Well, we have survived the night. Managed to get some sleep although woken frequently with aftershocks, some into the 5's. The worst aftershocks were between 4-5am (about 4) - significant amount of retraumatising courtesy of the 4.30 events of yesterday!
Ventured into town today to get some supplies. Managed to get diesel, LPG gas bottles filled and food :) The suburbs had a "business as usual" feel although everyone was very quiet, just getting in and getting stuff down before going home. Really impressed at how calm everyone is being and how well stocks and supplies are coming through. I'm glad we shopped when we did though - arrived home to enjoy another 5+ aftershock! Wouldn't have wanted to be in the supermarket for that bad boy.
The most surreal experience today was still having an open home for the house sale - and people came!! Actual buyers not just rubber-neckers. We feel qualified to recommend the house as "sturdily constructed". :)
Went into town a little later to clear the P O Box and checked the routes for work, skirting around the cordons. It's just so sad to see. Christchurch is NZ's prettiest and most gracious city and all around there's horrible damage. So many chimneys down, pulling down roof tiles and walls. We could see some of the buildings that have sustained major damage - facades and building frontages lying on the street with the inside exposed to the world. Huge cracks in a number of roads with the liquefied sand covering massive areas. Beautiful buildings in disarray.
Having seen some of the buildings and comments from others, we're feeling even luckier now. We have water, power and phone. The house is built on concrete with a rock/stone base, hence why we have lasted. Some houses in the area haven't been as lucky.
You just can't envisage the destruction, ongoing anxiety with every aftershock, feelings of being overwhelmed and concern for the suffering of others.
The Rose
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