It certainly has been a tumultuous few weeks in the South Island.

Can you remember the huge news of last week centering on South Canterbury Finance?   Then to finish the week the big shake occurred.

As Fran O’Sullivan in the NZ Herald suggested, if the quake had happened first with its bill of $4 billion (before the SCF deal), then would the Government  have bothered to rescue South Canterbury Finance?   Doubt it!

The numerals 7.1 will live long in the memories of those who live in Canterbury and those who were there to experience the earthquake.

But what the rest of us are coming to realize is that the after shocks are almost as bad if not worse. Each rumble keeps you on edge, each tremor leaves you wondering if this is the next big one.

I can only imagine how unnerving that must feel.

It’s a bit like a bungy jump.   I did one once and absolutely hated it.

In fact, I had to jump off the bridge three times. 230 metres in the air it was!

How I liken it to an earthquake aftershock is this.  When you jump off and fall into the crevasse, you wait for the bungy cord to take hold.  Then you recoil back up, screaming your lungs out, and then fall again.  This happens half a dozen times.  Each recoil is almost as bad as the original leap.

As far as Cantabrians are concerned, it must be similar.  Each time the earth shudders, the nerves are frayed that little bit more, and they must be wondering if it is ever going to end.

And isn’t it interesting to see the various players change as each day rumbles on?

Mayor Bob Parker is a classic example.  He has done an incredible job of being there, being available to the media and just trying to reassure his residents that everything that can be done is being done.

As the days go on you can see the growing fatigue and the stress etched on his face.  Lucky his hair was grey to start with.  It certainly would be after his last few days. To the point yesterday when he say he has reached the end.

Reacting to another power shut down and another 5.1 strength after shock which resulted in the evacuation of the Civil Defence Centre he said, “Just as you are feeling you are making some sort of progress another shake comes along and rips the heart out of the city.  I feel absolutely bloody helpless.”

You could feel the frustration and deflation.

Of course, he is waging a very tricky local body election and up against the formidable Jim Anderton.

Bob’s performance through the earthquake disaster has been amazing and  after trailing in the polls for the last few months, he is probably now back in the race well and truly.

I’m sure it is the last thing he is thinking about at the moment.

Jim Anderton, who had a healthy lead in the polls leading up to the earthquake, was interviewed the night before the quake on CTV in Christchurch and made reference to needing an earthquake of monumental proportions to shift him.

Some slick editing, on Youtube, created the impression that he was talking about the polls and it would take an earthquake to stop him winning the election.

In fact, he was talking about leaving the Labour Party and it had nothing to do with the Mayoral race.  Someone was up to mischief and it was a bit of fun creating a great piece of tittle tattle in the immediate aftermath of the big shake.

Nothing like a smile in the dark days of a disaster.