Monday 22 September

Week 3 in Christchurch.

I am officially a Pom today having received my English passport in the mail (Thanks Vicki our mail gopher). Need to sort out if we can make arrangements for the spouse on a UK passport, think there is a provision to make it a bit easier for Sheryl to stay in the UK if I’m there. Probably should try to hang on to her at this stage, hate folding my own socks J

The house is coming on now that Sheryl is finished her temp job on the other side of town. Things are starting to roll along as we attack more fronts. We received a vanity and bathroom tower from Auckland today, ordered it mid week last week, cheaper than buying local I’m sad to say. Managed to get the vanity in position, shower tomorrow then flooring soon. 3 weeks in but still only a third the way on. Went to select carpet and vinyl on Fri, got measured up 2day. Will lay vinyl planks myself (I hope).

Had some nasty weather today which has not been the norm at all. Didn’t need to go out so was good, in fact stayed in all weekend as shops so busy over the weekends, did our paint shopping etc on Friday and just kept home working over weekend. Helen & Ralph brought lovely fish & chips over Friday evening and naturally ate way too much, both squirmed all night (not in a nice way).They also thoughtfully gave us a tree for the landscaping project to tidy up the section. Not sure if the metre high plastic ex xmas tree is going to fit the bill really, have asked them to store it while we prepare a spot for it, so thoughtful them folks.

No care tree.
More wood in the carton
than on the tree. 

Did our voting early, on Thursday, at Brighton Library, special votes for Nelson,  went smooth but as usual Sheryl wouldn’t take instructions from me so God only knows who she voted for. Stayed tuned to Kiwi FM for their coverage Saturday night, they (a bunch of irreverent lads liquored up on Halataus Beer), were watching the TV3 coverage with no sound on and guessing what was going on and trying to relay it to us, possibly the only listeners in the country, well it wasn’t overly comprehensive but outrageously un PC, got a good descript of what everyone was wearing and whether they were pretty or fugly, got a real surprise when we finally tuned into National Radio at 10 ish. Anyway same old same old, so no big surprise really, and don’t really care that the GCSB is reading this along with my 3 followers, (thank you, you know who you are). Anyway its reassuring to know that there is a government department out there that will listen to you. J

 On Sheryl’s 2^nd to last day of work she needed to take my van, and bought it home a shadow of its former reliable self. Don’t know how, but managed to make it run like it was on steroids, idling and shaking not knowing how to stop. Turn off the ignition and ran on and on. It turned out (after $220) to be a faulty radiator cap upsetting the automatic choke, last time she gets my little van :(

As a result of the van breaking down, Sheryl had to bus to work on her last day, fantastic bus system here. She caught a bus that went from one side of town to the other (45 minute ride - $3.50 as a casual). She got there ok, but who would have thought there were two bus routes home!! She certainly never did J. She txt me from New Brighton ( 20 min walk) to say she was walking home! 

Sunday 7^th September

An R&R day and a beaut day to go with it. We started with a long bike ride along Brighton beach from the Pier down to the Sumner end (about 6 kms) then back along the roads. A round trip of 16km which wasn’t too much of a challenge. There is a lot of biking opportunities around ChCh, hopefully will be able to do many more as weather permits. Talking of which, the weather hasn’t been bad at all since our arrival, just a persistent thin wind from the sea, which keeps you cool.

We did a quick hour of work then went over to Elevate, a little bar at the bottom of the Cashmere Hills to spend a relaxing 2 hours with Helen, in the sun drinking good craft beer (Black Dog – cos you aren’t in there yet Simon & Nicki) listening to a pleasant woman on the piano covering all the classics that we enjoy, Ralph was otherwise engaged playing his jazz in a resort out Methven way, too far away and upmarket for us. We then progressed up the hill to spend the evening with the whole Woodham family where I was awarded honorary fatherhood to the Woodham clan and partook in a Father’s Day Meal of Pizzas and wine. Thank you Little Woodys and partners I hope you enjoy your Xmas Presents.

Saturday 6^th September

After lovely bacon & eggs for breakfast, we went to the refuse station today, had the old bathroom and some old bricks etc. from around the section. Told Sheryl how the system was good as you paid on weight. Well got rid of it all down the chute and was re weighed, had 20 bucks in my hand and the girl was counting out figures and I thought.. oh that’s gross weight, and she doing the sums but no she was reading out the price..  one oh  seven point two oh cents,...... sorry what did you say  ??? then with a smile, “one hundred and seven dollars twenty cents please.”

