How was your last 24 hours? Even your last year?

Click to enlarge it further ...

This screenshot is taken from http://quake.crowe.co.nz/ on 14th June.

We have had 57 earthquakes in Christchurch in the last 24 hours.....

Last shake #6812 was Magnitude 3.8 (III) at 8.78 km at 8:52am, about 1 hr 6 mins ago
Yes you read that right - Six thousand eight hundred and twelve quakes.

Apparently the total energy released to date is 3.36773 petajoules. The Sept quake was 2.7645 petajoules, and contributed 82% of the energy - hard to imagine.  (1petajoule is equivalent to 238 kilotonnes of TNT.)
You can look at that at http://quake.crowe.co.nz/QuakeEnergy/

Good video can be seen on the NZ Herald site

Having a quiet day and in some ways I am very glad to have the day off.  I wasn't going to ask for it off,  but this does allow me to spend the day at home with some of the family. Today, this afternoon, it is the anniversary of Arch's death on the Mt Hutt Rd.  We didn't hear about it until the following morning, when the police arrived.  Between the impact of earthquakes and the inquest in the middle, the year has been one we will never forget. I can't believe he never even got to feel the first earthquake, even though he lived near the epicentre. In some ways I probably haven't accepted he isn't out there still, just doing his own thing and hanging out with the kids.  We have three of their birthdays to celebrate this week - the first last weekend and two this weekend.   

He may have gone, but he certainly lives on in them.

First birthday last Sunday- laughing at old pictures of them all.

You can read back at these links.

http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2010/06/tragic-day-loss-of-arch-richardson-1949.html

http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2010/09/arch-12949-14610.html

Four Paws and Whiskers: The seatbelt issue.... http://t.co/J5r6VYL

How was your last 24 hours? Even your last year?

Click to enlarge it further ...

This screenshot is taken from http://quake.crowe.co.nz/ on 14th June.

We have had 57 earthquakes in Christchurch in the last 24 hours.....

Last shake #6812 was Magnitude 3.8 (III) at 8.78 km at 8:52am, about 1 hr 6 mins ago
Yes you read that right - Six thousand eight hundred and twelve quakes.

Apparently the total energy released to date is 3.36773 petajoules. The Sept quake was 2.7645 petajoules, and contributed 82% of the energy - hard to imagine.  (1petajoule is equivalent to 238 kilotonnes of TNT.)
You can look at that at http://quake.crowe.co.nz/QuakeEnergy/

Good video can be seen on the NZ Herald site

Having a quiet day and in some ways I am very glad to have the day off.  I wasn't going to ask for it off,  but this does allow me to spend the day at home with some of the family. Today, this afternoon, it is the anniversary of Arch's death on the Mt Hutt Rd.  We didn't hear about it until the following morning, when the police arrived.  Between the impact of earthquakes and the inquest in the middle, the year has been one we will never forget. I can't believe he never even got to feel the first earthquake, even though he lived near the epicentre. In some ways I probably haven't accepted he isn't out there still, just doing his own thing and hanging out with the kids.  We have three of their birthdays to celebrate this week - the first last weekend and two this weekend.   

He may have gone, but he certainly lives on in them.

First birthday last Sunday- laughing at old pictures of them all.

You can read back at these links.

http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2010/06/tragic-day-loss-of-arch-richardson-1949.html

http://fourpawsandwhiskers.blogspot.com/2010/09/arch-12949-14610.html

Four Paws and Whiskers: The seatbelt issue.... http://t.co/J5r6VYL

The seatbelt issue....

One of the issues we all faced last year was the hurtful assumption made via a letter in the paper that Arch had not been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Because the car appeared relatively undamaged from the distant photos someone said he obviously would have survived if he had been belted in. 

( the letters can be seen at the end of this post )

I am posting this article below because it clearly states that he was. It was tested and working, still clipped in place in the car. The vertical and horizontal tumbling and rolling of the car down the steep slope caused his seat to break and lie flat, so he was flung backwards out into the back, then out the shattered rear window. Actually the word used was "torpedoed". Apparently seats breaking this way is quite common. I can say that the damage to the car was severe, particularly on the drivers side.

Assumptions really don't pay...  at the time, the insinuation was hurtful; mainly because he was a careful driver who didn't use his phone, drive with no seatbelt etc. I do understand the point was to advise people who felt they were about to go over the edge not to undo the belt, or try to jump out. Always drive with it on - and I suppose that normally, the injuries you would get with it on are less than those if you are unbelted. 

I highlighted the main bits of this newspaper article from today....

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/8853816/ski-field-road-access-to-be-made-safer/

Mt Hutt management is to install new barriers on 21 corners of the Canterbury ski field's access road following the death of a motorist last year, an inquest heard today.

Arthur Richardson, a 61-year-old electrician from Rolleston, Christchurch, died after his car plunged almost 100 metres off the access road on June 14 , Coroner Richard McElrea was told at the inquest in Ashburton.

A search party mounted after Mr Richardson failed to return home from a day skiing alone, located his body outside his crashed car.

