It's hard to concentrate on writing today as my thoughts keep turning to my poor friends and family in Christchurch.
The only way I can think of helping is to donate money to the Red Cross and let everyone I know know there are beds here if they need to escape their shaky homes.
We are the ones who are meant to be living on the fault line, not them; it could so easily have been us.
My phone keeps ringing with desperate people trying to find out if I have heard from friends up there.
Definitely time for a distraction.
I did the new New Chums walk the other day.
I had been putting it off because people had told me it was pretty tough.
It's not, but if you think you can't do something, you definitely won't do it.
My friends in the 80-plus bracket tell me even if you stay pretty fit - they are still skiing, playing tennis and golf and having some serious fun - there comes a day when instead of being agile, you become fragile.
So don't put off doing things that you are perfectly able to do now.
Like New Chums; it's a beautiful walk and well worth the effort.
Head up Tobins Track and turn left at that orange marker.
The trail is pretty obvious now as so many people have been using it.
On the subject of things being difficult, I have had loads of you asking me about Jim Flynn's The Torchlight List. This very intelligent professor at Otago has written a book with his recommendations for the 200 books we should read if we want to be knowledgeable about our world and its history.
The only thing that concerns me about it is it's a bit like someone thinking they might get fit by doing some gentle walks and getting advised to climb Mt Cook.
I note I have only read one of his top five reads and I am quite a big reader.
His recommendation for Midnight's Children put me off hugely: I have a personal issue with Salman Rushdie's writing and am always suspicious that people who claim to love his books are either lying or trying to impress someone.
And I definitely think that about people who claim to have finished any of them.
Many of Jim Flynn's suggestions are brilliant - Birdsong is probably my favourite book ever (although there are many other books vying for that same position) - but I'm of the very firm belief that reading should be a joy and a stimulus, prompting further thought.
Taking on The Torchlight List could put some would-be readers off for life and have them opting for daytime TV instead.
Having said that, I am planning to read those unread four books in his top five.
I bet neither of our two children studying at Otago are reading anything more challenging than the Orientation programme.
They have moved into their new hovels, unfazed by the fact that where they are living would be considered overcrowded, unhygienic and most undesirable in any other part of New Zealand. They couldn't be happier!
There's such a lot on this weekend.
On Saturday, thousands of people will be converging on the Frew farm outside Winton for the Farm Jam. Those clever Frews, who have been a big part of so many Queenstown businesses, have built the most sensational BMX and motocross course on their family farm.
I loathe motorbikes, but even I have to admit this looks really beautiful - have a look at the Farm Jam website (southernfreeriders.blogspot.com or facebook/southernfreeriders) and see what I mean.
Saturday also sees Annex from Christchurch setting up shop at 4pm in No 5 Church Lane.
Annex is in Christchurch's Victoria St and had been hard hit by September's earthquake.
God only knows what state it is in now, but the designer is bringing her eclectic treasures down to visit us.
Fornasetti plates, dresses made of maps, patchwork blankets made from cashmere jerseys: a strange and wonderful mix of one-offs.
And if you have a small person in tow, or rather in push, there's a pushchair rally meeting at Motogrill at 9am on March 1.
All you need is a pushchair (don't forget the baby) and you can enjoy free coffee and cookies and company and a bit of a constitutional.
Hand Me Down World doesn't fall into that category at all.
I'm an enormous fan of his previous novel, Mister Pip, and this latest one is equally good.
A woman washes up on a beach and is trying to get to Berlin.
The first section is confusing and like everyone I've spoken to, I finished the book and wanted to re-read this part.
Be aware the first section is the report everyone has given to the police on their contact with this woman.
Lloyd Jones is a master storyteller and his eye for detail is superb.
He keeps prodding you to think.
Have a happy weekend and spare a thought for the poor battered people in Christchurch.
