Posts by Kris V
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much obliged, Emma... my hat is tipping in your general direction :)
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um. wow... that's beautifully expressive, personal yet representative. Wish I'd been there to see it on debut, but thx so much for posting it, & to NZonScreen for hosting it. I'll be sharing this round... such a poignant way to capture the emotional realities of life.
If I may briefly thread hijack (well, it is kinda related) - I'm currently running a survey on the media use and communication methods of Canterbury residents as part of my post-grad studies. I'd really like the thoughts/responses/opinions of Canterbury PA peeps.
Now, as an ethical researcher I can't say exactly why I'd dearly love your opinions, or on what particular topic... however, I'd appreciate it if you'd consider doing the optional 2nd section as well - it has opportunities for longer comments on eq/media-related subjects of your choosing...
linkey: UC qualtrics quake survey
now if you'll excuse me, I seem to have something in my eye...
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If it's not considered too ... umm... self-promotey ... I'd like to offer up this perspective on life in Shakeytown over the last year.
Entertaining Shakeytown on RNZ National
It masquerades as a doco about entertainment but there's a bit more than that to the story, as I'm sure all of us C-city residents can attest.xx hugs all
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random updates...
being in Auckland for the massive 2.9 aftershock last night was interesting. Didn't feel it at all but pmsl when heard about it on the radio. Best quote in the Herald this morning: it was big enough to move the remotes on the coffee table. <snort>
2x AMI
1: our insurance has changed slightly but significantly... what was previously a monthly policy, paid on a monthly basis, has now become an annual policy, paid monthly. No difference in outlay but we now seem to be 'locked in' for a set length of time now. Interesting.2: 20 minutes into our North Island holiday, AMI rang about our house - demolition is now confirmed. No date as yet but she's definitely coming down. We've been on tenterhooks waiting for this, our worst nightmare was that AMI would suddenly decide it was going to be fixed despite all the evidence to the contrary. My faith in insurance companies doing the sensible/honourable thing is not strong these days.
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From the Herald editorial
In such circumstances, it behoves the people of Christchurch to count their blessings.
So every day is Thanksgiving Day? Ok, here goes: I am thankful for my house.... no wait, scratch that, it's munted.
I am thankful for my husband's job that pays for.... no wait, scratch that, earthquakes killed that income.
I am thankful for my children's awesomely progressive inner city school... no wait, that's now in the outer suburb of Halswell and not nearly as well-resourced.
I am thankful for insurance that covers us in disasters like this... but hang on, I'm still waiting. It's nearly 10 months now, and I think I'll be waiting a bit longer yet.
I am thankful for the educational opportunities... bugger that - how can I contemplate any further learning here when the lectures take place in a tent and aftershocks disrupt both study and exams...?! It's hard enough staying to complete the Honours programme I started last year.
They are being looked after as they should be, as we all would expect to be in their situation.
Yeah... we feel 'looked after'. We all realise it's a tricky situation but I don't know any individual, family or business that feels like they're being 'looked after' by either the government or their insurance company.
They will put the silted past behind them with the blessing of all of us.
Blessing? We don't want your blessing! Give us our insurance payouts so we can get on with our lives.... lives that may not be lived out in Shakeytown. I've been looking at many options over the last 6 months, and hardly any of them involve sticking it out here.
If anyone's looking for a nice, liquefaction-free, small suburban section, there'll probably be one going in Somerfield pretty soon*... just as soon as we get rid of that dodgy house that refuses to fall down on its own.
*I've given up trying to define 'soon'. Whenever it is, it won't be soon enough, that's for sure.
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Southerly: Tower Insurance Have Some Bad…, in reply to David Haywood,
I can see that there are many people in a much worse position that myself.
I hear that a lot these days... except perhaps from those who would benefit from the realisation...
Hubby has just been in hospital for back surgery & had to listen to one of his nurses detail the damage to her house. That was fine, until she started complaining about the damage sustained at their 'other' house in Diamond Harbour, and their holiday home somewhere else. The smile got a bit strained at that point.
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Not good news David... all I hear about lately is how insurance companies are seemingly weaseling out of what people thought they had paid for.
I can't say that AMI have proven to be any better. Despite never having any land damage, being out of our house since September and even after being fully paid out by EQC in November last year, we are still waiting for AMI to tell us our house is coming down.
Nothing is happening very quickly round here, and I have friends in both red and green zones who are upset with the classification.
Actually, I take that back already. The only quick process recently was the one in which my hubby lost his job. Cheers Vbase. Luv your work almost as much as I luv AMI.
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Hard News: Christchurch: Square Two, in reply to Hebe,
I hear ya... I was force-fed DD's greatest hits (incl Loyal) while waiting on hold for Studylink yesterday. It's almost as bad as Nature's Best after the 50th time...
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Square Two... indeed, it's deja vu all over again.
I'd just like to say that I don't feel stoic, nor resilient, nor heroic nor any of those other words that are being thrown about, mostly by people who don't live here but want to emote about the tremendous heart of the plucky souls who have the misfortune to live here. Ptooey.
We're just trying to get by. Shit happens and you deal with it - that's been a longstanding family motto and has never been truer. Our other family motto is 'this too shall pass'... I guess you could say life has never been a bed of roses and these past 9 months have been no different in that regard. Different shit, different times, different world, and yet oh so familiar.
In just over 2 weeks I get a break from Shakeytown - up to Akld for Xlan then to Hamilton for ANZCA. I don't even care that for 8 of the 10 days I'm effectively working, I'm so looking forward to a change of scene that even an academic conference sounds like fun... in fact anywhere but here seems bloody marvellous right now.
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Hard News: Mercury Special, in reply to Geoff Lealand,
I'll be up your way in July, Geoff... I could record your favourite 'instructions' so you can replay them as needed without straining the vocal chords :)