A Week of Wonders

• the power of the Earth, that usually gentle Mother, who with one act nine days ago completely transformed our city.  Here are some pictures I hadn’t seen before showing changes to the Avon River. 
• the amazing volunteers from near and far who simply wanted to help.  They spent day after day shovelling silty sludge, demolishing chimneys, and giving reassurance to people with shattered lives. 
• the many communities which clung together and supported each other.  Al Nisbit’s Thursday cartoon said it all, with a group labelled ‘community’ hugging on a small patch of green while the earth shattered around them.
• the family, friends, and strangers who sent comforting supportive messages to all of us.   Technology IS wonderful, and the aftermath must have been harder for those without  that connection to support and information.

Today staff return to the VolCan office.  As far as I know our rooms are unchanged, but those who inhabit them will never be the same.  Cantabrians will measure our lives in’before’ and ‘after’ as we slowly rebuild and continue to count our blessings.

“Who knows what this new week will bring?
It’s now a very different Spring.”