Change, change, change in Christchurch

Proposed for 2015-2017, a green square where you can hang around and have a picnic. (draft cc plan)

  

Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. Oliver Wendell Holmes

It is nearly a year ago that on the 4th of September we had a horrible wake up call from a 7.1 earthquake. I remember it as if it happened yesterday. Since then we had 30 significant earth quakes of magnitude 5.0 and above and 2622 ones between magnitude 3 and 5.
They are not over yet but the frequency is a lot lower and we don't get any big ones anymore (hopefully)

There has been a lot of demolishing going on and this process isn't finished yet. Furthermore they are busy planning for the new city centre. The people of Christchurch have put their ideas forward and the Draft Central City Plan has been created.

Change,change,change,but all for the good. The  plan is ready for consultation with the public and I think many people will agree fully with the following great ideas:

• They want to widen the banks of the river, where people can walk and cycle.
• A compact place for shopping
• A rail system
• A green Cathedral square
• A new central library and convention centre
• Lots of parks, green open spaces and low rise buildings
• and more

In the area where I work there are lots of changes going on as well. The community is going to work closer together, a timebanking system will be set up where people e.g. give  an hour of work and somebody else will give an hour in return.

All good, but we are still completely at the beginning and it is going to take a long time to bring everything into practise. But we have to take it one step at the time, be patient and watch it grow.

My biggest hope is that it brings jobs for the young people as the youth unenployment is very high at the moment and that can have devastating consequences. When they are able to stay here they will than live in a new revamped city with lots of new possibilities.

 The council also has  a virtual tour on their side which takes you through the heart of the city with  rubble, no people, no cars, empty spaces. Lets hope that it is going to change soon.

Rise up Christchurch KIA KAHA

A compromise.

That was a short break I hear you thinking. Yeh the blogging break proofed too much change. My job changed, for the good but a big change, my life changed, my city changed, blogging changed.....I felt a bit of loosing the earth under my feet and my quake brain got worse.

I made a compromise. I don't have much time but I need that point of relaxation and release which blogging is for me. I have to compromise on visiting my blogging friends. So to them I will say: we will see each other later in the year. I need to make this compromise to stay sane and I will get back to normal. eventually.

Saturday
I promised one of my young tramping friends to do a real tramp with a club with him. It was supposed to be an easy trip but for my old and a bit overweight body it was hard work and I walked like a sailor today. A sailor with sea legs as my muscles ached so much. I needed some relaxation and the beauty of the landscape did it but the more than 6 hour tramp also stressed out my body.

In little river we drove to the top and had a walk over the ridge and saddles of the hills. The views were magnificent.

My young friend made a photo reportage about his lion friend on great tramping spots. My young friend proved to be a great tramper and he has a very promising future as he is good with IT and photography as well.

Lake ellesmere lay below us bathing in peace

It was so quiet up there. The only sound we could here was sometimes from the cows.

A well deserved rest in the tussock. After our rest we had to walk down, which seemed for ages on the steep hill through the tussock.

You couldn't always see through the grass if there were any holes and sometimes you slipped and slide down the hill.

SUNDAY

We felt like going for a walk through Hagley Park and checked out if it was already open for the public.



It was so good to see something familiar still being there and being beautiful. In the park we met a Dutch couple and they told us that part of the cordon was open to the public today and we decided to have a look.

A part of the art centre is still standing but it is red stickered. Normally that would mean demolishing. But because it is such an important part of Christchurch they will rebuild the broken parts stone by stone. Oh the tram stop is gone.... no it has a new place.

Through the fence I zoomed in on the cathedral. I couldn't spot the adjacent tower. Is it completely gone?

The provincial chambers another iconic landmark in rubble. It is so different to see it with your own eyes than on a picture.

Through a hole in the fence we looked into Cashel street . We could see some rubble on the street and the tall building on the left is the Grand Chancellor Hotel which is on an angel, close to toppling over.. It will have to come down and I think they are going to do it layer by layer. There are lots of other buildings close to it and there is a change that by demolishing the one it will take others with it.

Demolishing in action. Follow the line and see the big ball smashing into the building. A slow destructive process.

 On the way back through the park you really need this beauty to give some balance.

