That is nice that your family are home again grizzly. Hope you had an enjoyable visit from your sister. Have you got one of those chemical toilets yet? Or are you ok in that department? My grandson is still with us he has just come back from my daughters at the beach. I watched American Idol tonight and knitted. He wanted to watch the wrestling but I bribed him with my computer. His laptop is only working when it wants to!!!! There are some really good singers this season. Went to the Bowling club to play bingo with the older club members this afternoon and had a ball. They are a bundle of laughs, so much life experience.

makerealbany - 2011-03-05 00:00:00

Smartgirl M had another afternoon at preschool that make 4 this week. She told her mother to "Hurry up Mum or I will be late for preschool" Lol. What a switch in attitude from the last preschool. Came over at 7 this morning for pancake friday. Told me the expensive real Canadian Maple syrup was yucky and so she had the regular imitation kind. Suits me ha ha. It is raining here and so humid. I keep going outside in the cool air. I have wet 3 coats tonight and my gumboots are on newspaper near the front door. lol.

makerealbany - 2011-03-05 00:05:00

Had a lovely visit last night with my sister and she brought a co-worker with her as well. We watched American Idol as well and thought the same thing about the talent. No, we don't need one of those toilets. We have had power and water from the start. That's why we have people coming here for showers etc. There are pockets of severe damage and liquifaction over this side of town but the it's a bit weird coming home, it's like crossing the line into a different world. My son's McDonalds is going to be open again from Wednesday so that will be a blessing for the Linwood area and they are trying to create different entrances from the road for Countdown and the Warehouse so they can open as well eventually. Not sure about the rest of the mall except the car park is to be demolished. Apparently the mall over my side of town is open but I don't think I'll be going there any time soon. There is a little mall closer to me that is the older style, if you know what I mean, single story and the shops are grouped around a courtyard. Feels much safer to me even if they charge a little more.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-05 09:14:00

Hi grizzly. Of course you dont need one of those toilets. Daft I am. Just got back from babysitting up the line have to do the same tomorrow night. Watched American Idol tonight and my favourites got in. Yes I would feel safer with ground floor shops and the entrance within eyesight. I have always hated high rise buildings. I just cannot imagine how it feels to be in your shoes. No one can unless they are there. You did have some positive news so somethings are improving. Thank goodness. Well I am off to bed.

makerealbany - 2011-03-06 01:40:00

I was really looking forward to a family night with DVDs and chocolate last night and then the 4.8 hit and set everyone on edge again for the rest of the night. Poor turtle was surfing the waves in her new tank and DIL had to race to grab L3 who was really scared. As were the rest of us, it seemed to go on so long for a skake that was quite a bit deeper than we usually get. It was so wet and miserable last night I worried about the people on the hills in their houses and the poor people still working on the CBD.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-06 09:45:00

It just goes on and on for you all grizzly. I have just been to spotlight and brought some more wool and a gift for my friend who is going to aus for a year. I will miss her dearly as she also lives next door. Oh well she is not selling her house so she has to come back some time or other. Have a great day.

smartgirl - 2011-03-06 13:21:00

Oh my grizzly and to think my grandson wants to go back next week. He has gone down to Hamilton for a week to see his Mum. I did not watch any news last night. I am too afraid these days of what may be on it. Sigh.You poor things. It is so hard on the children. Very illuminating description of the turtle. It must be raining all over. It poured here as well. I wondered about the drains during the night and then thought what the hell if they block up with leaves too bad. They were. Cleaned it out this morning.

makerealbany - 2011-03-06 15:15:00

Smartgirl. You are right she has to come back at some time. lol. I hope her tenants are okay. Anyway you will be able to spy for her. Ha ha. You will miss her though. Never mind the year will be over before you know it.

makerealbany - 2011-03-06 15:17:00

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear smartgirl, Happy Birthday to you. Hope you have an awesome day girl.

