[i]Are they safe?[/i]

Every day is ‘another day abroad’

but some days I forget that

this place can feel like home most of the time

It was just after 5 as I walked through the front door

and received [i]the news[/i]

40min earlier

[url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Massive-7-4-quake-hits-Christchurch]a 7.4 quake had hit ‘home'[/url]

Instantly, standing in our own house, we were a world away from ‘home’.

40min isn’t even enough time for information to get out…

so for what seemed like hours

we were miles away

and clueless to what was going on.

And then, we made contact with S1 parents

they were fine, but their house is a mess

enough of a mess to make me nervous.

A tense 5 min

and then contact with my Mum and Dad.

All fine.

The city sounds like it’s held up not to bad

(there’s a lot to be said for NZ’s building standards)

Everyone we have spoken to is OK

and when it comes down to it, buildings and possessions can be replaced.

Yet despite the relatively good news

I can’t shake one thing

the sudden feeling of being a world away from home

is still sitting heavy on my shoulders.

Good luck to everyone who is back there!

Our thoughts are with you.