Be still

Hayly Westenra from Christchurch (her last name Dutch)sings amazing grace at the Christchurch memorial service

Be still

Be still, hear the hope rise

Our hearts bleed
Men lost so much

but deep in our soul

a seed has been planted

nourished by the power of love

strengthened with iron

by the need to stand tall

From the rubble of our lives

a flower will appear

Freely giving its beauty
spreading a sweet scent
Velvety petals of dreams
Softening the fall of tears

Be still, hear the hope rise

marja

Kia Kaha

“Kia kaha” are the words with which Prins William of Wales ended his speech at the memorial service held in Hagley Park in Christchurch today. Kia kaha, be strong. I followed it on TV, but in spirit I was one with the ten thousands of people coming together.


Coming together for support, grief, to gather strength in the brotherhood of all.
Coming together to pay their respect for people who lost their lives
Coming together to pray for the people of Christchurch and the people of Japan
Coming together to honour and applaud, the search and rescue team, the disaster relief team, the fire service, the police, the student volunteer army, the farmy army and many others.


Today there were tears of grief. Prins William said in his speech “Grief is the price we pay for love”

All representatives from Christianity, the Jewish, the Buddhists the Islam, Hindi and Bahia said their prayer and united for this memorial. All faces of the world were one in Christchurch

From today we will move forwards, stand tall, armed with the unbreakable strength we create by holding each other’s hands. Kia Kaha Be strong.

Lots of love for all, marja

Quake and Tsunami in Japan

 photo from here

Yesterday night we were all night glued again to the Breaking News of the 8.9 earthquake and a tsunami with waves of more than 4 metres high. It's only such a short time ago that we were glued to the TV of the continues coverage of the Christchurch earthquake.

This time we saw the waves swept into the coast of Japan, like a monster grabbing everything on its way, cars, houses anything.
Thousands of people  are evacuated because of the risk of a nuclear meltdown as the cooling system of  the Fukushima plant failed.
A risk of an another Chernobyl. It is still vivid in my mind what happened 25 years ago. Back then radiation had a devastating effect on health and the environment in Russia and Europe.

In Japan fires break our everywhere. So many people will have lost their lives. As I am now able to understand a disaster on a deeper level , knowing about the horror and fear I am more shocked than ever.. This  one is so enormous, so overwhelming, so tragic.
Many New Zealanders live and work in Japan and there are many Japanese people living here. Many people here are now in agony to find out if their family or friends are safe.
I don't know if it is because I am now more focused on it,  but it seems to me that these horrible disasters are on the increase and makes me think; What is going on? It's time to change our lives. live more concious, don't hang on to material things , care about each other, care about the environment. Live can change dramatically anytime.

Now I can just  give my deepest sympathy to the people of Japan and pray to give the people of Japan courage, strength and support. Arohanui marja

You know you're from Christchurch when

New Road sign

The emails labelled "You know you are from Christchurch when:" keep coming in. The lists are growing and growing. Some might not be clear to people outside Christchurch. I had a good laugh so check them out. I started to make the list shorter but gave up soon because they are all so relevant and true in a funny way :0) They are the NEW NORMAL

You know you are from Christchurch when …
... you can see irony in claims about houses made of “permanent materials”
... your 4 year old says "that was another cornflake"
... you know you haven’t taken any drugs - but life is sooooo distorted you might as well have!!!
... you can pick Richter scale numbers more easily than Lotto numbers.
... Rangiora is the new Fendalton.
... you have written a list of at least 40 songs that should never be played on radio during earthquakes. Such as "We built this city on rock and roll". "I feel the earth move under my feet..."
... when spring cleaning actually means cleaning the spring that has appeared in your yard!!
… you call her your "Mother Nature Inlaw" coz she causes you stress and shakes things up
… you've nicknamed the 6.3 "Munter"
… Geonet is your homepage
… Even your clothes have been stickered
… looking over the fence, you discover that the grass isn't always greener on the other side
… you work at a bottle store and have a new shelf system; the most expensive bottles are now on the bottom shelf rather than the top
… you have no idea what the value of your house is!
… making mosaics is the HOT new hobby
… when Civil Defence is text spamming you
… your filing system reverts to the 'volcano principle' - a huge pile over the floor, with the most important papers rising to the top
… a doctor recommends having a few stiff drinks before bed to help you sleep
… they close all the welfare centres except the one closest to the epicentre of the after shocks
… when you fly out of Christchurch you see a psychologist, when you fly in you see a psychiatrist
… you can spot the recent arrivals by seeing who stops what they're doing during aftershocks
… rather than use the word “God” you replace it with “Bob”. In Bob we trust.
... your partner squeals and squirms in ecstasy again, even more energetically than yesterday. Then you realise its only because the hot water cylinder in now full and hot for the first time in 12 days.