A post mortem examination found he died of severe chest injuries after being thrown from the vehicle. He was wearing a seatbelt but the back of his seat broke.

Road and weather conditions were fine, and there were no brake marks on the road judging by tyre marks in roadside snow on the bend known as Shady Corner, which also indicated Mr Richardson's speed was between 28 and 34kmh, according to a police serious crash unit report.

Mr McElrea said while loss of concentration was a likely cause, Mr Richardson could also have misinterpreted the corner despite being a regular up the mountain.

"This road has been travelled perhaps many thousands of times by many vehicles without this outcome," he said.
"Why did a careful driver allow his vehicle to leave the road? The answer, at least part of it, lies in the delineation of the edge of the road, clearly he has misinterpreted that edge," Mr McElrea said.

It was not known what time the crash occurred. Mr Richardson was skiing alone and he completed his final run at 1.48pm. His partner reported him missing at 10pm.

Mr McElrea said death was inevitable, given Mr Richardson's injuries, no matter where the accident had occurred.
"The post mortem confirmed that death was due to the injuries received. He would have lost consciousness almost immediately and died within minutes," Mr McElrea said.

Mr Richardson's family described him as a safe driver and they dismissed the possibility he could have been using his cellphone at the time. The possibility he deliberately drove off the road was also dismissed by family, and police.

"He was a careful and experienced driver, he knew how to handle ski area access roads in all conditions," Mr McElrea said.

The Department of Labour completed a workplace assessment at Mt Hutt following the deaths of Mr Richardson, two skiers and a snowboarder, in separate incidents last year. They recommended a contractor be brought in to look at improvements which could be made to the road and Mt Hutt management had done that.

Mt Hutt ski area manager Dave Wilson told the coroner 21 new barriers would be installed at corners on the access road.

NZSki.com, which owns Mt Hutt, was waiting for confirmation the new barriers would withstand their heavy snow clearing systems before starting work.

He told the coroner the corner where Mr Richardson crashed had not been the scene of previous accidents, but it would be top priority for installing the new barriers. Four barriers would be completed this season and the remainder by 2015.

"It's a very responsible response from Mt Hutt and it's a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Arthur Richardson," Mr McElrea said.The fatality was the first on the access road since 1994, when two people died after their vehicle left the road. There have been four incidents where cars have left the road in the past 10 years.

Here are the extracts from the letters written at the time of the accident.

Buckle up and live
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 18, 2010 
My deepest sympathies go out to the Richardson family, regarding the tragic and preventable death on the Mt Hutt access road (June 16). Sadly, it seems Mr Richardson was not wearing his seatbelt, as he was found some distance from his not terribly damaged vehicle. 

It is a timely reminder to every skier who is under the delusion it is permissible to unbuckle when driving on ski access roads: there are no circumstances where a seatbelt is a disadvantage in a crash. I also know there are people who undo their seatbelt when driving next to canals. Such people are, sadly, temporary citizens. So, belt up and live! 

CHRISTOPHER H DAVIES 


Comment hurtful 
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 21, 2010 
In response to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we make the point that Arch Richardson was a trusted and careful friend who ran an extremely safety-conscious electrical business. 
To trivialise his death by jumping to unfounded conclusions about seatbelt use is objectionable and unnecessary. 
It is not believable to those of us who knew Arch that he would not wear his seatbelt and it is in any case unlikely that seatbelts had any influence on his untimely death. 
Comments such as Mr Davies' are hurtful to friends and family and to his memory. 
J HEYWOOD, L TAYLOR, K MACDONALD 


Leave it to coroner 
0 Comments | Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 26, 2010 
As the partner of Arch Richardson, the man who died in the tragic but preventable accident on the Mt Hutt Rd, I wish to reply to Christopher H Davies (June 18). 
I know that Arch always wore his seatbelt, as he was an extremely careful driver who stuck to the speed limit and obeyed the road rules. 
Was Mr Davies a witness to the accident? If so, I'm sure the police would like to speak with him. If not, I ask that he and others who have similar opinions keep them to themselves, rather than add insult to injury for the bereaved, and leave the conclusions to the coroner, who will give the final ruling on what happened that day. 
SHARON REID 

I can't access our family response anymore and somehow didn't take a copy at the time - 

An extract is still online: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25351894.html

In reply to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we wish to clarify that police have confirmed to the family that Arthur (Arch) Richardson was wearing his fastened seatbelt at the time his vehicle left the Mt Hutt ski-field access road on June 14.
The seatbelt was discovered still fastened upon later inspection of the vehicle. Unfounded speculation put forward by Mr Davies and published by The Press that Arch was not wearing his seatbelt was unnecessary and insensitive. It is hoped both will exercise greater care when weighing comment regarding tragedies such as this in the future.

-- The Richardson family....

Yesterday, the coroner has finally spoken ... and we felt he made it quite clear to the media yesterday that this was the case so that it could be reported. Interesting that it was not mentioned in the article I posted this morning.

The seatbelt issue....

