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The Worst Thing Today

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Margaret
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Post by Margaret » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 12:41 am

Hi, Annis - good to hear from you. We have all been hoping you are OK. The earthquake seems to be front-page news all over the world. At least it is here in Portland, Oregon. It sounds like it was absolutely devastating.
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CindyInOz
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Post by CindyInOz » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 12:46 am

[quote=""annis""]Still trying to come to terms with the extent of the death and destruction in my old home town, Christchurch, from yesterday's major earthquake. It's hard to take it in- I feel quite stunned.[/quote]

My thoughts and prayers are with you Annis. I cannot comprehend how utterly devastating this must be for everyone in New Zealand. I hope your friends and family are all safe.
Last edited by CindyInOz on Wed February 23rd, 2011, 12:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

annis
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Post by annis » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 12:58 am

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. Luckily friends and family are accounted for, though they are shocked and distressed and some are now homeless. I'm half-expecting refugees on my doorstep any time.

In one of the weirdnesses of the modern world, my sister-in-law just down the road first heard about the earthquake while watching Fox TV with her American partner (I won't comment on their taste- no politics here :) ). Luckily her youngest son (my nephew) who lives in Christchurch was fine, though rather dazed. His house basically fell to pieces around him!

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Margaret
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 2440
Joined: August 2008
Interest in HF: I can't answer this in 100 characters. Sorry.
Favourite HF book: Checkmate, the final novel in the Lymond series
Preferred HF: Literary novels. Late medieval and Renaissance.
Location: Catskill, New York, USA
Contact:

Post by Margaret » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 1:02 am

Luckily her youngest son (my nephew) who lives in Christchurch was fine, though rather dazed. His house basically fell to pieces around him!
I can't even imagine what that must be like.
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info

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SonjaMarie
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Post by SonjaMarie » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 3:06 am

Oh Annis, I'm so glad you're ok, though I feel for your family who lost their homes!

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LoveHistory
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Post by LoveHistory » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 4:06 am

So glad you and your family are ok Annis!

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MLE (Emily Cotton)
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Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
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Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 5:36 am

Glad you're okay, Annis. My prayers are with the New Zealanders. From the coverage, it looks like Christchurch is hit worse than any of the 3 major California quakes I've been in. ('71, '89, '94)

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Post by annis » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 7:54 am

Still a feeling of disbelief, and also we are all so aware that this could have happened to us anywhere in this volatile country.

We get a lot of earthquakes here (though luckily not many of such severity) and we tend to be rather blase about them. I remember an English friend telling me that when she first came here there was an earthquake while she was walking around the centre of Wellington. In a panic she dashed to the nearest doorway and hung onto the sides for dear life. After a few moments she realised that everyone else was just carrying on regardless and looking at her in amazement. Welcome to life in a Pacific Rim country :)

I guarantee that after this one though everyone will be stocking up on bottled water, radio batteries, torches, candles, tinned food and other emergency supplies!

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Madeleine
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Post by Madeleine » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 12:16 pm

Glad you're all OK, Annis.
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Madeleine
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Currently reading: "Mania" by L J Ross
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Post by Madeleine » Wed February 23rd, 2011, 12:18 pm

Hope your mum is on the mend soon, SPB.
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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