Thursday, 28 April 2011

Somebody's got a lot of dewey decimal sorting to do..

The library closest to our temporary accommodation has been overrun by Civil Defence, or the EQC or some such organisation.

It looks like they just took the shelves out, and piled up the books along the walls.


There are computers and high-vis vests everywhere. But it's the books I feel for.


So disordered, and unloved. And I'm sure there's some excellent reading in there that we can't get our hands on.

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Night walks

Daylight savings has ended, and so Boo has her last walk of the day in the dark. I have started getting her to run with me while I ride my bike; we ride through the park and over to the University which is currently deserted due to the holidays.





It is dark and cold and quiet. A fantastic way to end the day.

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Leaving on a jet plane..


I took a flight in a way-too-small plane today. To Palmerston North on a study expedition. I have been in lectures all day, and yet it feels like a holiday. No earthquakes. No baby. A big bath. Loving it.

And tomorrow we get to do some practical practice. On cadavers. Yee-har.

Friday, 15 April 2011

Seven weeks later...

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've have been taking walks in Hagley park of late.

Although at times it is easy to believe that nothing has happened here, there are also definite reminders that all is not right in Christchurch. Apart from the felled and fallen oak trees, and the man-made lake that has emptied itself, there is this large car park dumped right on the grass in the middle:


At first it just looks like a temporary car park, set up perhaps for all the workers (civil defence, demolition workers etc) currently hard at work in the CBD. But on closer inspection it becomes apparent that these cars are often dented and broken, covered in dust or with windows dripping with condensation. Rubble and mortar which had smashed the window of one car still sat on the passenger seat. Most of them have a curious orange circle spray painted on the rear windscreen, or occasionally a less confusing message "CLEAR" painted along the side.

These are the vehicular remains from the CBD following the quake. One by one they have been rescued and brought to the park to be claimed by their owners. No one drove out after the quake, cars were left on the streets and in parking buildings.

Yesterday, Matt was able to go down and pick up his car. Fortunately it was in an undamaged car park, and seems to be okay apart from a generous sprinkling of dust.

Monday, 11 April 2011

Autumn in the Garden City

We were flying solo this weekend (just me and the baby...and the dog...and the cat, but she hardly counts). The weather was stunning - cool but fine, so we took a couple of walks through Hagley Park.




We really are lucky to still have this space. There were huge numbers of folks out with their dogs, and their children, and each other. If you're trying to live in the new Christchurch, I thoroughly recommend a stroll in the Autumn sunshine-y goodness to clear the head. Then a cup of tea, or a glass of wine, then another glass, and hey, why not finish the bottle?

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Because life was too simple...

I am studying again. After spending nearly ten years in a tertiary institution, I have found it difficult to adjust to life on the outside. I am a geek at heart. So I enrolled in my Masters, and was accepted on the day of the quake. I wasn't to know that six weeks later we would still be living with my parents.


I am reading articles with titles such as Association between outcome and changes in plasma lactate concentration during presurgical treatment in dogs with gastric-dilatation-volvulus and Fluid Therapy with Macromolecular Plasma Volume Expanders. It is sometimes hard to concentrate, and to find time to study, but at the same time it is a welcome distraction from our new lives post-quake.

Monday, 4 April 2011

Sleeping dog, on my lap.


It is absolutely bucketing down with rain here today. A good chance to hang out indoors. With a dog.