makerealbany - 2011-03-07 01:18:00

Happy bIrthday, smartgirl! Hope you have a wonderful day with something special planned.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-07 09:37:00

EQC hadn't quite got to my son's house to red sticker it by the weekend so we hired a truck and got the bulk of his furniture out. Scary stuff, praying there were no aftershocks while we were in there. The house is even worse than the photos taken after 22/2. It's to be demolished according to the landlord who is losing his own house a few doors along as well, so we were able to leave all the broken stuff in there. We couldn't retrieve the fridge freezer, the vacummn cleaner and one of the single mattresses and they've lost all their crockery. Everything else is stored in our garage. Oh and they lost the big turtle tank as the seams were starting to let go when they tried to left it so it had to stay. I hope they bulldoze it soon. The fridge is lying face down in the kitchen with food etc still in it so won't be nice!

grizzly4 - 2011-03-07 09:45:00

yhew that sounds scary alright grizzly. At lest you got some stuff out. If they dont have insurance maybe they can apply for a grant from the NZ Red Cross Society to help replace some essentials. It is just one thing after another but you all have each other and that is more important than anything else at the moment. I suppose houses will be hard to find to rent or will it be easier now that people are leaving? It is hard to say. Because so many homes are to be demolished. Shame about the tank but the fridge freezer is a real blow. You really need a fridge freezer. What is the area like where you used to stay grizzly? Miss 3 is spending the night with me to try and give Mum a break. She wakes in the night since her Dad went back to work. Doesn't remember it in the morning. She just needs reassurance and she goes back to sleep. I had a Nana Nap for an hour this afternoon. I got into bed at 2 this morning and was up again at 7 so I was shattered. The old gray mare ain't what she used to be. Lol.

makerealbany - 2011-03-07 23:00:00

They are insured but goes through EQC anyway. And they have applied for the grant from Red Cross for displaced persons, hopefully that will help with the bond etc for a new place. They do have a bond to transfer from the old place but don't know where the landlord has moved to. Bond Centre will sort it out eventually but they need money to move now. I had a really bad night dream wise and the after shocks played havoc last night. We were busy yesterday doing the rounds for the Red Cross paperwork - queues everywhere. And I had to replace my cellphone after putting it through the wash on Sunday!

grizzly4 - 2011-03-08 09:20:00

My goodness grizzly You bet me at lest I haven't washed my phone. Mind you I have misplaced it lots of times and end up having to ring myself from my home phone. Lol. Yes I can imagine how frustrating all the form filling and the rest of it will be. Sigh. Got a haircut today at last.Just going to sit and knit now. I am knitting myself a pair of bed socks because my grandaughters have borrowed all the others.!!!!!! My feet are dry and the skin is so rough I need to put cream on them at nights and My normal socks make my feet swell in the night so I need these.

makerealbany - 2011-03-08 21:16:00

I must say you are very brave staying there grizzly. I could not cope with the aftershocks. I would be jumping all over the place.

makerealbany - 2011-03-08 21:18:00

I dont think I could cope either, so you are braver than both of us. Shame about your phone, I took mine in the pool with miss b just before christmas and as my phone was older I lost all my contacts including yours makereal, so can you text me sometime with yours please. I dont even know my number when I loose mine, really dumb. I need to finish my socks off too. I think I need to undo them as I made the legs very long. I have just noticed trademe selling fees have gone up, I wonder when that happened. Have a great night girls.

smartgirl - 2011-03-08 22:58:00

yep, very jumpy, especially when we have one like last night!! I wasn't quite sure if it was going to finish, pretty rough.And when they happen around bedtime it doesn't make for a great night. I braved going into Countdown for groceries yesterday with my son and the boys for support though. Going into work today for awhile to do wages again and have lots of errands to do on the way in. Making the trip count!

