Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tuesday Tipple

OK, so we're down here (but not out) and having to 'make do' as my Granny often used to say. So, whats a girl to do when she's thirsty and it's too muddy to venture out - well, as anyone who is anyone would know - she makes a champagne cocktail with whatever she has to hand!


So, CUCUMBER CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL anyone? (No, best not ask why she has a cucumber to hand...)


1 shot of Cucumber Liqueur in a champagne glass, top up with Champagne. Simple! 


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Liquefaction Reflection


My life reflected in a puddle of liquefaction mud...leaves from the Japanese Maple tree lye discarded after a beautiful rosy display, scattered by wind and quakes.... 
It's actually quite tricky to find beauty in our terrorised city at the moment, I'm sure it is out there but we have to travel past so many fractured houses and roads to do simple everyday things - some days I feel quite ground down by it. But then we get sights like these...


liquefaction puddles on the tennis courts over the back fence from our house reflect the sunset of volcanic ash from Chile's eruption woes....


with the scribbly trees also on display in reflective liquefaction puddles. 
Such is the power of nature - beauty and terror together.  
At least we know who is in charge!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tuesday Tipple

Well, it's been a week or two since we last had a drink together. Sadly you will all have to supply your own glasses this week, we lost the rest of them in last weeks thumpers! 


I'm having mine straight from the bucket (sans straw) so stand back....



FRENCH CONNECTION
Shot of Cognac
½ Shot of Amaretto
Pour ingredients into a glass over ice, stir, and serve.






Thursday, June 16, 2011

Update

Had a crap week thusfar. We had to return to the Tardis but as from yesterday we can flush again. It looks like our house will have to be rebuilt, our builder reckons that if he had been allowed to make the repairs he recommended to the EQC we wouldn't be in this position. However, the place is now on a lean towards to road so unless it can be braced we will have to move and it will be knocked down. The land appears ok so we should be able to rebuild on the same spot.
I have been a tad stressed and we have been madly packing up all our belongings especially the irreplaceable ones for storage and safe keeping until we know for sure what we have to do.
I have farmed the kids out to the neighbours at night and they go back to school today (no doubt to get out of helping to pack and clean...)
Anyway, gotta get cracking. Hope you're all ok where you are and that those of you with ties to Christchurch - your loved ones are safe. xx

AND P.S. - yes, cats and rabbits present and correct!

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

A Royal Flush

Got a note from our Council today - we can flush our loos!

Good bye Tardis, you've been a legend!!

Monday, June 06, 2011

Long weekend

Yahoo, we have a long weekend...it's also our wedding anniversary (16 years) and we had a small celebration dinner last night. The Stud is really a good cook, lcuky for me, all I have to do is keep the drinks topped up and the conversation flowing! The sad thing is it is hard to get a topic of conversation without reference to shakes and quakes and things that go "bump' in the night!

This morning we were treated to a thumping 5.5 quake...nothing more broken at our place except maybe a few shattered nerves. I've been on edge all day however there is a bottle of Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc in the fridge which I can hear calling my name so am looking forward to chill'axin' later. I still hate drinking from plastic champagne flutes but needs must!



My new temporary office is about 8kms out of the city, and these guys are now my neighbours....took this on the way to work one morning last week. The cattle were really nosey and came over to see what I was doing and then promptly went back to eating. I guess I wasn't interesting enough!