Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Nobody wanted #EQNZ for Christmas

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  • David Hood,

    Magnitude
    5.8
    Date-Time
    Friday, December 23, 2011 at 02:18:02 UTC
    Friday, December 23, 2011 at 03:18:02 PM at epicenter
    Location
    43.491°S, 172.844°E
    Depth
    4.9 km (3.0 miles)
    Region
    SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
    Distances
    16 km (10 miles) ENE (65°) from Christchurch, New Zealand
    216 km (134 miles) SSE (153°) from Westport, New Zealand
    293 km (182 miles) SSW (212°) from WELLINGTON, New Zealand

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • HenryB,

    It is hard to imagine what it must be like to have this happen - especially at this time.

    Palmerston North • Since Sep 2008 • 106 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Lilith __,

    the busker boy - he's our friend and neighbour - is just off there too

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    David and Jen are back at their house, which is a big mess. No electricity, so they're planning on bringing forward Christmas dinner, "with lots of ice cream".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Pete Sime,

    Stuff has wisely put a blog about kittens on their front page. Just the right pick-me-up after reading their story on all the disaster and destruction.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Urquhart,

    For the first one I was [shhh] in the porch of a red-stickered building considering boarding up a window people have been using as an entry/exit.

    For the next one a few minutes later I was a safe distance away watching said 1908ish brick building flex and ripple and threaten to explode.

    For the third (biggest) I was down the other end of the building by much later construction which was completely unmoved. We quit for the day at that point.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2009 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    The quake at 15:18 is being reported now as a magnitude 6.0, but MM8. That’s getting way rough down there.
    And the drums are showing some big activity around 16:00, which fits with what I’m seeing on Facebook.

    Kia Kaha :|

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Ken Sparks,

    My heart goes out to all those Cantabrians who have been whacked yet again. The interviews I'm hearing on RNZ National are revealing incredible courage and amazing spirit. Many are saying they're 'over it' but still have no intention of leaving. Stay strong good people...

    Cox’s Creek • Since Apr 2011 • 60 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Biggest of loves and hugs to you all, you beautiful Mainland people. Friend in Waimairi Bch reports that there's liquefaction all over the show, and despite knowing that her house is solid as a brick lavatory, she's outside and she says they're not going back in for a wee while.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Jen Hay,

    Power back. And all the Christmas booze survived!

    We have heard from Ian Dalziel. He's fine, and dealing with a bunch of liquefaction.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 43 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jen Hay,

    Power back. And all the Christmas booze survived!

    Yay!

    We have heard from Ian Dalziel. He’s fine,

    Yay!

    and dealing with a bunch of liquefaction.

    Not so yay ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • amanda petrie-peter,

    This is so weird - in Perth WA to get away from this fear, uncertainty & constant brokenness & now feel so sick...This will make more of our people leave. Here to drop eldest off for a gap year, so that she can get some perspective on her last year @CGHS, just so sad & complex, our youngest doesn't want to come back.

    But the fab news house & fish tank once again going strong, we built for quakes ten years ago, its just our hearts that are bit broken. Our ambivalence to uncertain futures again grows, as I wonder again when does it become negligent to stay?

    Perth via chc • Since Dec 2011 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to amanda petrie-peter,

    Nau mai amanda- doesnt sound anything other than what a large number of CHCH people are feeling – the fear, the continual anxiety, knowing stability and established futures are no more…
    while I do not live in CHCH, quite a few of my family did – some have gone to Oz; others to Dunedin or Auckland, and they dont intend coming back for quite some time (not least because their homes got wrecked or badly damaged, – or, because, quite simply, their kids were in a state of distress.)

    And, quite a few of my family still live in CHCH, and are dealing with this latest series of quakes as best they can, sure in the knowledge there will be practical family help.

