The clean up begins.

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your messages of love that we have all been receiving since Feb 22nd. It is now Mar 5th and all of us are back in our own homes with power, water and either toilets or portaloos. Sarah and the boys are still in the North Island with friends. The devastation in the city is horrendous, especially in the CBD and the loss of life is heartbreaking. Only 38 of the dead have been identified so far - TV programmes such as CSI gives such an erroneous idea of the speed of the procedure.

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people. The rescue service personnel from all over the world who are working tirelessly in the rubble, the student 'army' and the 'farmy army' who are helping to clear silt in gardens and roads around the suburbs, the unsung heroes of the utility companies who are working so hard to restore power and water and the road menders. The photos are of Beach Road - such a contrast to last week. The surface isn't perfect but it is driveable. A friend, Darrren (another Suffolk lad!) has been busy making chimneys safe over the city and coming home very dirty each evening to a house without water and power. One night he was hosed down by the water tanker man! Well done Darren! Food banks have helped many who cannot get to the shops. New Brighton is a sad place but, thankfully, few of the shops have been condemned so, hopefully, with the reconnection to the power supply the businesses will begin to open.

The weather has been extreme. Temperatures of 30C and very high winds. We are now expecting a change to Southerly winds and temperatures more likely to be 16C and colder at night. Wearing a mask if on a bike is the height of fashion. Also the comment that something is 'munted' (meaning destroyed) is a common utterance -even with the mayor!

Personally, I am beginning the clean up - starting with the kitchen. Annie chipped the dried muck off the floor with a wallpaper scraper a few days ago. Many of the food containers, tins and unbroken items of china are coated with a brown gunge, made up of Bailey's cream, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and curry paste. Tastefully mixed with gin and brandy. Lovely!

So, back to the cleaning now, off to Katherine's for lunch tomorrow and going on my bus trip to the N Island on Thursday. Don't want to work too hard, now do I? Thanks again everyone for keeping in touch.

All my love Carol xxx

Shaking all over .... again

Hi Everyone,

As promised - a few photos. This one is "Car in sink hole". It was in a lot deeper the next day. Unbelievably, by day 3 the cars were removed and the holes filled - not permanently of course but drivable with care. Lots of the silt has been removed and there is a continual stream of lorries heading for the landfill. The sight of all the sewage rushing by within minutes of the quake was unnerving - to say the least.

This one is my kitchen floor! Taken from a funny angle, I know, but I did not want to tread in all the gunk! I found out that plastic bottles bounce (soda water, vinegar etc) and glass bottles break (brandy, gin, Baileys, extra virgin olive oil, curry paste, couscous, rice ...... etc). What a mess and no water to clean it up with. And the smell!!

Another funny angle! I'm sure that I did turn the photo round before I uploaded it. My office - complete with fallen bookshelves. I was actually in there when the quake happened - filing the power bill. The bookshelves missed me by a foot or so and I ran from the house, and later went back in and took photos. Most of my neighbours were out at work but Robin and Bob were there and we had a group hug .....or three! I then set out by bike, through the rivers of shit to Annie's.

She was just arrived at Olive's kindy and waded back to their house. Malc walked about 9 kms from work to home. Sarah tried to get to school to get Joe, had to abandon the car and waded to reach him, taking about an hour. Matt got a lift half way home from his office and walked the rest of the way - 5 kms. His truck is still in the car park at work. Kate was at home, grabbed the dog and dived under the table. She drove to school to get the kids. Roy rode his motorbike through the mucky roads home. But, as I said last time - we are all fine and together. Thanks Kate, Roy, Ash and India.

Water is being restored, power more gradually and joy, oh joy, portaloos!!! I gave it a tryout today but that is more than you really wanted to know. More are on the way and that will ease the pressure. It is either that or a hole in the garden!

Life is rather frustrating but, compared to other people's trauma we are very lucky. The news is depressing but that is true of wherever you are these days. I want to go home ASAP but will probably wait until the power is restored. Off on another holiday on the 10th March so - watch this space!

Until next time, all our love to one and all and thank you for your concern and for keeping in touch.

With love Carol xxx

PS On reflection I think that my initial guess that the sewer had ruptured was, thankfully, wrong. I now think that it was the water main and the yellow colour came from the sand/silt. There is also no smell. Also no water and electricity as yet. Have moved back from Kate's to Sarah's - much closer for going back and forward for cleanup etc. Sarah and the boys in the North Island.

A bit too much excitement!

Hi Everyone and greetings from a very shaky Christchurch,

First let me thank you all for your messages and love to us all. We really do appreciate them. This is just a quick blog to let you know that we are all fine and together at Katherine and Roy's house in Tuahiwi - 25kms from where the rest of us hang our hats. We have power, water and working toilets here, a real bonus!!

It is a really horrible time. The destruction and loss of life is so sad and even though this one was not as powerful as the last quake it was closer and very shallow (only 5 kms deep) and so we felt it more. Our suburb has been severely affected and there will be portaloos around for some time. Oh joy!

I will post again with photos and will get around to all your emails - we have about a dozen computers plugged in around the house and wireless coverage is a little slow!!!

Love to you all.

Carol and ALL the family xxxx

Excitement personified!

Kaikoura - view from the apartment

On the way to Hanmer Springs

Overlooking Christchurch at the top of the gondola

Hi Everyone from a warm and sunny Christchurch! Sorry to mention the weather for those of you still suffering the rigours of winter but our days are definitely getting shorter so that means yours must be getting longer.

