My take on the quake...

Like most of Christchurch I went to work on Tuesday morning and came home to a very different world. I only work till one o’clock and at ten to one, I was sitting outside playing a matching game with a couple of children, Jos one of my colleagues was also outside, in different area, with a group of children. Astrid was inside with those kids who were busy inside and Sarah was in the office just finishing her lunch.

Since our last earthquake on September the 4th there have been over four thousand aftershocks. You get pretty blasé about them, and where we are in Rangiora, you often don’t feel them either. The ones you do feel are usually over before you say boo anyway. So it was a bit of a shock to find this one felt different.

Earthquake and fire drills are just part of kindergarten life. They have been ever since I started teaching twenty years ago. The kids dropped automatically into ‘turtle safe’ positions. And once we gave the all clear, jumped up, had a hug, a high five, D said to me “I did good turtle safe didn’t I!” and were back into their activities…No tears, no worries, totally unaware. And to be honest, we knew this was a bit bigger than what we’d been used to, but we were totally unaware of just how bad our city centre had been hit. Within minutes the first parents started to arrive – we spent time calming them down and then the kids started going home. By about one thirty most of our kids had left, and so did I. We’d even had another aftershock – I was doing Jibidi (which is a circle dance) with a group who had requested it, and when I said “turtle safe again” they all dropped down, all except one. “M (with my teacher voice lol) turtle safe NOW.” “Why?” he says. “Because there’s another earthquake” By that time it was over with LOL. Could you not just listen to me child!!!

I originally had a hair appointment for two o’clock. I shot up to my hairdressers as the phones weren’t working. Our volunteer fire service siren was hailing. The fire engines were out in the main street, checking. The police had headed to our biggest primary school with lights flashing and sirens going. Most shops had been shut with hastily written notes on the doors ‘gone to check family’ I ran into my hairdressers and she was surprised I was cancelling my appointment. None of us knew still how bad it was. I just wanted to be home with my dogs and cat.

I shot home. They were very pleased to see me lol. I then did a few things – got in the washing, picked up the bits that had fallen down, checked the house for any cracks etc, grabbed a drink, put down my bag…the texts started rolling in (thanks for the outpouring of love girls) as I turned on the telly. I froze and burst into tears. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. And if you know me well you’ll know I’m pretty calm, but this just blew me away. The first image I saw was the cathedral. The same place I sat on Christmas Eve singing carols. From that shot alone I knew there had to be loss of life. Then Dad managed to get through on the phone – that made me cry again – nothing like hearing your Dad’s voice when in the midst of something like this. I knew I was okay, my house was okay, I’d heard from my husband, but I was in shock at what was happening in my beautiful town.

As the day wore on, the TV was kept on in the background. I was heavily involved in what was happening on the TM quake message board. We opened our house up to anybody needing it. Grazing if needed. Very nearly had lizards coming to board…they ended up finding somewhere closer to home, but how cool would have that been (I love lizards lol). Lyall ended up working till eleven that night. Nine the next night. They sent him home at four on Thursday and he came home via a well deserved drink at the pub. Then he finished about eight on Friday night. He’s working all day today. They have a roster going for next week, so that they do some early starts/early finishes (that’s six am to five thirty pm) or late start/ late finish (that’s ten am till eight pm) to try and keep the branch open as long as possible. He works for Hirequip – they hire out what is commonly referred to as ‘plant’. Diggers, excavators, huge big generators, cherry pickers etc – big earthmoving type of equipment, lighting etc. As he can fix it (the mechanic side of the job) as well as transport it (only licenses he doesn’t have are for a taxi and a motorbike lol) he’s been in high demand. We know an army marches on its stomach, so scones etc have been heading into his work each day with him.

The cat was meant to have her stitches out yesterday, and although I had an appointment the vet was so busy. I rung and said don’t worry about it, we’ll remove them loll. One unimpressed cat later, but no stitches left, and heck she didn’t have to go in the car, so she should have been grateful, the little toad! I also had a lovely day with my twinnie and family visiting – they needed to charge all their electronic devices, do some washing, have hot showers etc – and we also took all the dogs for a walk (like us, her dog is family as well, so he comes out visiting too). Nothing like a bit of normality, away from the destruction, and a big bowl of mac cheese, for things to feel a bit okay for a while.

The Rangiora Express is now up and operating from our racecourse. There are two private helicopters ferrying water, food, blankets etc donated from us here in our neck of the woods, where we are largely unaffected, into the Eastern suburbs where they are most needed. Donna and I dropped stuff off at around ten thirty this morning – the amount of stuff was amazing. McDonalds Rangiora the night before had come up with fifteen thousand chicken nuggets which were flown in…Just quietly working away behind the scenes. I know last time if you walked into McDonalds in your USAR, Red Cross, Police…etc clothes, then they didn’t charge you for your meal. That never made the media – way to go McDonalds. I imagine the same is happening this time.

Most of us still think there will be one more quake yet. There is one predicted for the 20th of March and since the guy who has predicted it, has also got this one, the Boxing Day one, and the September one right, then it’s pretty probable. Before you think ‘what a nutter, you can’t predict quakes…’ Remember for years we thought the world was flat…that woman couldn’t vote…things do change over time. He believes that the just as the moon affects our tides of the sea, it affects the tides of the land (all that water underneath us…). When the moon is at a certain point then the chance of an earthquake is more likely. Honestly when you read it, it does make quite a bit of sense. And he isn’t a scaremonger, he isn’t saying ‘this will happen’…just that it is more likely…If you want to read more then go check out www.predictweather.com It may be something your interested in…or not.

Anyway, that’s what happened in my little world this week, and I wanted to record it to look back on one day. When the shaking stops lol. Take care all, and thanks for your caring and love.