The Reality Of Living In An Earthquake Zone

My first thought was two woman leaving a telephone box, but no it was a portaloo. A lot of people think Telecom is a toilet.

Distant rumble perhaps? alert, tense, anticipate, dont breathe,in an instant often without warning,violent shaking! out of control, ride it out, no choice. I am suspicious of a peaceful day.

Fast shower, better be quick,floor might fall away. Naked body falling sliced on the way. Dont like blood!

Keep it on the floor, cannot fall any further, including the birds in their cages,happily they survived their first tumble.

Went to get a plate to put my dinner on, I didnt have one. I had plenty yesterday.

Sat down to dinner, two mouthfulls then the room was spinning like a top, a nasty merry-go-round, I looked at the dog, I thought we were going to be thrown off the hill house and all. Fled to the flat land and that was only 5.3!

Wow, my house is on the floor, walked away.

Before going to bed, make sure the torch is where it should be.

Old televisions are heavy and dangerous,they are now smashed after falling and in the garage, never to return. Heard a story how a TV flew across the room now embeded in the wall! Now I have a small transistor radio.

No more pictures on the wall, they just smash and splinter making for a hazardous mess.

On return cabinet leaning on an angle from the wall, good thing we pushed the couch against it, stopped it crashing to the floor. We learn.

Nor west dust storm, liquefaction now a common word, fractured cratered road, my jouney home, closed road go the other way, no power no water, I am lucky.

Dazed hoards trudging home to what?

Crazy dairy cooler doors fly open and pelt me with their contents, get out of there quick before Im squashed. I am now a rally driver broken roads fallen power poles fleeing animals. People on the street, abandoned the shelter of their homes, prefering the open spaces, no roofs no walls no chimneys to fall.

While the world watched we saw little and now we see little.

What is precious at the end of the day? time for a rethink I think.

We hear them speak about the city ninety percent of the time almost as an afterthought the suburbs get a mention, nearly back to front I reckon.

Broken biscuits they were cheap, broken buildings just as cheap.

Cera how dear ya make me so small I thought I was bigger than life top job as a prize, With the stroke of a pen you chopped me down to size.