Destruction, death, chaos, anxiety, and worry

What is going to happen next? If this is the ‘one magnitude less’ aftershock that we were told to expect after the Sep 4^th 7.1 magnitude earthquake, then (even though this one was 6.3 not 6.1) perhaps that entire saga is coming to an end? Perhaps that era of our history/present is winding down?

As time passed we did not think the ‘one magnitude less’ would happen, after all five and a half months had passed, and to be honest, many of us probably thought it would come from the same location. Instead it hit hard, and in a different location, right under Lyttelton Harbour, a quarter of the distance away from the Sep quake and half the depth. We got pummelled, there’s no other way to describe it!

We did not expect something so massive and destructive. We considered the September quake and thought that a 6.1 from the same location would not be too destructive, so we thought we—and our city—would all be okay. We did not expect what happened.

The clean up is massive. Liquifaction brought sand/silt to the surface in many places, and if you did not know any better you would wonder why we built on beaches…but these places are nowhere near a beach! They are inland. Then there is the destruction of houses, homes that are torn apart, split in half, wrecked beyond comprehension. The buildings in the city and in Lyttelton, are (to use a very technical term) munted! The CBD (central business district) is going to lose many more buildings as the badly damaged are brought down. There is talk that entire blocks of buildings will have to be demolished. We still do not know if the 22 storey high Grand Chancellor Hotel is going to fall down in a decent aftershock, or whether a controlled demolition will have to take place. None of us want that aftershock, but we also want that building down so that no one is endangered any longer.

Our central business district will never be the same again, but I hope that when it is rebuilt it will be better, more beautiful, more resilient, built upon the combined hopes and love of a city’s people. We have a chance to make a clean start in the CBD. And we have to have a monument or art work somewhere that will forever remind us of the people who died in this disaster. Let us always honour them, and acknowledge that they walked here and were loved.

 As time passes people are going to get upset that things have not miraculously been fixed, that the sewerage system is not already fixed, that their houses are not fixed, that the CBD is still a mess …that nothing is happening fast enough for their liking. But let us all be patient and understand that things take time. Let us find the joy in the simplest of things, and just keep moving forward with love, compassion and patience.

In our fair city I ask this: let there be no room for anger in your heart, no room for frustration, no room for impatience, and not a single thought of uttering a harsh word.

Let kindness be the ‘way’ you live.

What is going to happen next is, to a degree, in our hands, in our hearts and in our thoughts.

We are a city that has been ravaged by the power of this earthquake…and we will honour those who died by building a better city, and being a better people. And we will treat our land with far greater respect and appreciation.

Christchurch earthquake

Where do I even begin to explain what it has been like to live through ANOTHER massive earthquake in Christchurch?

I will begin by telling you that we are now living with a high degree of anxiety and fear. After two massive earthquakes in 5 months, we can no longer expect to not get another massive one, so each time there is a shake, we go into flight mode, ready to run, leap under tables, escape buildings. Big aftershocks will cause further damage, as many buildings and houses are precarious.

When this big earthquake hit, on 22 February, most of us probably thought it was a small jolty aftershock when it began, but it got stronger and stronger and didn’t stop. In my own house, crystals were falling, lamps falling, stereo speakers fell over, pot plants fell, books, ornaments, and all sorts of stuff in the kitchen. Thankfully after the Sep 4^th quake we had already fastened bookshelves and wall units to the walls. I was home with my daughter and as soon as the shaking eased I ran (as best as one could in a still shaking house), grabbed her and we just held on to each other as a big aftershock belted through. We were freaked, but we were okay, and the house was still standing.

Now began the desperate task of trying to get in touch with my son who had been at university when it hit, my husband who works in the central business district, and my elderly father. Lines were overloaded, cell phones weren’t working, and desperation was setting in across the city. My sister reached me to tell me my son had gone straight round to our father’s flat and they were both okay. My husband ran home from the city centre! (It was much faster than trying to drive).

