I guess no where is really safe now days and living in London you do come to expect the unexpected, but I certainly wasn't expecting what happened to me last week. I thought I'd write a wee note about my interesting moment last week, as some of you might find it extremely amusing.
So last Tuesday night, I'd just been around to see Neil and was on my way back home. Now where I live I'd like to think isn't a 'rough' area, it certainly isn't a flash area of London, but I don't think it is awfully bad, however compared to some of the surrounding suburbs it isn't too crash hot.
Anyway, so I'd jumped off the bus and made my way down my street, I noticed a slightly dodgy looking man standing on the side of the road looking a tad strange. The thought did run through my mind to cross the road, but he was only about 10 houses away from mine, so being so close to home I thought I'd just carry on as usual. So here I was walking along, in my own wee world, iPod in, minding my own business, I thought I'd just walk past him not even acknowledge that he's standing there and I'll be home in half a minute. So I'm walking past Mr Dodgy, and I just glace at him and he's standing there, on the side of the road, between two cars, facing me/the footpath with his wang hanging out of his jeans, and no he wasn't going for a wee, he was actually just standing there with it all hanging out!!!! My poor eyes burned in my head, and I got one hell of a fright, so I quickly up'd my walking pace, grabbed my keys out of my bag, before heading up my footpath swung around to make sure he wasn't following me, ducked inside and locked the door. I was feeling a bit violated after this, but what could I do.
So that's my wee story about one interesting event that happened to me last week, that I thought I'd share with you all to have a wee giggle over.... though at the time I didn't find it funny at all. Let's just hope now that the all the dodgy people stay away from my street!
Wednesday 30 March 2011
Tuesday 29 March 2011
Paris
When I first arrived in the UK I never really had great intentions to go to Paris, well I would have always gone, but it wasn't at the top of my list for places to see and I thought if I left it to the last minute that would be fine, as long as I saw everything else first. So when I booked my tickets, it was a bit of a off the bat decision. I'd booked bus tickets which is a bit of a painful way to get there, but the cheapest by far, so I booked an overnight bus to get there and the afternoon bus for my return. So on Wednesday night I was all packed and on my way to Victoria Coach Station ready for my long bus journey. I can't say I had the best sleep in the world, but it was enough. Waking up and being in France is an amazing feeling, it was dawn as we were driving south towards Paris and along the highway was hundreds of Blossom trees, I've never seen anything like it, it was beautiful, and a wonderful way to spend a sleepy morning on a bus.
After a 10 hour bus journey, not much of a sleep and a very sore bum from the seat, I was in Paris!
I had arrived, jumped off the bus and made my way to the Metro, managed to get a day pass and a map for the train and I was sorted. Now I was on my way to get lost in Paris! I had a little map of Paris and a map of the Metro (the underground in Paris), so you would have found me sitting on the Metro trying to work out which would be the best station to get off at. I got of at what seemed to be like a central-ish station and just thought I'd walk around and see what I could find. With no sense of direction, a backpack on my back and a small tourist book and map in hand I just walked, and I must have looked like a typical tourist. The bag I had to carry around for the day as I wasn't due to meet my cousin until after 7pm that evening, but I was so grateful that I had a comfy fold out sofa waiting for me that a day with a backpack on my back was no problem.
Not knowing where I was walking to and what direction I was going I thought I should perhaps try and find a popular landmark. I'd started to walk through some gardens when in the distance I could see the top of the Eiffel tower, so I thought I'd track that down. I was walking the long way there, but it was worth it, because before I knew it in front of me was the Arc De Triomphe. It was great to come across this, a little something unexpected on my walking journey. After discovering this and then looking over to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I thought I'd take some back streets now. Walking through the back streets I started to feel completely lost, but having the whole day in front of me to find work out where I was, I wasn't too concerned and it wasn't too long before I found the Seine (the river that runs through Paris), and then sure enough over the other side of the river was the Eiffel Tower. Saturday was the day I'd arranged to go to the Eiffel Tower and see the view from the top, so I didn't head over to check it out, instead I thought a nice little stroll along the river would go down a treat. 20 minutes must have been about how long I'd walked along the river for when I came across a nice pond with chairs all around followed by gardens and old buildings. So now was the perfect time to take a break and rest for a while. It must have been just before midday when I managed to come across the famous Lourve. A giant glass pyramid with fountains around the edge then surrounded by the huge old Lourve. 7 hours was about how long I still had before I had to meet Clinton, my cousin, so I thought a good way to spend some time would be to get a ticket and see everything the Lourve had to offer, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus De Milo.
