I think we actually spent the morning on Skype letting worried relatives we were all 'safe and sound'. The TV was on in the kitchen and we had a steady stream of information regarding the situation downtown and the ongoing efforts to rescue people from a couple of buildings that had collapsed with significant people within.
We still had no water and the swimming pool - our prefered source of toilet flushing water - was emptying fast. Time to fill a dustbin with whatever water was left!
Ironically, next door had had the demolition gang in over the past few days knocking down their Sept-EQ-damaged house (the small one that they had been living in rather than the huge one they were having built). They were literally finishing off that morning and Nicky managed to pursuade them to remove the fallen wall from our driveway. Job done in no time at all - it would have taken hours by hand! Another bonus was that one of the guys informed us of an artesian well in next-door's garden - so my concerns over a lack of water supply we lessened. At least I would be able to have a wash down on the river bank in clean water - even if it would be in view of those across the river in Hagley Park!
We got a visit from Maria's boss, Charles (Chops) and his wife Kelly. They were making sure we were alright and offered water as they already had their mains supply back on, plus had had plenty of emergency supply stored. How organised!
Maria and I decided to head on over to Matt and Lou's in the car - to see if we could help them with their clear up. We only got as far as Edgeware Road along Hills Road before we had to turn back - the road was unpassable - with vast amounts of water and silt deposited from the liquifaction during the shake. Driving back along Edgeware Road was like driving along a beach - with cars stranded in silt and sink holes littering the roads.
A cordon had been established around the 'Four Avenues' - preventing people from entering the centre of town - the police and army on patrol with their armoured vehicles. A very strange sight for Christchurch indeed.
We decided to take Chops and Kelly up on their offer of a coffee so headed to their place in Fendalton, via the New World supermarket. There was a small queue of people waiting patiently to be allowed their turn inside, which we joined, and patiently waited! There was a remarkable calm in the store. No real evidence of panic buying - apart from Maria grabbing a few bars of Whittakers Chocolate! So at least we would be able to feed ourselves for the next few days.
Maria had received a phone call from a colleague at Solid Energy and she headed into work for an hour or so to help with a bit of clearing up.
Wednesday evening was pretty event-less. A few shakes but nothing too serious.
Thursday morning arrived - it was a late start as we had slept in - must have been catching up on some missed sleep.
Sarah headed off to one of her friends for something to do. Post earthquakes were pretty boring as the Mall's were all shut!
Maria and I made another attempt at getting over to Matt and Lou's - this time by bike however. It was quite a slow ride across to their place. There was a lot to take in as we passed through Merivale and St Albans. Many of the areas and roads had been badly affected by silting and people were barrowing their personal deposits into piles on the roads at the front of their properties. Where the water from the liquifaction had dried, it was very dusty, with a sharp easterly whipping up dust clouds into our faces. As well as being dry and irritating to our eyes, there was also a distinct whiff of sewerage in the air. Not very nice cycling conditions at all!
Matt and Lou's street - Kingsford St - had been very badly affected back in Sept. They had fared no better this time around. Actually, it was a real disaster zone. The road was all over the place - layers of silt everywhere, huge puddles of......well let's just assume it was water..... sink holes.
At least there were some contractors there with their Bobcats starting the job of clearing the silt piles that the residents were piling up. It was a real hive of activity to be honest - at least at the first part of the road. TV cameras capturing the efforts of the locals plus a few student volunteers who had been organised via Facebook.
It's quite a way down Kingsford before you arrive at Matt and Lou's. Far enough that the helpers hadn't arrived there yet. In fact it appeared deserted - an eerie atmosphere - I think a lot of the residents had simply packed their bags and left.
Matt and Lou were busy de-silting their plot - helped by Eioghan and Elaine. I got stuck in too and we soon had a fair bit transferred out onto the street ready for pick-up.
Actually, it was pretty exhausting work. Digging hard, damp, compacted silt is back-breaking work. Thank goodness for tea-breaks.
Their place had taken another bashing from the shake - further damaging the structure and sinking a few more inches into the soft ground on which it currently resides. It's habitable - just. No power or water yet - probably won't have either for a few days based upon the state of the rest of the road and the surrounding environs. No doubt the portaloo will be arriving soon. No fun at all.
Maria headed back early for another trip into Solid Energy and I followed on later once we had shifted as much silt as our aching limbs could cope with for one day. I'm out of shape! Another dusty ride home, spotting and photographing a few images on the way.
Safe and Sound had hot running water and showering facilities - so Maria, Sarah and I headed round to use it. Clean at last!
So it was a relatively sweet smelling dinner-time on Thursday as we tucked into a double helping of Cray Fish that Matt had offered me earlier in the afternoon. They were ones he had brought back from Kaikoura last November and had been frozen in his freezer - but no power was slowly thawing everything out.
Discovered that the water supply was back on in Desmond St - apart from us - again. The mains pipe had ruptured again, in the same place as last time. Call in the plumber and I may not need to use the artesian well for a body-wash afterall!
Glad you were all OK, I did not pick up that the aftershock was as severe as it seems. Ian
ReplyDelete