One of the issues we all faced last year was the hurtful assumption made via a letter in the paper that Arch had not been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Because the car appeared relatively undamaged from the distant photos someone said he obviously would have survived if he had been belted in. 

( the letters can be seen at the end of this post )

I am posting this article below because it clearly states that he was. It was tested and working, still clipped in place in the car. The vertical and horizontal tumbling and rolling of the car down the steep slope caused his seat to break and lie flat, so he was flung backwards out into the back, then out the shattered rear window. Actually the word used was "torpedoed". Apparently seats breaking this way is quite common. I can say that the damage to the car was severe, particularly on the drivers side.

Assumptions really don't pay...  at the time, the insinuation was hurtful; mainly because he was a careful driver who didn't use his phone, drive with no seatbelt etc. I do understand the point was to advise people who felt they were about to go over the edge not to undo the belt, or try to jump out. Always drive with it on - and I suppose that normally, the injuries you would get with it on are less than those if you are unbelted. 

I highlighted the main bits of this newspaper article from today....

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/8853816/ski-field-road-access-to-be-made-safer/

Mt Hutt management is to install new barriers on 21 corners of the Canterbury ski field's access road following the death of a motorist last year, an inquest heard today.

Arthur Richardson, a 61-year-old electrician from Rolleston, Christchurch, died after his car plunged almost 100 metres off the access road on June 14 , Coroner Richard McElrea was told at the inquest in Ashburton.

A search party mounted after Mr Richardson failed to return home from a day skiing alone, located his body outside his crashed car.

A post mortem examination found he died of severe chest injuries after being thrown from the vehicle. He was wearing a seatbelt but the back of his seat broke.

Road and weather conditions were fine, and there were no brake marks on the road judging by tyre marks in roadside snow on the bend known as Shady Corner, which also indicated Mr Richardson's speed was between 28 and 34kmh, according to a police serious crash unit report.

Mr McElrea said while loss of concentration was a likely cause, Mr Richardson could also have misinterpreted the corner despite being a regular up the mountain.

"This road has been travelled perhaps many thousands of times by many vehicles without this outcome," he said.
"Why did a careful driver allow his vehicle to leave the road? The answer, at least part of it, lies in the delineation of the edge of the road, clearly he has misinterpreted that edge," Mr McElrea said.

It was not known what time the crash occurred. Mr Richardson was skiing alone and he completed his final run at 1.48pm. His partner reported him missing at 10pm.

Mr McElrea said death was inevitable, given Mr Richardson's injuries, no matter where the accident had occurred.
"The post mortem confirmed that death was due to the injuries received. He would have lost consciousness almost immediately and died within minutes," Mr McElrea said.

Mr Richardson's family described him as a safe driver and they dismissed the possibility he could have been using his cellphone at the time. The possibility he deliberately drove off the road was also dismissed by family, and police.

"He was a careful and experienced driver, he knew how to handle ski area access roads in all conditions," Mr McElrea said.

The Department of Labour completed a workplace assessment at Mt Hutt following the deaths of Mr Richardson, two skiers and a snowboarder, in separate incidents last year. They recommended a contractor be brought in to look at improvements which could be made to the road and Mt Hutt management had done that.

Mt Hutt ski area manager Dave Wilson told the coroner 21 new barriers would be installed at corners on the access road.

NZSki.com, which owns Mt Hutt, was waiting for confirmation the new barriers would withstand their heavy snow clearing systems before starting work.

He told the coroner the corner where Mr Richardson crashed had not been the scene of previous accidents, but it would be top priority for installing the new barriers. Four barriers would be completed this season and the remainder by 2015.

"It's a very responsible response from Mt Hutt and it's a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Arthur Richardson," Mr McElrea said.The fatality was the first on the access road since 1994, when two people died after their vehicle left the road. There have been four incidents where cars have left the road in the past 10 years.

Here are the extracts from the letters written at the time of the accident.

Buckle up and live
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 18, 2010 
My deepest sympathies go out to the Richardson family, regarding the tragic and preventable death on the Mt Hutt access road (June 16). Sadly, it seems Mr Richardson was not wearing his seatbelt, as he was found some distance from his not terribly damaged vehicle. 

It is a timely reminder to every skier who is under the delusion it is permissible to unbuckle when driving on ski access roads: there are no circumstances where a seatbelt is a disadvantage in a crash. I also know there are people who undo their seatbelt when driving next to canals. Such people are, sadly, temporary citizens. So, belt up and live! 