… when fast food is anything that takes less than 2 days to purchase prepare and gather at the table long enough to eat it

… when a Portaloo in the street as your main loo is aspirational

… it has become the home school capital of the world

… the answer to where anything is ... it’s on the floor
… our 3 year old can say "liquefaction" clear as a bell but couldn't tell you their own address!!!
… all the family are looking forward to going into Rangiora for a big day out!
… when you currently live in London (hence “munted” doesn't enter conversation much) and both your parents have said it at least once to you on the phone (having never heard them use the term before EVER)
… your friends and family want you to move back to Invercargill....and it sounds like a good idea!!!

… half the population of children in your city come from 'broken homes'

… the roads home are bumpier than a 13 year olds face
… instead of rushing to the clothes line to get clothes in when it rains, you put dirty washing on the line in the hope that it will rain enough to clean them

… Countdown Hornby, becomes your 'local' supermarket

… you build your wooden balancing elephants into a DIY seismometer and cheer when it comes down
… Metservice includes a graph for dust
… a group of students turn up at your place and leave it in a better condition than when they arrived
… “nothing major” is how you describe losing your chimneys, half your foundation cracking, your tv smashing, most of the contents of you cupboard ending in small pieces on your floor, your white ware relocating itself and making odd noises they never used to and no longer being able to open or shut any door in your house, in fact not even being sure if your house is still liveable … you know, “we got off lightly, nothing major”!
… thoughtful dinner guests bring a bottle of water instead of a bottle of wine
… you find you start 'talking back' to the earthquakes (in a rather impolite manner)
… you've mastered the wide legged brace and surf position with out ever having had surfing lessons
… a bucket with a lid is a new 'must have' item
… the aftershocks have aftershocks
… you have tied the pantry, liquor cabinet and all the cupboard doors closed and its not to keep kids out
… you feel guilty because you have power and water

… you're so happy to get mail, it doesn't matter it's all bills!

… "Christchurch rocks" is a pun
… you go shopping and your trolley fills itself
… you realise this is the first time you've seen inside that church and you're actually driving past it at the time
… you think "It's the weekend, I must get my water boiled for the week"
… when a digger arrives you hear cheers of madness like the crusaders are scoring a try
… Santa has to choose an alternative parcel delivery entrance
… you visit places like Tripoli and admire what they have done to the place!
… you tell the kids off for flushing the toilet
… Hubby can finally say to all and sundry "see told you it would come in handy one day!"
… you don't get out of bed for anything less than a 5

… when Mellow Yellow doesn't make you think of an old Donavon song

… please don’t remain seated – your instructions are under your table mat and helmet under your seat ( new restaurant regulations)
… you're actually JEALOUS when your friends go to work
… discussing toilet habits with total strangers is an everyday norm
… the census forms arrive but you have no address to put on it
… rather than moving house, the house moves you
… your teenagers are only too happy to sleep in the same room as their parents

… when going for a chocolate mission actually is a mission

… the top party game is guess the magnitude of the last aftershock
… you're in the pub for a 4.8 and everyone's main concern in holding on to their drinks!

… you take a plastic bag with you when you go for a walk, even though you don't have a dog

… the new fashion accessory is a spade
… you watch MacGyver re-run's on a mate's tv to get some useful ideas on to get your stuff to work
… you don't think twice when friends come round and ask “Is it ok to go toilet anywhere or do you have special place to do it?”
… you know how to spell "liquefaction" and "seismic"
… the little pre school boys don't get excited when they see (another) digger or a dozer
… you find the price of wine has gone down but the price wine glasses has gone up!
… you have a full length mirror in the garage so you can see if your gumboots match your outfit
… your small children build, to quote them, "munted buildings from the earthquakes" with their lego/megablocks/building blocks
… using a Portaloo is one of life’s luxuries!
… you never fill your hot drinks more than three-quarters full
… you think electronics that have "shock proof" should say to which earthquake magnitude
… you start considering aftershocks as exercise - anything that raises your heart rate that much must be good for you right?