The Notre Dame, that was my next destination and the last for this day of walking around, I was shattered now and had done more than enough walking around for one day. Notre Dame has to be one of the most amazing churches I've ever seen, the design of it is just out of this world, I took countless photo's. It was so nice to walk around this area. I came across this bridge where the whole side of it was covered in locks, love locks, and now you're wondering what are love locks. So what you do, is you and your loved one get a lock and either engrave or write on it both of your names, then you bolt your lock to the fence then throw the key in the river below. Locking your love together. I thought it was so sweet, but then every now and again I like cheesy romantic stuff like that and Paris is meant to be the 'City of Love'.
Another sunny spring day in Paris, and this day I had a lot in store. Montmarte is where I was headed for the start of the day, an area just north of central Paris. First stop in Montmarte was the Sacrè Coeur, a great big white church at the top of a hill. Stop number two was the Moulin Rouge. The Moulin Rouge wasn't as big and glitzy as I thought it would be, but was definitely worth the walk. If I ever go back to Paris I'd love to go and see a show there, I do imagine that at night it would be very well lit up and sparkly, but during this sunny day it seemed like nothing too special. The first half of the day was over and now I was back on the Metro on my way to Père Lachaise. The largest cemetery in France, Père Lachaise is the home to many famous people. I spent a good part of a couple of hours wondering through this cemetery, there are so many amazing tombs and graves and as gloomy as it sounds, it's actually extremely picturesque. So I stopped by Jim Morrison, I did get a wee bit lost trying to find him, but then in the distance I could hear Doors music and I knew I was getting close. There were lots of people around Jim Morrison, but I guess that's to be expected. I also found the tomb of Oscar Wilde, again with a lot of people sitting around. Père Lachaise may not be at the top of every one's list of places to visit while in Paris, but I'd definitely recommend it, as a place to go and spend a couple of hours walking around in, it is very nice.
Dusk had been and gone. I'd eaten dinner and now I was ready for a wee night adventure, seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle. It was a mild night, not too cold and clear skies, I could have walked around much longer if I wasn't so worn out from the day I'd already had of walking around. The Eiffel Tower at night was something I've always wanted to see and to see it sparkle was great. Managed to get another tone of pictures, my poor camera was getting the most use I think it's ever had! After seeing a very bright sparkly Eiffel Tower I was headed back home again for bed, great way to spend a Friday night huh!
Saturday, my last full day in Paris, up early in the morning I was going up the top of the Eiffel Tower today, and trust my luck this would be the only cloudy day I would have on my trip, all in all it was still a spectacular view. It's funny though how you don't really think your scared of heights until you're in this tiny lift with about 6 other people with full view of your trip up to the top of the Eiffel Tower! Once I was up there though I came right, still a wee bit on edge about the fact that I was so high off the ground. The pictures I took while I was up there didn't turn out to be the best thanks to the cloud, but still they are great for me to look at and think that I saw Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
With my feet firmly planted back on the ground, and feeling much safer, I was heading just around the corner to Les Invalides, where I would get to see Napoleon's Tomb.
Next stop was a cafe called Angelina's, a famous cafe in Paris. Anyone who goes to Paris must go here. I meet Clinton, as he told me that he wanted to make sure I'd had a Chocolat Chaud or as you would say in English a Hot Chocolate, and this would be the Hot Chocolate that rocked my world! I think now every time I'll have a hot chocolate since it will never be the same. Out of this world amazing would be the best way to describe it.
The rest of my time in Paris was spend exploring some more back streets, eating plenty of pastries from cute French bakeries. But before I knew it I was packed and on my way back to catch the bus back to London.
All in all Paris was simply wonderful, a lot more older and unique than London and I would recommend Paris to all. I have much more exploring around the world, but I would definitely like to see Paris again.
