tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44670441131282466882024-03-05T22:12:14.247+13:00Four Paws and WhiskersVets, pets, education, family, education and life in Christchurch, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.comBlogger1069125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-88581496591551944972021-05-19T13:16:00.003+12:002021-05-19T13:16:53.643+12:00New template<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am having to take some time off work to recover from surgery and as Google wants me to update the template to make it easier to read on mobile devices, I felt like I had some time to look into what needed doing - so I hope this new format works for anyone actually reading it. I quite like the options for letting the reader display the posts in different ways - your feedback on the experience is always welcome. </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been in two hospitals this week - private and public. I started out on <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">International </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">Nurses Day,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> 12th May, and during the week got to experience the newly opened <a href="https://www.cdhb.health.nz/health-services/christchurch-hospital-emergency-department/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emergency Department</a>, courtesy of St Johns Ambulance. It is certainly a fabulous, but very busy place, seeing 300 people every day, often more. It was a long night - but the medical teams were very helpful. After the recent experience of a friend from work and talking to her recently, I better understand the issues she reported on and can see they need more staff available. </span></span><span style="color: #202124;"><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/124625512/emergency-departments-in-crisis-long-painful-waits-for-patients-staff-burnt-out">https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/124625512/emergency-departments-in-crisis-long-painful-waits-for-patients-staff-burnt-out</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My family are being wonderful - picking up meds, talking to doctors, Poppy walking, meal preps, and Mum and I have been able to hang out together as she has been staying here and making sure there is food for us, and the visitors! I seem to be over the worst and a few more days rest should have me back on deck. We have had another cold spell so it is good to be able to curl up and relax as the pain relief sends me to sleep regularly. Poppy has been a devoted nurse too. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlA9AifRk-r7YaFp6-ncFm7235OyHzU4BKa-4egTPETgQVIBuuEwGJ2xiT7kBLxKfER4SqJ5YbhWATyGPMnWVTNaWuBWiGrDuJN4n0zCxn7PpcopCEVw9GH0dpJbPXB-LZxJz2_RzVlQ/s2048/IMG_3162.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlA9AifRk-r7YaFp6-ncFm7235OyHzU4BKa-4egTPETgQVIBuuEwGJ2xiT7kBLxKfER4SqJ5YbhWATyGPMnWVTNaWuBWiGrDuJN4n0zCxn7PpcopCEVw9GH0dpJbPXB-LZxJz2_RzVlQ/s320/IMG_3162.jpg" /></a></div></div><p><br /></p><p>Managed to get some lovely walks in The Red Zone earlier this month. It has been beautiful in the mild autumn weather. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhyphenhyphen8JOHPurPtP-mMunGyzQzkVwEjhIytRUfAtqxExFnQP98ZCfl-EYVisJzTxZK4n7JQS7fzwv3G7IRWJ-GnxXtZkTRkBvfi1CBLSj2hCQCRR3TiE9f7ZhoEa8z3QtSQecIP6k0FyVXE/s4032/IMG_3353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhyphenhyphen8JOHPurPtP-mMunGyzQzkVwEjhIytRUfAtqxExFnQP98ZCfl-EYVisJzTxZK4n7JQS7fzwv3G7IRWJ-GnxXtZkTRkBvfi1CBLSj2hCQCRR3TiE9f7ZhoEa8z3QtSQecIP6k0FyVXE/s320/IMG_3353.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8svJhLLHLzMX9NOdr0Xq1QIZAZzxf9RokeDjvMZiGjZQxw7M26VysjKyf0b3P58s8hC9bMZRv4By1avk4Wv6xh-X-eIEwEcxZ37NueWs6CygXfVkFKqM1LnbXluzv0-8gtIV59bpge4M/s2048/IMG_3321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8svJhLLHLzMX9NOdr0Xq1QIZAZzxf9RokeDjvMZiGjZQxw7M26VysjKyf0b3P58s8hC9bMZRv4By1avk4Wv6xh-X-eIEwEcxZ37NueWs6CygXfVkFKqM1LnbXluzv0-8gtIV59bpge4M/s320/IMG_3321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I Visited Governor's Bay again recently to do the Allandale Reserve to the Jetty walkway - love the view from the coffee shop. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtxu6vk8APxCNNm2q2djctAEkrxCj2tdru6BGyIzmFhnwa_NQHxnzJaRIy5-WshUM8hICUTkdmEU9f6qUDtbVSMu5_s0Rs-6wwoDw7PTY76bypDtvX6aHDqiJUwrBK0lE6r4dPYm-V0g/s600/600_495768157.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtxu6vk8APxCNNm2q2djctAEkrxCj2tdru6BGyIzmFhnwa_NQHxnzJaRIy5-WshUM8hICUTkdmEU9f6qUDtbVSMu5_s0Rs-6wwoDw7PTY76bypDtvX6aHDqiJUwrBK0lE6r4dPYm-V0g/s320/600_495768157.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc64V4N7j4eFBWS7zb5aJZMcCq6YDnSXzPWq67PHHtT5UTZrziTLiGLFU4gXzdQSGUiXS_VILTMcacsGpkpwL8D5Eqq5KoZBeh126AYj1hJ8U6ZI1sC2zoa2R2NHdbViQmC7gosCJKgsg/s600/600_495772531.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="338" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc64V4N7j4eFBWS7zb5aJZMcCq6YDnSXzPWq67PHHtT5UTZrziTLiGLFU4gXzdQSGUiXS_VILTMcacsGpkpwL8D5Eqq5KoZBeh126AYj1hJ8U6ZI1sC2zoa2R2NHdbViQmC7gosCJKgsg/s320/600_495772531.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsmsp4KBtSjT6qP6VkJ8EX99ylDmCKC7o9ORh4tR6Ij_-W-trDgXHklr0Ciaotk2qG7aKfz5r0XQh3t2JL1vMgwVPbXb-hYwjen41RaHKwZFII86lmWQVlFqlwctQoyKnVnWDTzCKlc0/s600/600_495772536.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsmsp4KBtSjT6qP6VkJ8EX99ylDmCKC7o9ORh4tR6Ij_-W-trDgXHklr0Ciaotk2qG7aKfz5r0XQh3t2JL1vMgwVPbXb-hYwjen41RaHKwZFII86lmWQVlFqlwctQoyKnVnWDTzCKlc0/s320/600_495772536.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSrQTdbEbm-5cuCWaLxjI3yZPkn_9pG86jg3U40L13LQZfXpbnrVlJHK3jOmkPp_H4n5wlDtFBGIGTiolHYdAHIVxp53xCcT9nV-39CH6KpwkaRKd37y5T2xEu7G1W060X_PQstGMRhI/s600/600_495773155.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSrQTdbEbm-5cuCWaLxjI3yZPkn_9pG86jg3U40L13LQZfXpbnrVlJHK3jOmkPp_H4n5wlDtFBGIGTiolHYdAHIVxp53xCcT9nV-39CH6KpwkaRKd37y5T2xEu7G1W060X_PQstGMRhI/s320/600_495773155.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>News on the world front is hard to comprehend this week. Thinking of the people still battling Covid 19, particularly in India, and the people facing conflict and missiles every day. It makes me really appreciate life here over and over again.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-67538540233256649642021-02-19T21:06:00.000+13:002021-02-19T21:06:45.723+13:00Ten years on<p>I have had little desire to write here for a few months - somehow dealing with the pandemic has been of more importance, and reading about elections, both here and watching the scenes from America too.</p><p>I know we have been lucky here in New Zealand - physical distance, being an island, good management, luck, and having well-managed isolation and tracing systems has shielded us from much of the Covid 19 impact. Yes I know there have been occasional managed Covid breakthroughs and that the lockdowns and lack of international tourists have been very hard financially on our tourism and hospitality sectors, let alone Air New Zealand. However, I know we all watch how the rest of the world has been devastated and many here have lost loved ones overseas. My son Liam returned to NZ from London in May and has worked remotely from here since, for which I have been immensely relieved, even if he is looking forward to returning to Europe soon. </p><p>The first vaccines were administered to our front-line workers in the managed isolation areas today. They expect the rollout across us all will take a year and we may still go in and out of lockdowns, but it is good to feel that the end may be in sight. </p><p>On Monday, it is the 10 year anniversary of our February 2011 earthquake. It wouldn't feel right not to acknowledge it and reflect on the changes we have experienced in the city. This wonderful video from Deon Swiggs takes me back there and not always in a nice way, but he shows many of the new structures and the exciting ongoing plans for venues - you can see them alongside video footage of what used to be. We have certainly kept many tradesmen busy for the past 10 years. The city is filled with bars, markets, restaurants and activities and we continue to visit it regularly. Many people have moved into the centre. I have watched Jade Stadium (Lancaster Park originally) and the Catholic Cathedral be demolished from my office window. Perhaps the biggest change for me is that I appreciate what is there now and have stopped trying to remember how it used to be.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PifbgwSp-Og" width="320" youtube-src-id="PifbgwSp-Og"></iframe></div><p>In other news, on Monday I started a new intake of students. We went into a semi-lockdown for three days on Sunday night after three cases were discovered in Auckland so it was an interesting start to the week, but we are back to normal, and after experiencing the earthquake on the second day of the 2011 class intake, I was just glad we still had a building to work from this year.</p><p>We have so many students attending our graduation next month that we can't all fit in the Town Hall - which has been rebuilt and is wonderful. So it is back to the Stadium in Addington. Last year the ceremony was cancelled due to Covid. In 2019 we did hold a Town Hall ceremony when it reopened, but the graduand procession through the central city was cancelled because the Memorial Service for the tragic shooting at the Mosques was taking place in Hagley Park - security was too tight to allow spare police to manage our procession. </p><p>While international travel is off the table, I have managed some trips to Nelson, Akaroa and Kaikoura. All so beautiful and great memories of the sea, mountains, friends and fun times. I am aware that even small trips like these have not been possible for many of you overseas and that separation from your family for so long must be incredibly hard. I found just one month of the full lockdown bad enough - really looked forward to taking the shopping over to Mum weekly and having an official reason to be away from home! I found dawn walks along the river with Poppy were the only way to get out and be away from crowds of other dog walkers all day! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP69qKur8uEr8DPL5lUpPpC5y__qEx3ly6QT4BQKg6utD2R2Kq8jVJoG8ytrIuJ5Uh9fOy_kMS7oHGsEnq3dZN1AoaH8U_Z3M0hN80_J362ZlB4V1oMzoQ6f20bWehm8dqYBW_c-RdVPQ/s480/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP69qKur8uEr8DPL5lUpPpC5y__qEx3ly6QT4BQKg6utD2R2Kq8jVJoG8ytrIuJ5Uh9fOy_kMS7oHGsEnq3dZN1AoaH8U_Z3M0hN80_J362ZlB4V1oMzoQ6f20bWehm8dqYBW_c-RdVPQ/s320/IMG_0986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK8DJeo2erdL_JgkRSfXuHoHHZ2Kop0yTtn1fCMKaKsUoaXotvxs0U9LPnglRhvmEgLkhoG0KZw-Y16tAtH8sB214y0XplUDtJhyZZw1y9TFHSTfRJeUoCrnxbEDC_vEIWf2a1_i1OlA/s1024/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_d45f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK8DJeo2erdL_JgkRSfXuHoHHZ2Kop0yTtn1fCMKaKsUoaXotvxs0U9LPnglRhvmEgLkhoG0KZw-Y16tAtH8sB214y0XplUDtJhyZZw1y9TFHSTfRJeUoCrnxbEDC_vEIWf2a1_i1OlA/s320/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_d45f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRae2Mmuj0aCblouWIvS12aY5HifaCfSyr9IrB8cCEUl-acQYhUv0sVwVZwQcfEv57SBhrhbA8lsezI9mP_pW07azm1zp-YAyW9hzWseauUeAK_Rew6XzZiuX3PcSvYRB6J2QDAcUoM0/s4032/IMG_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRae2Mmuj0aCblouWIvS12aY5HifaCfSyr9IrB8cCEUl-acQYhUv0sVwVZwQcfEv57SBhrhbA8lsezI9mP_pW07azm1zp-YAyW9hzWseauUeAK_Rew6XzZiuX3PcSvYRB6J2QDAcUoM0/s320/IMG_0821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>May you stay safe, and well and let's all look forward to more normal times being possible again soon. </p><p>Kia Kaha</p><p>Fiona</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-60685139031013188272020-05-24T10:35:00.002+12:002020-05-24T10:36:50.784+12:00Level 2 - Life in New Zealand <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogUXz3jZcxbaPohM5D8KtcfTCWoQcpnHwRYmvNNud0QWfwHWj9ZGoLw3P5i9nXJh69n0wBiU1zzHGG8LE6sVzJl7wINWxyb-tAheR2ZSzvxp_1r732vE2uI85IU8f0QmD6aWC5n6tWXU/s1600/IMG_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogUXz3jZcxbaPohM5D8KtcfTCWoQcpnHwRYmvNNud0QWfwHWj9ZGoLw3P5i9nXJh69n0wBiU1zzHGG8LE6sVzJl7wINWxyb-tAheR2ZSzvxp_1r732vE2uI85IU8f0QmD6aWC5n6tWXU/s400/IMG_0936.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn walk during Lockdown </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lockdown is over and New Zealand is currently in Level 2 ... ( <a href="https://covid19.govt.nz/">https://covid19.govt.nz/</a>). We came out of a month at Level 4, with very limited bubbles, down to Level 3 for two weeks, then cautiously started to venture out again last Monday. Now the government is waiting to see if there will be a new influx of cases. We may remain at this level until we achieve a month of no new cases - but so far all cases are able to be tracked back to a known cluster of existing cases and community transmission does not seem to be occurring.<br />