Our concrete block  fence was on a dangerous lean and firemen have since pushed it over. Our chimney is not looking too good, so they roped off the area where it is likely to fall.

As a city…we are devastated, and heart broken. There is a sense of disbelief. We are not back to the way things were after the Sep 4^th quake, we are in a much much worse situation. Over 100 people are declared dead, and over 200 still missing. We are looking at a death toll that may be near, or over, 300. Buildings can be replaced…people’s mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, husbands, and wives cannot. To see a picture of these people in their grief is utterly heartbreaking, and I feel it so deeply for them.

The central business district is a disaster zone. The 22 story Grand Chancellor Hotel is in a dangerous state and will fall in a serious aftershock, or have to be brought down. When it comes down it is going to domino its neighbours. Buildings have collapsed, facades have fallen down and crushed passersby. This quake hit just before 1 o’clock, when people were out for lunch.

Areas of Christchurch will have no water, power or sewerage system for possibly 2-3 weeks. The sewer system is seriously ‘munted’ right across the city. The water system is badly damaged and contaminated. The power company is working hard to get power on to everyone, and will be putting in power-poles  and overhead lines in some places as it is the quickest way to get power to people.

I cannot even express to you how unbelievable all of this feels. We see it on television and in movies. We don’t expect it to happen to us…we don’t expect it to happen to us twice.


(www.robynmspeed.com)

Christchurch Earthquake 22nd Feb 2011

A brief update on our personal situation...

On 4th Sep Christchurch was hit by a 7.1 magnitude Earthquake. Yesterday we were hit by a 6.3 magnitude Earthquake. This one was 5 kilometres away and 5 kilometres deep...thus the destruction has been violent and massive.

Our central business district is a disaster zone, a stage of emergency has been declared.

In our own home we have suffered only mildly. This crack up the chimney as it was after the first hit yesterday, and then after the second big aftershock. The chimney will at some point need to come down, but at this stage it is not a danger unless we get massive aftershocks. The fire dept are under such pressure that we can surely only demand the most urgent work from them.

Another big aftershock and the chimney may come down and take part of the roof and front of the house with it. We have our fingers crossed. This movement has caused minor interior damage, but it is purely cosmetic (as far as we know!)




 
 





Our front fence, which withstood the Sep 4th just fine, was on a lean after the first one yesterday, and then, if you look at the following one you will see the lean after the next big aftershock, and the final picture....well that's after the fire dept guys pushed it down.

 My young uns and our badly leaning fence. And, my first ever graffiti .... I know which I'd written a poem or something motivational!

After a few good firemen, its down.














The following one is our newly fenceless front yard and roped off danger area. We are exposed to the street now, but it's a very open look...and I think it works!

Who am I?

In a world where we are trying to figure out who we are, spiritual transitions throw us into the ‘Who am I?’ question over and over and over again.

So, who am I?

And … do I really need to have a clear grasp on who I am whilst I am in the middle of a spiritual transition?

Is it possible to have a clear grasp on who I am when I keep changing?

The only thing that I really can keep a firm grasp on is this: it is important to love. I may not clearly know who I am in this moment, but I do know that I am love, that I have the capacity to love.

If you imagine a clear white dot in the middle of a chaotic picture, that is me at this time, and that white dot represents that love that I am, as it is the only thing I can grasp and know at this time.

Our sense of identity is so often defined by the world around us, and the people around us, their fears, hopes, dreams, biases, and joys…but when we step outside of all of that, and decide ‘I would like to know who I truly am when I am not influenced by anything or anyone’ we have no idea what the journey will be.

It may be that our lack of sense of identity will throw us into confusion, but that’s okay, since it is all a transitory situation. One step at a time away from the illusion we have portrayed….one step at a time towards who we are becoming. Will we one day clearly be who we truly are?

Well, I wish I could answer that, but I don’t know who that is, and so I don’t know how challenging/easy it would to live that in this world. But I am damn well going to give it a try!!