Tuesday Tipple

How boring I am, I had to search out this topical tipple....looks like a nerve-steadier to me! I have to say that the aftershocks are subsiding, we get the odd one or two but they are now 'spaced out' and I think people are less on edge than they have been, I know I am!


So, I hope you've all got your torches at the ready, stout walking shoes nearby and a good supply of fresh water....kick back and enjoy this new one from OpShop. They would be one of my favourite Kiwi Bands (and not least because one of my friends 'discovered' them). This is a track off their new album.

Silent Sunday

Wellington Visit

A mere 3 days before the earthquake struck, I had the blessed fortune to be in Wellington for work. I stayed the night as I had 2 meetings, and took advantage of it being Pixie's birthday. We went out. yes, on a Tuesday night! On my way to meet Pixie at a bar, I found these ol' birds....

Later in the quaffing procedure we ventured past this old Lady of the Evening, once called Aqua Vitae, now named the GP...

and this poor ol' sausage, once a regal bank building and now a fast food joint.

These youngsters have no respect for the elderly!!

Silent Sunday

http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/

I'll break my silnece rule for today, I figure if the Carmelite nuns had to break their vows of silence last week  ("Get under the doorway, Sisters!") then it's ok for me to do it today.

The above website is a cracker, if you'll excuse the pun. And so is this one, it keeps us up todate (incase we miss the odd aftershock) and helps with our scoring of them - yes, we have wee cards that we hold up score like and the one with the closest to the richter scale gets a prize! Play along at home!!

http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html

Bye bye Chimney...

A bit of relief yesterday when the wonderful Fire Service boys arrived to push over our chimneys, we had been spending the week convinced that the next aftershcock would send them tumbling into either our bedroom or the neighbours bedroom! Up the ladder, one of the Firemen fastened a noose around the neck of the chimney. The noose was made of a fire hose, very McGyver! The everyone incluing us grabbed and pulled and over she went, Bruce. No damage to the houses at all and only a biot of a crack in the neighbours driveway and a few splintered bits on the fence, we couldn't believe it. But the Fire Service assured us they had done a few of these lately so knew exactly where to get it to fall.

The remaining bits of brick sit there like a sad tooth stump. It has since been covered and someone will be calling round eventually to sort it properly. Tally ho and off to the next chimney which miraculously they saved. Albeit the thing resembles a soldier form the Civil War the way it's splinted and wrapped but the Fire Boy reckoned it would stand anything that ol' bag mother nature feels like hulring at it! Great.

The kowhai is flowering. And without the worry of the chimneys going 'thump' in the night, we can sleep which means life is good.

Refugees

Spotted making a break from the earthquake zone...

Shaken but not stirred

Hey just a quick message, we're fine. House is a mess but we have teenager girls we can blame for that!

We have 2 chimneys that may topple any minute, depending on the aftershocks. Just got power restored hence we can get this message out. The size of the quake keeps being reported as either 7.4 or 7.1 depending on which station you listen to. Suffice to say, it shook like hell!!

Our fireplace 5 mins after the 'shake.

Our corner dairy, about 150 metres from our place.

Many roads around here like this, mud/silt/water everywhere.

We're very lucky, for some reason pockets of the city are not as bad as others. In some areas one side of the street is a bomb site and the other looks almost untouched.

It was super scary, The Stud and I could hardly stand, ended up crwling across the floor and being thrown against the bedroom furniture. The Scowly Teen and the New Teen were spooked, stuff fell on us while we tried to get to them. The Stud has an injured ankle but is fine really. I have an injured wrist but can still hold my wine glass!

Our backyard was awash as the pool did it's thing throwing water out. The rabbit hutches stayedupright (good news for when you immigrate Steve!)

In the city itself fire has broken out and shops have fallen over, lot of old brick buildings here anyway so wasbound to happen.

The after shocks are nerve wracking and have been up to 5.1 so you can feel them, although there are heaps smaller than that and some of us feel seasick with the motion. bridges have collapsed round the road from us, and the river looks murky!