After a 10 hour bus journey, not much of a sleep and a very sore bum from the seat, I was in Paris!
I had arrived, jumped off the bus and made my way to the Metro, managed to get a day pass and a map for the train and I was sorted. Now I was on my way to get lost in Paris! I had a little map of Paris and a map of the Metro (the underground in Paris), so you would have found me sitting on the Metro trying to work out which would be the best station to get off at. I got of at what seemed to be like a central-ish station and just thought I'd walk around and see what I could find. With no sense of direction, a backpack on my back and a small tourist book and map in hand I just walked, and I must have looked like a typical tourist. The bag I had to carry around for the day as I wasn't due to meet my cousin until after 7pm that evening, but I was so grateful that I had a comfy fold out sofa waiting for me that a day with a backpack on my back was no problem.
The Notre Dame, that was my next destination and the last for this day of walking around, I was shattered now and had done more than enough walking around for one day. Notre Dame has to be one of the most amazing churches I've ever seen, the design of it is just out of this world, I took countless photo's. It was so nice to walk around this area. I came across this bridge where the whole side of it was covered in locks, love locks, and now you're wondering what are love locks. So what you do, is you and your loved one get a lock and either engrave or write on it both of your names, then you bolt your lock to the fence then throw the key in the river below. Locking your love together. I thought it was so sweet, but then every now and again I like cheesy romantic stuff like that and Paris is meant to be the 'City of Love'.
Another sunny spring day in Paris, and this day I had a lot in store. Montmarte is where I was headed for the start of the day, an area just north of central Paris. First stop in Montmarte was the Sacrè Coeur, a great big white church at the top of a hill. Stop number two was the Moulin Rouge. The Moulin Rouge wasn't as big and glitzy as I thought it would be, but was definitely worth the walk. If I ever go back to Paris I'd love to go and see a show there, I do imagine that at night it would be very well lit up and sparkly, but during this sunny day it seemed like nothing too special. The first half of the day was over and now I was back on the Metro on my way to Père Lachaise. The largest cemetery in France, Père Lachaise is the home to many famous people. I spent a good part of a couple of hours wondering through this cemetery, there are so many amazing tombs and graves and as gloomy as it sounds, it's actually extremely picturesque. So I stopped by Jim Morrison, I did get a wee bit lost trying to find him, but then in the distance I could hear Doors music and I knew I was getting close. There were lots of people around Jim Morrison, but I guess that's to be expected. I also found the tomb of Oscar Wilde, again with a lot of people sitting around. Père Lachaise may not be at the top of every one's list of places to visit while in Paris, but I'd definitely recommend it, as a place to go and spend a couple of hours walking around in, it is very nice.
Dusk had been and gone. I'd eaten dinner and now I was ready for a wee night adventure, seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle. It was a mild night, not too cold and clear skies, I could have walked around much longer if I wasn't so worn out from the day I'd already had of walking around. The Eiffel Tower at night was something I've always wanted to see and to see it sparkle was great. Managed to get another tone of pictures, my poor camera was getting the most use I think it's ever had! After seeing a very bright sparkly Eiffel Tower I was headed back home again for bed, great way to spend a Friday night huh!
Saturday, my last full day in Paris, up early in the morning I was going up the top of the Eiffel Tower today, and trust my luck this would be the only cloudy day I would have on my trip, all in all it was still a spectacular view. It's funny though how you don't really think your scared of heights until you're in this tiny lift with about 6 other people with full view of your trip up to the top of the Eiffel Tower! Once I was up there though I came right, still a wee bit on edge about the fact that I was so high off the ground. The pictures I took while I was up there didn't turn out to be the best thanks to the cloud, but still they are great for me to look at and think that I saw Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
With my feet firmly planted back on the ground, and feeling much safer, I was heading just around the corner to Les Invalides, where I would get to see Napoleon's Tomb.
Next stop was a cafe called Angelina's, a famous cafe in Paris. Anyone who goes to Paris must go here. I meet Clinton, as he told me that he wanted to make sure I'd had a Chocolat Chaud or as you would say in English a Hot Chocolate, and this would be the Hot Chocolate that rocked my world! I think now every time I'll have a hot chocolate since it will never be the same. Out of this world amazing would be the best way to describe it.
