I spent first 6 months of school at Hornby

I and my sister…

Paul Henry, Pippa Wetzell and the Feelers ...
Haven't we suffered enough?

Raw sewage, right here, right now
in the square you say?

*an aside: the continuing adventures of Karl Glogauer, and who knew that Michael Moorcock also wrote Zip Nolan of the Highway Patrol and…

Haven't we suffered enough?

Did anyone notice that guy (council, sewerage, Civil defence?) was just crying as he tried to address the residents.

That was Mark Christison, City Water and Waste Unit Manager, and he and his team are well stretched, but to be applauded for their Herculean efforts in general.

**a confederacy…

If the council would declare these houses temporarily unhabitable, then this would oblige people's insurance to cover alternative accommodation.

Council ordered all of their own rental tenants out of Avonside two weeks ago today. It was done with only a couple of hours notice, citing the safety of the tenants…

@Jen: Does he sing with an American accent? That is an interesting issue…

It wouldn't be too difficult for them to make a call in terms of habitability though. The combination of silt & sewerage appearing in people's properties, and their inability to…

I could make a comment you know. About the status of Chch. You are lucky I was born there.

did you, by any chance, go to South Intermediate school?

Rolleston was right on top of the big one. Given that it is – practically speaking – Chch's newest "suburb", what was the damage like?

Have heard few details which MAY suggest that all was built with the latest EQ codes and have managed…

It would be quite annoying if we've spent weeks needlessly living like inhabitants of the third-world.

I could make a comment you know. About the status of Chch. You are lucky I was born there.

But seriously, I do think 2 weeks is a wee bit short to think that…

Oh, and I'm guessing Bob's mother or grandmother signed him up to PA — it's a complete surprise to me!

Have just been to a meeting here (Avonside) where some residents were rather…

and yeah... the unexpected change in suburb will take some getting used to. it's weird over here.

surely in that vowel-less suburb it would be wyrd... unless you meant Styx?
;- )
Good luck with the process ahead, though...

I read about that in the paper...

Me too, apparently it's the very one. With all of this damage to our heritage a bit of freshly-minted history won't go amiss. When the bloke next door saw the Somali guy turn up to hook up my broadband & phone he thought for…

Apparently the previous occupant ran a knocking-shop on these premises, and was evicted for her enterprise.

I read about that in the paper...
be careful who ya open the door to!

Do you get to repair back to your old riparian idyll if it is repaired?

bummer.... no internet access for 3 days while shifting meant I missed the change in venue.
never fear, I had a drink for y'all at home later that evening :D

More or less my circumstances & sentiments.

. . . suddenly living in a random suburb . . .

You too?…

bummer.... no internet access for 3 days while shifting meant I missed the change in venue.

Oh, sorry Kris. If it's any consolation, we had a lovely time. Also, some people are very good at keeping their mouths shut, and when I arrived at the Dux, it was to the…

so now I'm another year older and rather suddenly living in a random suburb with a distinct lack of vowels.…

ssssddddeeeeeeedeeedtg rrrrrrhytjj

bob

Wrong thread, huh?

Depends if you were trying to invite her to the PAS meetup in Chch.

Rich, Metservice claims fine, strong norwest

yeah, Canterbury appears to be more or less immune to your Massive Storm. That said, we had unforecast rain and shitness today.

Also, I don't appear to be able to log in to non-Twitter social services today, so if people could distribute this information,…

picnic by the children's playground at 1pm

I don't want to be a party pooper or anything, but are you sure that's a good idea?

– Hagley Park, picnic by the children's playground at 1pm, and
– Dux, less child- and more alcohol-oriented comisercelebrations from 3pm.

Hopefully, this is okay for people.

Now about that grey water collection sytem you were going to set up?

Just investigating the possibility of diverting the grey water away from the sewerage system, and into the bush at the back of our section. That might save us from having to move out for…

We've just this afternoon received a letter telling us that there's a problem with the sewer on our street, and that we're not allowed to use it. In other words: no lavatory, showers, washing, or anything else that puts water down our drains.

Oh shit....

Now about that grey water…

Stop hammertime?

Not much makes me laugh out loud at 6am, but that did.

Well played, sir.

