Today saw a
return trip to Chch
with the main purpose of some last minute Christmas
food shopping (though I've something very shocking to tell you about
Southern hemisphere Christmas lunch. Steel yourself, dear reader. For all of the crackers, bread
sauce, plum pudding, blah, blah, blah, ... sprouts aren't in season! On the bright side,
there's roasted kumara [sweet potato] instead, of which we've grown increasingly fond).
(yday having been a bit grotty - yes, we're getting used to the
on/off sunshine habits of the early Summer weather!) so we had a lovely drive
in and it was still nice when we got to Chch.
I hadn't really
appreciated from our visit a couple of weeks ago quite how widespread or
long-lasting is the devastation wrought by the earthquake, nor how much
rebuilding is still going on. In some places, it resembles a warzone
The recently-opened "transitional cardboard" cathedral is
pleasant, cool and airy; and, being completely different from the
late-lamented mid-19th century stone building, you have to hope that it
isn't expected to compete.
(though we didn't really too much of a chance to look
about; they ushered us out in preparation for the Nativity With Animals
service...)
The Re-Start shopping centre, constructed of huge steel
containers, is sleek and well-maintained; I shan't be surprised if, like
the cathedral, it evolves into a permanent feature and becomes part of
the landscape.
The trip was unexpectedly extended when the car refused to
start in the multistory carpark but Morag's father, Euan, came to our
rescue and very kindly swapped his car for us to get back to Hanmer.
Three cheers for Euan (and the tow-man).
"On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me :
Eleven pukekos prancing,
Ten Richies rucking,
Nine salmon swimming,
Eight sausies sizzling,
Seven sheep a-singing,
Six seagulls squawking,
Five keas a-cackling,
Four possums playing,
Three cows a-cuddling,
Two pavs a-cooking,and
A kiwi in a palm tree."
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