… you suddenly realise what would be the perfect modern "urban camouflage" look for Doctor Who's Tardis: a blue Portaloo

… you've learned the difference between at least six incompatible types of propane/butane cylinder and where you can't use each one - and it's only 11am
… you would prefer to sit under the table instead of at it
… you think the earthquake house in Te Papa sucks
… “munted” and “buggered” are official technical terms
… your 3 year old's latest new words are liquefaction and miracle
... you recognise food immediately because it's all on toast
... the news has become your favourite tv viewing
... you sleep in one suburb, shower in another, collect water from another, go to the toilet where you can, and still smile and greet people like you are one big family
... you know what that extra gear leave in your 4 x 4 is for
... you don’t blame your local council for bad roads, paths or drainage
... you know and actually understand the terms and conditions of your House and Contents insurance policy
... having a third person under a door frame is no longer an invasion of personal space
... you carry toilet paper and handwash in your car, your handbag, your backpack, or anywhere else you can, and you don’t care who sees it
... you’d rather live in a house made of straw than a house made of bricks

... you stopped joking about turning your undies and socks inside out to get another days wear

... you now understand the hippy lifestyle and all its quirks
... cross dressing is now accepted city wide
... you stop using the term “built like a brick sh*t house”
... its normal to greet people with “do you need a shower?”
... everybody starts to look like that dirty dodgy person that wanders around your neighbourhood
... your en suite has a vege garden, dog kennel and grass
... a self cleaning toilet is a bucket upside down on your garden sprinkler
... choosing your next stable career option, you consider Portaloo technician
... you DON’T call the police when there is a massive group of students in the middle of your street
... When a game of Jenga lasts only 3 minutes
...Dressing up to "Head into town" is putting on a high vest, hard hat and boots

Source facebook  and facebook

Update Christchurch earthquake

This is man is representing one of the dean brothers sitting in one of the oldest buildings in Canterbury, Deans Cottage, build in 1843. He didn't live to see the finishing state of the beautiful Riccarton house he was building next to it. His wife Jane and her son John moved to Riccarton House in 1854. Riccarton house is one of Christchurch beautiful heritage buildings which is damaged. The damage is mostly internal but the future of the building is uncertain. Mr Dean couldn't foresee that what he and so many others had build up to become Christchurch could be destroyed in such a short matter of time.

Heritage buildings in the central city are all going to be bulldozed, without any consultation :(, except for Christchurch Cathedral, the Catholic Basilica, the Provincial Chambers and the Arts Centre. The demolishing of the city has already started and there is a lot of speculation about how long the central city remains closed. Some think it will be closed up till Christmas but the rebuilding is going to take  years and the cost will be around the 15 billion.

Mr dean in the above picture is lucky his little cottage is still standing,  but he is also lucky that he is just a doll who doesn't need to drink water and go to the toilet. Basic sanitary is an enormous problem in the worst hit areas. There are not enough chemical toilets or porterloo's and the ones which are there are overflowing.

Mr Dean is only pushed aside a little which is remarkable too. The PGA of the 22 February earthquake was in the range from 1.8 to 2.2. PGA means Peak Ground Acceleration and is a measurement of how hard the earth shakes.  2.2 was measured at Heathcote Valley school and is the highest measurement ever recorded in NZ and one the the highest in the world.

Mr Dean also isn't shaken emotionally like all of us are, as we watch our every step and have an antenna for every rumble and shake. The best thing would be to get into routine again but many have no jobs to return to and some children have no school to go to. Luckily 26 schools are starting this week, most after doing some clean up and making arrangements for clean water for example. A further 55 schools will follow soon as they have been given the green light that the buildings are safe. 34 schools are damaged and repairs need to be done. Some schools will be sharing buildings with part of the kids going in the morning and part in the afternoon.

Our kids school was in the central city so they can't return .The school had been offered a relocation but this was withdrawn and the location given to another school.  With friends moved away and no school to go to the life of our teenagers has changed dramatically. They are healthy though and have a roof to live under and material things don't matter at all anymore. We have each other. (Not my teens words ;) )

Rocky for sale on Trade Me

There are some amazing things for sale on Trade Me. The most desirable thing is rocky . I copied the add here.

  

"For sale 1 owner 25 - 30 tonne landscape feature (answers to the name Rocky) ...

He is in pristine condition (just a little bit of concrete dust). Suitable for garden feature, or as in our case a magnificent addition to your living area.

Rocky will enhance your "indoor outdoor" flow considerably, especially if you load him in through the garage roof like we did. Sorry, but we are unable to deliver Rocky but would be happy for you to pick him up and roll him away (please mind our neighbours when you do) :-)
Highest bid (should there be one) gets personalised photo with Rocky (when cordon lifts) and of course a wonderful addition to your home. On a serious note: ALL proceeds will go to ChCh Earthquake Relief Fund. :-)

*** ROCKY NEWS FLASH ***

One of our amazing supporters has just added something special to this auction. The winning bid will also receive 7 nights staying at the Rocky Point Lodge on stunning Norfolk Island for FOUR people valued at over $4,000.00! This is a self catered lodge on a cliff top with amazing views. You can choose to use it yourself or perhaps even give it away to one of the families down here (not us though)! Thank you so much to Thelma for offering this amazing support to the people of Canterbury. Now get bidding :-) "

I can imagen that you all want Rocky so go and bid on him on Trade Me  Don't forget to read the questions and answers. Hilarious!

