Saturday 3rd June, 2017                                   1830

Either we just had a small earthquake here, there was a silent explosion or we got an aftershock from a bigger one further away.

I had finished my dinner of omelette and chips and was catching up with the latest episodes of Heartbeat when I could have sworn my chair moved. Naturally my first thought was perhaps I had imbibed rather more jing jo and hong jo than I realised. That is, until I glanced out of the window to see the building opposite also shaking and the plastic conduits carrying electricity cables connecting the two blocks bending and flexing.

Very short-lived and thus far no news of anything major happening on the internet.

Sunday 4th               1020

From curiosity, later last night I trawled the web looking for news of the shake. I wanted to be sure I hadn’t imagined it and also to find out where it had taken place and the magnitude. Sure enough, I wasn’t going mad, the epicentre was about 100 miles away from here and depending on which site you choose, it was 4.6 to 4.9 - of course I shall go with the 4.9!!

I am sure there are many reading this who have experienced quakes themselves and are probably thinking “big deal, it was only a tiddler” and they would be right. However unless I have been in others while I was sleeping, this was only my second one and the first I have felt. I now know why I never felt the one in Chizhou when I was out walking Piggy - if I had been out walking yesterday I would be none the wiser. It was only because I was indoors on a chair that I was aware.

A few years ago I went into a simulator in the Chizhou science museum which was a mock up of an ordinary living room in a house, built on a sprung platform. They simulated quite a heavy quake and I must say my opinion was that it was not realistic in that the movements were too jerky and inconsistent. I thought it was for cheap effect.

I know now that it was exactly what it is like. It’s a most odd sensation quite unlike anything I imagined. I can now, however, imagine a little of the terror in people who are caught in a major one.

And of course this morning the first thing that popped up on my laptop when I switched it on and opened the BBC iPlayer to download last night’s programmes was live coverage of yet more terrorist incidents in London. How do you prevent people from using everyday vehicles to mow others down? I see there will be no trials or the cost of incarcerating those responsible - unless of course relatives of the culprits sue the nation for using what they feel was excessive force……..

Here we are currently experiencing the most sustained rain since I arrived. Nothing major, just persistent and what I would describe as typically English rain. This is quite unlike Chizhou rain which was invariably stair-rods. Mind you, I need to go out shopping after my shower so the umbrella gift will come in handy. Yesterday I never opened my door once but I need pijou and I fancy roast pork for dinner.

1630

The brolly got its first outing although to be honest it was not really needed. The rain wasn’t heavy enough for me to have bothered really. I bought a nice little piece of pork and went to the adjacent stall to get a carrot and a potato. I couldn’t understand why all the produce was under a sheet or a blanket but guessed for some reason it was down to the rain. I saw no sign of anyone manning it so helped myself to just one carrot and one spud, hoping the owners would return.

They didn’t and the meat stall people were no help, even when I gestured that if I gave them 2y to pay for what I pinched, they would give it to the veg people. I have no idea how to explain what I did at a later date, so left the money under a tray of eggs for them to find and maybe they will ask the meat people where it came from.

On the way home I spotted Jacob from behind, out with his puppy. As dogs do, it was wandering off because it was on an extendable lead and Jacob was clearly fed up with the antics, for he jerked it, which was ineffective because the lead merely paid out more. Jokingly I said loudly to stop being so cruel, just as he disappeared the other side of an SUV. From out of sight, he said I’ve had her three months and still she won’t behave.

When he emerged the reason he was less than pleased was immediately apparent. The dog had jumped all over him and his dark shirt and trousers were covered in muddy paw prints! I did though quiz him about the rumour I had heard about him leaving in summer. He was surprised and said no, he has another year to do, who told me? I suggested he correct the Algerian chap who is seemingly under that impression. He did though confirm that he intends to take Muttley back to America with him.