GBE 2: Blog on: Out of control Christchurch City, NZ, to move westwards in coming years...

GBE2. Blog on:  Out of control Christchurch City in NZ to move westwards in coming years...

Out of control Christchurch City in NZ to move westwards in coming years...

The latest round of earthquakes/aftershocks in Christchurch appear to have inflicted a killer blow on the iconic 19th century Christ Church cathedral in the heart of the city. Badly damaged in the first earthquake in September last year, further damaged in an aftershock just after Christmast,and badly smashed and munted in the February earthquake earlier this year, losing its spire (for the third time in its history, 1888 and 1901)the final straw came with the loss of it famous Rose Window, and the felling of its south wall this week.

Anglican Bishop,Victoria Matthews and Cathedral Dean Peter Beck, jointly stated the cathedral could be deconstructed,demolished and rebuilt further west. There is every possibility that the city centre itself will be moved westwards.

With much of the eastern suburbs damaged beyond repair because of the unstable land there, and probably over half of the CBD needing deconstruction or reconstruction, a decision may well be made to move the city westwards. It has become pretty obvious that our city's founding fathers made a huge mistake in draining a large  swamp back post-1850 and building a town there.

Many cities and towns in Britain and Europe had to be rebuilt after World War Two and become superior to their predecessors. There is no reason why the once beautiful Christchurch City cannot rise again like the Phoenix.

I was born and raised in that beautiful city which some used to say was more English than the English themselves. Some of the old social networks were pretty overpowering decades ago, and obviously helped to create such a strong community spirit that has really come to the fore since the earthquakes during the last nine months. I won't be around to see what Christchurch will become in coming years, but I reckon it will be a great little city once again.
 

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Goodbye bro, I'll see you at another place...

Goodbye bro, I'll see you later at another place...

Christ Church cathedral, before and after the February earthquake...

Richard, happy family times...









Goodbye bro, I'll see you later at another place...

Canterbury plains...

Preview:  I wrote and published this story back in February on another site after the second earthquake  in Christchurch, NZ,  killed 182 and injured many. They had four more aftershocks there today, one at 5.5 and another at 6.00 magnitude.  There were no deaths and only minor injuries. But more damage and that stinking,  liquefaction that seeps out of the ground and causes damage and a difficult messs to clean up after it dries out to a smelly silt. You have to use a shovel and wheelbarrow and move it out to the side of the road for council contractors to collect and take away. But it brought it all back for me. Back to my home town and Richard's funeral  in February. I still miss my youngest brother, but he is now becoming part of my memories, and good ones too!







I mentioned a few hours ago that my brother was very ill, and may not live too long because his cancer had returned. I spoke to him on the phone last night and he said it had spread to his liver. I did a Google search and found a health site in which it stated patients could have a three to six month life expectancy. Richard actually died a couple or so hours ago. We did not expect this. I began to think last night that I'd better get down to earthquake country and see him soon.



We suspect that he may have not told us the whole truth about his cancer a couple of months ago. He may have exaggerated his wellness. I will ask my other brother in Christchurch to speak to the doctor about the scans Richard had received a few weeks ago.



A great brother, a very popular and well loved father and uncle. He smoked cigarettes and liked a couple of drinks along the way. Usually at home, not in some bar or club. He liked a couple of whiskies. I used to have a couple with him on my trips home. But I haven't been back since my mother died 14 years ago. He gave up smoking after he was told he had beaten his lung cancer.



My eldest daughter loved her uncle, even though we have been rather isolated up here in Wellington and didn't get down much. But he visited us last year and we were very pleased to see him, his wife and a couple of the kids. Bye bro, see you some time in a happier place free of pain. Pain, I think that and the blasted earthquakes got to him. Two earthquakes and 5000 aftershocks are enough for anyone!



We will be going down to Christchurch on Thursday - funeral most likely Friday. We will be experiencing some aftershocks too, and experiencing the total shock of seeing my devastated home town.



So I will be missing from my blogsites for some time and also from my Facebook page as well. See you all later!


Richard has gone, and Mother Nature is determined to send  Christchurch after him. Two major earthquakes, many strong aftershocks included - about 7000 aftershocks in total and more expected in coming months. How much more can the good folk of Christchurch tolerate before they all crack up and become mental cases.

Waimakariri River in Nth Canterbury. Richard lived on the banks of this river where he spent a lot of time over the years.


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