Holy shit....... we’re walking down the beach every night now with our pockets full and carefully emptying them of the rubbish....You’ve all seen the movie.

Thankfully we didn’t have to buy lunch as Helen & Ralph arrived with refreshments. We had another walk around the area with H&R before they headed off and then we carried on with gardening & plastering of walls.

Friday 5^th September

Caught up with the Belliss Family  (Ex Nelsonians) tonight with others to bid their son Cameron’s farewell as he is heading off to Greece & Italy for the next 18 months on an Engineering scholarship – fantastic opportunity for him to study earthquake protection in buildings. Was lovely catching up with the girls too (who are of course now young women) and their lives. We all get busy with life but it is great that good friends just pick up from where they last leave off J

Wednesday 3^rd September

 Been to two recyclers down here looking for bits and pieces, one in particular, “Musgroves” just stock everywhere and tons of staff, things very orderly and all catalogued (probably cause it all goes on Trade Me) One girl in the office I was talking to, I asked her whether they would be interested in my old bath & vanity and said “yes but not to pay, we get all this stuff for  free.” And believe me there is a lot of stuff at these places.

 Needed to hire a concrete cutter for 4 hours and had a discount voucher as the the Auckland firm that has just bought the local hire depot is drumming up business, didn’t honour the voucher as “you are already getting a discount” well you didn’t tell me that initially ,well it’s a discounted price and we don’t give discount on a discounted price, that’s a $100 bucks thank you.   Ka ..ching

I think Insurers & EQC are paying for most things and everyone is in for the ka...ching.

I’m not sure but think there is some regional pricing going on even with the big format stores. Think my usual suppliers are jacking prices up as well.....Haven’t got the evidence yet, but might leak it to Cameron Slater....

 Had first BBQ in Christchurch tonight – bit of a cool breeze to cook outside so Bill came up with alternative place to cook – as you can see by the photo.

Tuesday 2^nd

Had a morning walk round the neighbourhood, we are literally 150m from the beach,but it is a cool beach if the Easterly is blowing, you would (&we did) avoid it. I needed to sort out showers & vanities today, which I was dreading for the reason I would need to quarter all the big shops (Placemakers, Bunnings &Mega M10).Predictably, I spent 3 hours finding and investigating but am getting the lay of the land now, will be trying to avoid heading out on a whimsy to get stuff it eats into your time & petrol.(This town is bigger than Nelson) I arrived home just before Sheryl so crockpot wasn’t on early, will be eating late tonight. L

Monday 1^st September Spring!

A day of firsts. First day of spring, Sheryl’s first day of work at SuperTyre, Bill’s first day of renovations at the rental. A fine start to the first day of spring, even a little bit of sunshine, but like I say – little. My first day at SuperTyre didn’t get off to a great start, with it taking one hour and 5 minutes compared to the half hour on Sunday. This is peak time traffic with a hundred traffic lights on the way L. Luckily I have a great boss who said I can start at 10 from now on, phew! The day went much better once I arrived, took a bit for the brain to recall instructions, then we were on a roll. Wages went smoothly, hopefully the money has gone into the right accounts J Bill got straight into the bathroom and removed the mouldy shower, bath and vanity. I came home to a more spacious room that once a new shower and vanity are installed, should modernise it. Great start.

30^th / 31^st August – our first weekend in Christchurch.

I was up and on the road at 5.45 am Saturday to take our hosts to the Airport, while Bill slept on. Sue & Peter are off to Hawaii for a lovely two week break. I came home and fed the animals (1 sheep and 2 goats – isn’t little Billy cute?  Bill & I then vacated Irwell Village for an evening at the Woodhams, on the Cashmere Hills after having the afternoon at Sumner. There is still a lot of damage evident in the Sumner area, sadly some will never be able to return to their homes.

After a great catch up with Helen & Ralph on Saturday night, we headed off Sunday morning to spend a couple of hours organising our vehicles to get all three to North Brighton at our rental ( Bus, work van, & Sue’s car on loan while she is away). Our tenant of 10 years had done a great job of looking after the property, it is more wear and tear of 27 years of living done in it, that it looks so dated and sad. The plan is a new bathroom, kitchen and paint job throughout and it should look modern once again. We had a couple of hours walk around our new neighbourhood, and found a great walkway / cycleway that we will do one day. Lovely newer area of North Beach boarders North Brighton, but again earthquake damage not avoided here either. Really strange how a house either side of a property has been completely removed and the one in the middle looking untouched. Well outside at least.