CHRISTOPHER H DAVIES 


Comment hurtful 
Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 21, 2010 
In response to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we make the point that Arch Richardson was a trusted and careful friend who ran an extremely safety-conscious electrical business. 
To trivialise his death by jumping to unfounded conclusions about seatbelt use is objectionable and unnecessary. 
It is not believable to those of us who knew Arch that he would not wear his seatbelt and it is in any case unlikely that seatbelts had any influence on his untimely death. 
Comments such as Mr Davies' are hurtful to friends and family and to his memory. 
J HEYWOOD, L TAYLOR, K MACDONALD 


Leave it to coroner 
0 Comments | Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand, Jun 26, 2010 
As the partner of Arch Richardson, the man who died in the tragic but preventable accident on the Mt Hutt Rd, I wish to reply to Christopher H Davies (June 18). 
I know that Arch always wore his seatbelt, as he was an extremely careful driver who stuck to the speed limit and obeyed the road rules. 
Was Mr Davies a witness to the accident? If so, I'm sure the police would like to speak with him. If not, I ask that he and others who have similar opinions keep them to themselves, rather than add insult to injury for the bereaved, and leave the conclusions to the coroner, who will give the final ruling on what happened that day. 
SHARON REID 

I can't access our family response anymore and somehow didn't take a copy at the time - 

An extract is still online: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25351894.html

In reply to Christopher H Davies' letter "Buckle up and live'' (June 18), we wish to clarify that police have confirmed to the family that Arthur (Arch) Richardson was wearing his fastened seatbelt at the time his vehicle left the Mt Hutt ski-field access road on June 14.
The seatbelt was discovered still fastened upon later inspection of the vehicle. Unfounded speculation put forward by Mr Davies and published by The Press that Arch was not wearing his seatbelt was unnecessary and insensitive. It is hoped both will exercise greater care when weighing comment regarding tragedies such as this in the future.

-- The Richardson family....

Yesterday, the coroner has finally spoken ... and we felt he made it quite clear to the media yesterday that this was the case so that it could be reported. Interesting that it was not mentioned in the article I posted this morning.

Coroner praises Mt Hutt move to make road safer | Stuff.co.nz

Mt Hutt ski area's efforts to improve safety on the access road after a fatal accident has won praise from a coroner.
Arthur Richardson, 61, of Rolleston, was killed when his car went off the road while travelling down the mountain on the afternoon of June 14 last year.
A serious crash unit investigation concluded that he had veered into a slow-traffic layby then off the side of the road without applying the brakes.
Richardson's body was found beside his car, at the bottom of a gully, early the next morning.
Regional coroner Richard McElrea said ski area management had responded positively to a Department of Labour report which recommended it consult an engineer experienced in alpine roads about safety improvements.
"It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson," the coroner said.
There were 21 potential sites on the access road to install barriers, four of which Mt Hutt planned to have in place before the start of the 2011 ski season.
The coroner said the site at which Richardson drove off the road was one of those four.
Mt Hutt ski area manager David Wilson said there was a target date of March 2015 to install the other 17 barriers, if the design chosen for the first four performed well.
"We're investigating if it will withstand the pressure that will be put on it by heavy duty snow-clearing equipment."
The design was already in use on the access road to the Remarkables ski area near Queenstown, but it was not under as much stress by snow-clearing vehicles there as it would be at Mt Hutt.
The serious crash unit report into Richardson's death concluded that the crash was caused by a "loss of concentration for some unknown reason when the vehicle he was driving approached the right-hand turn."
The coroner said it was also "quite possible he [Richardson] misinterpreted the edge of the road whilst fully concentrating."

via stuff.co.nz

One small positive step to prevent this happening to others. Eventually 21 of them. As the coroner said - "It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson".
It was a long day, answered a few questions and raised a few others that will never be answered, but it was a major crash resulting in major life-ending injuries that he could not have survived; it would have been quick.
The coroner and the police were thorough. We don't feel anything was missed in all the investigations. They were kind and pleasant which helped us get through the ordeal. They showed us everything.
It was a relief to all be there together, on a beautiful sunny day in Ashburton, amidst family and friends who miss him; who remember him as "Arch", or "Dad" rather than Arthur, the name he loathed so much.
Totally exhausted today and still reliving too much of the events, as I am sure we all are. Grief takes time.
Not sure i will be very productive at work today but will go in and do my best to get organised for the new class starting tomorrow. Navel contemplating at home doesn't appeal much either.

Posted via email from Four Paws and Whiskers

Coroner praises Mt Hutt move to make road safer | Stuff.co.nz

Mt Hutt ski area's efforts to improve safety on the access road after a fatal accident has won praise from a coroner.
Arthur Richardson, 61, of Rolleston, was killed when his car went off the road while travelling down the mountain on the afternoon of June 14 last year.
A serious crash unit investigation concluded that he had veered into a slow-traffic layby then off the side of the road without applying the brakes.
Richardson's body was found beside his car, at the bottom of a gully, early the next morning.
Regional coroner Richard McElrea said ski area management had responded positively to a Department of Labour report which recommended it consult an engineer experienced in alpine roads about safety improvements.
"It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson," the coroner said.
There were 21 potential sites on the access road to install barriers, four of which Mt Hutt planned to have in place before the start of the 2011 ski season.
The coroner said the site at which Richardson drove off the road was one of those four.
Mt Hutt ski area manager David Wilson said there was a target date of March 2015 to install the other 17 barriers, if the design chosen for the first four performed well.
"We're investigating if it will withstand the pressure that will be put on it by heavy duty snow-clearing equipment."
The design was already in use on the access road to the Remarkables ski area near Queenstown, but it was not under as much stress by snow-clearing vehicles there as it would be at Mt Hutt.
The serious crash unit report into Richardson's death concluded that the crash was caused by a "loss of concentration for some unknown reason when the vehicle he was driving approached the right-hand turn."
The coroner said it was also "quite possible he [Richardson] misinterpreted the edge of the road whilst fully concentrating."

