That's it, I've decided. On the whole, earthquakes are a bad idea. Not that I've experienced any particularly bad ones while I've been here – the biggest being a 5.2 about 70 miles north-east – but the ones I have had have been...unsettling.

A particularly strange thing happens when I'm on Skype to someone during an earthquake, though. Due to the computer being on the desk, the desk being in the room and the whole room moving as one, it appears on the other end that I start swaying slightly for no apparent reason.

I have prepared myself a little emergency bag, though, just in case there's a big one. It's got spare socks, my solar charger and – when I'm not using it – my Nintendo DS. At least if there's a disaster, I'll still be able to play Mario Kart.