Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Mirror, Mirror Didn't Fall

The prospect of 140 years of bad luck didn't even occur to Christchurch mirror maker

Maureen Stewart as she fled her shop while stock crashed down around her on Tuesday.

Ms Stewart, who owns a jewellery and mirror gallery in South Brighton with her partner

Ron Carter, was standing at the shop's counter when the earthquake struck.

"I never heard anything before it, then there was this jolt," she told NZPA today.

"The chandelier next to me started whacking me in the head and I thought 'get out'."

Ms Stewart said she did not notice mirrors jumping off the walls and cabinets moving

behind her as she ran out -- she simply reacted in a fright and flight manner.

Upstairs in the couple's house, Mr Carter felt a much stronger impact.

"The jolt came up from underneath, I got up out of the chair, stumbled and was just

thrown into the doorway," he said.

Everything in their house had been shaken around and broken, cracks had appeared in

many walls, they were still without power and water, but the couple said they were

feeling very lucky.

More than 20 mirrors were on display in the shop, but not one had smashed, putting to

rest fears of seven years of bad luck for each one broken.

Ms Stewart said she was not superstitious, but said the cumulative effect of bad luck

from more than 20 mirrors smashing was best to be avoided.

"I hadn't really thought about it until now, but yes, better not to have bad luck after

this."

They were planning to be back in business once the power came back on.