Ōtautahi / Christchurch Daily Photo

Today we focused on more of our own clean up (it seems to never end), and we then ventured out to visit friends nearby and collect water from an artesian well that was near their place (it’s on Opawa road near the shops). I’m not entirely sure if the well just came up, but the people who’s land it is on have rigged up some pipes, and everyone in the neighborhood can go down and fill up. Quite a new experience for us!

Bruce my partner (right) fills up one of our water containers as I take snaps.

Some day soon, we will forget what this was like, so I am documenting our personal experience. I’ve no desire to publish disaster photos on this blog, there are plenty of those online if you want to view them. I’ve made a conscious decision to focus on my experiences, our daily life (thanks Bruce for letting me put you online!), and the positive things people are doing. This well is just one of many around – you don’t have to drive far to find signs posted WATER – and beside this water pump station is also a whole bunch of free vegetables – people are just amazing.

We still don’t have power or water, I am writing this using the generator that we have been loaned. It sure is noisy (imagine a lawnmower going constantly in your back yard). So we are only using it to clean up and keep connected when we  can. Many people have said they can’t imagine what it’s like to live like this, and when I have time I will write in more detail about our experience. I’m also very keen to write about what I have learned about being ready and prepared for an earthquake – you’ll be surprised as I was that often it’s the little things that bug you the most!

I needed to venture a little further out of my neighborhood today, and I can tell you it is a surreal experience seeing the army and tanks on your own streets. If you don’t need to go out, please don’t, the little I saw (Fitzgerald Avenue) put me off travelling anywhere near there. I went down Stanmore Road as well and it’s a mess.

Please stay off the roads, and please stay safe.