Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Twenty-Two Two, Two

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  • Greg Wood,

    AAAUUUGH!

    Now back in Aucktown • Since Dec 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Alice Ronald,

    Traffic's going to get worse? What the? I'm in Beckenham, so I don't see it 90% of the time, then I try to get to Parklands about once a week & find the easiest way is to go via Ilam & Papanui. Twice the distance, same amount of time, half the stress & potholes.

    Woo, happy 30th birthday to me! Maybe I'll shout myself a rooftop beer at C1 for lunch. Or I'll copy what I did last year & spend the day in bed.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 63 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    I feel (for) your frustration.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    So happy for C1 Espresso, so sad for Twisted Hop. Possibly my 2 favourite destinations in Christchurch.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Peter Darlington,

    So happy for C1 Espresso, so sad for Twisted Hop. Possibly my 2 favourite destinations in Christchurch.

    The Hop is now out in Woolston, on Ferry Rd, two blocks from my house. The beer is still great, but unfortunately the atmosphere is completely different.

    Like The Tannery, I am hoping that more rebuilding will make these spaces more pleasant to be in. Right now it feels like... people are making a real effort to patronise those businesses out of loyalty and determination, rather than because they really enjoy being there.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Miche Campbell, in reply to Peter Darlington,

    The Twisted Hop has re-opened in Woolston and it's still awesome.

    Dunedin • Since Feb 2011 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Miche Campbell, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Damn, I wish I'd known you were that close. I'd have asked you to join us for a brew the last time I was in town.

    Dunedin • Since Feb 2011 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington, in reply to Emma Hart,

    The Hop is now out in Woolston, on Ferry Rd, two blocks from my house. The beer is still great, but unfortunately the atmosphere is completely different.

    Will definitely be keen to check it out next time we're in town.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I've been having a lot of nightmares lately, which I think is related to the upcoming anniversary. I feel churned-up inside, and that my ability to cope is precarious. I'll be glad to get to the 23rd.

    This photo made me cry.

    I'm spending tomorrow with family, and I plan to hug them a lot. And any random stranger who looks like they need it. Arohanui, everybody.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Miche Campbell,

    Damn, I wish I’d known you were that close.

    Holy Smoke and The Twisted Hop: a walk down the road’s getting bloody tempting and expensive these days.

    This last year, I’ve had a lot of conversations about Chch bars and restaurants. There’s this quite intense crowd-sourcing going on about what’s open, what’s good, what’s shifted and where it is. I think now we’re actually going out more than we used to, because you make the effort now. So yes, always open to invites.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    (This will tell you the kind of area I live in.)

    I know it's not you saying it, but the school closures vs deprivation map doesn't make me as suspicious as it might. People in areas of higher deprivation are more mobile than people in wealthier neighbourhoods. They're also less likely to own property, and less likely to have job security. I would have though all of those things would make them more likely to decide that waiting for the city to rebuild was just too hard, and up sticks for elsewhere, meaning much greater roll losses in those areas than in areas where parents are tied to their houses by a mortgage.
    'Course, I offer this from the distance of Wellington, so I could well be missing something.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    meaning much greater roll losses in those areas than in areas where parents are tied to their houses by a mortgage.

    Woolston School and Phillipstown School. Note the roll changes: 230 to 241, and 146 to 155. Those schools are being merged, when both their rolls have increased.

    Nor are these the most damaged schools: those are remaining open. They are Unlimited and DiscoveryOne (both decile 7) and Redcliffs (decile 10).

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Note the roll changes: 230 to 241, and 146 to 155

    In that case, I take it all back, and go back to being suspicious and cynical. Sigh.

    Also, um, how did two schools end up being called "Unlimited" and "DiscoveryOne". They sound like off-shoots of Scientology or something. (Really sorry if I'm offending someone whose children go there, but they do sound like that, particularly when they're in the same sentence).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Also, um, how did two schools end up being called “Unlimited” and “DiscoveryOne”. They sound like off-shoots of Scientology or something.

    Heh, that'd be my kids, and Isabel's kids. They are "special character" schools, but basically the opposite of scientology. My son's philosophy class really struggled the last couple of years to get enough people to argue "pro-religion" for them. This gives some idea of the philosophy of the schools: student-led learning, 'discovery' learning (hence the name). The 'teachers' are called "learning advisors" and go by their first names. There's no uniform. It's wall to wall hippies, basically.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Gee,

    People in areas of higher deprivation are more mobile than people in wealthier neighbourhoods.