The rest of my time in Paris was spend exploring some more back streets, eating plenty of pastries from cute French bakeries. But before I knew it I was packed and on my way back to catch the bus back to London.
All in all Paris was simply wonderful, a lot more older and unique than London and I would recommend Paris to all. I have much more exploring around the world, but I would definitely like to see Paris again.
Saturday 19 March 2011
A love for Irish Dance
9 Years old, that's how old I was when I started dancing, Irish dancing that is. I still remember when mum came home from the Royal Variety Performance and told my sister and I that she was going to start taking us to Irish dancing lessons. I remember when she said that I wasn't very impressed, how could I be? Irish dancing, really when you're 9 years old and all your friends are learning ballet and gymnastics, Irish dancing didn't sound like the most appealing of things to be getting into. This was a time before it was well known, there was no Riverdance, no Lord of the Dance and no one had heard of Michael Flatley. This was unknown territory that sounded like the least fun way to spend your Saturday morning as a child. However a couple of weeks later I found myself in a hall at the back of a church surrounded by other kids and parents, the parents sitting around the sides, while their children where dancing around the hall. I remember being told by the teacher to get up and join the others while they did the traditional group dance The Walls of Limerick. I had no idea what I was doing, I felt ridiculous, but I did what I was told.
It wasn't until a few years later I really started to form a passion for Irish Dancing. I couldn't tell you how my love for dancing started or why, it just formed and before I new it, it was my life. Unlike most of my fellow dancers I have no Irish heritage, I'd never been to Ireland let alone stepped a foot outside of New Zealand but my passion pulled me into all things Irish. By this time Riverdance and Lord of the Dance were a huge international sensation, our class size must have tripled with keen children thinking that they could do a few lessons and that would land them in one of these shows.
Many rags, rollers and wigs later. Countless competitions, shows, fundraisers and St Patricks Days I started to find myself getting tired of the fuss that was involved with dancing and it was time to start thinking of new things for my life now. Though my true love for dancing had never faded, I needed to end that chapter of my life and begin a new one.14 years is how long I danced for, well I still find myself skipping along to some tunes every now and again, but 14 years of competitions, wigs and dresses was the official length I danced for. I still love it and even when I'm having a bad day I can always put on some dancing music and find myself humming along and chilling out to it, it's hard to describe how much I really do love Irish dancing. It was St Patricks Day the other day and you would have found me at work and then at home preparing dinner, why? I guess after 14 years of dancing every single St Patricks Day in stuffy pubs with drunk patrons it's kind of nice to just have the day to yourself and not be one of those drunk patrons. Yes I know I could have done something great being in London and all, but I just didn't want to. I will be having a delayed celebration next month however, not only for St Patricks Day but all other things that are Irish, for the first time I am going to Ireland. I'm going to explore the country and to top it off I will be there to watch the World Irish Dancing Championships which are taking place in Dublin this year, and I can't describe how excited I am!
It wasn't until a few years later I really started to form a passion for Irish Dancing. I couldn't tell you how my love for dancing started or why, it just formed and before I new it, it was my life. Unlike most of my fellow dancers I have no Irish heritage, I'd never been to Ireland let alone stepped a foot outside of New Zealand but my passion pulled me into all things Irish. By this time Riverdance and Lord of the Dance were a huge international sensation, our class size must have tripled with keen children thinking that they could do a few lessons and that would land them in one of these shows.
Many rags, rollers and wigs later. Countless competitions, shows, fundraisers and St Patricks Days I started to find myself getting tired of the fuss that was involved with dancing and it was time to start thinking of new things for my life now. Though my true love for dancing had never faded, I needed to end that chapter of my life and begin a new one.14 years is how long I danced for, well I still find myself skipping along to some tunes every now and again, but 14 years of competitions, wigs and dresses was the official length I danced for. I still love it and even when I'm having a bad day I can always put on some dancing music and find myself humming along and chilling out to it, it's hard to describe how much I really do love Irish dancing. It was St Patricks Day the other day and you would have found me at work and then at home preparing dinner, why? I guess after 14 years of dancing every single St Patricks Day in stuffy pubs with drunk patrons it's kind of nice to just have the day to yourself and not be one of those drunk patrons. Yes I know I could have done something great being in London and all, but I just didn't want to. I will be having a delayed celebration next month however, not only for St Patricks Day but all other things that are Irish, for the first time I am going to Ireland. I'm going to explore the country and to top it off I will be there to watch the World Irish Dancing Championships which are taking place in Dublin this year, and I can't describe how excited I am!
