Many thanks for the comments and emails asking about our welfare after the huge earthquake down in Christchurch.
The quake was felt in Wellington but not by us - Mickle and Zebby slept through it all, completely unaware, and we have no damage. My Uncle and Aunt who live in Christchurch were over at their holiday home in Akaroa on Banks Peninsula. While they would have felt the quake the worst they had was no electricity today. Of course they have yet to check their Christchurch home however, for now they are better to stay put. If we were to pick a city here to be struck by a major earthquake Christchurch is probably the last one we would think of - Wellington is considered to be overdue "the big one".
Christchurch is built on an alluvial plain which shook like jelly (jello). A lot of the damage to homes is from brick chimneys falling down. There is a great deal of damage in the inner city, especially to older buildings built from bricks. While talking with my sister Liz (over in London, UK) tonight we realised that Christchurch hasn't had the massive redevelopment that has happened in Wellington and Auckland. We have very strict building standards now.
Along with damage to buildings the water mains and sewer pipes are affected - some suburbs were flooded. While today and tomorrow have been dry, tomorrow Christchurch will be blasted with gale force winds which may affect already unstable buildings and structures.
For more information check out www.stuff.co.nz .
Mickle's Pickle: from our World's Southern most Capital City.
14 comments:
Glad you folks in Wellington had no problem from the Christchurch eaurthquake. I was so relieved to receive an email from my NZ agricultural inspector friend telling me he and his family sufferend no damage in the quake and they are all well. We met on a Sydney - Auckland cruise about 18years ago when they came on board in Hobart to accopany the ship to Christchurch. We became great friends and, twice, he came to San Francisco when NZ imported grapes from the vineyards here. We got to see a good bit of each other then and we have always stayed in touch.
Hi Carmen - yes, it has been a day of checking on family and friends. My dear Mum rang me this morning with the report that Uncle and Aunt (her brother and s.i.l.) are okay. Good news that your friends are okay too.
So much for animals sensing such things - Zebbycat has ignored any earthquakes we've had. A different story with thunder booming overhead and hail wacking the windows. Thankfully that storm swept up the country on Friday and not today as Christchurch and the surrounding region has enough to contend with.
I know they do say that animals sense things like earthquakes, but you can't prove it by any of mine! Both Dion and Connie -- SLEPT right thru an earthquake here 2 years ago that severely jolted the house and made me spring up off the sofa!
Thanks for visiting and "voting" on my dining room curtain fabric. I can't wait to get the samples and see the exact colors!
Have a good and QUIET weekend!
Cass
Thanks for visiting, dear Cass. When you get the fabric samples and "put them up" in your dining room do look at them while sitting at the table at various times of the day with their various aspects in natural and artificial light. This beautiful room deserves special treatment of your fabric choices, it must be so pleasant to dine in there.
Huggles to you all, with an added special pat for Dion,
Michelle and Zebby (he is busy warming up my side of "our bed", all the better to snuggle up to me and tuck his head under my chin - eek, his eyebrows tickle, lol)
Glad you are ok! xx
Super thanks, dear John.g, xxx
I thank God you and Zebby Cat are fine and safe. I pray restoration for those who have lost something in that quake. My prayers are going out to New Zealand. God bless you, Michelle. Stay blessed.
Today is the Labor Day holiday weekend here in the US. I'm going to BBQ and relax. *Big Hug*
I should have come directly here after reading our paper, instead of checking my globe and then emailing you! I'm still relieved that you and Zebby slept through it. Hope your Aunt and Uncle come through with minimal damage to either of their homes.
Huggles and dry thoughts,
Marjie (and Thor, snoring loudly)
So glad that you are OK and it appears that your relatives are also.
It must be so frightening to be in and earthquake zone.
Give Zebcat an extra cuddle.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Hi Michelle, Glad to hear both yourself and the Zebster are OK.
We made a little joke here about what caused the quake....my brother (and wife) landed in Christchurch yesterday !! They arrived to start a 2 week holiday touring the South island. Haven't heard if they are alright. No news is good news, or so they say.
Stay warm and safe dear Michelle and big hug to Zebby.
Glad to hear no issues for you as it sounded pretty bad in Christchurch.
Stephen, Marjie, Maggie, Joy and Larry - it is so uplifting to get your comments and know you have been thinking of us over here.
While I an an ardent Wellingtonian, having lived here from age 4, I was born in Christchurch and spent the first years of my life there. Thank goodness for our strong Civil Defence emergency set up (and related laws) that went into action immediately.
I'm so glad to know you're safe!
I've been busy playing catch-up with everyone I keep in contact across NZ and, so far, no-one has had any damage or been injured - but we all really felt it down here in Dunedin!
The worst we've had is the storms that lashed us yesterday night, knocking down a huge gum tree on our property and throwing rubbish around everywhere. We found garbage (not ours - we put our bins in the garage for safekeeping) everywhere on our property - even in the swimming pool (ugh!) - and now have the big clean up to do once the downpour stops.
I'm not looking forward to it.
I'm so glad to know you're safe. Take care, and stay snuggled up!
Leanne down in Dunedin XXXX
Glad you are well, Mickle and Zebcat!
I was taking a NZ (from Wellington) visitor around Vindolanda the other week and he let me know the score. Felt relieved that despite the quakes..all is OK. Take care! Hadriana xx
Post a Comment