Earthquake !

I felt my first real earthquake last night at about 4am.

I was already awake and so experienced the whole thing - it was very bizarre and more than a little frightening to be honest. First of all the world went very quiet - no wind, no crickets, no animal noise at all.

It has been very humid the last couple of nights (a dead giveaway apparently) and so we had the windows open. The windows started to shake slightly as if someone was gently trying to shake them open wider - which was initially what I thought was happening. Then the house moved. It moved probably an inch - twice, although it felt as though the whole world was moving - very disorienting.

It was kind of like a silent, invisible bulldozer had pushed the house - twice. And then it was over. The wildlife noises started to come back and life returned to normal. It lasted all of about 10 secs but was the most unusual thing I have ever experienced.

I dread to think what "real" earthquakes are like, but I have a greater understanding of why houses in New Zealand are generally made of wood - concrete would have been damaged.

I checked on the news this morning and it was a 5.0 on the richter scale but 20 miles deep and 100 miles away so a very, very mild one. New Zealand is due another big, shallow one anytime now - but again likely to be around Wellington 100 miles away. Wellington is the safest city in the world for earthquakes, being built in unique ways on suspended "floating" concrete blocks that have the same give as wood.

If anyone ever gets to Wellington - I recommend the national Museum Te Papa because it is built with transparent foundations that are absolutely fascinating. As I write this I remember the earthquake simulator there - and it is exactly how it felt last night - with almost the same intensity!