Thursday 10 March 2011
Ten Months Down
It's hard to believe that this time 10 months ago I was on a plane bound for Heathrow Airport, London. It's hard to judge how fast the time has gone by, there are days when I feel like I've been here for years and then there are the days when I feel like I've been here a couple of months. In 8 weeks time I would have been in London for a year, so in around 6 weeks time I will be exactly halfway through my two year visa, and that scares the living day lights out of me. There is so much to do and see here that I think I could be here 5 years and it may not be enough. I've never lived somewhere where there is so many wonderful things to do and so many amazing places at my fingertips! I can't even comprehend the end of this journey, especially when I feel like it's only now truly beginning.
When I think of going home I just can't seem to grasp the concept, I know I still have a little over a year here, but when you're really having the time of your life why would you ever want it to end? Every now and again I think about home, but sometimes I wonder where home would be. Christchurch will always be home and I will always call it my home, but do I want to go back there? Even before the earthquakes destroyed most of the city I found myself wondering "could I live there again? What is there for me" My family for one, my friends, but what else? Even if I could get a job there, where would I work? What would I do on the weekends? It would never be the life that I am so getting used to over here, it would always be so quiet, so small.
Then I think Australia, Brisbane, my home for 2 years. You could pretty much guarantee that you will always have a sunny day in Brisbane, it's always warm, no it's always hot! and I'd never have to take a coat out at night when I want to dress up and go out. The shopping and the fashion will always be ten times better than NZ, but never as good as London. But do I want to go back to Bris? I always thought about moving to Melbourne and living there for a while, but will Melbourne be what I'm looking for? I try so hard not to think about all this, I mean who know's where I'll be or what I'll be doing one year from now.
London life has been wonderful, but with the wonderful times come the tough times, and those tough times have been bad. But I can only put all the bad experiences down to learning, and making me more of the person I am. It feels like in the 10 months of being here i've been through more than the 25 years I spent at home (Australia included in that home). I think when I go home, whenever that may be, that I would have changed, I think I've changed already. I'm still the same me, I still like the same cheesy music, I still have the same intrests, I still can't sing to save myself, but I think I'm stronger and more resilient. I'd like to think that I could look life in the eye and say "bring it", that may be pushing my luck because really no one knows what lies ahead. I'd just like to get through the next two months really ticking off some of the boxes of what I'd like to do here, then once those two months are down, it will be summer and I'll be ready to start getting out there and really start exploring.
For the now I'm trying to get on with London life as if I'll be here forever, but have the appreciation for every small little detail as I did my first month I was living here. I want to live here without any worry about what the future holds, the only worry I want to have is to worry about the decision on what I'm going to do on the weekend or what country I plan on seeing next. I want to wake up every morning and think to myself how amazing it really is being here. The past few days have been sunny and it's been so great waking up to some sun and not the usual grey cloud. I really don't like the grey here, and yes it is grey all the time and I know that's what London is like, but when you see grey for weeks and months, seeing some sunshine changes everything. Waking up to sunshine makes me really stop and think that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now, and London is so pretty in the sun.
But for the now, London you are mine for the taking, and though you've managed to swallow up ten months aready, when it come's to the one year mark I just want you to make sure that I am happier than ever!
xx
When I think of going home I just can't seem to grasp the concept, I know I still have a little over a year here, but when you're really having the time of your life why would you ever want it to end? Every now and again I think about home, but sometimes I wonder where home would be. Christchurch will always be home and I will always call it my home, but do I want to go back there? Even before the earthquakes destroyed most of the city I found myself wondering "could I live there again? What is there for me" My family for one, my friends, but what else? Even if I could get a job there, where would I work? What would I do on the weekends? It would never be the life that I am so getting used to over here, it would always be so quiet, so small.
