Arrived safely

I started this blog on my second day back. A lot has happened since then, but I will keep this part anyway. 

What a wonderful garden. Thanks to Mark and others I can simply sit and enjoy it. It looks great. The cherry tree in the middle lost most of its blossom in the strong norwest wind yesterday, but it still looks pretty.

 Lots of things to organise . 

I had some fantastic experiences everywhere I went this morning. I had forgotten just how friendly and helpful people are. I am sure a result of such a small population. First, the doctor's surgery. I was welcomed back like a long lost friend. I was pleased to learn that I have probably simply damaged my knee ligaments in my fall and with time they should be fine. My shoulder may need more treatment, but luckily it is not my tennis arm! No tennis for a few weeks sadly to rest the knees, but I will go to the pool instead.

From the doctor I wanted to go to the bank. I arrived to find it had closed. A really lovely young man was also wanting to visit the bank and asked if he could drive me to another. So kind. He even asked if he should wait for me and take me back afterwards! Thanks Harry. 

From here I had to renew my driver's licence. The queue was long but the girls at the counter made everyone feel special and welcome. My young lady was hilarious. She told me all about her hay fever, shrieked as she saw someone spitting on the pavement, and chatted as if chatting to a good friend. All this, whilst working away very efficiently on the computer. Brilliant.

Next stop a shop with 40 percent discount on everything. I have never had such personal and helpful people. It was a delight to shop.

My final nice person of the day was the bus driver. I was delighted to find I had money on my bus card, but he joked with me, asking if I had read the message on the card machine. Oh, he said laughing, it said you need to give the driver 25 dollars! 😃

I hope that people here will always be this way. All the smiles and laughter really brighten up the day - though it is already a bright, beautiful sunny day as well!

So now it is a week since I arrived and as most will know, the land has been moving big time since Sunday! Here we were woken at midnight by the longest quake I have ever experienced. It did not seem to want to stop. Thankfully I had Kerstin and Ollie here and we could sit together in the lounge whilst the house continued to shake sporadically. At about 3.30 we were able to get a few hours sleep. We , in Christchurch, were the lucky ones this ime, with no damage, except to nerves, but Hanmer and Kaikoura, two favourite places were badly hit and two people died. It is chaotic there but people are being amazing, as always. Today the last of those stranded due to roads being destroyed should be rescued by helicopter and ship and at the weekend an inland road should open. 

Of course, this time we had a tsunami threat to most of the east coast. The evacuation of homes by the sea went well. As my cousin said, even the cattle are smart and moved to higher ground ( I am sure you all saw the picture of the poor cows on quake island!)

It is a timely reminder to everyone to keep their emergency supplies fresh. We have now updated ours. 

Is it safe here? Yes, absolutely, especially so I think  inChristchurch. Wellington must continue to upgrade buildings and of course there is always the risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

I am now the proud owner of a beautiful blue Mazda Axela - colour very important - and a smart phone! Eeeeeeee! Scary! So I now have Whats App if you want to call.

 

Look forward to hearing. Will leave you with an artistic creation - a hot chocolate nz style