<a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases">https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases</a><br />
<br />
<table class="table-style-two table" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: none rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #002639; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 19px; max-width: 100%; width: 699px;"><caption style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: bold; padding-bottom: 0.25em; text-align: left;">As at 9.00 am, 23 May 2020</caption><thead style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;"></th><th scope="col" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">Total </th><th scope="col" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">Change in last 24 hours</th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Number of confirmed cases in New Zealand</th><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">1,154</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">0</td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Number of probable cases</th><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">350</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">0</td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Number of confirmed and probable cases</th><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1,504</strong></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">0</b></td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Number of recovered cases</th><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">1,455</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">0</td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Number of deaths</th><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">21</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">0</td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Number of active cases</th><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">28</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">0</td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th scope="row" style="background: none rgb(255, 241, 226); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(253, 214, 175) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Number of cases currently in hospital</th><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">1</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204) !important; border-right: none !important; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;">0</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are all grateful for the steady leadership updates of our government, the daily 1pm media updates from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and MOH Ashley Bloomfield, and the input from microbiologist, Dr. Siouxsie Wiles. Particularly for her collaboration with Tony Morris that resulted in a series of easy to understand graphics that helped the country accept the reasons for the lockdown and what to do - you can see them all here. <a href="https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/19-05-2020/the-great-toby-morris-siouxsie-wiles-covid-19-omnibus/">https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/19-05-2020/the-great-toby-morris-siouxsie-wiles-covid-19-omnibus/</a><br />
<br />
Liam has returned to New Zealand from England via Doha and Sydney this weekend - he is now in compulsory quarantine in Auckland for two weeks - working at his job from an assigned hotel. Can't wait to see him :)<br />
Alex will be down here next weekend and will be with Liam in Auckland the weekend his quarantine finishes. At least we can celebrate the long Queens Birthday weekend as a nearly complete family after weeks of social distancing, even if we still have to facetime Liam.<br />
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Because I was able to arrange deliveries or click and collect, and took supplies over to Mum each week, I haven't visited a supermarket for months. It felt weird to go into The Warehouse last week, and Mum and I actually went to a coffee shop. Two wonderful catch-ups with friends in private homes and today in a spaced outdoor pub area. We have plans to do dinner and our regular quiz night this week. Overall we have gone from FOMO to FOGO - so entering public restaurants is a big step. We are still limited to groups of 10, not hugging, but definitely relishing the social contact. To be fair, we had regular online wine parties twice a week throughout the lockdown so we were not starved of conversation, but virtual will never completely replace being there.<br />
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I am still working from home -with my faithful companion. Critical practical classes restart next week for some students under strict rules, but my zoom classes continue. Work is now mainly regular class sessions, marking assignments and worksheets, writing exams to be open-book online versions, answering the many questions that arrive, and working out how to timetable next semester in a flexible, manageable way with this new way of working..... our main concern has been the lack of the usual work placement - there has been none possible for weeks and it will be hard for students to do in the future. Internationally this is an issue for all students that need practical skills training - and in our case, I know how challenging the last few weeks have been for veterinary clinics dealing safely and legally with clients and patients. Taking students is just not possible - but if we can reduce class time and increase options into our sim clinic area, we can do a lot internally.<br />
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For now, New Zealand will remain closed to tourists - and only returning Kiwis are coming in via quarantine. Although daily life may return to normal, the financial impact will be a major issue - as it will be for every country. I hope it might be possible for a managed two-week quarantine option to continue and let overseas people come here to travel, film, study for months/years - and maybe options for travel between Pacific Islands and Australia... but meanwhile, we hope many Kiwis will explore NZ. I have my flights booked for Nelson in July :)<br />
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It has been hectic changing everything to online delivery, sometimes boring, sometimes frustrating - but we see the headlines from overseas and know that lockdown has been the right thing to do. Poppy has loved the attention of having three people working from home. Our daily red zone and river walks let me appreciate the changing colours of Autumn. Definitely been a great source of soul food....<br />
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Wishing you all the best - stay safe.<br />
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-1267126354193225032020-04-04T17:07:00.000+13:002020-04-04T17:07:06.080+13:00Christchurch Lockdown LifeJust found these videos today.<br />
I wanted to save them for future viewing - the diary of events this blog seems to be at the moment. I guess for the people of Christchurch this emptiness is eerily familiar from our post-earthquake lives in 2011. Just the army tanks and the roadblocks missing.<br />
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My mother lives on the West side, I work in the centre, and live on the East side..in the East video, all the shops at the start of the video are where I shop.... and the Avon river where I walk. The bridge is near my house....<br />
Can't see a South side one yet... but you get the picture.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_NNZZpSLh8A" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6zKYHgfC83Q" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aTYOVdQdOg4" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Like most of the world, as a non-essential worker, I am working from home - we have given the students time off and are working hard getting ready for the online delivery of our programmes. We don't know how long we will remain in lockdown but the whole country, the whole world, is facing the same reality. Life has changed dramatically in such a short time - thank you to all the medical teams and the supermarket workers and the people keeping things running - the least we can do is stay home and make this lockdown work.<br />
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One son is still in London, as are many of our family. My nephew and his wife are in Paris and my brother and his wife are in Vancouver. We get updates ... The rest are in Auckland, or Tauranga or here in Christchurch... keeping in touch with emails and What's App and Facebook and last night, a family Skype. Nice for Mum to see everyone and have a laugh. We miss our regular get-togethers.... but we drop off shopping for Mum to wash and store and do our best to keep her safe.<br />
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Life is revolving around team Zoom meetings and planning what to do - but this week I had two House Party chats with a bunch of friends (yes, wine was involved) and we even had a zoom choir... it pays to remind ourselves that we are physically distancing, not socially distancing. Now if the internet goes down we might struggle.<br />
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Poppy is frustrated that we are not going to work - but we are lucky that our neighbourhood is filled with rivers, and rabbit scents to follow. Today after her walk, she voluntarily walked into the shower for a warm wash ... totally unlike her! <br />
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Meanwhile, we read and we worry and we stay in our "bubble" and hope we can flatten the curve, or eliminate the virus - as it's all we can do. <br />
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Take care everyone and look after each other.<br />
xx<br />
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Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-30030123169173573382020-02-22T07:56:00.000+13:002020-02-27T18:53:11.909+13:00Christchurch - Nine Years on <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nine years...</div>
We knew it would take a long time, probably 20 years, for Christchurch to recover from the impact of this day in 2011. It seems a long time ago - but the memories run deep. Even this week, when I was teaching evacuation procedures, I reminded my new class of students to keep phones, keys, and money on them at all times - to make sure they could get home if we had another big one. I guess it is positive that I feel they will get home... but the white chairs memorial will always remind us of the many who didn't. We all know grief comes back regularly to remind us of our losses. For me this week it was our wedding anniversary and I suppose these dates are always etched in our minds - for the plans, hopes, and dreams we had all those years ago, whatever the results of it all were.<br />
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So today there was a good article on the "progress" of the city. The ups and downs - the plans and things still promised to come. An interesting read if you have the time.<br />
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<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119421238/christchurch-nine-years-on-the-reshaping-of-a-city">https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119421238/christchurch-nine-years-on-the-reshaping-of-a-city</a><br />
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Last night we had dinner in the south frame - new eateries, rooftop bar, some people headed down to "SALT" for more afterward... we enjoyed a beautiful, balmy 30C evening in good company. A lovely way to unwind after surviving the first week of the new term.<br />
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I'm off now for my weekly long walk in the Red Zone - Poppy loves it. You can read about progress there too.<br />