I am a big fan of Rocky now. Good on ya Phil!

Update: Rocky has been sold for $10,050.00. Great!

How is it to be in Christchurch? I just got an email to tell me:

You know you're in Christchurch when....

- You use the term "liquefaction" in casual conversation
- Digging a hole and pooping in your garden no longer seems weird
- Your mayor describes the city as "munted"
- Driving on wrong side of road is normal; you forget that streets normally have lines painted on them
- You think that tanks cruising round town and having a curfew are good things
- You're always aware of what you're currently standing or driving under
- Due to frequent aftershocks, you sleep like a baby...you wake up every 10 minutes and sh#% yourself!

Christchurch full of stories

Christchurch is full of stories. Everybody has a story to tell. I volunteered to work on Monday and Tuesday and listened to some peoples stories and hugged some people. That's all I could do.

There are stories about houses and roads covered with silt. 300.000 tons have been removed and there are still tons lying around.  Good stories too about a 20.000 student volunteer army, who armed with shovels remove the zilt from gardens, driveways. A smile about somebody who put a sign For free on top of the pile.

There are stories of people who had to leave their house because it is heavily damaged or there is no water, power and or/ sewerage. At this stage 55.000 houses have no water, 30.000 no power and 75.000 no sewerage. Lots of people have therefore left Christchurch or stay with family and friends within Christchurch. There are also people though living in tents, garages and cars for example.

The story about a 14 year old boy, an only child, who went into the city with the bus to spend his birthday money. He is missing ever since.  200 are still missing and 147 confirmed death.  Today there was two minutes silence to remember the dead at 12.51 the time the earthquake struck a week ago.  We left our building and stood quietly on the car park.

There are stories of people helping. About a young man who had been arranging the traffic tirelessly for days as the traffic lights didn't work and he probably saved lives. Stories about doctors working from car parks even if they have lost everything. Nurses who make 12 hour shifts etc

Stories of strength. I know a person who works in the children's home. He was stuck in a toilet in central city and after making a lot of noise they found him and broke the door open with a crowbar. His car being stuck in a parking garage he hitch hiked home, picked up the van and picked up all the children from school and supported them.

The emotions are just enormous.
There is fear, with every aftershock your heart jumps a beat. This morning I was on the toilet and the floor moved as if I was on a ship on a wave, when a 4.3 aftershock hit us. Fear about what the future may bring.
There is sadness to see and hear many nice people suffering
There is anger. I was very angry as we closed early today for some reason and we had to sent somebody away who had to search somewhere else to do what he had to do. I was angry that they didn't let me stay. I felt an enormous guilt as well that I went home. My daughter took a break today and felt guilty that she didn't work today. She doesn't have too but they are short of people.
There is love as I hugged a stranger and we felt so connected and happiness as people are able to have some fun and enormous happiness when my kids entered the door 4 1/2 hours ater the quake had hit.

We are trying to relax and did well in the weekend as a friend baked some hamburgers for us. We went there with 4 teenagers and had a good time.

We are having break downs as well. At times we are walking on egg shells especially at home. All of us already had a meltdown and yesterday I also behaved like an angry kid, unreasonable and wanted to leave this horrible place. I was ranting for a while and my son was trying to knock some sense into me. After that I felt relieved though. I apologised and  moved on. Trying to keep moving forwards, trying to reach out whenever there is an opportunity. I know we will get there but I also know that many new stories will unfold.

I still love New Zealand and feel lots of love for live and I know the following: don't take life for granted and give your loved ones a hug today.

Arohanui marja

Great website developed by volunteers for Christchurch

http://www.eq.org.nz/

The problems we are facing is overwelming and it is not going to take months this time to recover but years.

The help people give and the help people give each other is overwelming too and keeps us going. This includes your support dear Blogging friends. It is heart warming to read your comments.

Above a website set up by volunteers for Christchurch which is an enormous help for all involved as it contains offers for help and all the current information people need to know for example, where to get food and petrol.

I am busy looking for a volunteer IT person in Christchurch as well to fix our computer network at work, which is a charity, so we can move on and I might have found somebody on Trade Me. I am very excited so I hope he returns my email. Not much change to get on the computer at the moment with 3 children at home. (One guest)  Will try to update you soon.

Thanks again and arohanui