    In reality it's the opposite: in these areas, there are fewer resources to help children travel to school (car costs, petrol costs, bus costs, safety and time issues with attending further schools and managing the road closures etc), and with the huge lack of suitable rentals in Chch, especially for those on a lower income, then the mobility simply isn't possible. These kids are the ones who are least able to move to another school. Not to mention they're more likely in these areas to have had drastic disruption to home life compared to those in the western Christchurch school zones, where damage wasn't as widespread or as severe. Teachers have been saying since 22/2/11 that there are major changes in children since the quakes. All this school change is just adding to the children's stress levels and likely affecting their ability to achieve.

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

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Nor are these the most damaged schools: those are remaining open. They are Unlimited and DiscoveryOne (both decile 7) and Redcliffs (decile 10).

    If one were cynical, one might suggest that the education ministry has been encouraged to "save" schools in National electorates in order to please the current government. One also might suggest that the "saving" of those schools might be mentioned in the next election campaign or at National Party fundraisers.

    However, since any such actions would border on corruption and manipulation of public office for personal or political party gain, that couldn't possibly be the explanation. It must surely just be chance.

    It is sad that it now seems accepted that which ever political party is in power will abuse that power.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    If one were cynical, one might suggest that the education ministry has been encouraged to "save" schools in National electorates in order to please the current government.

    Schools by electorate. Or, as Chris Hipkins said on Twitter:

    "5 of the 7 schools proposed for closure or merger in Nat electorates saved. 8 of the 25 schools in Lab electorates saved. 71% vs 32%."

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Founded by Vicki Buck because she wanted her offspring to go somewhere out of the rigid Chch school caste system. Great schools, and I know of kids who are definitely not decile 8 or 9 who go there and do well. If mine were not happy where they are , Unlimited would be my choice of school. Very much not National Party territory.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe,

    I wrote a moving, elegaic finely-crafted couple of dozen words a few hours ago about the last 2 1/2 years. Just as I hit 'post' a 2.8, epicentre 3kms away, knocked out the internet connection. Life in Christchurch.
    Or as my 85-yr-old FiL said when asked how he was coping with a few weeks with no water and sewerage: "You just have to adjust your expectations: eat less, shower less, drink less."

    Lilith: go well tomorrow. Arohanui

    Emma: Hanmer is an excellent idea. I'm aiming for Tekapo this winter: hot pools, ice skating and stars. I really, really want to see the Southern Lights.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Hebe,

    Emma: Hanmer is an excellent idea. I’m aiming for Tekapo this winter: hot pools, ice skating and stars. I really, really want to see the Southern Lights.

    Report

    also seen in more southerly regions, including Moeraki, Purakaunui & Dunedin…
    (not to mention Bluff! Rakiura! Annnnd Kaimahu…

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

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Cool (Unlimited and DiscoveryOne I mean), even if hippies do sometimes make my eyelid twitch a bit (it's all fine until anyone mentions leylines...).

    On the mobility question, I was meaning mobility in the way we use it in Public Health, which is basically that people move house more often, rather than in relation to vehicle access. In general, people in more deprived areas move house more often due to poor security of tenure. For those who have stayed in Christchurch, I can easily imagine the mobility might have dropped (i.e. people might move less often) due to lack of availability of rentals, but I would also have thought that those who have moved cities might be more likely to belong to this group. However, the rising rolls at those schools might suggest this is not the case after all.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Thanks Hebe. I just had to point out what tomorrow was to my flatmate, who is not troubled about it at all!

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Miche Campbell, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Holy Smoke is a must-visit whenever I'm in town. They have the most amazing smoked salmon anywhere.

    My sister lives about a 10 - 15min walk from there, and I tend to crash at hers when I'm in town. I've come to really like Woolston as a neighbourhood.

    Dunedin • Since Feb 2011 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Hebe,

    Hanmer is an excellent idea.

    Our 17 yo son told his friends what we were doing, and they were all, "Hey, great idea!" So next weekend? They're all packing off to Hanmer...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Islander,

    Really? How do you know when they are going to happen? Now about Moeraki... after a very lovely January in Golden Bay and Marahau the family has come home to.... the flu; one over it, two down. Never mind but lifeus interruptus again. I had nearly a month with practically no internet then a couple of weeks of no brain left for net interactions. Hope you are well and happy.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

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