    Trust things work out for you & yours-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Gee, in reply to Russell Brown,

    +1

    Canada, eh • Since May 2011 • 78 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Shake, some action...
    Home from my Mum's place now, she's fine but her TV screen took a hit and is most psychedelic, luckily I'm not so much dealing with liquefaction on our property, but it is bubbling up in some of the usual places in our street and neighbourhood, not as bad as Bexley and Avonside apparently.
    We just have the usual stuff off shelves all over the place - our power was back on when I got home, which was a blessing, and I have now found all the cats and cajoled them into eating and relaxing a bit.
    But with jolts every 20 minutes or so it feels like good old quakes and ladders - back to square one again - looking at the excellent Canterbury Quake live site (now someone should give those folk a knighthood or honourable citation!!) the quakes look like a Jericho assault, marching up and down the coast from South Shore to Motunau firing salvoes inland...
    Heard Prime TV News and Bob Parker was in oralliquefaction-mode again, the poor reporter tried about 3 times to get a word in, but Bob just kept it coming, bubbling, burbling, sigh....
    I wonder if Tony Marryatt will fly back 'specially from Queensland, now he's getting the big money ...
    or as Joe Wylie so accurately depicts it - Chchch the new high rollers tableland...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • amanda petrie-peter,

    ka pai, we have a couple of weeks away as a family to try and gain a bit of perspective - about how to best stay or leave, I have important work in Chch & ageing parents so... but who would have thought 16 months in the magnitude & number of the swarms would be such. I even bought plastic plates the other day because you no longer assume that #eqnz is done.

    Will put contents of house back together on return, that will be the 5th time at least. Much is just gone or lives on the floor. I find this useful as its a tough discussion, the what to do now? & so many sad good-byes already this year.

    A lot of pressure to 'leave immediately' or 'stay forever'. Took kids out in Feb to Greymouth & Nelson, when city so compromised and schools closed, if I'd had a truck, would have gone then. Then Wellington in winter after all the stuff in June, ate dim sum, admired intactness, galleries, did basic shopping & just be mundane for a bit.

    All the decisions have felt so weighty & we are pretty worn by this. I think it is this distress, that makes clear thinking hard, when you still have home and work, as these are strange times in the world. I am going to watch children playing, ka kite

    Perth via chc • Since Dec 2011 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    We left town to join the family in Nelson a bit over an hour before the shakes started. I’m trusting that the cattery would have contacted us if anything had happened to the cats and the neighbour has just informed me that there is “practically no water or liquefaction” in our street. A little worried that the fridge has opened again and we’ll return to five days worth of stinkiness an an enormous powerbill. All family accounted for.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to amanda petrie-peter,

    Thanks for checking in, Amanda. One nice thing about the earthquakes is that they’ve brought new people in to the discussions here.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Isabel Hitchings,

    All family accounted for.

    Always good to know eh?
    We were a bit worried about an older family member, but she's just texted one of the nephews - cool!

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Tamsin6,

    Back to sitting here weeping helplessly at my desk. Only saw the news as I logged in at work. Was showing workmates a lovely upbeat and happy card from one of my ChCh friends only yesterday, and this feels like some kind of sick joke now. Hope all well, and just uselessly trying to frame a sentence that could express anything that would be of support or comfort. I just don't have the words. Thinking of you all.

    London • Since Dec 2007 • 133 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    I guess I should be happy not being in Christchurch at the moment, but to be honest I really feel I should be there. it is properly absurd but.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Greetings, Isobel. I am here too (Nelson) if you want to catch up for a drink (or escape briefly from family,as I am ever-willing to do). My daughter tells I must not refer to FTF but give me a call (539 1246) if you have time.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Well that was a bumpy night.

    Glad to have all services still functioning, here anyway.
    Feeling so bummed for people in Parklands and elsewhere who are having such an awful time, again.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Attachment

    My cat spent yesterday afternoon trembling and cowering but by bedtime she was being very zen about it all.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Thank Gaia most of my immediate family shifted off to Brisbania. There's only a solitary uncle left down there now, in Darfield. Hope he's okay...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

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