Earthquake.

As I am sure everyone is aware, Christchurch was hit by a large magnitude earthquake yesterday, which has caused a great loss of life, and unimaginable damage to the Central City.

My family and I are ok, we are physically ok, with only a couple of minor injuries. As for the properties, well.. My house has had some further damage, my neighbourhood looks like a floodzone, with silt clogging every drain. There are houses destroyed, walls down, and roads which are sinking or have sunk it into the sea. My run today took me past the airport (deliberatly, I like looking at the planes), and once I reached there it absolutly started pouring down. Watching hundreds of people being marshalled by men in camo uniforms onto military aircraft in the pouring rain seemed like a scene that happened a hundred times in every disaster movie I had ever seen; suppose that means we are actually in a disaster.

I did go for a run yesterday, but it didn't count. What happened was that I was at university when the earthquake struck. So (like everyone else) I wanted to get home to see loved ones, so I got into my car. I managed to get as far as Colombo street, before the gridlocked traffic due to the damage finally got to me. So I got out, and ran firstly to my brother's house, to see his wife and son, before stopping past home. I had not heard from my partner, so my run continued to her work, which was at a school nearby. She was fine, as was everyone I managed to get in touch with, but the damage is extensive.

Today I headed out from my parents place, to the Airport, then followed State Highway 1, before going back to through Burnside park, then back following the route that I used to take to school. Worked out to being 9.51km, done in 41 mins.

Alot going on, and there is a long, long way back to normality here in Christchurch. For all those in Chch, stay safe, and for all those outside of town, my hope and prayer is that you have contacted family, friends and loved ones, and that they are safe.

Until tommorow,

CP