via stuff.co.nz

One small positive step to prevent this happening to others. Eventually 21 of them. As the coroner said - "It is a very constructive outcome to the most unfortunate death of Mr Richardson".
It was a long day, answered a few questions and raised a few others that will never be answered, but it was a major crash resulting in major life-ending injuries that he could not have survived; it would have been quick.
The coroner and the police were thorough. We don't feel anything was missed in all the investigations. They were kind and pleasant which helped us get through the ordeal. They showed us everything.
It was a relief to all be there together, on a beautiful sunny day in Ashburton, amidst family and friends who miss him; who remember him as "Arch", or "Dad" rather than Arthur, the name he loathed so much.
Totally exhausted today and still reliving too much of the events, as I am sure we all are. Grief takes time.
Not sure i will be very productive at work today but will go in and do my best to get organised for the new class starting tomorrow. Navel contemplating at home doesn't appeal much either.

Posted via email from Four Paws and Whiskers

Fresh Layout; New Beginning

Had fun this morning exploring new templates and layouts... I feel a fresh start is needed. Perhaps the header picture will be changed soon too, but will let my in house web designer and artist do that.

Anyway, I hope you check it out on the real web page if you usually read it in emails or readers. I read heaps of blogs, nearly always on google reader and it is frustrating to have to click through to the real blog, sign in, enter strange anti spam pass words and hope the comment posts, but as many of you have spent time creating beautiful pages, it is nice to appreciate the colours and layouts and see it the way you want us to.

Angus (http://wilfanddigby.blogspot.com/) commented on my blog yesterday... "what a year you have had".  So true.... I wish it was over! Too many losses and dramas floating around with accidents and earthquakes and cancer and operations... but really, I am floating along in the outer circle of it all, rather numb, here in person, but for self preservation often feeling almost detached, tired and finding it hard to focus.   Last weekend, on the advice of the coroner,  we visited the crash site... on the hottest day this summer we drove out there and stood on the edge of the mountain. Hot wind and sun; dry dusty road scattered with small rocks. The long grass softening the cliff face where the car rolled off, just a short distance before disappearing away to the left. The full scale of the distance travelled only apparent as we looked across from the next gully.
This picture was from the Ashburton Guardian. Click on it to enlarge it.

Last week, standing on the edge...

Looking back across last week

Next week we have the inquest in Ashburton; it hangs over us all. Nothing will change the outcome but it might offer some answers and prevent this happening to others.

So some good things have happened too. Jaz is in a rehab centre and been home for the weekend...
Unimaginably huge steps in three weeks!
She wrote a poem today. You can read it at: http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/2011/02/sink-or-swim.html

We saw the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the City Choir, and the NZ Army Band perform at Sparks in the Park... our special concert where we always celebrate our anniversary.

Thanks to the generosity of Polytech, I won double tickets and we got to go to Sting playing with the NZ Symphony Orchestra - thoroughly enjoyed the whole performance!

Saffy may be gone, but her rose is flowering and we still have Jessie.

Dear Poppy has taken over the household... with her shaggy wool, beady eyes, one ear up, one down look, she is adored by us both.  A ray of sun in our day.... a pile of chewed rubbish trailing behind her!

Her obvious relative is.Hairy MacLary 

taken from http://www.redmelon.co.nz/lynleydodd.html

The term starts again tomorrow for our part time classes; the following week for the full timers. So many new people to meet and the pleasure of some returning faces too.

Many thanks to the friends and family who have helped so much in the past months. If I seem a bit lost at times, sorry. There has been much to cope with. There still is, but we have coped and the work is done.
:)

Fresh Layout; New Beginning

Had fun this morning exploring new templates and layouts... I feel a fresh start is needed. Perhaps the header picture will be changed soon too, but will let my in house web designer and artist do that.

Anyway, I hope you check it out on the real web page if you usually read it in emails or readers. I read heaps of blogs, nearly always on google reader and it is frustrating to have to click through to the real blog, sign in, enter strange anti spam pass words and hope the comment posts, but as many of you have spent time creating beautiful pages, it is nice to appreciate the colours and layouts and see it the way you want us to.

Angus (http://wilfanddigby.blogspot.com/) commented on my blog yesterday... "what a year you have had".  So true.... I wish it was over! Too many losses and dramas floating around with accidents and earthquakes and cancer and operations... but really, I am floating along in the outer circle of it all, rather numb, here in person, but for self preservation often feeling almost detached, tired and finding it hard to focus.   Last weekend, on the advice of the coroner,  we visited the crash site... on the hottest day this summer we drove out there and stood on the edge of the mountain. Hot wind and sun; dry dusty road scattered with small rocks. The long grass softening the cliff face where the car rolled off, just a short distance before disappearing away to the left. The full scale of the distance travelled only apparent as we looked across from the next gully.
This picture was from the Ashburton Guardian. Click on it to enlarge it.