We've just this afternoon received a letter telling us that there's a problem with the sewer on our street, and that we're not allowed to use it. In other words: no lavatory, showers, washing, or anything else that puts water down…

Cancel the Hammer Party. Cancel the Hammer Party. Gerry might turn up!!!!

Stop hammertime?

This from Andrew Geddis:

Again, I'm not saying Gerry Brownlie (or any other Minister) conciously intends misusing these powers. But once you give a man a hammer, suddenly everything…

In Dunedin we drink the alcohol first, and then smash the bottle

Hamilton bogans eat the bottle and throw the beer away ;-)

will do my best to call in, even if it's just for a quick drink & a climb up the tree. It will be a nice…

Surely there's been enough booze wasted in Canterbury the past couple of weeks?

In Dunedin we drink the alcohol first, and then smash the bottle. Best of both worlds.

We should get Emma to christen our celebrations by smashing a champagne bottle with the hammer

Surely there's been enough booze wasted in Canterbury the past couple of weeks?

Kris V: extremely sorry to hear about your house — if you feel like popping in on Saturday we'd love to see you (but understand that you may…

There will be running about in the back yard and a treehouse we've been assured adults are allowed to play in.

I can confirm that both the backyard and the treehouse are top bloody notch.

We have an open invitation to turn up at David and Jennifer's place from 1 on Saturday afternoon. Bring drinks and nibbly things. There will be running about in the back yard and a treehouse we've been…

I'm…

but where would we be without Bob, Action man. Agent Orange!

The weedy killer?

The rights & wrongs of the Martins aside, we just shouldn't know who they are.
Civil Defence shouldn't have the media inside the centre.
If they want to go out side to the footpath and have a chat in public space, good on them, but not inside a relief centre.
It…

Now things are going back to "normal", how would Chch PASsers feel about meeting up for quiet drinks in the (hopefully) sun, say this coming Saturday afternoon?

Drat, I'm in Dunedin this weekend. Still sounds like a good idea :)

Seriously, you're too kind. I'm passably comfy in Beckenham at the moment, thanks to the wider whanau, but I miss my stuff…

... having spent the previous 3 nights here.

If anything else unexpected happens then just pop down the road to us, Joe. We have a spare room (recently declared earthquake-safe) with your name on it.

We'd be delighted to put you up for as long as it…

I think I might have to put in a claim for a Kitkat from the Courier. It looks like either one was eaten or all 3 did not get there!

Hang up your phone call to the courier, Ross! I confess that a Kitkat was eaten at…

The Hop was very nice on Saturday afternoon, it felt great to be back in town with things more or less normal, especially after having spent the previous 3 nights here.

Good to know you're back home, Joe.

I've just received news which ensures I must drink on Saturday -…

I think I might have to put in a claim for a Kitkat from the Courier. It looks like either one was eaten or all 3 did not get there! Or is the "missing" one the one you "shared" with Bob…

That's been my limited experience also, Joe.
And you put your taua – with a truly beautiful chin moko – up front for the photogenic purposes, and choose quite carefully which house is opened…

. . . the Lanes is okay and the Twisted Hop is nice when the weather's good.

An inspired suggestion, though with the current uncertainty I have no idea how things will have panned out by Saturday. In the meantime, thanks for being your usual beacon-of-sanity self.

The Hop was…

Normally I'd suggest the central city for ease of getting to and from…

A buffer of supplies is always an excellent idea. Like a Mormon-style apocalypse pantry, but a bit less apocalyptic, not least for the bank account.

I did, however, realize my house contains enough alcohol to keep the family alive for weeks.

Makes me think…

I was just inspecting my house foundations (and feeling a little glum) when this parcel was delivered by courier from PA reader Ross Mason.

Ross, you bloody legend, how wonderful.

It contained a hammer to replace the one that I'd dropped down the chimney, multi-grips (which Ross had telepathically ascertained that I'd broken yesterday when failing…

Strangely you also seem to have taken all our cold beer, but none of the warm stuff – bastards!

looking more closely at what was empty and what was not it would appear that you must be out of cheap champagne

Our local Countdown is short on chips, fizzy-drink, flour and bog-roll.

looking more closely at what was empty and what was not it…

I kept thinking to myself: "This looks like a disaster zone." And then a few seconds later: "Oh, this is a disaster zone — that's why it looks so much like one."