<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/119602589/red-zone-restart-work-in-christchurchs-abandoned-eastern-suburbs-almost-under-way">https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/119602589/red-zone-restart-work-in-christchurchs-abandoned-eastern-suburbs-almost-under-way</a><br />
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Today we will be foraging for plums and figs....and maybe mushrooms along the river.<br />
Life is good - long may it continue xx<br />
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Update: The memorial wall taken 27/2/2020</div>
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-22712623680387152882020-01-21T13:14:00.000+13:002020-01-21T13:14:19.997+13:00Always interesting to see how Christchurch is viewed internationally<br />
as I live on the outskirts of Horseshoe Lake and the Red Zone, I thought this was a good article. You can see my area in the picture below - I live on the outer loop of the top Horseshoe shape along the small river that leads down to The Avon.<br />
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<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7528019/Christchurch-earthquake-red-zone-revealed-incredible-new-pictures.html?fbclid=IwAR3GKRag2LufOAYI_RYVPk8oq2q3CrGceTvg2JL8ieuEnoaQTMhsdDhmHw4">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7528019/Christchurch-earthquake-red-zone-revealed-incredible-new-pictures.html?fbclid=IwAR3GKRag2LufOAYI_RYVPk8oq2q3CrGceTvg2JL8ieuEnoaQTMhsdDhmHw4</a><br />
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Some of the issues being faced in the use of this enormous area are presented in this document on Ōtākaro
Avon River
Corridor
Governance case-studies. Some light reading for the keen....<br />
<a href="http://www.avonotakaronetwork.co.nz/f/10c7a321a765ea30.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3pwjAPeXb_RoUH6Dyg5UY0a_D0Zh0bclv6eavhlqOyx5mKVpwVc7eGM_s">http://www.avonotakaronetwork.co.nz/f/10c7a321a765ea30.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3pwjAPeXb_RoUH6Dyg5UY0a_D0Zh0bclv6eavhlqOyx5mKVpwVc7eGM_s</a><br />
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I'm back from some holidays - firstly to Hanmer Springs with three generations enjoying some R and R, We stayed at an idyllic place on the golf course and enjouyed some adrenaline with the jet boats...<br />
and last week staying with my friends in Nelson. Was wonderful to enjoy friends and a spell of welcome, warm weather as the summer here has not been brilliant, yet. However, the recent warmth has left the Port Hills tinder dry and everything looked very brown when I flew in yesterday - so far no fires, but we watch the Australian fires causing so much damage and heartbreak and after our own hill fires three years ago, we are all aware of the risks. So glad there has finally been rain in Australia - I hope this reduces the fires enough to get them under control. So grateful to all the people that have volunteered to help the people and animals affected. I have donated to a few places for wildlife rescue but I am sure there are many other charities assiting the people left homeless too.<br />
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Back to work shortly - it has been a wonderful break and I feel almost ready to get back into it - just need to get used to waking up early again!<br />
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-24920802714524928782020-01-01T16:53:00.000+13:002020-01-01T16:53:17.926+13:00Australian Bush fires - a New Year's Reminder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the New Year begins, we can only read the news on the state of the inferno of bush fires in New South Wales and Victoria with increasing horror. The images of the fiery red skies, the smoke, darkness and thousands trapped on the beach at Mallacoota have reminded us all of the grim reality of drought, climate change and the need to consider how we live and travel. <br />
<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/118536441/hell-on-earth-thousands-evacuate-to-beach-to-escape-bushfires">https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/118536441/hell-on-earth-thousands-evacuate-to-beach-to-escape-bushfires</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/118547207/inferno-rages-across-new-south-wales-in-the-deadliest-day-of-the-bushfire-season">https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/118547207/inferno-rages-across-new-south-wales-in-the-deadliest-day-of-the-bushfire-season</a><br />
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Today, as you can see from the image above, even the light in New Zealand is being altered by the clouds of smoke coming across from Australia. 3000 km away....<br />
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<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118546900/blood-red-sun-greets-nz-on-new-years-day-as-australian-bushfire-smoke-stains-skies">https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118546900/blood-red-sun-greets-nz-on-new-years-day-as-australian-bushfire-smoke-stains-skies</a><br />
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An orange haze is covering the sky around New Zealand, reducing visibility to as little as 10km in affected areas.<br />Bushfires in Australia are spewing a massive current of smoke across the Tasman towards New Zealand, and it's likely to continue for a while.<br />Imagery from the Japanese weather satellite Himawari-8 shows the blanket of smoke is wide enough to cover the entire South Island.<br /> </blockquote>
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Just a somber reminder of what our neighbours are dealing with.... absolutely heartbreaking. I am struggling to comprehend the scale of the devastation to the homes, people, towns and the massive loss of wildlife, particularly the koalas. If you live far away, please spare a thought for all the Australians as there are fires in all main regions. </div>
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<a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10317573/where-are-australia-fires-map-bush-fires/">https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10317573/where-are-australia-fires-map-bush-fires/</a></div>
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You can check specific locations with this site</div>
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<a href="https://myfirewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au/">https://myfirewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au/</a></div>
Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-35124939604033056092019-12-28T15:37:00.000+13:002019-12-28T15:37:16.682+13:00The Last Decade in ChristchurchAs the year draws to a close, we have been reflecting on all the changes here in the last 20 years - where were you for the Y2K New Year celebrations? For me, it was friends and fireworks around the brazier at our home in Yaldhurst, with my parents newly arrived to live here from the UK. Simple, happy times when the children were all children. Before the "troubles' started. <br />
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Today there was a good article in the paper on the events that have affected Christchurch so much in the last 10 years. I have blogged about most of them as they happened - so there is probably nothing there to surprise you if you have been reading throughout that time... but it is still strange to read about them all at once. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The decade of quake, massacre, explosion and fire</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/118266008/the-decade-of-quake-massacre-explosion-and-fire" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-size-adjust: auto;">https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/118266008/the-decade-of-quake-massacre-explosion-and-fire</a></div>
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The last decade has been one of the most momentous in Canterbury's European history.<br />Canterbury used to be the place where nothing much happened. Its population was steady, traditional and less transient than the rest of the country. Its hinterland was flat, its city orderly in an English way. </blockquote>
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Then things changed. It seemed at times as if Canterbury had angered the gods and been singled out for more than its fair share of misery and upheaval.</blockquote>
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The decade was book-ended by calamities.</blockquote>
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and he finishes: </div>
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The last five months have been quiet in Christchurch. It would be tempting fate to say the city and Canterbury had has enough calamity for decades to come.<br />Canterbury continues to rebuild but Christchurch's reputation as a steady, unexciting city has gone.<br />The legacy of the decade could be that Christchurch has earned a reputation as a city where only bad things happen. It should, however, be known as a city where anything can happen. </blockquote>
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Last night I had dinner in the central city with friends. It was a warm evening, so we spent some time wandering around afterward - exploring places that we no longer recognise, enjoying the regular game Cantabrians play - What used to be here and what is it now or what is planned for this site? <br /><br />As we came up through New Regent St it was wonderful to finally see the endangered Tarāpuka Black Billed Gull colony establishing itself in the ruins of a building that has not been replaced since 2011. <br />
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Much better pictures and articles can be found here - but there was something magical about seeing nature at work in the ruins. </div>
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<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/117183089/urban-bird-colony-in-ruins-of-former-office-block-in-christchurch">https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/117183089/urban-bird-colony-in-ruins-of-former-office-block-in-christchurch</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/117607380/life-rafts-for-critically-endangered-blackbilled-gulls-drowning-in-flooded-derelict-building">https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/117607380/life-rafts-for-critically-endangered-blackbilled-gulls-drowning-in-flooded-derelict-building</a></div>
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We had a wonderful Xmas day at James and Jess's new house - they only moved there recently but was nice to give it a good "Christening". The kitchen is a dream to work in.... </div>
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Liam and Laura are still living in London but we had a good video session to catch up on all the news - they spent Xmas in Salzburg.... sadly no snow. </div>
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Enjoying some sun here today and a peaceful walk along the river. The legacy of the earthquakes has been the benefit of a park on my doorstep - something I appreciate every day, often stopping for a walk after work to enjoy the wildlife and the peace. In some ways walking there reminds me of visiting a beautiful graveyard, filled with memories of the people who lived there and enjoyed the river. Many of the people I meet are visiting old homes. One lady this morning was so pleased to see that people had been looking after the grapevine her father had planted when she was a child. </div>
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Perhaps it is strange to still want to live somewhere that has faced so many challenges but to me, it is home - and I have no desire to leave it. Perhaps, like the gulls, I am happy making a home and a life among the ruins. </div>
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Kia Kaha Christchurch and a happy new year to you all around the world. </div>
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May 2020 bring you every happiness and joy. </div>
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Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-35002866337196991972019-04-26T14:50:00.000+12:002019-04-26T14:50:04.190+12:00Reflective Day <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have felt particularly tearful today. On one hand so pleased that Prince William has visited Christchurch, again. <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">To quote the Duke, "A good friend doesn't pick up the phone when people are in need, you travel to their place and put your arms around them".</span><br />