grizzly4 - 2011-03-09 08:57:00

Went to work for 4 hours today and completed all my errands! (Patting myself on the back). This is how it is currently, our wee craft shop is gone as you know, my doctors surgery is gone as well, It was great the chemist is still there as they are holding a new prescription for me currently, Spotlight ( no loss) and Knitworld are closed for the foreseeable future, there are no banks or postshops open on the whole east half of the city, you have to remember to take food and water to work 'cos you can't pop out to get more, there's nothing open even if they are still standing. I've seen the tanks people are excpected to empty their chemical loos into. No way I could lift a full container to reach the opening on the tank!! These blokes honestly expect miracles from our older residents and short ones!

grizzly4 - 2011-03-09 17:00:00

Oh my goodness grizzly. We do not get the full picture from the sensational media coverage that is for sure. I did wonder about those chemical loos. So if you need anything posted or money from the bank etc you have to travel to the other side. How on earth are you able to work? I feel so sad for all those people who have lost and those others who will lose their homes. I dont know how you cope with it all. If a truck rumbles down the road here I think to myself" What the hell is that? Oh it's ok just a truck" We are all thinking earthquakes. I have felt minor earthquakes over the years but never felt an aftershock and don't want to either. Guess who has been ringing again? Really frantic they are now. Ho ho.

makerealbany - 2011-03-09 23:43:00

Smartgirl will text you tomorrow. I would lose all my numbers too if I damaged or lost my phone. Kids are fine. J is getting better when I look after him. In fact he is off the scale for height and weight at plunket. Lol. He has solids 3 times a day and is a breeze to feed. Takes his breastmilk in a bottle when Mum is out no probelm now. M is fine just loving Preschool.

makerealbany - 2011-03-09 23:50:00

Grizzly how are your cats?

makerealbany - 2011-03-09 23:50:00

J. sounds as if he is doing extremely well these days. Congratulations! My 'girls' are ok, a bit nervous but not as bad as I expected especially having B5 and L3 running around all day. But they always come in for meals thank goodness. They run for cover with anything over a 4 magnitude but under that they watch the ceiling for a while then settle again. Poor things, their world is not perfect at present but they are being very patient. I am home until Monday now, although I have brought some work with me. My brain isn't functioning too well so not sure how much will get done. It doesn't look as if our programmes will be up and running for at least another week because of damage to the schools and we are still waiting for our building to be checked, although I think it's pretty ok. Going to try and get L3 back into his pre-school while I am at work next week and take B5 with me. L3 is really showing signs of the stress of all this, resorting back to baby talk and behaviour at times which is really worrying his parents. He talks often of the 'damage' to his home and how buildings 'collapse' and how everything is 'muddy' (liquifaction). And he misses his cat which is staying with another grandparent. My poor wee man.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-10 09:08:00

Oh the poor little guy grizzly. How frightening for them. Children do revert back a bit in times of stress. Even M who is 3 did when J was born because he was crying all the time. She is ok now but having another sleepover with Nana. She woke up earlier and said" I can hear my baby brother Nana" I told her it was the naughty cats next door. She went straight back to sleep sarisfied it was not her brother and that he was fast asleep. The neighbours cats are driving us all mad. I did wonder about your cats because mine bolt inside when they hear the ruckus next door. By next door I mean down the hill at the back. I could not function workwise either if I were you. I think I have caught a bug from K up at the beach. My throat is so sore dash it all.

makerealbany - 2011-03-10 23:31:00

Oh no, makerealbany, you are too busy to get a dose of the 'flu! I am home alone with the boys today. Everyone else is at work. Have a couple of errands to run which will get us out of the house for awhile this morning. Yesterday we went to a local fish farm to get quote for a new turtle tank. It was great fun for the boys seeing all the different fish in the tanks and all the turtles. I've just found out they my son has never received a payout from EQC for the things he lost in SEptember yet! They went out to check and everything but no money received. So not only do they have a new claim but have to chase up the other one as well! So unfair.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-11 08:37:00

