Christchurch hit again.

Another 6.3 quake hit Christchurch on Monday. It's a big blow for people's fragile nerves and a city struggling to get back on its feet.

This time we had something of a warning by way of a 5.5 quake about an hour earlier. M3 had just gone to kindy but my Mum (who had stayed the night with us), went back over to get her - she was in tears and wanted to come home. This is the second time for her that a big quake has happened at kindy - she may never want to go back! N5 was at home having had a vomiting bug the night before, and my friend had bought M9 home from school. We thought that was it for the day.

When the quake hit at 2.20pm we were all in the dining room. We all dove under the table to the sound of breaking glass in the kitchen and a violent sideways movement of our house. The kids were all in tears, and literally shaking with fear. It's an image that will stay with me forever.

This time the movement was quite different, and a couple of wine glasses is (hopefully) our only loss this time. Power went off but was restored later that night, water is back on for most of the city. Last time I had pictures off the walls and furniture overturned but this time only a few drawers opened. It was perhaps scarier though as I could tell it was at least as big as Feb and the knowledge it could have killed more people was forefront in my mind - DH was at school still.

The time immediately after was much like Feb - frantic text messages on overloaded networks, a series of awful and big aftershocks, broken glass on the floor, taps (and toilet) with no water in them, power cuts, trying to keep calm. When DH got home later we emerged from our dining room table hideout and packed the car and drove Mum home. We're 2.5hr away from CHCH now but still felt the big 5.0 shock they had this morning. We'll be here for a few days longer. School is open again today but DH (who went back last night) tells me there are 140 kids not there. Like us, I think many families are making the most of an opportunity to stay together.

I still feel quite numb. Emotionally exhausted, and after another night dealing with a sick child, physically done in too. All I can hope is that this nightmare will end soon.

Please keep Cantabrians in your thoughts and prayers, and if you are able, please consider donating to the Red Cross.