Posts by Rachel Prosser

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  • Up Front: Day Five,

    I'm back in Christchurch now, and spent the day (well 11-4) at work in Madras Street.

    Our building is Green Stickered, we're next to and opposite two Reds.

    I had wondered at the Ghost town analogy, but it is apt. As I walked to clear the PO Box past the closed Centennial Pool I heard two leaves rustling and they felt like tumbleweed.

    Lots of shops, even green ones, are not open. The ASB was open, but the BNZ next to it not.

    Oddly, all the car parks along the river were full - I suspect because the parking buildings are closed (and the fact that there aren't any parking wardens contributes too!) A colleague said it's great - no parking wardens, you can park anywhere!

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Hard News: Little pieces of a big picture,

    A woman on the radio yesterday opined that the Te Papa earthquake simulator was nothing like the real thing, which was much, much more violent.

    It's a while since I'd been in that simulator, but personally I was glad I had. The real one wasn't so frightening when you knew it would be noisy.

    TVNZ's studio is round the corner from my work - between Gloucester and Manchester. When I went walking on Saturday morning it wasn't roped off - but it's about 100m ish from the junction where the jewellery shop on the ground floor and Alva Rados on the top floor.

    TV3 I think is in Kilmore, almost opposite where the Repertory Theatre Green Room wall fell into the street. It was open to walk past too - so it may be more a function of power/backup generator availability than being within the cordon - in fact I don't think that side of Kilmore was ever within the cordon.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Hard News: Little pieces of a big picture,

    Agreed, all round - though some mentioned our friend Paul Henry striking a bum note.

    That man gets worse. He was standing in front of the jewellers yesterday and speculating about looting diamonds from the rubble, and today he was talking about how handy a gun would be so you wouldn't need your own emergency pack because you could take your neighbours.

    Selfish, vain, and silly.

    Pippa was covering up by saying it's a joke, but if his mind turns that way it indicates and underlying selfishness and self-centreness.

    Selfish, vain, silly and vile.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Hard News: Little pieces of a big picture,

    My Mum used to say swearing was a sign of a limited vocabulary, but the word "Devestation" and "devestated" now means absolutely nothing.

    Ugh Paul Henry's reached new depths - I thought that it was bad enough that he was talking about the election so soon, but then to talking about looting the jeweller.

    Double Ugh.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Hard News: Little pieces of a big picture,

    The Alvarados story gets better

    I heard an ad on the radio yesterday evening around 730 pm

    "Alvarados - Real Mexican Food, Real Mexican Drama!"

    I couldn't believe it, given that the interior of AlvaRados is one of the most shown photos of the quake - John Key was standing in front of it.

    They obviously have a sense of humour (and the food was great too - we had our Xmas do there last year). http://www.alvarado.co.nz/

    (And thanks Russell - you're welcome for the photos. Thanks for the tickets to the Quiz tonight, where I won a sub to Metro (yay, get to read David and Emma!) for being the person who had come the farthest to attend).

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Busytown: The shakes,

    yeah, i was trying to work out how to explain this. Even for the nervier people I know, it seems they're losing the reflex to panic with all the aftershocks, but it's still... wearing.

    It is wearing, I agree - and realised how much adrenaline/nervous energy I was carrying now I'm in Auckland and relaxing more.

    To start with it's a bit exciting and a bit uncertain.

    As a child I was lucky enough to grow up in Wainuiomata, where earthquake drills were a highlight of the curriculum.

    I remember the teacher (Mrs Hennessy at Parkway Primary, who was lovely) calling "Earthquake" and we'd have to get under our desks and then she'd go round telling us what body parts we'd lose if we weren't hiding under it properly. (A leg, an arm, a head)

    It is one of my fondest primary school memories - that and riding the elephant at the Zoo.

    But too much excitement and uncertainty is tiring - I didn't sleep well last night at all.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Busytown: The shakes,

    To introduce a new thread to the thread - the old saying about "An ill wind ..." is illustrated here too.

    There is a lot of vacant commercial property in Christchurch - the new build stuff which is pretty much undamaged. I'm thinking of the huge development on Lincoln Road in particular (I haven't seen it, but presume it undamaged).

    A lot of the buildings damaged around where I live (edgeware) are the small commercial properties. I can see the extra new space being snapped up much more quickly as a result, although quite a few of the smaller properties are things like hairdressing salons, cafes - the two best places to buy bagels have been hard hit.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Busytown: The shakes,

    Coming to Auckland for relaxation says it all

    Yes I did think it ironic I came here for functioning infrastructure and water you can drink out the tap!

    (And also because I have a ticket to tonight's Quiz shindig - is anyone else going from PAS?)

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Busytown: The shakes,

    For Jolisa's lexically correct father-in-law - Sewers and Sewerage are good things. Sewage on the other hand (the stuff that flows through the Sewerage system) is best kept contained.

    It's one of those odd words like restaurateur that trips people up a lot.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Busytown: The shakes,

    Isabel you must live near me - Ristretto is my local too.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

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