Fond Farewells

At another neighbourhood farewell party those who have already moved on from red-zoned homes speak positively of their new places.  They’re enjoying new outlooks and amenities.

A friend comes to say goodbye.  Her paid work has disappeared because of earthquakes, and she is moving north.  On a sunny autumn afternoon we walk around the inner city, stopping for tea in newly-opened New Regent Street.  We talk of current changes and those yet to come.

In the early hours I get up to investigate a humming noise.  Our old and weary refrigerator is signalling its farewell.  Does it know that its replacement will be delivered today?

I sweep leaves from the patio.  Walnut tree leaves are not suitable for domestic composting so they go into the green bin for removal.

While there is regret, I also sense a shift in energy.  The old is being swept away to make room for the new potential.  Once winter has passed, who knows what the spring may bring?

“Old leaves and friends are swept away
to make room for a brand new day.”

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Horological Happening

The Edmonds Clock tower, built in 1929, suffered damage in the February 2011 earthquake, and its upper half has been sitting on the ground for some time.  On Monday I saw that a big crane had been moved in.

Crane at Clocktower

On Tuesday the top half of the tower was finally lifted back onto its base.

Top half of tower replaced

There are more repairs needed, but these should be completed within the next few months and then the clock will once again mark the time of passing day.

“It’s good to see our clock tower back
without it we have felt a lack.”

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Hanging Hearts

Hearts now adorn the Fitzgerald Avenue bridge.

Hearts on the Fitzgerald Avenue Bridge

Do you know who put them there?

“These heart that hang upon the rail
show that some hope will never fail.”

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Road Released?

Yesterday I headed to work down Poplar Crescent then along newly re-opened Manchester Street.  I felt nostalgic to be following my old route to work after it’s been out of bounds for more than two years.

Manchester Street

Manchester Street is My Place – not because of the street workers, but because for my first ten years I lived in Manchester Street, just north of Bealey Avenue.

So many familiar places have gone – Verkerk’s, Loef’s, and Megawatt, but there’s a new golf hole.

Mini golf hole between Gloucester and Worcester Streets

The “Press” said the street was now fully open, but that proved to be untrue.  The section between Hereford and Lichfield is open only to northbound traffic, although a pedestrian can get through, as long as you can cope with the lack of footpath in parts.

Someone has cemented these legs on to the footpath

Phil Price’s kinetic sculpture is an earthquake survivor

Lichfield Street appeared to be open down to Colombo Street, and after discussion with a workman at the intersection I headed that way, only to be told to go back by other workers.  They need to put up ‘no entry signs’, but maybe no-one told them Manchester Street was to be re-opened.

No-go down Lichfield Street

“Manchester opening yesterday
means I can walk a different way.”

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Supplementary Sunflowers

Sunflowers planted by locals in a large crack in the riverbank are now in full bloom.

Sunflowers in the Avon Loop

Outdoor furniture from nearby homes where owners have been forced to leave has been added to make this a welcoming place to sit and contemplate.  This is a pleasing forerunner to our planned River Park.

“The riverbank has seen great change
what was familiar now looks strange.”

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April Ecclesiastical Update

Work on our transitional cathedral continues, despite uncertainty over its funding.

Cardboard Cathedral gets wrapped up

This week they’re covering the cardboard tubes with white cling film to protect them from bad weather.  22 May has been announced as the opening date.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that it’s ready for the function I have booked there on 17 June.

“Cardboard Cathedral’s on its way
but we’re not sure just who will pay.”

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Advanced Aspect

Now that the fences have gone from the bare section across the road we have an unimpeded view of the riverside trees to the north-west.

New view from our front gate

We feel fortunate to now have river views on two sides, and can’t helping hoping that any new buildings may take a long time to plan.  Now that the demolition dust has settled I felt motivated to spend part of the Easter break washing walls and windows.  This means we have a clearer view out, and the Cottage looks cleaner.

“We’ve river views in two directions
thanks to those lovely vacant sections.”

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Time for Tourists

Invariably as I’m walking home from work I meet at least one pair of tourists struggling to find their way around the outside of the red/rebuild zone.  They carry a small map, and are usually looking for the Restart Mall, the Bus Station, or the Cardboard Cathedral.  I’m always happy to stop and help.  (I’m an informal volunteer.)

One thing that exacerbates their difficulty is the fact that many inner city street signs have disappeared, especially around Manchester and Lichfield Streets.  This makes it difficult, even for locals who no longer have familiar landmarks to navigate by.  Where have all the signs gone?  Some one suggested that they may have been knocked off by large demolition vehicles passing by.  Maybe the earthquake loosened them?  Or perhaps they’ve been ‘souvenired’?  Why doesn’t the City Council get them replaced?

Yesterday afternoon I met an Asian couple who were trying to find the Information Centre.  I explained that the easiest way was straight down Gloucester Street, which was marked as red zone “no go” on the map they carried.  I also explained to them that as it was after 5pm the Information Centre was likely to be closed and they would need to wait for the next morning.  I couldn’t bear to send them to walk a mile only to find they were too late and I hope they found the encounter with a friendly local useful.

“It’s hard when you are on your own
to navigate the ‘rebuild’ zone.”

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Regular Routines

In post-quake life any semblance of familiar routines is welcome and reassuring.  This was brought home to me on a recent Saturday.  Work commitments meant that our usual Friday morning supermarket trip had to be postponed to Saturday morning.  To allow for my traditional treasured Saturday beach walk I needed to get up earlier than I usually do on weekends.   Driving home with the shopping I spied a new container in the cemetery (what’s going on there?), a new advertising banner on the temporary housing model beside the cottage, continuing demolition of the flats opposite, and a digger moving in to demolish the old Bridge Club building.

It all felt just too much and I realised how stressed I was feeling.  The only constant these days is change.  There are exciting things going on, and they are cheering, but I grieve for the familiar inner city lifestyle, and long for an end to continual change, especially around my home.

Last week I twice had lunch out, once with an old friend, and once with a new.  As the new friend said “going out to lunch again starts to feel like normality.”

“Routines familiar every day
by earthquakes have been swept away.”

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Tied Table

“Ties that bind” by Jason Ware incorporates 4,000 of the red and black wristbands that were sold to raise money for the Christchurch Mayoral Earthquake Fund.

Ties that bind

Jason was inspired by the way he saw his furniture jumping around during the September 2010 earthquake.  Many of us in Christchurch now have our furniture firmly fixed to walls or floor.  The work is situated on the corner of Madras and St Asaph Streets opposite the Polytech.

“A dining suite that leaps around
needs to be anchored to the ground.”

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