Neil Hopcroft

A digital misfit

So…I guess that’ll be what an earthquake is like, then? Hmmm, not quite what I expected, rather shorter and sharper. Its the first I’ve knowingly noticed – there’s been a couple of things I thought might be but wasn’t sure.


Categories: Memories.

/ 6 Comments

6 comments

  1. neilh

    5.5, epicentre 50miles east, under the sea.

    No reported major structural damage, fallen wall hit 7 women at a temple, no other serious injuries reported.

    I’m OK – and thankful that I wasn’t actually pouring boiling water at the time, since I had just picked up the kettle to make a cuppa.

    Reply
    • mr_flay

      Bloody hell, that’s a bit scary. Penny’s parents felt the tremor of the earthquake that hit Birmingham (of all places) a few years ago, and said it was slightly alarming.

      Thanks for the advice on my LJ recently, BTW – I’ll stick with the Mesh, but I am searching for workable creative outlets…

      BTW, you wouldn’t be able to pick up Marui BB guns ridiculously cheaply over there, would you?

      Reply
      • neilh

        I didn’t really know what was going on until it was all over – I was just stood there with a kettle full of boiling water about to pour my coffee when all of a sudden there was a loud bang from no discernable direction and I lost my balance for no apparent reason. It took my a few seconds to figure it out and wander to my bathroom (which is probably the most likely place in my flat to support a falling roof), by which time all the excitment was over.

        ikwym wrt Mesh – I went through a depressed phase a while ago though while I was listening to Mesh loads, not sure which was cause and which effect, but I try to limit my dosage these days. Love the music, but dammit it can be depressing. Any ideas for the creativeness? My selfishness suggests you should write more in your journal – its always a good read! How about some more film reviews?

        Not sure I’d know enough about bb guns to be trusted to get one back safely (I have enough trouble getting on aeroplanes at the best of times – I can’t be the only person in this world who wears walking boots, surely?) – though I did find a convenient gun shop just around the corner from my office.

        Reply
    • marvelousmrchip

      I experienced an earthquake in Norwich in early ’94 when I was working there – I think you were there, too, Neil?

      It’s epicentre was under Thetford. It was just a wierd momentary noise and a jolt of the table I was working at, and everyone looking up and someone wondering if it was a sonic boom. I know it’s not quite the same you haven’t got the threat of a big, dangerous earthquake hanging over you all the time, and you don’t really expect one.

      Mind you, it did damage hundreds of Victorian houses on the North side of the City which were built on clay and bottle dumps…

      I had an earthquake in West London, too, which was really eerie given that it was during the paranoia after September 11th and I live alarmingly close to a major US/British air force base. It made me close my windows…

      Neil, Is there obvious evidence of earthquake-proofness in the architecture? Or is it conspicuous by its absence?

      Marvel(l)ousmrchip

      Reply
      • neilh

        Thetford? Wisbech? Somewhere like that wasn’t it? Yes, I felt that one ‘cos I lost my footing on the way up the Norwich city hall steps.

        Not sure I’ve seen any earthquake aware buildings as such – the government offices are specially rigidified to make them less likely to topple, swaying is a big problem in tall buildings so you need to make sure the centre of gravity stays above the foundations – theres a number of ways it can be done, making the structure more rigid or by letting the building move around on its foundations (or really, let the foundations move underneath the stationary building). Not sure about the practicalities of either of these, though.

        Reply

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