CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE

TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY, VERY VERY BAD DAY FOR CHRISTCHURCH. I'M SURE NEW ZEALANDER'S HAVE BEEN SEEING THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE SITUATION IN CHRISTCHURCH SINCE THE HORRIFIC 6.3 MAGNITUDE QUAKE AROUND LUNCHTIME ON TUESDAY. OUR CITY IS A DISASTER ZONE, MANY DEATHS & LOTS OF HOMELESS FAMILIES, WATER & FUEL & FOOD SHORTAGES, AFTER-SHOCKS CONTINUE TO FRIGHTEN EVERYONE & THE RESCUERS BATTLE ON, ENDANGERING THEIR LIVES TO HELP OTHERS.

IN THE STRANGE WAY OF HUMANS WE TRY TO ACHIEVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF "NORMALITY" AMONGST ALL THIS & FEEL IF WE CAN JUST TRY & MOVE THROUGH EACH DAY WITH SOME ROUTINE WE WILL SURVIVE. THERE IS A SURREAL FEELING AS WE WAKE ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER THE EVENT & TRY TO GET OUR HEADS AROUND WHAT IS HAPPENING & HOW WE ARE EVER GOING TO REPAIR THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, BOTH TO PROPERTY & PEOPLE.

I ENTERED THE BARN VERY ANXIOUSLY ON TUESDAY EVENING - NOT BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED SO MUCH WITH THE DAMAGE I'D ENCOUNTER BUT THE FACT IT IS A VERY OLD BUILDING & I DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THERE IF IT STARTED MOVING AROUND AGAIN. I'VE POSTED SOME PHOTOS OF THE CURRENT STATE OF IT........I'D LIKE TO GO IN & START CLEANING UP AS I THINK THIS HELPS TO GET YOUR HEAD SORTED BUT DON'T WANT TO DO IT ON MY OWN AS IT'S VERY UNNERVING WHEN AN AFTERSHOCK HITS & EVERYTHING JOLTS & CREAKS.

ALL THE BARN GIRLS ARE THINKING OF EVERYONE WHO IS HAVING TO ENDURE THIS SITUATION & WE KNOW THERE WILL BE MANY WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN VERY TRAUMATIC & SAD WAYS; HECK, SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL IN A MESS FROM THE QUAKE LAST SEPTEMBER BUT THIS ONE IS SO SO MUCH WORSE.

TAKE CARE ALL.