This is his third visit, maybe even the fourth, since the earthquakes.<br />
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On the other hand, I drove past one of the mosques affected on my way to work and felt a huge wave of sadness that our beautiful city should need to be visited again due to yet another devastating event that has caused so man lives to be lost.<br />
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I am proud of the way Christchurch and the rest of New Zealand have responded to the recent events here, but seeing Sri Lanka endure their recent tragedy has reminded us the battle is always too close.<br />
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Thank you for visiting us today.<br />
His speech today at the Al Noor Mosque made me cry again - you can see and read it here: <a href="https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/387841/prince-william-meets-shooting-victims-at-al-noor-mosque-hate-will-fail-to-divide-us">https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/387841/prince-william-meets-shooting-victims-at-al-noor-mosque-hate-will-fail-to-divide-us</a><br />
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I was also very moved at the visit to the hospital to visit Alen Alsati and the mention of Princess Charlotte yesterday. <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12225312">https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?</a><br />
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Alen Alsati has come out of her coma which is great news - wishing her all the best for her road to recovery - <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12224687">https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12224687</a><br />
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The live blog of the visit is at: <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/112267129/live-prince-william-visits-mosque-attack-victims-in-christchurch-kate-middleton-prince-harry-hospital-visit">https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/112267129/live-prince-william-visits-mosque-attack-victims-in-christchurch-kate-middleton-prince-harry-hospital-visit</a><br />
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So I just wanted to post this - as a record. Sometimes history just unfolds right in front of you. I don't want to forget or fail to appreciate the momentous occasions that happen while our everyday life just seems to carry on. These are the events that can change attitudes and reactions internationally - so I thought I would share this one too.<br />
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-69732524971359554502019-03-30T10:22:00.001+13:002019-03-30T10:35:48.119+13:00Two weeks onThe memorial service was held yesterday for the victims of the Mosque shootings.<br />
The full article is here;<br />
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<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111655875/new-zealands-reaction-to-shooting-exceptional--cat-stevens">https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111655875/new-zealands-reaction-to-shooting-exceptional--cat-stevens</a><br />
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And I feel this montage video captures the mood of the city and hopefully the country.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="//players.brightcove.net/3921507366001/Syx4Zr1Keb_default/index.html?videoId=6019740791001"></iframe><br />
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I am shocked and saddened by the events that have happened - but there is hope. <br />
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Our city is patrolled by heavily armed police, the helicopter circling above all night - but there have been vigils and services and marches and quiet moments of remembrance happening everywhere. A profound change in attitude is happening - we hope it will continue in memory of those that were killed that day.<br />
The full speech from PM Jacinda Ardern is here <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/29/jacinda-arderns-speech-at-christchurch-memorial-full-transcript">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/29/jacinda-arderns-speech-at-christchurch-memorial-full-transcript</a><br />
<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-10744042623058447322019-03-17T21:49:00.000+13:002019-03-17T21:50:18.170+13:00Sunday....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-21048066476343431712019-03-16T10:11:00.004+13:002019-03-16T10:11:54.578+13:00Our local paper today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Never assume things will not happen to your community. I don’t think anyone in New Zealand expected to wake to this type of news but then why shouldn’t we? We thought the same about earthquakes. But today, extremists appear to be everywhere. We are an island but not immune to hatred. The end of innocence indeed.</div>
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The Prime Ministers update this morning is worth watching-at <span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://stuff.liveblog.pro/stuff/blogs/5c8afa5c0449c800e937afad/index.html?liveblog._id=urn:newsml:localhost:2019-03-15T21:28:46.721233:0a794ce4-1d6b-4eed-bb90-eaae63a4b327-%3Enewest_first">https://stuff.liveblog.pro/stuff/blogs/5c8afa5c0449c800e937afad/index.html?liveblog._id=urn:newsml:localhost:2019-03-15T21:28:46.721233:0a794ce4-1d6b-4eed-bb90-eaae63a4b327->newest_first</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">The immediate update to security and changes for gun laws are welcome news. Meanwhile, I hope, wherever you are, you will please rally around the people in your community who will be fearful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody"; font-size: 17px;">My son had this to say yesterday.... </span><br />
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I had the privilege to visit the Linwood Mosque just yesterday afternoon for work.<br />
Linda and Muhammad I met on the peaceful site were very polite and gentle as they showed me round. They were planning on having a cup of tea together after Muhummad had finished watering the vegetables and fruit trees in the garden.<br />
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Why someone would want to commit such a heinous crime at these peaceful and sacred sites to beautiful fellow kiwis is unfathomable. I hope they are both safe and my thoughts are with all those affected. ♥️</div>
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Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-81202630779822577622019-03-16T06:37:00.001+13:002019-03-16T06:39:03.326+13:00Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEJz-nIQLxpHM5KrOhV2zsvKtbMEBcpS5uJLTPmO8r7ffLPiEDSjHauGSE6zv3CsrqJiWzu3iYdyHZySLClLVrhPLf3ey881ODyNp7NkDMbkos1TivACRKaeqk5-o8YEUkjhWKDQw0a8/s1600/C14D08DE-8FAA-47EC-9141-BDBFB5B76039.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEJz-nIQLxpHM5KrOhV2zsvKtbMEBcpS5uJLTPmO8r7ffLPiEDSjHauGSE6zv3CsrqJiWzu3iYdyHZySLClLVrhPLf3ey881ODyNp7NkDMbkos1TivACRKaeqk5-o8YEUkjhWKDQw0a8/s320/C14D08DE-8FAA-47EC-9141-BDBFB5B76039.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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John Campbell is a NZ Journalist who has helped many Christchurch people since the earthquakes and has a deep connection to the city. </div>
<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111327227/john-campbell-calls-terror-attacks-a-terrible-insult-to-christchurch">https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111327227/john-campbell-calls-terror-attacks-a-terrible-insult-to-christchurch</a><br />
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I can also really identify with this.... I think we all can.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fef9f5; color: #121212; font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 17px;">My first response upon reading of the </span><a class="u-underline" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/15/multiple-fatalities-gunman-christchurch-mosque-shooting" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.0625rem; color: #e05e00; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: none !important; touch-action: manipulation; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out;" title="">massacre in Christchurch</a><span style="background-color: #fef9f5; color: #121212; font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 17px;"> was, I admit, stunned blankness. I could read the words, and I understood them, but for a few moments there was no obvious emotional reaction. Not because I didn’t care about what had happened, but because the enormity of it meant it was simply too difficult to immediately process. </span><br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/15/christchurch-muslims-thoughts-prayers-far-right?CMP=share_btn_fb">https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/15/christchurch-muslims-thoughts-prayers-far-right?CMP=share_btn_fb</a><br />
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Thank you for your kind thoughts.<br />
XFi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-12460098848350862612019-03-15T20:28:00.000+13:002019-03-15T20:28:00.062+13:00New Zealand's Darkest DayWords fail me today. So far 40 people have died after the shootings at two local Christchurch mosques. So it is also Christchurch's even blacker day. Again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdYbhtwWMA4-Gh4EdUkwW0O7m5-OoUJedvL_MR7a6O5MwF6sJRyBdW2eWjMysklTOaKBM7FeRCPLmfz22Eqqv4xQXZ3uPjY2RjxLloSVnES7ie3UWzQD5_rdlKAMB8HyI3dFc-klG-KU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-15+at+8.02.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="986" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdYbhtwWMA4-Gh4EdUkwW0O7m5-OoUJedvL_MR7a6O5MwF6sJRyBdW2eWjMysklTOaKBM7FeRCPLmfz22Eqqv4xQXZ3uPjY2RjxLloSVnES7ie3UWzQD5_rdlKAMB8HyI3dFc-klG-KU/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-15+at+8.02.19+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our thoughts are with all the people who sought safety here.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As Jacinda Ardern so rightly states. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">“We New Zealanders were not chosen for this act of violence because we condone this racism, or because we are an enclave of extremism, we were chosen for the very fact that we are none of these things,”</span><br />
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The newspapers and television all over the world are full of it. Live updates are at <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111313938/live-terror-attack-video-christchurch-mosque-shooting-muslims-new-zealand">https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111313938/live-terror-attack-video-christchurch-mosque-shooting-muslims-new-zealand</a><br />
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It is a surreal feeling to be living through this - we heard the endless sirens after lunch and then the word went out and we spent the next few hours in lockdown. Helicopters and sirens, and messages to stay on high levels and away from windows. At least we could message people and watch the updates and check on all our loved ones. But the relief of getting home is replaced by deep sadness at the reality of the number of people who have been slaughtered.<br />
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Four people have been arrested and four IED defused. They don't know if there are more members out there but the reality is that a terror cell has reached us. Nothing will be the same again. <br />
40 dead. 48 people still being treated for gunshots. Children among them. The vigils and candles and flowers are starting as night arrives.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK67f0yj6axS2ZyMfU-rnUbF_8JdbKuIke6bv88pqhRTLGUTDtH_tTRzRH7e29YoE53eFR1XLKn_rJvggUB5JpmzR9aTS2FKEpbdSOptoSnbrZWcA5k4F7ekGElgv7rqvGrUjQ_DAaJs4/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2c09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="715" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK67f0yj6axS2ZyMfU-rnUbF_8JdbKuIke6bv88pqhRTLGUTDtH_tTRzRH7e29YoE53eFR1XLKn_rJvggUB5JpmzR9aTS2FKEpbdSOptoSnbrZWcA5k4F7ekGElgv7rqvGrUjQ_DAaJs4/s640/fullsizeoutput_2c09.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yet again Kia Kaha Christchurch<br />