Sounds as if the boys had fun at the fish Farm grizzly. Good to hear about that. I cannot believe your son has not received his last claim yet. Heavens how long will this claim take. Just saw on the news about the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan. My poor daughter is saying the world has gone to hell. She is feeling very emotional at the moment worrying about her babies. I have a full blown sore throat and aching chest and I cannot afford to be sick just now. Dosing myself up so I can sleep. Daughter is writting a list of emergency supplies which includes unbreakables. Grandson is watching tv and is flying back to Christchurch on Wednesday night. He is totally in a world of his own I am sure.

makerealbany - 2011-03-12 00:48:00

WE saw the breaking news about Japan just as we were about to go to bed last night. Absolutely agree with your daughter about the way the world is going. It's like it's destroying itself from the inside out. How do we stay positive and plan a future when nature itself is against us?

grizzly4 - 2011-03-12 10:12:00

Hi Every one, thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. I was without power for 13 days and i am still without water, thank goodness for friends. They have just got my cable network running again, i never thought about that being damaged, i expected the power to go on and my tv and computer to work, but it didn't. never mind i enjoyed playing cards by candle light, but cooking in the garage on the bbq got a bit tiresome. Never mind , always someone worse off than us

suzy59nz - 2011-03-12 18:41:00

grizzly4 wrote:

WE saw the breaking news about Japan just as we were about to go to bed last night. Absolutely agree with your daughter about the way the world is going. It's like it's destroying itself from the inside out. How do we stay positive and plan a future when nature itself is against us?

Did you guys know that NASA exploded a bomb on the moon?? how crazy is that, the moon is earths satalight, it effect the tides and otherthings, can you imagin what would have happend if they had rocked the moons orbit, or mamybe they have, this is nature fighting back. I wrote a stinker to NASA not that they will care.

Now i am wondering what is going to happen in Japan with the nuclear reactors, two are leaking, now that scary, tell me what is one country doing with 10 nuclear reactors??????????????????????-

Shoot just had another after shock, scared the pants off me lol.

suzy59nz - 2011-03-12 18:57:00

Hi there suzy the longest I was without power was for 48 hours and I carried on as if my throat had been cut. Mind you it was only because they were putting in a new transformer. You are coping really well girl. Yes friends are so important. Those nuclear reactors scare the hell out of us too. I could not believe my eyes and ears last night when I heard and saw the news. Mother Earth has had it with us stuffing up the planet. I agree about about men and their bloody bombs and testing all over the place causing havoc. You cannot tell me all that testing in the Pacific did not jangle the plates.

makerealbany - 2011-03-13 01:31:00

Yes it is hard to stay positive at times grizzly but you will because you have too girl. My bug did not stop me babysitting master 2 tonight up at the beach. I told him I could not breathe on him because I had the bug he gave me. He just grinned and said"Ok naughty Nana". Lol. My 3 Youngest grandchildren, my grandson from Christchurch and my girls all had lunch together today. My girls needed us to be together. I watched them watching their babies laughing and playing. It was good. I know we were all thinking of those poor people who have lost their lives and loved ones in Japan. I am really tired so I will call it a day.

makerealbany - 2011-03-13 01:40:00

Can't beat family being together! B5 will be 6 tomorrow so we got extended family together for a pizza tea last night to give him his presssies. Was a nice time and he did very well as usual.
Good to see you back on line suzy!!!! MUst have been a fair bit of reading for you to catch up, but you could have skipped all my moaning.
I heard from our friend in Wellington Hospital yesterday, as well. It was sooooo good to hear her voice. When I hear her being so brave it gives me a real kick in the pants. Her trip home to ChCh was cancelled at the last minute and in the mean time her family had flown home to be meet her when she got here. Thats just plain cruel for all concerned.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-13 09:23:00

so she is all alone in Wellington, poor thing. I hope she gets brought back to Christchurch soon.
Its my eldest daughters birthday tomorrow too,24 years old, how time flies.
My younger one has gone to see her bf in Waimate she should be home around lunch time, don't like her driving so far.

