On the periphery no longer...

Map projections colour our view of the world. You can't accurately describe a spherical body like the earth on a flat piece of paper. So there is an infinite number of ways in which the cartographer can do his/her best. A lot depends on the purpose of the map being drawn.

And where it is going to be used...

So maps largely for UK consumption will have this part of the world at the centre of the picture. But as a result, we subconsciously grow up thinking of New Zealand as being a tiny couple of islands, tucked almost out of sight in the corner of our perspectives.

It stopped being like that personally a few years ago, when my sister-in-law - theatre sister and mountaineer - was diagnosed with a rare, nasty, unstoppable cancer. We visited NZ three times during her final year - including being there when she died. We have been back since. Two daughters have passed/are passing signiificant blocks of time there, and the third is heading there later this year.

So New Zealand is well known, and well loved- the country and its people.

Now it is at the centre of everyone's perspective. It seems impossible to imagine what has happened - this morning's figures, 113 dead, 228 more likely to be. Such deep sadness, and a sense of futility at what happens when the forces of nature run amok.

At 14,000 miles distance it feels as if there is nothing to be done. Except wait and watch with our New Zealand friends - those whom we know, and those whom we do not.

So many thanks to all the wonderful congratulations on yesterday's 300! It felt very good.