Last week, standing on the edge...

Looking back across last week

Next week we have the inquest in Ashburton; it hangs over us all. Nothing will change the outcome but it might offer some answers and prevent this happening to others.

So some good things have happened too. Jaz is in a rehab centre and been home for the weekend...
Unimaginably huge steps in three weeks!
She wrote a poem today. You can read it at: http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/2011/02/sink-or-swim.html

We saw the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the City Choir, and the NZ Army Band perform at Sparks in the Park... our special concert where we always celebrate our anniversary.

Thanks to the generosity of Polytech, I won double tickets and we got to go to Sting playing with the NZ Symphony Orchestra - thoroughly enjoyed the whole performance!

Saffy may be gone, but her rose is flowering and we still have Jessie.

Dear Poppy has taken over the household... with her shaggy wool, beady eyes, one ear up, one down look, she is adored by us both.  A ray of sun in our day.... a pile of chewed rubbish trailing behind her!

Her obvious relative is.Hairy MacLary 

taken from http://www.redmelon.co.nz/lynleydodd.html

The term starts again tomorrow for our part time classes; the following week for the full timers. So many new people to meet and the pleasure of some returning faces too.

Many thanks to the friends and family who have helped so much in the past months. If I seem a bit lost at times, sorry. There has been much to cope with. There still is, but we have coped and the work is done.
:)

Auckland update for Thankful Thursday!

This week has been a step learning curve for us all. We have learned many things, most of which we would all have preferred to leave out of our knowledge areas, but the staff of Ward 83, the High Dependency Unit, have been wonderful. In one of those two degrees of separation scenarios that we often joke about in New Zealand, the normal ward manager for the unit, who is currently doing a years research in the hospital,is the sister of my own work colleague at polytech and she has also been a fantastic source of answers for our questions.

Today has been hard for us all. As the initial shock wears off, the numbness goes too, and many more tears have been shed. The older girls have both been in to visit Mum. Very hard for them.

On a positive note, the speech therapist got Jaz to sing Twinkle Twinkle and a couple of other songs, although she cannot use her voice to speak. She can mouth numbers and form some words, and we can detect amusement, irritation and resignation like facial expressions, but much of it is fleeting and replaced by drowsiness. She can manage a hug for Mark and the girls, and pucker for a kiss. She even managed to kick Mark with her "immobile" leg and has moved her right arm. Little steps. We are aware that it will be a long, slow recovery. Whatever the biopsy shows, she will need a shunt inserted to prevent fluid pressure building up.

Leaving here on Sunday will be hard. Other family members will be flying north to help for a few weeks. People here are offering more help and I am sure things will be fine. Hard, but support systems will ensure things carry on and the family are not left alone.

It has been good to be here. Hot, wet, humid, crowded, tiring, scary, weird, sad.... but better than worrying from Christchurch.

No more pictures today...the ipad wont let me lol, but it has been fantastic to amuse Phoebe while we spend time at the hospital!

Sad to be away from home tonight as there is a coroners pre inquest meeting about Arch's death tomorrow morning and I wanted to go with the children, but hopefully I can get to the main inquest in Ashburton later in February. Another unresolved grief.

We miss Poppy too. Seems ages since we saw her, but she is being beautifully looked after by my friend and I am not worried about her.

Thank you for all your messages. They are very much appreciated.

Mark will be updating Jaz's blog tonight... do visit to learn more.
http://treacytravels.blogspot.com

Good night
fi

Auckland update for Thankful Thursday!

This week has been a step learning curve for us all. We have learned many things, most of which we would all have preferred to leave out of our knowledge areas, but the staff of Ward 83, the High Dependency Unit, have been wonderful. In one of those two degrees of separation scenarios that we often joke about in New Zealand, the normal ward manager for the unit, who is currently doing a years research in the hospital,is the sister of my own work colleague at polytech and she has also been a fantastic source of answers for our questions.

Today has been hard for us all. As the initial shock wears off, the numbness goes too, and many more tears have been shed. The older girls have both been in to visit Mum. Very hard for them.

On a positive note, the speech therapist got Jaz to sing Twinkle Twinkle and a couple of other songs, although she cannot use her voice to speak. She can mouth numbers and form some words, and we can detect amusement, irritation and resignation like facial expressions, but much of it is fleeting and replaced by drowsiness. She can manage a hug for Mark and the girls, and pucker for a kiss. She even managed to kick Mark with her "immobile" leg and has moved her right arm. Little steps. We are aware that it will be a long, slow recovery. Whatever the biopsy shows, she will need a shunt inserted to prevent fluid pressure building up.

Leaving here on Sunday will be hard. Other family members will be flying north to help for a few weeks. People here are offering more help and I am sure things will be fine. Hard, but support systems will ensure things carry on and the family are not left alone.