Great to see you can retain your sense of humour amongst the chaos. A number of Chinese have…

Chch Council urgently changes rules so "earthquake-prone" buildings now have to comply 66% with Building Code rather than previous 33%. I presume 100% is considered too hard?

That sounds bad on the face of it, but I'm guessing retrofitting old buildings to comply with current codes might require rebuilding them…

You'll only be 100% – 66% dead. That's a hell of a lot better than 100%-33% dead. :-)

So if 33% compliant buildings resulted in zero deaths, what would 66% compliant buildings achieve? 33% increase in rebirths?

the CCC are up for rebuilding Bexley, built on wetland/sand.
This ain't lightning we're talking about, it's an earth quake and a proven liqefaction zone. Dumb de dumb dumb dumb.

OTOH, having already suffered liquefaction, Bexley's subsoil is perhaps now well-compacted and much safer?

There's an interesting .pdf here which…

surely it's not the building that is earthquake prone, it's the city.

No no, they mean in an earthquake, the building will be prone. Or, I suppose, supine.

"earthquake-prone" buildings

I see that designation around Wellington a bit and it always tickles my pendant bone: surely it's not the building that is earthquake prone, it's the city. The building might be liable to collapse in an earthquake, but that's not the same thing.

(Aren't you all glad I'm…

That would be the Art Gallery (modern, glass) not the Arts Centre (victorian neo-gothic stone).

Chch Council urgently changes rules so "earthquake-prone" buildings now have to comply 66% with Building Code rather than previous 33%. I presume 100% is considered too hard?

It's OK.

You'll only be 100% – 66% dead. That's a hell of a lot better than 100%-33% dead. :-)

Decided to send email memo to Civil Defence. Have had this reply today:

Hi Ross

Thanks for your email. Yes we are aware of this. We are well down the road in regard to a major revision of the Get Ready Get Thru website and associated public information.…

I find it odd that the national headquarters of Civil Defence is in a bunker, located between the harbour and a fault line.

Bob Parker also says that property developers built some subdivisions on shonky land after council lost legal challenges against them. Wonder who profited from that,…

Making houses entirely of doorframe would seem the obvious solution.

like the tower in Predicament...

A dirigble! Tethered to the ground of your choice, but open to the skies – off you float at the first hint of an 8 or 9
(This would be My Serious Choice...)

Keeping it inflated and ready to go at a moments notice could be tricky. But even so,…

But allowing the frame to flex works well. The issue of damp proofing the frames is the really really expensive bit.

Golly. I would be finding out what glass they used for the Art Gallery and installing it in all my windows.

Bullet proof?

Golly. I would be finding out what glass they used for the Art Gallery and installing it in all my windows.

Very foggy memories of Grand Designs suggest this would be feasible only if you wanted the glass to be, like, half the cost of the house.

Making houses entirely of doorframe would seem the obvious solution.

Paint 'em vermilion, and the Shinto foxes would protect you.

What about the glass-roofed tram station in behind the Quest Hotel? (upon which we looked down when staying in Chch a couple of years ago).

The old, solid-looking stone Arts Centre broke, and the new, delicate and glassy Art Gallery seemed untroubled.

Sure makes you wonder about brick and block being described as "permanent materials", huh. I'm guessing real estate agents will have to come up with some other term...like "excitingly explodable", or, "converts easily…

Well, the story of Albert the Otter was quite heart warming but my naive mind did not detect the promised erotica.

Sorry for the false advertising. The erotic subtext of that heartwarming children's tale was revealed via a series of close readings in the subsequent discussion thread.

Russell started it.

...about the fact that the Arts Centre glass was still there in one piece.

I think that might have been our green-house lookalike Art Gallery he was talking about... I did find it odd that they set up their CD centre in (and under) the soaring glass-lined foyer of the…

...about the fact that the Arts Centre glass was still there in one piece.

I think that might have been our green-house lookalike Art Gallery he was talking about... I did find it odd that they set up their CD centre in (and under) the soaring glass-lined foyer of the…

How did the Dux & that Chch arts centre block fare?

