Cruising in the sun!

Hi Everyone,

Back home and legal for another 6 months!!!! Still, it was a good excuse for another holiday. That is my story and I am sticking to it. I hope that you are all enjoying the warmer weather now - or is the cry of 'drought' sprinkling the headlines?

We are looking forward to winter (NOT) but recently the days have started out really cold but when the sun comes out ......... Bliss. Good news on my return. I CAN FLUSH!!!!! Hooray, hooray, hooray. Think you can just imagine how pleased that makes me. The chemical loo is cleaned and put away, hopefully never to be used again.

I had a lovely trip. We did not make to to Norfolk Island as the swell was about 4 foot and disembarking by tender was considered too dangerous. The Captain had not made it the previous seven attempts so we were not alone in missing out. However, did make it onto Noumea and Lifou in New Caledonia and to Vanuatu and Mystery Island so had our share of Pacific Islands.

The first Island was Noumea where French is spoken. Beautiful. I wandered around the town, visited the market and had a trip in the "Yellow Tchou Tchou Train". As the ship only stayed a few hours it was but a fleeting visit.

This is Lifou, also in the New Caledonia group. A trip away from the landing quay - a trip by tender from the ship - and it was a different world. The churches were familiar but the photo above shows the two styles of building still prevalent. The thatched building was a meeting house. The chief and his family used the left-hand door and the people the other. There was rush matting on the floor. While there we enjoyed some food cooked in the traditional way - wrapped in leaves and covered with heated stones, sacking and a layer of earth. It was rather like the 'hangi' - the Maori way of cooking. We had chicken and veg and it took about one hour - delicious.

Vanuatu was the next stop and this time we disembarked on the quayside from the ship. I had booked a trip on a glass-bottomed boat that took us part of the reef so that we could snorkel and see all the fish. The sun was hot and the water was lovely. Getting the flippers off and getting back onto the boat was a challenge though. Not easy walking in them either!

The last stop was at Mystery Island. It is just a dot on the map and part of the Vanuatu group. No one lives there as it is thought to be haunted. Again it was a trip in by tender as the reef that surrounds the island means the water is very shallow. The people from the neighbouring island come over to hold a market and to entertain the visitors and the grass landing strip is for the planes to land on . Those passengers then travel to the next island. Apart from that there is nothing except absolute beauty. I took some exercise and walked the circumference. It took ..........25 minutes! Then I had a swim. Again the water was lovely. Just marvel at the colour.

I enjoyed visiting all the islands and the people were very friendly. They all waved, especially the children, as we went past. It must have been very disappointing for the Norfolk Islanders when we could not land (and spend some money).

We were very lucky with the weather. The two days sailing home were rather 'lumpy' and uncomfortable but I survived. Here in Christchurch the aftershocks continue unabated. It seems as though about 900 buildings in the CBD will have to be demolished and more in the suburbs. I have seen some more photos and it is very upsetting not to recognise where you are in relation to the destruction.

However, we are all well. Annie's bump is growing beautifully and there are only a few weeks left to wait. Ash is looking at High Schools for next year. Ben has had his birthday and is at school full-time. He looks so grown up. Both he and Joe excel at their rugby and have done very well in the cross country at school. India's maths is improving greatly and Olive is learning her letters and writing. She loves to draw and has a very vivid imagination.

That's it for now folks; until the next time. All my love

Carol xxx

chemical toilets

Hi Everyone,

the "throne"

I trust that you are all keeping well and enjoying some better weather. Autumn has definitely descended upon us with some pretty cold days (and nights) but when the sun is shining all is right with the world. I thought I would share some musings with you on the subject of "alternative toiletting facilities!.

1. Situate your "throne."

2. When using above DO NOT allow to overfill! You will not be able to lift it!

3. Lift bottom half of throne onto transport - remember step 2 before this is necessary. DO NOT forget rubber gloves!

the "transport"

4. Trundle transport with load to dump station over wrecked pavements and gravelly roads.

5. Unscrew cap on dump station.

"dump station"

6. Remove cap from emptying tube and swing it 90 degrees.

7. Lift throne up from ground and position emptying tube into discharge hole.

8. Tip up and empty - remembering to press button on throne to avoid splashback!

9. Reverse all above steps.

10. Enjoy a cup of tea knowing that it will necessitate starting the cycle all over again. JOY!

The alternative is using the "ensuite" but as that is down the lane I don't fancy getting dressed up to use it either during the night or when it is raining. The "throne" is at least private and close by!

My love to all. Take care and continue keeping in touch.

Carol xxx

PS We don't have to boil the water anymore! Hooray! And we are assured that the chlorine will be discontinued ASAP. Another hooray!

North Island jaunt

Huka Falls nr Taupo (- sorry it is a bit dark)

Hi Everyone,

Not long since the last blog but as I have been away thought I would bring you up to date. Did I hear some one say "What again!?" Yes folks, again! This trip was arranged before the 'Big Shake' and it was good to get away although part of me wanted to be at home. Our problems have faded into insignificance since the troubles in Japan and our hearts go out to the Japanese people, especially as they have winter and the nuclear threat to contend with too.

I had a very enjoyable trip to the East Coast bays of the North Island. The group (34 of us) flew to Auckland and boarded the coach. Our driver, Bruce, didn't enjoy it as much as us as this coach was manual and his is automatic! It was a long way to travel in just 7 days - 6 if you discount the flights. I reckon in excess of 1000 kilometres.

I particularly enjoyed seeing the Art Deco city of Napier - rebuilt after the earthquake in 1931. It is very beautiful and an example of how Christchurch can recover. There is only one photo for you to see as I stupidly pressed the wrong button on my camera while deleting a video and wiped the lot. Was I angry with myself? You bet. I would have kicked myself if my foot could have reached. And no, I don't need any help with that!

On reaching home, joy! a chemical toilet had been delivered. Not having to use it yet as the water is still on but presume there will have to be further work on the water mains and sewers in the future. It will be better than the portaloo or a 'long drop', especially in the middle of the night.

Life is getting back to normal in some cases. Many of the companies who were in the centre have moved to the outskirts. The schools are mostly back and also some of the kindys. The 2 nearest supermarkets are open, ditto the coffee shops. Two of the malls are still closed and the centre of the city is still cordoned off. On a positive note, Matt and Sarah have their truck back from being stuck in a city car park. We still have to boil our water and it tastes disgusting since chlorine was added, but at least we have some.

At the memorial service last Friday we saw for the first time the desolation in the CBD on a huge video screen. It was quite shocking to see a road sign and not to recognise anything. The streets are very dusty but today's rain will settle some of it. No weeding today then! We have had such lovely weather that even spraying the streets frequently hardly helps.

In the house it is reasonably straight. The books etc have been put back on the shelves and only a few odds and ends remain on the floor. It will probably be 4 - 6 months before the Earthquake Commission get around to me so plenty of time to search for more cracks in the floor - a darning needle through the suspect areas of carpet works a treat. All in all we are OK - there are a lot worse off so shouldn't moan.

On that note I will finish this time. Thank you all for keeping in touch. Our love to each and everyone of you.

Carol xxx

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