Sunday 26 January 2014
Rowan came and fitted the remaining windows during the last few days, so all we need is good weather. We made an attempt on Sunday morning, opening the final package of scaffolding to extend the tower and fit the outriggers for extra stability.
The extended scaffolding - but not yet at full potential height. Dave is up there, but not chirpy enough to peer out and wave! We managed one mix, before the rain started again and we retired to our sofa.
In the event, this was a good thing. Around mid-afternoon we had the biggest quake we've felt here for a long time. It was registered as a 5.8, epicentred close to Argostoli on Cephalonia and it went on for what seemed like ages. Mostly a quake is just a few seconds, but this one went on and on. (Apparently only 45 seconds, but long enough).
We stayed put in our attic, listening to the house frame creaking, but not feeling particularly threatened. That close to the roof, there's not much that can fall on you (unless the floor goes ...) Anyway, all we heard were creaks, but after it was over we put on raincoats and checked all our work. Wonderful! There were no cracks in either the stem wall or the plaster, it had all coped very well. Okay, a 5.8 isn't that big, but it was still the first seismic test the house has been put through.
There was a second strong aftershock later that evening, it registered 5.2 and came while we were watching a superhero movie. As our sofa quivered in time to the action sequence we were very impressed with how realistic Hollywood special effects are nowadays.
Rowan came and fitted the remaining windows during the last few days, so all we need is good weather. We made an attempt on Sunday morning, opening the final package of scaffolding to extend the tower and fit the outriggers for extra stability.
In the event, this was a good thing. Around mid-afternoon we had the biggest quake we've felt here for a long time. It was registered as a 5.8, epicentred close to Argostoli on Cephalonia and it went on for what seemed like ages. Mostly a quake is just a few seconds, but this one went on and on. (Apparently only 45 seconds, but long enough).
We stayed put in our attic, listening to the house frame creaking, but not feeling particularly threatened. That close to the roof, there's not much that can fall on you (unless the floor goes ...) Anyway, all we heard were creaks, but after it was over we put on raincoats and checked all our work. Wonderful! There were no cracks in either the stem wall or the plaster, it had all coped very well. Okay, a 5.8 isn't that big, but it was still the first seismic test the house has been put through.
There was a second strong aftershock later that evening, it registered 5.2 and came while we were watching a superhero movie. As our sofa quivered in time to the action sequence we were very impressed with how realistic Hollywood special effects are nowadays.
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