Gandof's Tree

Spooks first words to me when he woke this morning were (not "Did the earth move for you last night?")

"We survived an earthquake!!!" It was 7.8 on the richter scale and epicentred south of Milford Sound, about 200km's away. It was registering around 6.1 in Wellington and was felt in Australia! It was a 'rolling' earthquake, which causes the least damage. Spook said even he felt sick during it! His kilt was still moving on it's hanger for about 15 minutes after the swaying of the floor stopped. The children are wanting another one. I'm sure, if anyone had actually been through a damaging earthquake, they wouldn't have coped so well with last nights.

We went over to Queenstown today, via The Crown Range. These pictures are at the top of The Range. Finn calls this Gandol

f's Tree. It was misty and frosty, but as you can see, still no wind chill factor! Meg was able to go into the shop and pick up her jacket for which she had been allowed 3 months to raise the money. The girl was surprised to see her and couldn't quite believe it! I gave Finn the opportunity to explore how much he wanted one for himself. I said that I would give him some serious opportunities to raise the money over 2 months, if he put the deposit down from his own money and had it put aside for him, like Megs. He said he really wanted one, but couldn't face the pressure of having to tidy his room. So I guess that means he didn't really want one. At least I didn't feel bad about it!!

WE had to get back in time for Meg's work. Thankfully, I am going to work tomorrow, and although am too late to accumulate as many hours as herself, I should be able to hold my head up in the household. The Sinclairs are away tomorrow. Hedgehog the guinea pig will be going to, so maybe the cat might come home. It has been too hard for her to live with a beastie that she is not allowed to eat.

grateful for:

a rolling earthquake that has not created any cracks in Spooks poo tanks. When Spook txted Pete last night to ask if they were covered for earthquakes, he responded back with the news that they had not taken out that option. Once Steve got the movement back in his legs, he sent Spook a panic txt to check the plant was ok.

The computer that Spook can consult his poo tanks condition on, so that he did not need to venture out into the post-earthquake town.