suzy59nz - 2011-03-13 11:54:00

Boy she's doing that trip regularly, why did I think he was living up here, suzy?
Had a weird day yesterday. Very productive: did lots of cooking and baking and some bookwork for the shop but overall flet very flat. Still the same today, although it's early...haha. Have to go in to work today so dropping L3 into preschool for the first time in 3 weeks. B6 (yep, 6 today) is staying with me but it looks as if his school will open on Thursday which will be great for him. I have finished jackets for the two youngest grandsons but do you think I can get a nice grey wool for the stripes in B6's? Of course limited shops open but it just seems that it's not a popular colour this year.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-14 07:07:00

Hi girls. Yep went to the GP today and I have Broncitis. Ah well got some antibiotics and came home to try and rest. Took miss 3 to dancing this morning and she had a great time. Think little J is teething but cannot help his Mum out with him because of my bugs. Sigh. Miss 3 is ok she has the constitution of a little ox. I finished my bedsocks, will sew them up tonight. Darn back is killing me because of all the coughing and my ribs are aching. Thank heavens my SIL up the beach is home tomorrow. I just have to hang on until next wed then my other SIL will be home. Hurrah. Lol.

makerealbany - 2011-03-14 20:25:00

Oh grizzly, those shocks keep on going on. No wonder you are starting to feel it now. I saw on tv 1 tonight that it usually kicks in 4 to 6 weeks and that you should get help if you keep on feeling the same. You can get a ref from your doctor for an appointment at the charity (not the right word) hospital, its free. They have closed down their theatres for this very thing. Spotlight have light and med grey in stock in Merino. What ply are you looking for. I can get you some. Let me know.

smartgirl - 2011-03-14 20:25:00

Makereal, how is the throat. I had it last week and it went straight to asthma again. I still have the cough and difficulty breathing when I am busy. I am over it. I know all about the pain. I see uni have gone back today in tents, that is great for everyone. Take care and get well soon.

smartgirl - 2011-03-14 20:28:00

Hi smartgirl.Yes I am the same having difficulty breathing. Had to run up the hill after M today and thought I was going to pass out!!!!! I hate the light headedness. Never mind the darn thing will pass over or we will Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2011-03-14 20:37:00

Thank you smartgirl, for the offer of getting the wool. My problem is getting DIL to decide what shade is best. (Sigh). The Charity Hospital you mentioned is only a couple of blocks away funnily enough. A water pipe burst in the road right outside the hospital and although they fixed it straight away I did wonder how it affected them. I will be ok, it's just all the wondering about these predictions for this weekend hanging over us. I'm glad you've been to the Dr, makerealbany, I hope you feel some benefit from your drugs soon.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-15 08:05:00

Starting to feel less lightheaded Lol. Another busy day here. J had to be taken to the doc. He has trush most likely because he stuffs anything and everything he can into his little mouth. He is also on Losec so A has to take probiotics because she is still breastfeeding him. He is such a bonny boy but my goodness he keeps his mother busy. My grandson is getting ready to go back to Christchurch tomorrow so Nana has been giving him lots of unsolicited advice. Ha ha. Poor boy will be glad to get back home. He says he has put weight on here and is complaining about his tight jeans. My Mum is fine and waiting for a visit from me. My cottage is a shambles but that can wait. Every time I turn on the news I see such devastation nowadays. We are so lucky here compared to what is happening in Japan.

makerealbany - 2011-03-15 23:15:00

I so agree. I can't fathom the huge numbers in terms of missing and loss of life. Mind you I read about an earthquake in China (?) last year where 87,000 peope died!!!! Why did that not stick in my mind when it happened?? Such a shame that we have to suffer before we can truly empathise with others who are so much worse off.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-16 07:46:00