A friend who works out of the old chemistry building said that was the only undamaged one – she was allowed to go grab some papers, but is still working from home. I haven't heard that any of the damage…

It was the building codes and regulations that saved lives, lets stop this National folly of cuting cnrs.

And don't for f*&ks sake, mention leaky homes and Nats in one breath will we.

But thank anyone/anything you like for the…

I suspect much of it is fine and this will be used as a ploy to place a carpark on the site.

It was the building codes and regulations…

I could make a tunnel of doorframes over my bed

Do you have one of those 800mm wide beds? kinky.

Thanks Emma.

You must have been busy or something saturday morning because I distinctly remember Sideshow Bob waxing lyrical on TV1 or TV3 about the fact that the Arts Centre glass was still there in one piece...so to speak. Ooh Ahh. He was beside himself with joy.

How did the Dux & that Chch arts centre block fare?

The Dux was open on the weekend, but has been shut since. Haven't actually heard much about the Arts Centre, which I'm assuming is good news.

My first thought, curiously, was to hope that we were near the epicentre of the earthquake. If it had been centred any distance away — Wellington sprang to mind, of course — then I knew that anything at the epicentre must have been utterly destroyed.

Thanks for thinking of us!…

near the epicentre on Saturday morning the force of the earthquake was 1.25 times the force of gravity.

Now that might explain how my father, in Hororata, was literally thrown out of his bed.

I was laughing so hard at that image that I somehow completely failed to take the…

I hope they don't take it the wrong…

But what I really want to know is: what impact does all this have on the character of Darfield Charlie?

True, but the interviewer didn't question and he didn't explain further.

If theres another big one during waking hours I'll probably be sticking to flooring it and cuddling…

In 4 years living in Wellington, I always thought of earthquakes as entertainment. The house shaking, the low noise. A low risk novelty, like high winds or excessive rain.

I've yet to have them turn into an object of fear, but I'm beginning to suspect that transformation is approaching.

Actually…

NZ's number one insect erotica author

Not forgetting the otter erotica, too.

Automatically I pictured "auto" in front of "erotica" rather than "otter".

Expecting a story about that?.....don"t hold your breath! ;-)

David:

Would be inteersted to know a bit of the soil mechanics that went on aoround the area.…

David and Jen have just received the coveted green sticker for their house

Gold star!

I think the actual instructions are brace yourself in the doorway. Sitting would be good. I think a lot of people might be holding onto someone else (partner, kids), so back to one side of the door and feet pushing against the other side would be smart.

Yeah – on…

in modern homes the doorframe is far less likely to be in a load-bearing wall [emphasis mine]

Hmmm. What does the advice giver mean by "modern"? If he means post-1980, that's not a particularly large segment of the housing stock. But thanks for that extra detail on why they were…

We huddled in the doorway in total darkness as pictures fell from our walls and crockery smashed in the kitchen.

The zero deaths were not just a result of fortuitous timing. All those drills at school from an early age, all that earthquake education – it meant in an emergency…

I've yet to have them turn into an object of fear, but I'm beginning to suspect that transformation is approaching.

The other danger if you were standing in doorway was the obvious get 'thrown to the floor'.

I'm also curious about whether you would get clobbered by the door swinging wildly around – was this a problem for anyone?

The other danger if you were standing in doorway was the obvious get 'thrown to the floor'.

So, surely, sit in the doorway?

My first thought, curiously, was…

I expect it depends largely on circumstances. For instance, if your toom features a big sturdy solid wood table, I'd be getting under that, but if it's some cheap kitset Warewhare job, or no table at all?

I have a glass table. Should I shelter under that?

Jokes aside, I'm…

Well, the story of Albert the Otter was quite heart warming but my naive mind did not detect the promised erotica.

...stay tuned for the eagerly awaited sequel:
Victoria the Beaver – The Regina Mono-logs

there is conflicting advice all over – I heard an expert on Radio yesterday saying the doorway was the best place to be, and then on TV another expert saying it was a bad place as you can be thrown about and hit...

You could be, but the doorway is…

This Is No Bad Thing

I heard an expert on Radio yesterday saying the doorway was the best place to be, and then on TV another expert saying it was a bad place as you can be thrown about and hit...

