“Old Bucky and Me” by Jane Bowron

These ‘dispatches from the Christchurch Earthquake’ first appeared in Wellington’s ‘Dominion Post’.  At the time I was indignant that they chose not to publish them on their website.  I would hear about them but couldn’t read them, and I’m glad to now have that opportunity.  I’m fortunate to have two neighbours who have each documented the earthquake experience from a home very near my own.  Jane lives a block away up Kilmore Street, in the opposite direction from Gerard Smyth (director of ‘When a City Falls’).  Her dispatches often focus on ‘our’ corner, and much of what she writes about I also experienced.  Jane was released from the cordon much earlier than we were, and her observations are wider-ranging than those on my blog.

Her writing is colourful and amusing, yet totally real and honest.  I love the way she weaves in the personality of her cat Benecio.  Maybe Bentley, who also has a strong personality, deserves more publicity?  Like the film, this book will be a record to hand on to future generations to help them appreciate what we’ve all been through.

“Us neighbours feel that we are lucky
to have Jane’s record of Old Bucky.”