Stuffed Possum

What a terrible day for the people of Christchurch and what terribly bad luck. Even with all the pictures on the internet it is hard to imagine what it must be like. We know it must be serious as they have cancelled the Super rugby game for Crusaders on Saturday.

There is so much comment online these days, this included, where people have free reign to have their say. The stories on news sites around the world have their readers' opinions ranging from good wishes to the assinine, such as knocking of the authorities for letting it happen (?!) or for not earthquake proofing it more (they didn't know there was a fault there, dummies) and then the usual "God Bless" comments being followed up by vitriolic attacks on religious folk and their God for allowing it to happen - same old, same old.

I remember after the first quake back in September some fool writing that the people of Christchurch should deal with it, I think he said "I bet they didn't have any grief counsellors after the Napier Earthquake in 1931". What a heartless twit. I have personally been conscious of the worry that citizens must have been experiencing from all the aftershocks which have been going on regularly since September, now I dread to think what they will be feeling as and when things get back to "normal".

It has been great personally to have enquiries about our safety from all over the world including Japan, Canada, US, Australia, the UK and Europe. My young cousin in Christchurch was thankfully away at the time and I don't really know anyone else there, but many of my friends and acquaintances have family and friends affected.

I am off to make a donation. Sincere sympathy for all those people who have lost someone close.