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Thank you for your message Angus :)<br />
<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-64382606950905090332019-02-22T18:18:00.000+13:002019-02-22T18:18:34.181+13:00Eight years... <br />
So many changes. It has been eight years and yet again we have started classes of students as we did that week when it all happened. This photo brings it hurtling back at speed! Work was in the original red zone - patrolled by USAR and the army. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Pn3P_jdCpffqIYBzmlVR7lNi082W3NpBWyYquWrGxUg1O3jUkFmdCYXu_Lr8-x-6Qek9EDjItnHGAX-NXP5o16LhXFK8G_KXDF-8klRXyIMi7N9_LiTk4TxrDMYV0Gs6Rtbb95NqoC4/s1600/919776_10151550782982226_1949784591_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Pn3P_jdCpffqIYBzmlVR7lNi082W3NpBWyYquWrGxUg1O3jUkFmdCYXu_Lr8-x-6Qek9EDjItnHGAX-NXP5o16LhXFK8G_KXDF-8klRXyIMi7N9_LiTk4TxrDMYV0Gs6Rtbb95NqoC4/s400/919776_10151550782982226_1949784591_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Looking at all these videos and pictures appearing on Facebook has been very moving today. Sometimes you just have to look back to remind yourself of how much was lost, how many lives have been changed or even shattered, and how much progress we are making since 2011. The city still has damaged buildings - not everything is sorted, but the changes have been massive - to the feel of the city, the new buildings going up, and the ongoing issues people have faced. Perhaps we will never really get over it - but we are learning to live with it.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Txs5eiVyWTc" width="560"></iframe><br />
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In the last year, we had a wonderful new central library opening. Turanga. My son works for the City Council and was involved with the opening day. <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/107797392/doors-open-to-christchurchs-new-central-library-turanga">https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/107797392/doors-open-to-christchurchs-new-central-library-turanga</a><br />
I didn't get in for a few days but it was absolutely beautiful and I have read more books since visiting it than I have for years -both paper and e-books.<br />
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This weekend our Town Hall also reopens... at this link is a lovely video about the original architect revisiting it this week. The fountains have been turned on again for the first time in eight years.<br />
<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/canterbury-top-stories/110770739/town-hall-finally-ready-to-meet-its-chch-public-after-years-of-restoration-and-a-167m-overhaul">https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/canterbury-top-stories/110770739/town-hall-finally-ready-to-meet-its-chch-public-after-years-of-restoration-and-a-167m-overhaul</a><br />
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Earthquakes cost a lot of money. <br />
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Anyway - just an update. We are all well and Poppy and Maddie are fine.<br />:)<br />
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-73191260486456062552018-05-26T19:24:00.000+12:002018-05-26T19:24:37.474+12:00One thing that has resulted from the earthquakes is the huge park on my doorstep. 602 hectares of land, three times the size of Christchurch's Hagley Park has been cleared of houses. It is the ultimate giant walking area, but still feels sad to see all the driveways and indications of the homes that have gone. <br />
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There has been a long and slow process of public consultation for ideas of future use for the area, with its fair share of controversy, but Regenerate Christchurch has just released an interesting public display explaining their latest vision. I live on the upper outside of the Horseshoe Lake Reach loop shown in orange.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwQ_1tcvqtqJ2QpLjSrjS2X-P9mfnalBFZU9EQFBdnyN-6yZWjUJEYHRa7R2LNf4nhsxAtfKV9EmD9pMYJvZit0675sk1aFZW5SlWtv4YuolwS9j7FC_cXudgt3RAzKWbHD6PtFiljtY/s1600/Screenshot+2018-05-26+19.06.26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwQ_1tcvqtqJ2QpLjSrjS2X-P9mfnalBFZU9EQFBdnyN-6yZWjUJEYHRa7R2LNf4nhsxAtfKV9EmD9pMYJvZit0675sk1aFZW5SlWtv4YuolwS9j7FC_cXudgt3RAzKWbHD6PtFiljtY/s400/Screenshot+2018-05-26+19.06.26.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Exhibition </span>can be seen online at:</h2>
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<a href="https://aureconspatial.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=15bafa0687e74eb8b008a7d7a7d42b22" target="_blank">Read the main Story Map/online exhibition (Desktop version)</a><span class="sr-only" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">(External link)</span></h4>
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<a href="https://aureconspatial.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=eb579303e3454279b51b07106b54193b" target="_blank">Read the main Story Map/online exhibition (Mobile version)</a><span id="goog_554727129"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_554727130"></span></h4>
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Further northeast of us <a href="https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/355259/christchurch-s-qe2-rises-from-the-rubble" target="_blank">the new QE2 Park has been rebuilt </a>to replace the old one that was lost in the earthquakes. The new place is more for the locals and another international facility will be built in the central city area. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #404441; font-family: "PT Serif", Georgia, serif;">QE2 was once the jewel of Christchurch's east, a multi-purpose sports facility built to host the 1974 Commonwealth Games. </span></blockquote>
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The new QE2 features a 130-metre long blue hydroslide, a 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river, a learn-to-swim pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a spa, a steam room, a sauna, a fitness centre and café.<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #404441; font-family: "PT Serif", Georgia, serif;">It's kitted out with the latest technology, including a rising floor in the main lap pool which cost about $1m.</span> </blockquote>
Might be time to go swimming again - although, with the recent chlorination of our water, it has put me off the constant smell of bleach :( .... we always had perfect water - but some areas have really noticed the treatment.<br /><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/103631494/chlorine-levels-in-some-christchurch-water-might-be-enough-for-swimming-pool" target="_blank">Chlorine levels in some Christchurch water might be enough for swimming pools</a></span></h1>
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And adjacent to QE2, two high schools will relocated to their new shared campus... I drove past all these today while taking Poppy to North New Brighton beach for some winter sun. The campus looks enormous!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/91375573/avonside-girls-shirley-boys-rebuild-to-create-the-ultimate-campus" target="_blank">Avonside Girls', Shirley Boys' rebuild to create the 'ultimate campus'</a></span></h1>
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It has been a hectic few months. Liam turned 30, and with his partner, Laura recently moved to the UK for a while and are living in London. James and Jess passed through there this week and were able to have a catch-up and meet my other mother.... their grandmother. A very emotional feeling for me - and it was lovely to see some photos of them all together at Greenwich Market. Weird they get to meet her before I do. She has been able to create discs of the recordings of her performing over the years and I have been enjoying exploring the songs... she has a wonderful voice! So glad I can hear it for myself. </div>
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We took some lovely pictures before Liam left - a photo shoot was my present from them all for my recent milestone, and we took the chance to do it to celebrate Liam's birthday, before he left the country. It was a lovely late summer evening in March.</div>
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We miss Dad terribly, and I wish we had been able to do these while he was still with us, but at least I have these lovely photos of my wonderful family taken in Mum's garden. xxx</div>
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Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-60406428942355225532017-12-23T09:00:00.002+13:002017-12-23T09:00:53.577+13:00Memories of Bedales and a Happy Kiwi Christmas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwuSUdICbbmO_l2Lbdsiuh_Ach2R6wVCdZh_-7iGATEGbm5lV3TWemup6adkirbyd-KLNpHcR8aT7ZcXf2OBz77YaprY9gI29nKsYdpLZBjANvAtEm5T1FmAZo-x0rHRUaHEYjAVr1Sw/s1600/4302784679_a07a0bd964_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1024" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwuSUdICbbmO_l2Lbdsiuh_Ach2R6wVCdZh_-7iGATEGbm5lV3TWemup6adkirbyd-KLNpHcR8aT7ZcXf2OBz77YaprY9gI29nKsYdpLZBjANvAtEm5T1FmAZo-x0rHRUaHEYjAVr1Sw/s400/4302784679_a07a0bd964_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pohutukawa flowers- <br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/bill_harrison/430278467</td></tr>
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Many years ago, while eating breakfast on holiday in Orewa, I was amazed to read an article in the paper written by a man called David Hill. He didn't mention the school involved then, but I knew; it could only have been Bedales. The unique culture that I remembered so well shone out from the writing. I wrote to him at the time as I was returning the following year for the Bedales Centenary and he was kind enough to reply. He is now a successful children's author here in New Zealand. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hill_(author)">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hill_(author)</a><br />
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The Bedales Centenary was wonderful - as well as catching up with old friends, two of my grandfather Leslie Kent's paintings were hung at the school as h<a href="http://www.chkent.co.uk/lhkbiography.html" target="_blank">e was an OB from the early 1900's</a>, along with his sister Phyllis. He started the Bedales Chronicle which is still running today, and in the holidays, before we left for a new life in NZ, it was always my pleasure to sit with him in his airy studio, with the special northern light windows, the gas fire and the smell of turps, and relive Bedales with him.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa at work in his studio, with Grannie </td></tr>
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Today, another article by David Hill, on much the same topic appeared again in the paper here. It made me smile - it is still a lovely story and has a nice Christmas feel. I hope you go and read it in full. Here is a short extract...<br />
<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/christmas/99136599/by-royal-appointment">https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/christmas/99136599/by-royal-appointment</a><br />
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Just before Christmas four decades back, I helped raise the literacy levels of the British royal family.</div>
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It was the winter of 1975-76. We were halfway through a UK working holiday, and I'd landed a job teaching for the pre-Christmas term at Bedales School in Hampshire.</div>
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Bedales was – still is – one of those places where the UK's wealthy arties send their kids for a liberal education.</div>
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In my 12 weeks there, I taught poet Ted Hughes' daughter, novelist Frederick Raphael's son, and the youngest son of an actor called Sir Laurence Olivier, whom you may have heard of? Lovely kids, all of them, even if they reckoned I pronounced Shakespeare's Danish tragedy as "Hemlut".</div>
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Today we are getting together to celebrate Mum's birthday - I see Facebook has her age as 57 which I am sure she will be thrilled about! The holiday period will be particularly hard - the first without Dad and her older sister, Morag, who also died this year. It makes us appreciate being together more than anything else could - the gaps left are so hard to fill.<br />