It has been a great fortnight having Jennie and John here for a visit. Not so good at the beginning as they arrived and their luggage didn't! Thanks Qantas. It had been left behind in Sydney and thankfully arrived the next day. Still, all they had the first night was the clothes they had travelled in, their hand luggage plus tee and shorts to sleep in courtesy of the airline. Thinking back three years, that was more than Katherine and family got when their luggage was left behind in Sydney, also by Qantas. A pattern beginning to emerge, would you say?

We had a lovely time - catching up on all the news, reminiscing - lots of chatting! We went to Sumner and Governors Bay, had "fush and chups" in Akaroa, of course visited the family and went to Hanmer Springs (rain and hot springs) and Kaikoura (sunshine and whales and dolphins). The time went too quickly and all too soon they were getting ready to fly to Australia for the rest of their trip. The house felt very empty without them!

Still, can't sit still as another trip planned for next month so, until then, take care all of you.

Love Carol xxx

Golden Bay

Totaranui

Pupu Springs (Te Waikoropupu)

All the comforts of home!

'Dressing up in garbage' competition

Doing silly things in a tent!

Hi Everyone,

The holidays have been and gone and the children go back to school this week. Where oh where did the time go? We went camping! To Golden Bay at the top of the South Island. Three family tents and Nana in a cabin - I thought. Unfortunately there was a mix up in the booking and although I had a cabin for the first night and the last 3 I had to sleep in the Jacob's tent for the remaining 3 nights.

Now, the last time I slept in a tent was when I was in the Girl Guides and with the Youth Club - in my teens. I really would have preferred to keep it that way but such is life. I survived, didn't I? Ash very kindly moved out of his bedroom - thereafter called the 'hobbit hole' - and I moved in. The first night I awoke when it was still dark and needed the loo - no en-suite!! First I had to get to my feet. (I do prefer my bed to have legs!!) Then I tried to open the window - no way out that way Carol. Finally got out into the night air - and it was not raining, thankfully. I timed it - 10 minutes! Lucky there was no desperation involved.

Actually it wasn't really that bad and the weather was kind with only one day of rain. The area is very beautiful and I can see why so many people go there in the summer. I will include some of the photos as usual.

I do hope that you are all keeping well and that the winter weather is "set to fair!" I am very excited as Jennie and John arrive in a couple of hours so I will have to set off to the airport in an hour or so. At least it only takes 20 mins to get there. There will be another blog quite soon so, until then, take care.

With love Carol xxx

The South Pacific. Another holiday?!!

Hi Everyone,

December already! Oh, oh, oh! No 'Ho, ho, ho' just yet please. I know that many of you are having to put up with snow already so hope that this photo makes you feel warmer (and just a tiny bit jealous?) The photo is of our beach, we only had the road to cross from the garden to get there. Chickens are a problem - especially the roosters. They do not seem to realise that they only have to crow as it gets light not every hour on the hour plus countless times between. I kept on mentioning Christmas dinner but to no avail.

Don't worry. We did have to suffer there in Rarotonga (Cook Islands)!!! The mozzies were out in force - I have never had so many bites although I was lucky in that they did not itch. It did rain, but it was warm and the sea was warmer than Christchurch is at the moment (not difficult) plus the lagoon made it extra safe for the children. You just had to avoid stepping on the sea cucumbers! We went for a trip in a glass-bottomed boat where we snorkeled and glimpsed all the colourful fish in the lagoon followed by a barbecue of fresh tuna, plus entertainment - part of which was Matt and Roy. I believe Ash has the video!

We ate fresh coconut - they fell off the palm, then Malc dehusked them and we ate the creamy flesh. A neighbour brought round pawpaws from her sister's tree for us to enjoy. It is a lovely place to go. Food is expensive as it all has to be imported from NZ but, hey, it is an island in the South Pacific! I really liked the idea of 'Island time' and would like to go back. The night flight home was a trial and we were all so, so tired yesterday but, hopefully, will be restored to our usual energetic selves (!!!!!!!) soon.

Only two weeks of school left then it is Christmas, New Year and the long summer holiday. Lots to do before then. I am not sure about the Xmas card situation this year as I think I have missed the last posting date for overseas so I will wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year and hope that your card catches up with you sometime in 2011. All my love Carol xx

Hooray to be home!

Hi Everyone,

I am so glad to be home - with the new visa that gives me 6 months here before I need to go offshore for at least a day then repeat - twice. Hopefully by that time someone will have got around to my residency application.

Koala at Taronga Zoo

Couldn't live in Sydney - too many people, cars, hills!!! I mostly enjoyed the stay, apart from the 5 days of pain with my back. Luckily it all settled down in time for Sarah's visit last weekend and I had already changed my flight so that I could come home early. We really got a lot out of the 4 days she was with me. We walked around the harbour, botanic gardens, art gallery and back to the harbour for dinner while watching it get dark and the Opera House all lit up. And that was only the first afternoon.

Coal miner's hut in the Blue Mountains

We took the train to the Blue Mountains - they really are blue due to the oils from the gum trees and the sunshine (I think). Another day of a lot of walking and the next day - the Zoo where we got 'up close and personal' with the koalas. They are lovely but we were not allowed to touch. The other Aussie animals that made our visit were the Tasmanian Devils and the Platypus.

Residents of the Blue Mountains

Unfortunately the weather worsened and we could not go whale watching on the last day. Rain and the traffic conspired so that I nearly missed my flight but home again and happy now! I was in time for Olive's third birthday too and it is her party on Sunday.

The aftershocks are continuing - one last week that I missed was just off the coast and made the houses shake. Enough already! And that goes for this blog too. I hope that you are all keeping well and that the winter is kinder to you this year. Not long until Christmas folks!! But we have a holiday before that so keep your eyes open for the next instalment.

With love Carol xxx