It has been good to be here. Hot, wet, humid, crowded, tiring, scary, weird, sad.... but better than worrying from Christchurch.

No more pictures today...the ipad wont let me lol, but it has been fantastic to amuse Phoebe while we spend time at the hospital!

Sad to be away from home tonight as there is a coroners pre inquest meeting about Arch's death tomorrow morning and I wanted to go with the children, but hopefully I can get to the main inquest in Ashburton later in February. Another unresolved grief.

We miss Poppy too. Seems ages since we saw her, but she is being beautifully looked after by my friend and I am not worried about her.

Thank you for all your messages. They are very much appreciated.

Mark will be updating Jaz's blog tonight... do visit to learn more.
http://treacytravels.blogspot.com

Good night
fi

Auckland surgery update - Sunday

After hearing on Tuesday that Jaz, Phoebe's Mum, was finally having her unwelcome brain mass removed on Monday, we booked flights, left Poppy with a friend, and came north to take over the children for a few days. My daughter flew home from three weeks in Thailand on Thursday, so she can house sit with my son; we celebrated my father's birthday Friday night, and arrived up here on a bumpy, rollicking flight yesterday. Hardened aftershock survivors we might be, but the flight was not pleasant at all.

We have arrived to torrential rain, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4571700/Roads-close-as-heavens-open
( and thanks GB for this rain radar pic...)
http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.com/2011/01/says-it-all-really.html

but so far, the house has not slid down the hill, we made it out the slippy driveway, just, and now the rain has eased a little. At lunchtime Jaz and Mark left for the pre-op checks in Auckland hospital, staying overnight for the early start for the first-on-the-list surgery tomorrow....so the "distractions" from my previous post were to make the parting a tiny bit easier for Jaz and the girls... shopping at the mall, new toys, ice creams and watching "Tangled" have worked for the first three hours.... and now Phoebe is asleep.

Our thoughts are with Jaz as she prepares for a huge and scary week. At least we can try to take some of the worry off her shoulders but I know leaving the girls today was particularly hard... mother's everywhere will relate to that I know. Tears and hugs.
You can read about her journey on her own blog. Start here and work back.. http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/2011/01/see-you-soon.html
I will of course try to keep you posted regularly.
xx

Auckland surgery update - Sunday

After hearing on Tuesday that Jaz, Phoebe's Mum, was finally having her unwelcome brain mass removed on Monday, we booked flights, left Poppy with a friend, and came north to take over the children for a few days. My daughter flew home from three weeks in Thailand on Thursday, so she can house sit with my son; we celebrated my father's birthday Friday night, and arrived up here on a bumpy, rollicking flight yesterday. Hardened aftershock survivors we might be, but the flight was not pleasant at all.

We have arrived to torrential rain, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4571700/Roads-close-as-heavens-open
( and thanks GB for this rain radar pic...)
http://rotowhenua2.blogspot.com/2011/01/says-it-all-really.html

but so far, the house has not slid down the hill, we made it out the slippy driveway, just, and now the rain has eased a little. At lunchtime Jaz and Mark left for the pre-op checks in Auckland hospital, staying overnight for the early start for the first-on-the-list surgery tomorrow....so the "distractions" from my previous post were to make the parting a tiny bit easier for Jaz and the girls... shopping at the mall, new toys, ice creams and watching "Tangled" have worked for the first three hours.... and now Phoebe is asleep.

Our thoughts are with Jaz as she prepares for a huge and scary week. At least we can try to take some of the worry off her shoulders but I know leaving the girls today was particularly hard... mother's everywhere will relate to that I know. Tears and hugs.
You can read about her journey on her own blog. Start here and work back.. http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/2011/01/see-you-soon.html
I will of course try to keep you posted regularly.
xx

Perfect summer break

Been on holiday for nearly three weeks.... and it is bliss. Particularly now that the rush of Xmas is over and the weather is hot and dry; too hot, but in the awareness of a frozen northern hemisphere and people shivering, I will just say that darkened rooms and fans on full are helping us cope in the absence of an air con unit. After having our post quake chimney removed, we might be eligible for a free heat pump instead of having it rebuilt, so fingers crossed. Anything to keep power bills under control would be great.

We had a lovely family Xmas, despite the earthquake swarm on Boxing Day, followed by a quiet but fun New Year, just enjoying the break with no issues... no resolutions either! A stress free and relaxing time.

The family are well. My daughter is in Thailand with her friends - if she is hotter than we are here today, she can keep it!  Love the way they are all colour coordinated.

James and Jess went to Nelson Lakes and tramped for a few days - missing some heavy rain and getting four days of perfect weather.

Phoebe's family are making the most of an Auckland Xmas ... you can see all their photos on their blog
See Xmas:  http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/2010/12/treacy-christmas-2010.html
or for them all :) http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/

Poppy has settled in now and is a bundle of energy and love.  Our house appears to have toddlers living in it again, strewn with toys and chewy things, but the toilet training is going well!

