour away from where the house is.

Helen and I are sat on the sofa chatting, and suddently the lights started to flicker...I thought nothing off it and started making a joke saying 'are you there Sidney??' ( Old Toffee Crisp Advert!)...then the house started swaying and the TV unit was banging...our faces must have been a picture!! We started running all over the house in a frantic dash....then we ran next door!! We asked the next door neighbour if it had just been an earthquake and she said 'yeh, it was a beaut!!'...we we're petrified. She said it was a big one, and pointed to her light still rocking!
She then said to get under the dining room table if another one comes...and if we are in bed, roll off the bed and put the mattress on top of us! I was thinking 'GET ME TO MANCHESTER AIRPORT NOW!'

We we're both verty shaken by it....went back to house and rang the boys...no signal. So we waited and waited...then when they arrived back we couldn't get a word in edge ways as sorting out the car alarm was far more interesting!! When we eventually got to telling them, the pair of them piped up ' Gutted...we didn't even feel it on the beach...can't believe we have missed it!'...No Comment.

Came home and put the news on, it registered at 6.8....quite big by all accounts. The main place to be hit was a place called Gisborne, which is north of us, windows we're smashed and a lot of damage to buildings and roads.

When we got up the next day, we noticed a HUGE crack all down our driveway and one leading to the house...aghhhh!!

I've calmed down now! just.