You know, there is something that someone said in innerbrat's comments about this whole quake thing that is rather salient:

... Sorry, I live in California. We actually get this stuff drilled into us in elementary school.

Well, you know what? We don't. You know why? Because earthquakes don't happen over here. Me, personally, I thought it was pretty cool. But if someone was scared by it, STFU n00b is not an appropriate reaction. STFU n00b is never an appropriate reaction to someone being upset.

* sticks two fingers up at metaquotes and most of the contributors to this *

For future reference, there are appropriate reactions to an earthquake which do fit traditional British coping mechanisms:

1, Phone the BBC. Not the emergency services, but the BBC. Getting on the news is more important than anything else.

2, Make cups of tea, go out into the street, and offer them to your neighbours.

3, If in doubt, make terrible puns (illustrated by bopeepsheep):

Johnny Walker started his show at 7.30 with I Feel The Earth Move and has just played Whole Lotta Shakin'. I am going to be thinking of suitable earthquake songs all morning, aren't I?

Edit: and just before the 8.00 news, All Shook Up. Groan.

4, Complain. Complain about how it's aggravated your sciatica, or how it set the car alarm off, or how it made the dogs bark. Complaining is something that we Brits have elevated to an art form. Note: you mustn't complain TO anyone, especially not anyone who might be able to /do/ something, just complain generally.

5, Take the piss. I think this might actually be what the Californians are going for with STFU n00b. This lacks the required subtlety and dry humour. Take a lesson from caseytalk, here. She does the oneupmanship in a gently humourous way AND shows caringness also.

6, Blame the English (if you're Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish), Southerners (if you're English but not from the home counties or West Country), Londoners (if you're from the West Country or Home Counties) or Provincials (if you're from London) and head for the nearest pub to indulge in #4

Anyway, nothing in the house appears to be damaged, which is better than the folks who had windows shatter and the poor lad whose chimney fell through his bedroom ceiling and crushed his pelvis...

I merely ask because our entire house just shook, windows rattling, bed shaking, everything...

Mat went and looked out the window and David (neighbour across the street and a few doors down) was just coming out of his front door and they felt it over there too.

I really hope it /was/ an Earthquake. The other option is too awful to contemplate.

ETA: apparently the epicentre was in Lincolnshire and it was a 4.7. That's pretty bloody big for us.

D has linked to a map in the comments, also.