Sunday, February 26, 2012

Charlotte

Malcolm and I are very lucky to have 1 nephew and 5 gorgeous nieces.  We love spending time with them when we can.  Here they are.



Unfortunately Charlotte O'Neill lives in Brisbane and we don't see her very often.  We try to keep up to date on skype and through visits.  Charlotte turned three last October and very soon she is going to be a big sister...here she is.


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

We remember...

It is hard to believe that a whole year ago our world was shaken and turned upside down.  Today was the anniversary of the devastating February 22 earthquakes in Christchurch which took almost 200 lives.

As I drove to school (and driving home) it was lovely to see the ever present orange cones decorated with flowers.  What a superb idea which not only helps us to remember and reflect on the events of last year, but also helps to beautify the city.


At school we have orange cones along our driveway, so those were decorated also.


Tonight, Malcolm and I are going to watch the movie "When a City Falls" on tv.  Both of us were reluctant to go to the theatre earlier in the year to watch this movie because we don't feel comfortable being in a theatre since the earthquakes.  Not sure that I will enjoy it, but it will definitely be worth watching.

At school my classroom and I discussed why today was a special day "today is the birthday of the earthquakes which gave us a big fright last year", and we talked about where we were.  Some children could remember being on the monkey bars, the flying fox, and some others could remember being in the lunch area still.  We talked about how scared we felt, and we also talked about how safe we felt at school knowing there were lots of people who care for us there.

Some of the children joined me under the big oak tree to observe a 2 minute silence, a chat, and some reassurance.

Kia Kaha Christchurch

Monday, February 20, 2012

I'm back!

Shock horror! I'm back! I hope you like the changes to the blog.

I have decided not to set any near future 'major' fitness goals, such as, running the SBS half-marathon in June 2012. Any time I think about running it, my skin crawls. However, I do find running great for relaxation and stress release...so have started back running again.

This morning I woke at 5.45am and went for a 3.5km run. I plan on doing this each morning (rain, hail or shine!). Gradually the distance will increase (maybe!) and, if it happens, I feel able to run a half-marathon in June...I will! But I am not setting it as a goal. Make sense?

I am also going to record the progress of my goal of maintaining a healthy balance between school, home and me. It is quite decidedly tipped towards school at the moment...which means two people are neglected - Malcolm and myself!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

When will it end????

Yesterday we were rudely bombarded with more big aftershocks. When will it stop???

Here is a video of a Christchurch boy about to film himself singing, until the earthquake struck.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Back to fitness for me!

Since things have begun to settle down after the earthquake, I have started going back to the gym in the mornings before school. An added bonus of this is that I can have a hot shower at the gym afterwards...we still do not have hot water at home!

The gym is really busy, as a lot of gyms in town have not opened due to damage or due to being inside the cordoned area.

So I am back on track to my goal of being a few kilo's lighter, and becoming more fit.

Yay!

On a sad note...I am so devastated to watch footage of the 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Even with my own experience of being in a devastating earthquake, I cannot even begin to imagine the terror, panic and loss that people in Japan must be feeling right now. There is a certain amount of 'hopelessness' I feel when watching/reading about it. It is absolutely terrible. Now, to top everything off...it seems there is a real threat of a meltdown after several nuclear plants exploding and malfunctioning.

I am so relieved that NZ is nuclear free.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

School is re-opening!

Re-opening the school

Yay! Engineers have thoroughly checked out the school and it is structurally safe and sound to re-open. Here is the process of re-opening:

1. Monday - school is open for staff only. Between 10am and 2pm parents may come and collect school bags and lunchboxes etc. Please note - NO CHILDREN are allowed on the school grounds. This is because the school has only been given the ok for adults only at this stage.

2. Tuesday - builders will be onsite to repair the damage. Some staff will be onsite. NO CHILDREN to be onsite.

If the Civil Defence clears the school ready to re-open at this stage then on:
3. Wednesday - school open for children. School starts at normal time of 8.50am. From 8.45am parents are invited to meet for a coffee in the community lounge (by office) for a cuppa...and I'm sure there WILL be some yummy food too.

I can't wait for school to start...just need a good nights sleep first - yeah right!

Predicted future quake.

TV Pyschic Warns Earthquake Survivors

Hmmm....! What to believe? What to believe?

Ken Ring (AKA the moon man) has predicted a devastating earthquake on March 2oth 2011 (only two weeks away today). He apparently predicted this earthquake a long time ago, and he says that he predicted the September 4 and February 22nd earthquakes. The Moon Man has predicted that this time the earthquake will result from the Alpine Faultline (which erupts (not sure if that is the correct word) every 300 years). The last time the Alpine Faultine erupted was 1717...you do the maths.

Now, Deb Webber (famous psychic on the tv programme 'Sensing Murder') is predicting another earthquake for Christchurch (see above link). Apparently, she too predicted the February 22nd earthquake. Deb Webber doesn't state a particular date for this third earthquake to occur, but she says it will be devastating.

To be sure, I am pretty cynical of these predictions. But in the light of recent events in Christchurch, one cannot help but be a little concerned?

Malcolm and I will be in Timaru on the 20th March, as we are invited to Malcolm's cousin's wedding held on the 19th. I, for one, will be making sure we have water, fuel, non-perishable food, and clean laundry! I pondered putting the cat into a catery, but I think he would actually be safer in wide open spaces, rather than confined. My folks will be up in the North Island too, so I won't have them to worry about. My brother, his wife and child live in Australia, so I won't have to worry about them either. All of Malcolm's family will be in Timaru at the wedding too.

Paranoia? Probably!