Ōtautahi / Christchurch Daily Photo

This kind of typifies life in Christchurch now – getting back to every day life – talking on the cellphone and getting to wherever we need to be, while right next to us is the remains (and often not even that) of our broken city.

I personally have been amazed at how I have turned off from a lot of damage around the city (well the parts we can get into for now). It’s become quite easy to drive down the one way streets and not gasp in shock. Though I have to admit to becoming disorientated on a frequent basis as I will be driving along, come to a familiar intersection, and have to do a double take to work out if I really am where I think I am – as buildings are gone – letting in a new vista of other buildings. It’s quite a surreal experience at times!