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Frankly, I can't wait for 2017 to end as it hasn't been a great year - but there have been lots of good things as well so I can still feel happy and look forward to the next few months. We are having a lovely warm summer which helps!<br />
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At a recent and excellent talk put on by the Veterinary Association, Dr. Tony Fernando spoke on The Science of Happiness. He is a psychiatrist, sleep specialist, educator, and researcher, who talks about compassion in healthcare, happiness, mindfulness, enlightenment, his journey as a Buddhist monk, and a bunch of other stuff. He suggested we practice gratitude - keep a diary.<br />
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You could also play the Glad Game or do Thankful Thursday posts as suggested by Jaz and GB - see here for an example...<a href="https://galenote.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/thankful-thursday.html?m=0">https://galenote.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/thankful-thursday.html?m=0</a>). <br /><br />I can say I am very very glad that Jaz had a positive report from her latest MRI and the "thing" has shrunk further - all due to positive thinking, resveratrol and turmeric I understand.<br />
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Dr Fernando suggests that instead of mindfulness, practice kindfulness - as mindfulness is better that way - with compassion and morals. If you have time, he is well worth watching..... and thanks to "youtube" you can......<br />
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<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-71koNsCEds" width="560"></iframe><br />
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He also developed the CALM website - <strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">C</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">omputer </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ssisted </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">L</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">earning for the </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">M</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ind </span> <a href="http://www.calm.auckland.ac.nz/">http://www.calm.auckland.ac.nz/</a><br />
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Now I must go and finish the birthday cake!<br />
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Wishing everyone a very happy, kindful holiday season wherever you are.<br />
xx<br />
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-2462946964504603352017-12-12T22:05:00.000+13:002017-12-12T22:05:12.576+13:00Christchurch Cathedral - Six years onI don't write much about the earthquakes, or the reshaping of the central city, which is remiss of me as there are many areas of the city that are worth writing about. Today, some interesting new footage of the state of the Cathedral has been released..... taken by a rogue individual as the building is still far too dangerous to enter. I feel anxious just watching it as we just never know when another quake might happen...<br />
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From <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/99786313/new-video-reveals-the-ravaged-interior-of-the-earthquakedamaged-christ-church-cathedral" target="_blank">https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/99786313/new-video-reveals-the-ravaged-interior-of-the-earthquakedamaged-christ-church-cathedral<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></a></div>
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The eerie world inside one of Christchurch's most famous earthquake-ravaged buildings is showcased in new video footage from the Christ Church Cathedral.</div>
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As central and local government discuss altering legislation to allow the cathedral to be restored, an anonymous videographer has sneaked inside the wrecked central city building.</div>
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Under the name Gardxn City, the videographer posts videos and photos taken inside abandoned buildings and homes around the city on YouTube and Instagram. He and others accompanying him have visited the Anglican cathedral more than once.</div>
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His latest cathedral clip is called "Six Years On." Its only sounds are the flight of the pigeons as he arrives, then his shoes crunching through the deep, dried bird excrement, which covers many surfaces.</div>
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My father was passionate about the progress of the decision making that has happened over the Cathedral's fate... we always read the letters to the editor and the articles in the paper about it to him during his last few months, and he was not impressed over the decision to repair it instead of rebuilding it. As an engineer, he knew the risks and felt a safer building, preferably made of wood would be more suitable in this earthquake-prone land. <br />
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I will watch the outcome with interest.<br />
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You can <strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">READ MORE about the Cathedral Saga:</strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">* <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/99715116/majority-of-christchurch-residents-against-spending-ratepayers-money-on-cathedral-restoration" style="color: #256091; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Majority against spending Christchurch ratepayers' money on Christ Church Cathedral restoration</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />* <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/96558216/charlie-gates-crumbling-cathedral-can-now-be-symbol-of-christchurchs-rebirth" style="color: #256091; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Crumbling cathedral can now be symbol</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />* <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/96673748/christ-church-cathedral-is-to-be-restored" style="color: #256091; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Work could start on restoring Christ Church Cathedral before Christmas</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />* <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/96623056/anglicans-meeting-to-decide-fate-of-christ-church-cathedral-kicks-off" style="color: #256091; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Synod urged to restore cathedral</a></strong><br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-41980380793858415642017-11-14T22:14:00.000+13:002017-11-20T07:52:43.075+13:00New Vases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
People have been so generous in the past few weeks I had to buy some new vases - so I haunted Trade Me and the quirky local florist and got some lovely ones.... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkzyVCA9VZZ6Vq__FQZ6HQPFWDDaZna6s3vSYrvJBRFgo0EiwzaFZchqUx-9kzUNL-ZcMkzP3FK4tmLFQw6UU34jSVrB9qRo_o-jBN0J0L0_ZW7lzcCU2hwTyOhQ0s4ixVuCVEcTKXtc/s1600/IMG_6841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkzyVCA9VZZ6Vq__FQZ6HQPFWDDaZna6s3vSYrvJBRFgo0EiwzaFZchqUx-9kzUNL-ZcMkzP3FK4tmLFQw6UU34jSVrB9qRo_o-jBN0J0L0_ZW7lzcCU2hwTyOhQ0s4ixVuCVEcTKXtc/s320/IMG_6841.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to use my water jug to fit these beautiful flowers in from my friends - so it was where my hunting started</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6EfU771iWS_qkO0eM_20cf98e-YyFAdZO3bxZU49pRWF2ptFr3vrnkyTlh2cb6cvdORJVOI2dE_Z8B2mEjVmHrAY2ffUqVALuH14B6cXEDSYjfCeYfrVuM51uXDxjPyS0Nb3R6g2Wq8/s1600/IMG_6851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6EfU771iWS_qkO0eM_20cf98e-YyFAdZO3bxZU49pRWF2ptFr3vrnkyTlh2cb6cvdORJVOI2dE_Z8B2mEjVmHrAY2ffUqVALuH14B6cXEDSYjfCeYfrVuM51uXDxjPyS0Nb3R6g2Wq8/s320/IMG_6851.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our local florist had this tall green one which fitted the lovely flowers that my work kindly sent to me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavv0pozt7x8VogsNY_D5mTD5ZWa1t133hBGafVeyUmGeroE-1cQ6s0TDpCWSbAxIN4AngAv9ptMv1bT-mMVWKI5vve8xU9ApbpGzhRk63rOzxUadriICxwdpJtGKKgsvZ13HbrkTf1WA/s1600/IMG_7180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavv0pozt7x8VogsNY_D5mTD5ZWa1t133hBGafVeyUmGeroE-1cQ6s0TDpCWSbAxIN4AngAv9ptMv1bT-mMVWKI5vve8xU9ApbpGzhRk63rOzxUadriICxwdpJtGKKgsvZ13HbrkTf1WA/s320/IMG_7180.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No vase - Just Maddie getting into everything</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcx0LMhB5yTNx3gE8XprG2gr7Sq0k1MNNGObRg2ezd47bOo6KMA9f-UxWu_elytxfLrewtugCHbqpnAfVqOLdFvta52Qi2GZQCe9jI0lgFIT-9R7neDq4dFHTF6LE_53UbLhapCFWfjk/s1600/IMG_7269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcx0LMhB5yTNx3gE8XprG2gr7Sq0k1MNNGObRg2ezd47bOo6KMA9f-UxWu_elytxfLrewtugCHbqpnAfVqOLdFvta52Qi2GZQCe9jI0lgFIT-9R7neDq4dFHTF6LE_53UbLhapCFWfjk/s320/IMG_7269.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one from Canada came with its own vase - clever and very helpful :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And another new green one....waiting for the perfect bunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thhis one came in useful again this week - such beautiful lilies from Kim and Paul - must watch Maddie doesn't go near them on her travels! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New tall clear vase.... and beautiful birthday peach roses from Mum</td></tr>
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And we got other flowers... some were in boxes and baskets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cl7QENYwtnt8dcPwnGC3wFKLecug_5TMVmswBH3r5eLmKMyp8MR-WVLtvu3Xh-CjVcKY3NBHN-0x5roNCFLBOGVXuGCrW4tX4ERrbmM5wHsdOFv3oj9a22DzcNIWSNvrCsmXbWrtL2c/s1600/IMG_6839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cl7QENYwtnt8dcPwnGC3wFKLecug_5TMVmswBH3r5eLmKMyp8MR-WVLtvu3Xh-CjVcKY3NBHN-0x5roNCFLBOGVXuGCrW4tX4ERrbmM5wHsdOFv3oj9a22DzcNIWSNvrCsmXbWrtL2c/s320/IMG_6839.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These came from my cousin in the UK for Mum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQeDOwkTbsdxkXGPnj6b2dBjNZVLQ9IxF-wvt7zxuSZtX9XTdY2-FenId7RW4DBN6SCUK-obJhAsNxpGkPgh5VQWTcT5q2WognzWFnTipdqO0eNuM2MFSPgfpqlvDtfjo-xmilOX8Q-4/s1600/IMG_7235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQeDOwkTbsdxkXGPnj6b2dBjNZVLQ9IxF-wvt7zxuSZtX9XTdY2-FenId7RW4DBN6SCUK-obJhAsNxpGkPgh5VQWTcT5q2WognzWFnTipdqO0eNuM2MFSPgfpqlvDtfjo-xmilOX8Q-4/s320/IMG_7235.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From my children this weekend for my birthday</td></tr>
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Whatever the reason they were sent, when they arrived they made me feel a bit better after Dad passed away, or this week for my birthday, just wonderful. They have filled the house with heavenly scents and gladdened my soul. Credit to the florists and a grateful thank you to all who sent them.<br />I may not get any flowers again now for a long time, but will still be filling these vases with roses and Sweet Peas from the garden this summer.Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-64943365231335665212017-11-13T23:22:00.000+13:002017-11-20T07:52:43.081+13:00A weekend to remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with friends Saturday night - Six decades....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday lunch at Pegasus Winery, Waipara, after a magical mystery tour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfection.....the boys all landed up dressed in blue :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhj57-4Z33pXv6N2q_MTx2TlPBosKFbrfMrmt8kEXc2aZn4Dvl14GHsuadSvHKnsvijjbdD6z_eMAKyY0uphyag8sR0ZzpQonZC14W41pNFkYOM-bmUxXEUTXb-LRJtUfgHdKeVIvaSw/s1600/20171112_145819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhj57-4Z33pXv6N2q_MTx2TlPBosKFbrfMrmt8kEXc2aZn4Dvl14GHsuadSvHKnsvijjbdD6z_eMAKyY0uphyag8sR0ZzpQonZC14W41pNFkYOM-bmUxXEUTXb-LRJtUfgHdKeVIvaSw/s320/20171112_145819.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't plan to dress in similar patterns.... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gEhxblsWhj-olf8aEkpJ_y7t_o1mIfAGH2HDVRPNxrCglwMZZU89E5B6ybwj9PCJ9HGzcKgg4bor7PjKcuBBzHFjkewN8PcNn1JKV0eedrzt51M7dTpQRbruM5a-z8z0Gv2qRMpaRSM/s1600/20171112_160450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gEhxblsWhj-olf8aEkpJ_y7t_o1mIfAGH2HDVRPNxrCglwMZZU89E5B6ybwj9PCJ9HGzcKgg4bor7PjKcuBBzHFjkewN8PcNn1JKV0eedrzt51M7dTpQRbruM5a-z8z0Gv2qRMpaRSM/s400/20171112_160450.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Gardens. Many happy memories of visits here with Dad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAx3HbQSAKDnmdNwGiswhbp4B_O1jU1KSaAdX5sjmI1oMbHLD4_HiWki2d11YsDR5r1IxzBPn7b-kQpwzdMFxPZh7RC6X_ZiZTuJPOailm4Rt2pm5M7e40i80_HYFY3TVG86SArTna20/s1600/IMG_20171112_155446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAx3HbQSAKDnmdNwGiswhbp4B_O1jU1KSaAdX5sjmI1oMbHLD4_HiWki2d11YsDR5r1IxzBPn7b-kQpwzdMFxPZh7RC6X_ZiZTuJPOailm4Rt2pm5M7e40i80_HYFY3TVG86SArTna20/s400/IMG_20171112_155446.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost all of us - Alex took the picture... the day had turned much colder.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maddie with the lovely cards and flowers</td></tr>