Then I think Australia, Brisbane, my home for 2 years. You could pretty much guarantee that you will always have a sunny day in Brisbane, it's always warm, no it's always hot! and I'd never have to take a coat out at night when I want to dress up and go out. The shopping and the fashion will always be ten times better than NZ, but never as good as London. But do I want to go back to Bris? I always thought about moving to Melbourne and living there for a while, but will Melbourne be what I'm looking for? I try so hard not to think about all this, I mean who know's where I'll be or what I'll be doing one year from now.
London life has been wonderful, but with the wonderful times come the tough times, and those tough times have been bad. But I can only put all the bad experiences down to learning, and making me more of the person I am. It feels like in the 10 months of being here i've been through more than the 25 years I spent at home (Australia included in that home). I think when I go home, whenever that may be, that I would have changed, I think I've changed already. I'm still the same me, I still like the same cheesy music, I still have the same intrests, I still can't sing to save myself, but I think I'm stronger and more resilient. I'd like to think that I could look life in the eye and say "bring it", that may be pushing my luck because really no one knows what lies ahead. I'd just like to get through the next two months really ticking off some of the boxes of what I'd like to do here, then once those two months are down, it will be summer and I'll be ready to start getting out there and really start exploring.
For the now I'm trying to get on with London life as if I'll be here forever, but have the appreciation for every small little detail as I did my first month I was living here. I want to live here without any worry about what the future holds, the only worry I want to have is to worry about the decision on what I'm going to do on the weekend or what country I plan on seeing next. I want to wake up every morning and think to myself how amazing it really is being here. The past few days have been sunny and it's been so great waking up to some sun and not the usual grey cloud. I really don't like the grey here, and yes it is grey all the time and I know that's what London is like, but when you see grey for weeks and months, seeing some sunshine changes everything. Waking up to sunshine makes me really stop and think that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now, and London is so pretty in the sun.
xx
Tuesday 8 March 2011
The Mousetrap
It definitely turned into a spoil myself weekend, but then thinking you could spend much more at a night out at the pub I'd much rather go to the theatre any day. I had to work during the day, but on my lunch break I rushed out to get two tickets, one for Neil and one for myself. It was Neil's first time seeing anything on West End so I got front row seats. The theatre was smaller than I had anticipated, especially since the play had been running for so long, but overall it was very nice. I can't give away anything on the actual play as I have been sworn to secrecy by the cast, but I can tell you it was great, though not as mysterious as I had hoped, but a wonderful way to spend a Saturday night for a change.
I need to start doing more things like going out to West End, I definitely think that the next one though has to be a musical, though since I want to see everything West End has to offer I'm not too sure where to start, but Les Mis, Wicked, Chicago and The Lion King are at the top of the list for the next outing.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Christchurch is my home
It was a normal Monday evening, and there's never really anything exciting about a Monday night. I had arrived home from work, cooked some dinner, got my things sorted for the next day, chatted to my Mum, everything was great, I had a great day, I'd booked a trip to Paris for March, this was going to be a good week.
It's amazing how quickly a good week can turn into the worst week ever. I'd been asleep for a little under 2 hours when I got the phone call. At 1.50am I answered a call from Anna, my Christchurch friend who lives in Brisbane. I answered and all she had to say was "Julainne", my name, that's all she said and I knew instantly something horrible had happened, and for a split second about 20 thoughts went through my mind, but I wasn't ready for what was next. "There's been another massive earthquake in Christchurch. It's really bad, buildings have fallen down. You need to ring your Mum."
Christchurch, otherwise known as the Garden City, a tourist attraction with old buildings, picturesque gardens, a river which makes for a great stroll along any time of the day. A city where everyone is happy, vibrant, polite and friendly. Christchurch, my home, will never be the same again.