New Brighton Beach

Today we escaped the heat with a drive over to Lyttelton Harbour, enjoying the air conditioning in the car.

The beaches were all hot and packed and of course, no dogs allowed, but finally, we found the ideal spot to take Poppy for a walk, safely, by the river; cool, shady and inviting...at Horseshoe Lake,  right across the road from our house, so we went home and got Jessie as well. While walking, we scared something into the water... I thought it was probably a rat at first but it was actually a red eared slider turtle.. floating tantalisingly just out of reach before diving away. Someone must have got tired of their pet... but releasing it into the local waterways is not fair on the turtle either.

I will leave you with Poppy pix....  which are hard to get as she is rarely still, and in most photos looks like a small black mop if you can't see her eyes.

Happy New Year to you all.

Perfect summer break

Been on holiday for nearly three weeks.... and it is bliss. Particularly now that the rush of Xmas is over and the weather is hot and dry; too hot, but in the awareness of a frozen northern hemisphere and people shivering, I will just say that darkened rooms and fans on full are helping us cope in the absence of an air con unit. After having our post quake chimney removed, we might be eligible for a free heat pump instead of having it rebuilt, so fingers crossed. Anything to keep power bills under control would be great.

We had a lovely family Xmas, despite the earthquake swarm on Boxing Day, followed by a quiet but fun New Year, just enjoying the break with no issues... no resolutions either! A stress free and relaxing time.

The family are well. My daughter is in Thailand with her friends - if she is hotter than we are here today, she can keep it!  Love the way they are all colour coordinated.

James and Jess went to Nelson Lakes and tramped for a few days - missing some heavy rain and getting four days of perfect weather.

Phoebe's family are making the most of an Auckland Xmas ... you can see all their photos on their blog
See Xmas:  http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/2010/12/treacy-christmas-2010.html
or for them all :) http://treacytravels.blogspot.com/

Poppy has settled in now and is a bundle of energy and love.  Our house appears to have toddlers living in it again, strewn with toys and chewy things, but the toilet training is going well!

New Brighton Beach

Today we escaped the heat with a drive over to Lyttelton Harbour, enjoying the air conditioning in the car.

The beaches were all hot and packed and of course, no dogs allowed, but finally, we found the ideal spot to take Poppy for a walk, safely, by the river; cool, shady and inviting...at Horseshoe Lake,  right across the road from our house, so we went home and got Jessie as well. While walking, we scared something into the water... I thought it was probably a rat at first but it was actually a red eared slider turtle.. floating tantalisingly just out of reach before diving away. Someone must have got tired of their pet... but releasing it into the local waterways is not fair on the turtle either.

I will leave you with Poppy pix....  which are hard to get as she is rarely still, and in most photos looks like a small black mop if you can't see her eyes.

Happy New Year to you all.

Merry Xmas and shaky earth returns

I had a wonderful Xmas filled with traditional family times. Eggnog and mulled wine with mince pie supper before midnight service; morning Skype to family in Auckland, afternoon Skype with family in Canada (so pleased it was back online).  Hot beautiful weather. Huge Xmas feast and Secret Santa presents with the children at my parents', with petanque to work it off.

Charades to challenge us ...try The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Moulin Rouge, Horton Hears a Who! A tightly fought contest and many laughs... Won by 1 point by the girls...mainly due to a technical fault over issues with the timer.

Poppy's first Xmas.... Yes that is vodka..no, she hadn't drunk it. 

The sort of memories you treasure forever.

Sad for the children without their Dad to spend time with.  We thought of him when we hauled out the family albums and remembered when we were babies, young people, new parents...   

Mother nature seems to feel it is time to disturb us again. We had five shakes overnight and have just had another huge one... Felt like a 5. Forgotten the adrenaline rush! And then two more immediately after... The earth is not stable by any means today. 

Hope you all had a great Xmas and a relaxing Boxing Day (or are you battling the sales?)

Posted via email from Four Paws and Whiskers

Merry Xmas and shaky earth returns

I had a wonderful Xmas filled with traditional family times. Eggnog and mulled wine with mince pie supper before midnight service; morning Skype to family in Auckland, afternoon Skype with family in Canada (so pleased it was back online).  Hot beautiful weather. Huge Xmas feast and Secret Santa presents with the children at my parents', with petanque to work it off.

Charades to challenge us ...try The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Moulin Rouge, Horton Hears a Who! A tightly fought contest and many laughs... Won by 1 point by the girls...mainly due to a technical fault over issues with the timer.

Poppy's first Xmas.... Yes that is vodka..no, she hadn't drunk it. 

The sort of memories you treasure forever.

Sad for the children without their Dad to spend time with.  We thought of him when we hauled out the family albums and remembered when we were babies, young people, new parents...   

Mother nature seems to feel it is time to disturb us again. We had five shakes overnight and have just had another huge one... Felt like a 5. Forgotten the adrenaline rush! And then two more immediately after... The earth is not stable by any means today. 

Hope you all had a great Xmas and a relaxing Boxing Day (or are you battling the sales?)

Posted via email from Four Paws and Whiskers