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I got to chat to some of my other family around the world and my brother and his wife in Vancouver, Work put on some afternoon tea today and then a final dinner tonight with friends.....it has certainly been a wonderful birthday and very happy we get a short working week due to the day off next Friday for Canterbury Show Day, so I can recover then.... :). </div>
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I will leave you with the photos my Mother says is her favourite photo of me.... Taken in Swanage - probably the summer of 1960. </div>
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Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-59085502000735105292017-11-11T08:46:00.001+13:002017-11-11T08:46:47.563+13:00Great loss, a new decade and appreciation of friends and family in my life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktVuBTGkSEShRIFGXXQ1WmR8xtKtKz-gEpitpnccpn8usguMzjHn3-H3THZbq9C1vX3jlAz7FUCXokhjEUSHHkkEd67E87rrDQ_IIlCGf6A_iODa3Q73TgVv7eLh2KaukareLQ1ULGtk/s1600/20171004180307_IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktVuBTGkSEShRIFGXXQ1WmR8xtKtKz-gEpitpnccpn8usguMzjHn3-H3THZbq9C1vX3jlAz7FUCXokhjEUSHHkkEd67E87rrDQ_IIlCGf6A_iODa3Q73TgVv7eLh2KaukareLQ1ULGtk/s320/20171004180307_IMG_0978.JPG" width="264" /></a></div>
David. Jan 1926 - Oct 2017<br />
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I really haven't been able to write about Dad's death last month, and it is still too hard to put more than this photo - but it has been a month now and it was so hard just looking through the pictures again today. So many I could choose, but I have always loved this picture and it reminds me of how long I have been privileged to have him in my life. Dad always had his nose in a book, but then usually so did I... and I adored him.<br />
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Loss on this scale really does remind you of how important friends and family are in your life. As we have dealt with Dad's gradual decline this year, and the grief of losing him, the family have pulled together to support each other. My brother in Vancouver and my children here have been wonderful and supported my mother through this time as well. My friends, many of whom have also lost parents this year, have been a great source of comfort, Thank you everyone for all you have done.<br />
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On Monday, I start another new decade. At least I can genuinely celebrate how good it is to be alive and look forward to the future but the celebrations are small and focused. Some good friends are gathering and having me for dinner tonight and tomorrow the children have something planned with Mum... so far I don't know what it involves, but as long as they are all there I will be supremely happy. Then another night out with some friends on the big day too. Life is good :)<br />
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Yesterday one of our student classes had an end of year get together - and gave Poppy a present... read the fine print on the sign - totally appropriate and she is a source of ongoing joy in my life.<br />
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and of course - Maddie. My friends, Kerry, and Heather, from At the Vets, made this possible and she is a lovely addition to the family. Love her wee fat paws...<br />
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Off for our regular Saturday walk at the river ... Poppy's favourite activity.<br />
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-62855562242938679222017-09-10T15:04:00.000+12:002017-11-20T07:54:08.126+13:00Spring in the Christchurch Red ZonePoppy and I walked along the river and through the "red zone" today. This is the suburban area along the Avon River that has been cleared of housing due to land damage post quakes of 2010/11.<br />
It was a lovely taste of spring before the bad weather hit this afternoon, which was expected as the three Alpine passes around us have been closed due to snow this weekend.<br />
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Walking in the red zone is bittersweet; so many lost houses, homes, lives, and plans. We enjoy the extensive park left behind, but it still has a graveyard feeling, a lingering feeling of loss for those who have lost the right to call this beautiful place home... but the remaining plants and trees are still enjoyed by many people<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South to the Port Hills</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North towards my house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the cat feeding station under the trees for the "Red Zone Cats" - the abandoned, wild, lost pets. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the green on the trees</td></tr>
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It has been a long winter - my father has not been well and I had some months off work. Poppy has been a wonderful companion - often snuggled on Dad's knees.<br />
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and I have a new love... Maddie. She is polydactyl so she has fat feet with thumbs... and has been a lively addition to the house.<br />
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Sorry I have been gone so long - I still read lots of your blogs and will try to pop back here more often! </div>
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-4545281202735799842016-11-19T11:06:00.001+13:002017-11-20T07:54:08.122+13:00A difficult weekFor those of you overseas or not on my facebook page, this thoughtful video will update you on what has been happening. It is sad to see but honest<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3921507366001/rkpzbXi0_default/index.html?videoId=5215560884001"></iframe><br />
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Christchurch has certainly had a few long, slow wobbles since the large quake - but further north they have had three thousand...and floods. Many tourists have been evacuated this week.<br />
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The quake was upgraded to a 7.8 and has triggered off six fault lines.<br />
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<a href="http://thespinoff.co.nz/science/16-11-2016/this-stunning-map-shows-that-six-faults-at-least-six-ruptured-in-the-kaikoura-quake/">http://thespinoff.co.nz/science/16-11-2016/this-stunning-map-shows-that-six-faults-at-least-six-ruptured-in-the-kaikoura-quake/</a><br />
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We know what the people are going through... physical fear, the chemical toilets in Kaikoura, fear of what the future will be like....and the concerns for many about re-entering the high rise buildings in Wellington. <br />
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Ann was trapped in one of the buses during the february quake here:<br />
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<header class="entry-header" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px;"><div class="entry-meta meta-top" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: NeuzeitOfficeW01, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<a href="http://thespinoff.co.nz/author/ann-brower/" rel="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="View all posts by Ann Brower"><span class="author vcard" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">By Ann Brower</span></a><br />
<time class="entry-date" datetime="2016-11-19T05:10:04+00:00" style="box-sizing: border-box;">November 19, 2016</time><br />
<time class="entry-date" datetime="2016-11-19T05:10:04+00:00" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></time><br />
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<a href="http://thespinoff.co.nz/featured/19-11-2016/a-rush-back-to-business-as-usual-cost-lives-in-2011-please-wellington-dont-repeat-christchurchs-mistake/">http://thespinoff.co.nz/featured/19-11-2016/a-rush-back-to-business-as-usual-cost-lives-in-2011-please-wellington-dont-repeat-christchurchs-mistake/</a></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">On a bus in Colombo Street five years ago, I experienced first-hand the hazards of sacrificing safety in the cause of an urgent return to normal service in the city, writes Ann Brower</strong>On <a href="http://thespinoff.co.nz/featured/22-02-2016/half-full-of-hope-18-christchurch-voices-on-the-fifth-anniversary/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #124e99; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">February 22 2011</a>, everyone around me died when a red-stickered building collapsed on to a bus I was riding. I was <a href="http://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/luck-played-no-part-in-this/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #124e99; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">crushed </a>to within millimetres of my life, was dug out by strangers, spent months in hospital, and took the best part of the year off work. It cost over half a million dollars to save my left leg. For three years, I lived, worked and slept in a fog. Even now, I feel the earthquake in every step.</blockquote>
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I hope Wellington learns from our mistakes...<br />
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Meanwhile, life is continuing fr me - exams/ marking/practical assessments/long days. <br />
Bear with us all if we seem a little impatient or short tempered.... the broken sleep and memories and the worries are more straws on our backs, even though we are not currently in the direct earthquake zone.</div>
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I went to check our 20 litre water container and can't find it.... and I have no idea who has taken it - so back to the shops for water this week. Food, gas, petrol - tick. Middle of the night tsunami warnings remind you that it pays to check torches and batteries - and I have carried a transistor radio this week for the first time in a few years. </div>
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Today the sun is shining and I can walk Poppy between assignment marking, and head out for dinner later. <br />
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For live EQ updates on Twitter. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eqnz">https://twitter.com/hashtag/eqnz</a></div>
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For local papers: <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86416304/live-north-canterbury-quake">http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86416304/live-north-canterbury-quake</a></div>
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If you would also like to help the people affected by the earthquakes, I found the Red Cross donation to be the best method. In New Zealand they have a paid text option or you can use their website.</div>
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<a href="https://www.redcross.org.nz/donate/november-2016-earthquake-appeal/?gclid=CJbY1uyms9ACFQFvvAodfEUPig" target="_blank">November Earthquake Appeal - Red Cross</a><br />
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Red Cross Pictures Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NewZealandRedCross/">https://www.facebook.com/NewZealandRedCross/</a><br />
