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Earthquake
Feb. 24th, 2011 08:07 pmI'm in Sydney.
I flew out this morning. I had flights booked for a briefing meeting from weeks ago, but wasn't sure whether to go or not, and even now that I'm here I feel bad for leaving. I didn't know until yesterday afternoon that the airport would be open for international flights, and I spent yesterday sorting out so many other things that I wasn't really sure I'd go until I got here, especially with all the ongoing aftershocks.
Yesterday I helped sort out a friend's pharmacy, took my dog to his breeders/boarders (well out of the city, with power and water - they filled up 2 huge bottles and 3 thermoses for me to take back, and have said they're happy to look after him until I'm sorted - he was filthy from all the silt, but pretty cheerful), checked out work, talked my way back past the cordon to check on the house, drove over more appalling roads and past so many wrecked buildings. Today I shopped for new baby presents for friends, took a shower and used flush toilets. And twitched everytime a bus went past, just in case it was an aftershock.
I still feel unbelievably lucky, and guilty for not being there. I go back Sunday, and have offers of places to stay if (as I expect) the central city is still locked down. I have deeply ambivalent feelings about Christchurch from before this, but I like the CBD, I live there and walk through it everyday, and this is just awful. So many places I walk past are now effectively tombs - the Trocadero Bakery, the PGG Building, the Cathedral...
Thanks very much for all the well wishes and hugs. They do help. I'm not really up to responding to everyone at the moment, and my internet access is patchy (and expensive if I use the iPhone!) but it is good to know you're all thinking of me. I hope everyone back in Chch, or who has also left - as many others have - is doing okay.
I flew out this morning. I had flights booked for a briefing meeting from weeks ago, but wasn't sure whether to go or not, and even now that I'm here I feel bad for leaving. I didn't know until yesterday afternoon that the airport would be open for international flights, and I spent yesterday sorting out so many other things that I wasn't really sure I'd go until I got here, especially with all the ongoing aftershocks.
Yesterday I helped sort out a friend's pharmacy, took my dog to his breeders/boarders (well out of the city, with power and water - they filled up 2 huge bottles and 3 thermoses for me to take back, and have said they're happy to look after him until I'm sorted - he was filthy from all the silt, but pretty cheerful), checked out work, talked my way back past the cordon to check on the house, drove over more appalling roads and past so many wrecked buildings. Today I shopped for new baby presents for friends, took a shower and used flush toilets. And twitched everytime a bus went past, just in case it was an aftershock.
I still feel unbelievably lucky, and guilty for not being there. I go back Sunday, and have offers of places to stay if (as I expect) the central city is still locked down. I have deeply ambivalent feelings about Christchurch from before this, but I like the CBD, I live there and walk through it everyday, and this is just awful. So many places I walk past are now effectively tombs - the Trocadero Bakery, the PGG Building, the Cathedral...
Thanks very much for all the well wishes and hugs. They do help. I'm not really up to responding to everyone at the moment, and my internet access is patchy (and expensive if I use the iPhone!) but it is good to know you're all thinking of me. I hope everyone back in Chch, or who has also left - as many others have - is doing okay.
