Another Earthquake, Holiday Snaps, & New Year's Eve.

It is New Year's Eve today, & we arrived home from our short trip, to Christchurch in the South Island, late yesterday.

This is a small selection of photos of the havoc caused by the September 4th, 7.1 earthquake, which devastated Christchurch & surrounds.

Some photos are from the city centre and some from surrounding areas.

On Christmas Eve we had been shopping in the city centre in the Mall, pictured in the next photo.

This photo was taken on December 28th, after an earthquake of 4.9, which hit the city on Boxing Day, December 26th. The store on the left had shattered window panes, taped with huge pieces of sticky tape, all safely behind barriers to keep out the passing public.

This home was totally destroyed, along with the vehicle under the rubble in the driveway.
I didn't sleep very well until we arrived back in Wellington.
Although there are no guarantees the earth here will remain stable. So far so good, thankfully.

We had a lovely Christmas although we were not thinking we 'd experience an actual earthquake. One has to feel for the folk who have endured such upheaval, loss of their homes, income and, sense of normality.

Nicholas and Josh, full of expectation as Christmas festivities were being prepared. It was a very warm day with a cool breeze and they enjoyed being in the garden with the teenagers.

One day we spent at the Ron Mueck 'Super Real' Sculptural exhibition at the Christchurch Art Gallery. A touring exhibit from the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia. It was very interesting and amazing to see the way the sculptures were produced, being so life like. A great outing on a rainy cold day.

The next day was warm and sunny, more like summer weather. This is a photo on the way to the Gondola, for a trip to the top of the mountain to enjoy the views. It is eleven years since we first visited this scenic spot.


We drove through the tunnel to meet DD#1 who had ridden from Rangiora, up & over Dyers' Pass, to Lyttleton. We collected her & the bicycle and headed up the mountain on the north side of the harbour, to the Gondola.


Looking back down to Lyttleton Harbour & part of Bank's Peninsular, where most of the aftershocks seem to be happening.




The landslide from the top of the peak, in the photo below, we were told, is a result from the first earthquake.




The view from the cable car as we travelling up......

& looking back down, to where we started.




After we left the Gondola we went to Sumner where the children played on the beach, we indulged them with an ice cream, while we had a coffee & explored Cave Rock, in Sumner, on the coast, also suffered earthquake damage, below a few buildings, a cave, and the view of the inlet as we left.