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Spokeswoman Gemma Snowdon said the best way to help was to give money so the Red Cross could use it to provide aid to people who have no power, no clean water, no homes, no food, or are simply stranded because of impassable roads.</div>
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"That's the best way to help out at the moment because we are still assessing what needs to be done and what people need. One hundred per cent of the funds goes straight to people affected by the earthquake."</div>
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Snowdon said the most urgent issue was clean water and Red the Cross will offer water bladders and tap stands for distribution.</div>
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<strong style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri, Candara, Segoe, "Segoe UI", Optima, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Earthquake relief donations wanted</strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Red Cross - Donate money </span><a href="http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: Calibri, Candara, Segoe, "Segoe UI", Optima, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 0px 0px 1px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color, opacity; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> or text REDCROSS to 3181 make an instant $3 donation</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Givealittle - </span><a href="https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/november2016earthquakeappeal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: Calibri, Candara, Segoe, "Segoe UI", Optima, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 0px 0px 1px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color, opacity; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">2016 November earthquake appeal</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Givealittle - search Westpac Rescue Helicopter earthquake appeal</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Givealittle - search Kaikoura earthquake relief fund</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Givealittle - search Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Wellington</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">• Salvation Army - donations of non-perishable items to Blenheim office at 35 George St on weekdays between 9am and 2pm</span></div>
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Thank you<br />
fi </div>
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<br />Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-43177097891259408732016-11-14T16:23:00.001+13:002016-11-14T16:30:57.926+13:00Shaky end to my birthday weekend...We are ok - just saddened to be going through another major earthquake swarm here in New Zealand. <br />
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Just after midnight a 7.5 earthquake hit near Hanmer Springs/Culverden and then followed by a run of aftershocks, extending a long way up and down both islands. Latest reports today say it was actually two quakes that hit simultaneously....the 7.5 is four times as powerful as the 7.1 that hit Darfield, Christchurch in 2010. That fault rupture was 30km long and last nights probably four times as long. <br />
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So a sleepless night with eastern tsunami alerts and many people evacuated from coastal areas. I managed some sleep from about 4 pm but it is no surprise that most people are not functioning very well today. There is a lot of damage around the island - roads and slips - and two people have died. <br />
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After 17,000 recorded quakes it really is no surprise to be having them - and we do have a plate / fault line running up and down both islands...sliding past and crashing into each other. Last night the quake was potentially on the plate boundary and it caused a slip one and an up/down thrust one. Kaikoura was up down motion, and Seddon was clearly a side to side motion. The size and length of was an unwelcome return and the swarm that followed it brings back a lot of fears and memories we can all do without. There have been a few hundred aftershocks - one a 6.4 that sent us out of our 4th floor office today and a decision to work at home! <br />
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<a href="http://www.canterburyquakelive.co.nz/">http://www.canterburyquakelive.co.nz/</a><br />
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Many of the quakes were recorded as Severe on <a href="http://www.geonet.org.nz/">http://www.geonet.org.nz/</a><br />
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and the Drums were busy.<br />
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It has made the top 100 quake list...<br />
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This man's house was sitting on top of one of the fault lines - which has always been one of my personal nightmares about earthquakes. <a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/he-took-off-across-paddock-in-his-undies-farmer-house-faultline-reacts-staffer-bolted-moved-6m">https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/he-took-off-across-paddock-in-his-undies-farmer-house-faultline-reacts-staffer-bolted-moved-6m</a><br />
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The tsunami sirens were going for a long time....we could faintly hear them on the beach. I spent a bit of time checking the maps and wondering whether to get the kids up and head inland as we are on the borders of safety - but they put the evacuation centre closer than us so finally decided it was safe to sleep. If you have facebook - here is a video of the sirens and the night scene: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn">https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn</a><br />
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There are major slips on State Highway one south of Kaikoura - blocking off the road and the railways. Taken from Rebuild Christchurch facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rebuildchristchurch/photos/pcb.1423992670959138/1423992290959176/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">- https://www.facebook.com/rebuildchristchurch/photos/pcb.1423992670959138/1423992290959176/?type=3&theater</a><br />
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The Clarence River near Kaikoura is now blocked by a landslide...<br />
<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86436608/warning-as-large-clarence-river-dammed-by-landslide">http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86436608/warning-as-large-clarence-river-dammed-by-landslide</a><br />
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The sky lit up at the time of the earthquake - T<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "san francisco" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">his is a natural phenomenon, according to National Geographic. </span><br />
<a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-wellingtons-sky-turns-blue-midnight-quakes-collide-produce-rare-tectonic-plate-phenomenon">https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-wellingtons-sky-turns-blue-midnight-quakes-collide-produce-rare-tectonic-plate-phenomenon</a><br />
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Here is a page with latest news updates...<br />
<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11747689" target="_blank"> http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11747689</a><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86416304/live-north-canterbury-quake">http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86416304/live-north-canterbury-quake</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">By 2.10pm, 382 aftershocks had struck the region. Of those, 216 were more than magnitude 4.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">There is a live quake map here- you can play the last week - look for Monday 14th Nov and play that....scary!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/week">http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/week</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjp0zyGz0QnSUaNFucFnaL3xMB2bYKgR2bp-S26bOmMigXyCjnZAd4JMAWeiMfAxhKcVfOG_LyyomsbURam350QFKMbDHrQwl7L-HlT8RMKL34Jv2ua9On3vxQ1HmHPW7jaHr_VFhRbQ/s640/Screenshot+2016-11-14+16.21.55.png" width="640" /><a href="http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/week" target="_blank">http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/week</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , "candara" , "segoe" , "segoe ui" , "optima" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Still life goes on. I have had a really fabulous three day weekend and it has been over just minutes when the quake struck. But it has been wonderful to have some great times with friends and family and my house is filled with wine and chocolates and flowers and things that smell purrrrfect. <br /><br />Kia Kaha New Zealand- when you're not shaking, you are still a wonderful place to live :)</span></span>Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4467044113128246688.post-53304667943251546282016-10-09T21:13:00.001+13:002016-10-10T10:24:25.399+13:00End of the holidays...<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4635615/?claim=cktsg7x9q2z">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d8mZUiorHPgI5X0zLPoob7F0IzJhlI-8o6tGjoEMcBFjCJhwYK91UoXgGpbEKeC8LGhx55-ZHusSyuf_uGJTVzthkjEtABHOfCZCJh045x1oX4mIqby0eBOUN9cZ12d3D2ZxSUFNpMk/s640/blogger-image-1137660367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d8mZUiorHPgI5X0zLPoob7F0IzJhlI-8o6tGjoEMcBFjCJhwYK91UoXgGpbEKeC8LGhx55-ZHusSyuf_uGJTVzthkjEtABHOfCZCJh045x1oX4mIqby0eBOUN9cZ12d3D2ZxSUFNpMk/s640/blogger-image-1137660367.jpg" /></a></div>It's been a busy two weeks. My brother was here from Vancouver, so lots of catching up to do. It's been a long time since it was just us with Mum and Dad so we took the chance to take them over to Governor's Bay for lunch and have some laughs about family memories over a few days together. We were very sad to see him leave.<br />
<div>I needed a new shower installed when it became obvious it was leaking - so in between all that I was getting materials together and getting the builder and plumber in - but it's worth it - all shiny and new - managed to get it mainly finished before I flew over to Nelson last weekend and had my little Spring break. The weather was unsettled but enough sun and a well stocked log burner took care of that and it was lovely to find some time to shop and talk and catch up with Libby and Davy and some other lovely Nelson friends... And of course wee Fergus.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Poppy had fun back here with Alex. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Back to Christchurch in time to fit in choir, some dinners with friends, and celebrate some birthdays - Phoebe is 8 this week, where has the time gone!!!!, so took her present out yesterday... And never even took a photo. The girls are growing up so fast..</div><div><br />
</div><div>And James had a birthday dinner on Friday and today, we all went for afternoon tea at my parents to celebrate with them. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfG6fOREaLghThx_FvQxLvAyhRVg2O4l1iK5Sy2j0G2xZ7FNCv5xtWgX2h-1oiBqoh1NzXNWS9jmg2PQX3JB3LFP-qR7Vp-NOOC3X4zMWGOElJx2X5S_ezEEr7KAkj6UANPfWnRwkuOs/s640/blogger-image-2000423249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfG6fOREaLghThx_FvQxLvAyhRVg2O4l1iK5Sy2j0G2xZ7FNCv5xtWgX2h-1oiBqoh1NzXNWS9jmg2PQX3JB3LFP-qR7Vp-NOOC3X4zMWGOElJx2X5S_ezEEr7KAkj6UANPfWnRwkuOs/s640/blogger-image-2000423249.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div>Long phone chat with my other mother last night too - and regular facebook chats with my sister in Greece. All in all, a <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">fabulous time filled with family, friends and good times and the house is getting into shape for summer ahead. </span></div><div><br />
</div><div>I don't take it for granted. I know it is a privilege to have a lovely home and so many wonderful people in my life and to share so may experiences with them. </div><div>Much love to you all xxx</div><div><br />
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</div>Fi from Four Paws and Whiskershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217307759511472654noreply@blogger.com10