I had heard a couple of magpies earlier but
dozed off again to be woken with a shake, a “severe” earthquake registering 6.0
on the Richter scale. Chris woke too and we were both astounded that we should
have felt a quake perched high on our wheels although checking out “recent
earthquakes” on our smartphones we soon learned why. The tremors kept coming
all day, mainly at a gentle 3.5 to 3.7, with a couple at 4.2. For us as
strangers to the region, we might have been considered dramatists however as I
sat waiting in a queue at the beauticians at the shopping centre later in the
morning, my fellows expressed concern. Apparently it is a while since any
noticeable shakes have occurred and yet the past week has brought several
reminders that this is a live earthquake area and one should not be complacent.
The RSA at Papanui is well situated for both the
dental centre and the excellent Northlands Shopping Centre and it was to the
latter we headed immediately after breakfast, for me to wait with the ladies in
the queue and for Chris to wander about window shopping, a past time he is so
good at and so much better than I who am so easily tempted. Once tended to, we
lined up at MacDonalds for a coffee and were delighted to be offered these free
of charge. Of course this is a marketing ploy because as I sat enjoying the
brew, marvelling on the generosity, Chris said he fancied a small burger, which
just goes to show there is method in their madness.
Once refreshed by this indulgence, we
proceeded to the movie theatre, where we thoroughly enjoyed the third movie we
have seen since arriving in the South Island, this time “The Imitation Game”, the movie based on the true story of Britain’s
Alan Turing breaking of German’s Enigma mechanised code during the Second World
War. Accepting there was artistic licence taken in the dramatization, it was
still fascinating, educational and very entertaining, and thoroughly recommended
by us, the middle-age-plus movie connoisseurs.
We returned to the RSA car park, consumed our
regular lunch and moved on, first to a Challenge Service Station to refill our
gas bottles and then to come north again to this excellent little
park-over-property. We will probably hang out here until we leave Christchurch.
This afternoon Chris has enjoyed the fourth
day of the Sri Lankan cricket match, I have cooked up a big batch of bolognaise
sauce and we are looking forward to catching up with my nieces tomorrow; the
very very pregnant Jamie, her younger sister Jessie and their nine children. Our
meeting place is to be a playground; hope the weather treats us kindly; two
nieces and nine great grand nieces and nephews in a tight space is too hideous
to contemplate!
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