Quaking Canterbury in September 2010

Off-roading in the V3000!

September 2010 will always be the month of the earthquake and after-shocks. There were so many after-shocks, and such big ones that we became proficient at estimating magnitude. Two were of magnitude 5, which would have sent us running for the doorways in the past, but we just sat there going, “Oh that’s a big one.” Even now as this is partwaythrough October as I write, we are still getting sizeable aftershocks. Some people were very frightened at the time and are finding the aftershocks also disturbing. We were fortunate that our house is fine, and we didn’t really find the 7.1 quake all that frightening. Some people in Christchurch are without sewerage, and it will take about a year for them to be connected up again. The cost to the Earthquake commission will be astronomical. There are single claims of $50 million or more.

Cheviot has very interesting sheep

A new subdivision outside of Cheviot

The first week after the quake was a bit of a loss to history really. The aftershocks, which numberedover 300 in total, were draining. We probably felt about 50 of them and about 10 were bordering on scary. I was pretty well fine and woke up on Wednesday morning feeling back to normal. Then there was the mother of all aftershocks (I hope) and I was under the table. My pulse raced and I was shaking. I went an did an hour on the exercise bike, then some strength and flexibility exercises and some breathing, and felt a whole lot better. Mark and Jonathan seemed fine. Jonathan occupied his mind thinking about his big party in March. It was nice when we could stop boiling the water, as it had all tested out clean. And flush the toilet. It’s quite hard to remember not to flush.

On Friday, just less than a week after the quake, I went in to Uni. We had to get passes in and out so that they would know how many people to look for in the event of another big aftershock. We had a safety briefing, then headed up to our building. It was just fine, except for some pretty spectacular cracks in the walls. Shane’s office had some water damage as the sprinkler in the level above had gone off, and the water had leaked through. We had to put some filing cabinets upright and pick up a box or two. John Giffin’s office was marginally untidier, but we decided to let him put the piles back how he wants them. It was good to see that everything was fine. On the way out we ran into Jeff Clendon, who has been inspecting all the buildings, so it was nice to get the official story from him about the cracks in the walls etc.

Mark and I went into town on Friday afternoon, as the cordons had been lifted. There were still a few “no-go” areas, but we were surprised at how little damage there was really. From the TV reports you would think there were few buildings left standing. It seems that most of the damaged ones weren’t that great anyway. Fat Eddies seemed okay, and people were tidying up around there, so that was a relief, music wise as that is where the Hagley jazz class play.

On Thursday Mark and I went to see a show home for G J Gardner out at Rolleston. It was a pleasant drive, and nice to talk about something that wasn’t the earthquake. It would be pretty fun to design our own home. On the way out we had a look at Wigram Manor, which is a function venue in the old officers’ mess at Wigram airbase. It is all rather art deco and has a nice atmosphere. We think that could do well for Jonathan’s party.

Jonathan is pretty excited about the party. We made a guest list, which came to about 115, but of course they won’t all be able to come. At one point I had thought of having a life-size cardboard cut-out of William, seeing he was on his mission, but I’m glad we decided to wait until he got home. We feel pretty confident (at the moment) that the Rogo app will do well, so we will be able to pay for caterers etc. Jonathan also has lots of plans for the montage of his life, and has made up some music mix tapes of every children’s television programme he has ever watched! - with about 5 seconds of each theme. He keeps coming up with names of people from his past. He sure has an amazing memory.

Mark and Jonathan have been doing their regular gym visits. They go to the Parafed Gym, which is pretty much free for Jonathan, and about half regular gym price for Mark.

As a result of cleaning up after the quake, and having the time off work, I have been able to get my little room looking great. Mark has fastened the four bookshelves together. If a quake is big enough to take them down, the shelves will be the least of our worries. I have also glued some more of the pictures to the wall. I wonder if it will ever be finished? Probably about the time we move out! Still it is an interesting project.

It was surprisingly good to be back at work after that strange week. It was still pretty strange as the students weren’t allowed back until Wednesday and we didn’t start lectures again until Monday.

On Thursday afternoon about 11 days after the quake, Mark and I went up to stay at Cheviot and take photos for a Rogo booklet to coincide with the World Rogaining Champs, which are being held in Cheviot in November. We had a very relaxing time in the caravan, and Sharon stayed with Jonathan, and that seemed to go without a hitch. We came home on Sunday evening. It was very nice to be away from the aftershocks for a few nights, though a caravan in a windy setting can seem like aftershocks at times. On Saturday we drove up to The Store at Kekerengu and had a very delicious dinner. I had a seafood platter and I think it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. We went for a walk along the seashore before the meal, which was wonderful too. We drove back past the large slip on the Kaikoura coast, which was floodlit. Very impressive. We really love the Kaikoura area, with the mountains that touch the sea. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful country. While we were there we did a fair bit of exploring around the Cheviot area, and some almost off-roading in the V3000.

Dinner at The Store

The following weekend, Jonathan played with Malina at a Dutch Choir concert! When we agreed to do it, it wasn’t in conflict with church time, but, thanks to the earthquake, our church meetings are in the afternoon now until we get back into the Chapel. They did a nice job of playing, and Jonathan was very gracious afterwards. He got $50 for it! Jonathan played one piece with Malina and one on his own.

The weather is warming up nicely down here, and the blossom is amazing. Every spring I feel so blessed to live in Christchurch. (Though this spring we could do without the rocking and rolling.)

the Rogo selector!

William is now in Wairoa at the far southeastern reaches of the mission. Maybe he’ll get to see Dylan at a temple Zone conference, as they are in adjacent Zones – Rotorua and Gisborne. William was finding life in the city very difficult and requested a country area, and the Mission President certainly obliged. He seems more settled out there. Who’d have thought he would be a country boy? He has found his mission very challenging, but is still glad that he decided to serve. We are glad that he is managing to last the 2 years. He will be a better man for it, and our family has undoubtedly been blessed in his absence.

The day before the earthquake hit I decided I would leave the university. And now it looks as if there may be redundancies. What a blessing that would be! I intend to leave in the middle of 2011. I will have been there twenty years, and that is quite long enough in one job. I have so many ideas I want to put into practice in the new business. What an adventure it will be. Watch this space.

Love to all
Nicola, Mark and Jonathan