Holding on tight!!

Wow - I have really left it a long time between posts this time!  I have had the best of intentions but no time and in some instances, not a lot of motivation.  But today as we hunker down at home, I thought it would be a good time to do a very quick post.  This is more of a diary entry for me to look back on in the future from a time that I would rather forget!

My lovely city of Wellington has been hit with several large earthquakes since Friday with the biggest being yesterday early evening which was a 6.5 magnitude.  I had both children in the doorway with me leaning over them holding them tight.  They were absolutely beside themselves with fright. We are now all on edge and to be honest, quite terrified.  There is no predicting whether that was the worst of it or whether there will be more of that size. According to the newspaper this morning there have been more than 230 earthquakes in the Wellington region since Friday - with even more now as aftershocks keep happening.  Thankfully our home hasn't suffered any damage other than a few more cracks in the corners to add to previous earthquake movement!!  Friends in Christchurch have passed on wise information - stock up on toilet paper, make sure the car is full of petrol and keep cash at hand in case EFTPOS facilities shutdown! 

I have grown up here so seismic activity is part of life - but not like this.  And since the dreadful destruction in Christchurch - earthquakes are just that much more frightening.  I guess I was in denial that real damage would ever happen here in my lifetime.  But now it is a reality having seen Christchurch CBD pretty much wiped out in their earthquakes.

Thank you for your lovely messages of concern.  We are safe and well.  I will be happier once my husband gets home from work though!  Thankfully his company made the decision to move out of Wellington CBD because of earthquake safety and are now in a smaller dwelling just outside the city centre.  Phew.

  

Here's a quick pic I just copied off the news website.  This is a portion of Wellington Wharf that has just fallen into the sea!

All this shaking follows a month of rotten storms.  A few weeks back we had the most horrendous storm and we had quite a bit of damage to our garden with that one.  So pleased the roof stayed on!!!!  Husband had to saw himself out in the morning as a huge hedge covering our neighbours garage had collapsed over our footpath.  It was a shame to lose such a beautiful plant but there was just no saving it.  It was too heavy to get back up on the wall.  Our trellis collapsed onto our vege plot so all the winter vege got squashed.  We went for a drive around the south coast on the Sunday following the Thursday night storm and here are some of the pics from that day.  The top left and centre are off our hedge - the rest is off coastal damage.

There has been a lot of crochet going on too.  Lots and lots of hat orders with all this chilly weather!!  Here are a few of the ones I've made just recently.

I also made a beautiful mustard coloured cowl (which my camera just won't let me download!).  I adore it and because I enjoyed making it so much, I had to make a few more which I have popped into my shop.   I used this pattern and then left the ends rather than joining them up.  That way you can wear it in any way you like.  I have used some pretty vintage buttons attached to a brooch pin/clip to fasten them.  They are so lovely and snuggly to wear.  It works up really quickly and is a nice repetitive pattern.  I will definitely be making more of these.

Right - that's enough from me.  I need a calming cup of tea and a lie down after a sleepless night.  Think we might curl up on the couch for a DVD after lunch.

I hope it won't be so long between posts next time.  I have really missed visiting all my favourite blogs and am now ridiculously far behind in all your posts! 

Take care,
Leah
xxxx