During Saturday's quake I was gripping my doorframe with both hands. Everything moves at…

there is conflicting advice all over – I heard an expert on Radio yesterday saying the doorway was the best place to be, and then on TV another expert saying it was a bad place as you can be thrown about and hit...

...what to do?

I expect it depends…

The advice we've always been given to stand in a doorway or take cover under a table is still the best.

there is conflicting advice all over – I heard an expert on Radio yesterday saying the doorway was the best place to be, and then on TV another expert…

It's hard to feel sad when you're wielding a chainsaw, I've always found.

Chainsaws are also very effective against zombies. Keep yours to hand.

They've calculated they can sleep through aftershocks up to around 4.5, 4.6.

What seismic connoisseurs we are becoming, here in Chch!

One of the famous Christchurch architects. (Sir Miles Warren?) was just saying on Nine to Noon that many of those older pre -World War I buildings should have been removed years ago, as they were…

It's hard to feel sad when you're wielding a chainsaw, I've always found,

This is a Great Insight. You've got the start to a Self Help book, right there.

Finally spoke to friends of mine in Lyttleton last night. They've calculated they can sleep through aftershocks up to around 4.5,…

Where have I heard this name before, David?

Yes, I now feel very guilty for all the jokes I've made about Darfield, and now admit that it is a beautiful place — almost a Venice of the Southern Hemisphere (there is a certain similarity in the smell;…

I should've mentioned: all profits donated to a great cause (rebuilding an earthquake damaged house in Avonside, and earthquake-proofing Peter Adamson's house in Wellington).

David I have to link my favourite cartoon character to attempt a moment of light hearted relief for you and possibly an idea to raise more…

the epicentre was a mere 40 kilometres away in the town of Darfield.

Where have I heard this name before, David?

Consider this a pre-order!

I should've mentioned: all profits donated to a great cause (rebuilding an earthquake damaged house in Avonside, and earthquake-proofing Peter Adamson's house in Wellington).

... coming your way in book form this Christmas

Beautiful! :-)
Consider this a pre-order!

Not forgetting the otter erotica, too.

... coming your way in book form this Christmas (in conjunction with the superb illustrations of artist Peter Adamson). Sample pages here.

Also available in a German translation, of course (and perhaps Māori, too).

NZ's number one insect erotica author

Not forgetting the otter erotica, too.

On a serious note it is very good to hear that NZ's number one insect erotica author and his family are safe and well.

Sourced off Sciblogs.....again. Great site and i love looking at the data guy!!! Oh dear.....Geeky stuff.......

David's Ditty: "Oh, I'm glad I'm an engineer"

Second thought: Damn, that someone misused evacuated. Oh well, can't have everything

It reminds me of the quote from a…

But thank you for taking the time to write so coherently and beautifully when there is so…

Postscript: We've just had our water supply reconnected — hooray for the council!

The Canterbury earthquake has made me really appreciative of the luxuries I have in my life – electricity, water, sewerage, mobile phone, internet and a roof over my head.

Glad to hear you're ok, David.

=)

Second thought: Damn, that someone misused evacuated. Oh well, can't have everything.

[Actually, my first thought was about your first thought about hoping you were the epicentre: that was very kind of you.]

I should've also mentioned why I haven't written earlier — too busy fixing stuff and recuperating. No doubt if I'd been Orwell I'd have scribbled a brilliant essay while we were sheltering under the doorframe.…

I'd write more but the alcohol has done its thing and now I'm stumbling off to bed (and it's not 'cos the earth is moving... for once!)

good to hear you & the whanau are doin ok over there in A-side... hope the…

In the event of an entire building collapsing there are sometimes…

Over here in Woolston the damage is really minor except for a few Victorian brick places (mostly commercial premises on Ferry Rd). I was appalled and horrified to see pictures of what's happened in Avonside.…

We love our life beside the river in Christchurch. And we're here to stay.

We've just had our water supply reconnected

That's the spirit David. Great to hear your escapades for the last 5 days.Dare I say, (as this could be, to some, a bit callous but truly not meant),it…

"You go home," he insisted. "I want to stay here and play with Emma and Karl."

I gather…