It took around two and a half hours to get in touch with Mum, by this time I'd already spoken to my Dad, he was safe and that's all that mattered. When I finally managed to get in touch with Mum I was in a state, it must have been around 4am, I can't be sure because this morning the time didn't matter. I'd been watching the news online live from New Zealand, they were showing all the collapsed buildings, people were being pulled out from under rubble, some with a few cuts and bruises, some not so lucky. I'd finally managed to get in touch with Mum and my sister and they were safe, my sister managed to leave the Cathedral Square where she works, but not before she saw The Press building fall down in front of her. Hearing both of their voices on the phone was a wake up call, it bought me back to reality of what really matters in this world. Family and friends. I didn't care about Mum's house, what I still call my home, I didn't care about what had fallen and what remained standing all that mattered was that those I love were safe.
The week went on like a blur. I was feeling so far away from home I could have been on another planet. I was anxiously trying to get in touch with friends to make sure people were safe. Hearing about houses falling or badly cracked from the damage, peoples homes, my Mum's home will never be the same. Most of the city now has power, this doesn't include my Mum's house, she is still in the dark. There are many homes that remain without water, again my Mum's house included. And as my Dad said "we're all just really shaken up." And with the typical sense of humour he followed that with "pardon the pun." It's good to know that there are still some smiles through this awful event.
One week on from the disastrous event that has changed my city for ever and I count my blessings, my family and my friends are safe, and despite all that is going on in their lives we can still make each other smile. My thoughts are with those who have lost someone or are still waiting for their missing loved one's to be found.
In a little over one years time I will return to a city I wont recognise, a city that I love and cherish. Most of the CBD will be gone, I think to date there are 1300 buildings that need to be pulled down. I will go home to a city that will most likely still be having aftershocks. This will be a city who's attitude will have changed, people will be closer, this catastrophe will have made for a stronger community, but will it make for a happier one?
Kia kaha x
It's amazing how quickly a good week can turn into the worst week ever. I'd been asleep for a little under 2 hours when I got the phone call. At 1.50am I answered a call from Anna, my Christchurch friend who lives in Brisbane. I answered and all she had to say was "Julainne", my name, that's all she said and I knew instantly something horrible had happened, and for a split second about 20 thoughts went through my mind, but I wasn't ready for what was next. "There's been another massive earthquake in Christchurch. It's really bad, buildings have fallen down. You need to ring your Mum."
Christchurch, otherwise known as the Garden City, a tourist attraction with old buildings, picturesque gardens, a river which makes for a great stroll along any time of the day. A city where everyone is happy, vibrant, polite and friendly. Christchurch, my home, will never be the same again.
It took around two and a half hours to get in touch with Mum, by this time I'd already spoken to my Dad, he was safe and that's all that mattered. When I finally managed to get in touch with Mum I was in a state, it must have been around 4am, I can't be sure because this morning the time didn't matter. I'd been watching the news online live from New Zealand, they were showing all the collapsed buildings, people were being pulled out from under rubble, some with a few cuts and bruises, some not so lucky. I'd finally managed to get in touch with Mum and my sister and they were safe, my sister managed to leave the Cathedral Square where she works, but not before she saw The Press building fall down in front of her. Hearing both of their voices on the phone was a wake up call, it bought me back to reality of what really matters in this world. Family and friends. I didn't care about Mum's house, what I still call my home, I didn't care about what had fallen and what remained standing all that mattered was that those I love were safe.
The week went on like a blur. I was feeling so far away from home I could have been on another planet. I was anxiously trying to get in touch with friends to make sure people were safe. Hearing about houses falling or badly cracked from the damage, peoples homes, my Mum's home will never be the same. Most of the city now has power, this doesn't include my Mum's house, she is still in the dark. There are many homes that remain without water, again my Mum's house included. And as my Dad said "we're all just really shaken up." And with the typical sense of humour he followed that with "pardon the pun." It's good to know that there are still some smiles through this awful event.
One week on from the disastrous event that has changed my city for ever and I count my blessings, my family and my friends are safe, and despite all that is going on in their lives we can still make each other smile. My thoughts are with those who have lost someone or are still waiting for their missing loved one's to be found.
In a little over one years time I will return to a city I wont recognise, a city that I love and cherish. Most of the CBD will be gone, I think to date there are 1300 buildings that need to be pulled down. I will go home to a city that will most likely still be having aftershocks. This will be a city who's attitude will have changed, people will be closer, this catastrophe will have made for a stronger community, but will it make for a happier one?
Kia kaha x
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