I guess that given the huge populations of China and Japan there will always be larger casualties than we would have in NZ. However we have a small population. My grandson flew back tonight happy as a sand boy to be going home. I must admit having a tall guy always under my feet was a bit unsettling. HA HA. I managed to get rid of loads of snacks left over from Christmas and stashs from the freezer. I will miss him though. So will Miss 3. She told him so before we left for the airport. She has got used to coming into the cottage at 7 in the morning to harass him, eat her breakfast harass him, get dressed, harass him, etc. She loves having her cousins stay. Ah well her dad will be home next week so she can drive him to distraction. Lol.

makerealbany - 2011-03-16 23:26:00

Grizzly you will never guess what I have just spent 3 hours doing? I know I know. I just could not ignore the plight of a couple of workers who really need my help so I am back on the Committee. Have not told my daughter yet she will ring my neck. However I have set very clear boundaries and timeframes. I am doing the same with my daughters so I have a clear idea of what I can do and when I can do it lol. I intend to do a lot more for myself this year.

makerealbany - 2011-03-17 22:34:00

OH NO!!!!!! We really can't look after ourselves can we when it comes to the greater good? I spent yesterday loading all my stuff on to TM , maybe I can sell some of it by the time we have a new shop.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-18 10:26:00

Family all here to watch the memorial service on tv at lunch time. Lovely service, very moving and I couldn't believe the devastation of the inner city!!! I took a few different roads to work the other day which took me closer to the cordon area and the damage to roads was horrendous. Very scary so I'm back to the ring road around the outskirtsagain, pretending life is 'normal'.
OUr friend is back from Wellington Hospital now and in the Spinal Unit here. Saw her last night - such a brave woman!! I felt strengthened from seeing her, I hope the feeling lasts out the weekend and the predictions.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-18 15:13:00

Yes I saw the memorial service and it was very emotional. I am glad your friend is back home again in Christchurch. Bless her. I should sell some of my stashs as well on TM. Still have never sold anything. I am just a terrible hoarder even though I clear out stuff for the relis and the op shops. Raining again here so everything in the garden is growing flat out. Including the weeds lol.

makerealbany - 2011-03-18 21:33:00

Yep, raining here today, too. My garden looks really neglected, not enough water but that doesn't stop the weeds at all. I sprayed the rockery yesterday and tidied up the green house a bit and I. did the lawns thank goodness.
It always rains when I have a funeral to go to and today is no different. A friends husband died suddenly last week from a heart attack. He has been very stressed about the earthquakes apparently. And so the nightmare continues.....

grizzly4 - 2011-03-19 09:58:00

Oh that is sad. Friends up here had their parents who were from Christchurch and they did not want to go back so my friends husband has to go there and sort things out. Had to take time off work but had no option. I spent the day working for my organisation then resting between probelms. Lol. I have to go down next week for 5 days but my SIL will be home and it will be good to get away from home for awhile. Ha ha. I will be staying in a motel so that will be nice. I transfered water last night from the bottom tank as the top one was half empty and the bottom one was overflowing. Plenty of water here.

makerealbany - 2011-03-19 23:21:00

Yesterday was really hard, can't really get going today. I. had a 4.30 start this morning but was finished and back in bed by 7.30am. Bit weird finding climbing back into bed, I didn't even hear him arrive home. Haha. He's got a rotten head cold, poor b#%*#r, and it's cold and wet again so would have been awful getting up that early. Even my girls stayed in bed with me. It's his birthday tomorrow so I'm giving his presents today once he's up because our hours are all over the place tomorrow.

grizzly4 - 2011-03-20 09:52:00

Grizzly it is great news to have your friend back home, she will certainly need you now. What a long journey she has ahead of her and it is great to hear she is so positive. Have great birthday celebrations today. You all deserve a good day. Makereal I cant believe you weakened. Really, of course I can, we are all big softies when it really comes to saying NO. I hope you only do what you need to do. Its is a bonus staying in a motel, I wish I was coming with you. Ha ha. Chance would be a fine thing.

smartgirl - 2011-03-20 12:52:00

This message was deleted.

kulkkulbelle - 2011-03-20 18:51:00