...TIME FOR AN UPDATE

Well it is nearly 2 months since that fateful morning in September...and how are we doing?

Probably better than expected and there wouldn't be a person in Christchurch and the surrounding areas without an experience to share.

Our hearts go out to those who have really suffered property-wise - although we have the EQC (Earthquake Commission) which is a Government body controlling an insurance scheme for this sort of event - they only insure each property (residential only) for $100,000 + gst.The balance of the insurance must be paid for by the owner to bring it upto replacement value.Not everyone has done this and many couldn't afford to ... this is heartbreaking for those concerned.There is a fund to assist but Kiwis are proud and unwilling to ask for handouts.The commission is thorough but slow and one has to become the 'squeaky hinge in need of oil' plus have a list of phone numbers where you can reach real people other than  relying on the help line!

To those visiting the City of Christchurch - little has changed.A few buildings are missing and there are a few cracks to be seen but the infrastructure appears to be pretty smooth and organized. Living here is a different matter - an earthquake or national disaster is a breeding ground for bureaucracy and departments that don't communicate... but I will not go there - I would hate to see our own path through the maze slowed by any indiscretion of mine!

We are progressing ...but slowly.The guest accommodation is back to normal.The slate roof repairs are hampered by a lack of slate suitable for The Weston House, which because of its Historic Places Trust  and Council Heritage listings (as high as they get for a residential building) has to match existing slate - so it has to be Welsh ... not Chinese or sparkly Spanish ( yes, there is 'sparkly' Spanish slate!.)

This wonderful house has stood staunchly through it all.

Even the aftershakes (2,400 to date)  are slowing ...we are all experts now and pretty good at judging the size and whereabouts.Some are a bit nerve-wracking - especially the 5's - nothing extra has broken (which is good) - the odd extra plaster crack has appeared (which is annoying). There have been media reports of people running screaming from shopping malls - which is true - but this is group panic and quite infectious - and these people have been through a lot and are stressed. Extra damage has occurred in some places but nothing compared to the
main event of 7.1  .

The media , as always , are only interested in bad news....and boy, are we aware of that - being stuck in Europe those first days after the quake - we relied on the Internet for news and it was all bad.I really believed that we would be returning to a war zone - flattened city, troops on the streets , no water or sewage , no electricity . Reports about The Weston House were bad ...but when we arrived - expecting the worst - I was amazed at how little damage we had sustained. Chimneys were all down and subsequently a lot of broken slate - but few breakages , some interior plaster damage but structurally we were A1.We were truly lucky and blessed.

So we are pretty much on target ...but the chimneys won't reappear for at least 6 months... looking identical but 70% lighter and strengthened to a very high rating.

Everyone is well, the grandchildren are gorgeous, the roses are early and the weather is fine.
...and gosh, I nearly forgot...the 2010 Sav.Blanc is the best yet...how could I forget that?...
Oh and something else... remember in our Guest Info I said that having sold my 1951 MGTD I was going to buy a Mini Cooper S? Well I have....and it's 100% pure magic ...and it's all black like my favourite Rugby Team.

Let's drink a toast to growing old disgracefully...... in the company of good friends and family....

The Weston House-luxury accommodation Central Christchurch New Zealand

CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE 4 SEPT 2010

THE WESTON HOUSE…..  SHAKEN – NOT STIRRED…

CHIMNEYS DOWN - GRANDFATHER CLOCK SPARED -
WINE SAVED - WINE O'CLOCK RESCHEDULED 
(to start earlier!! ) 

RE- OPEN THE END OF OCTOBER

Initial reports , from a competitor no less- no names mentioned , were of Peterborough Street covered in our bricks – but they were from the chimneys which aren’t structural but are very prone to earthquake damage.

A lot of roofing slate is damaged but we are getting priority from our slater in return for prompt payment for previous work.

Did I panic ....hell, yes! Len kept saying don't waste a good panic...but that wasn't going to work...He got very deep and meaningful regarding his racing car though... unscathed -  just dusty.

And where exactly were we when we heard , one of ‘those’ moments , we were sipping wine in Portofino  , Italy. Not particularly good (the wine) and far too expensive (everything) - gorgeous place though.

Having established that our family were safe- including our new granddaughter Jola (and they are far more important than anything else)

.......our thoughts immediately turned to our beloved home.

Of course, we cut short our holiday by a month, as you do…and were amazed that after such a huge trauma very little damage was sustained by either the building or the contents!

There is no structural damage whatsoever.

No, I am not about to become a minimalist and repairs are mostly minor but will be irritatingly fiddly and time consuming …in fact it would take less than 2 days to make the small repairs necessary in the guest suites.I hate cleaning up after tradesmen - although our plumber is a gem - even offered to make me coffee once!!! I was so stunned I said 'no thankyou' ...but then I figured he had worked that out for himself!

I had previously ascertained that wine,perfume and shoes were all ok - the wine wasn't really a problem as we had depleted most of it before we left for the UK and Europe!

We envisage being open again for business by the beginning of November ….why so long?…well, we insist on the best of tradesmen- after all our Historic Places Trust Category 1 Listing means that a very high standard, having been attained must be maintained – the Travel Tradeand our discerning guests throughout the world expect no less from The Weston House and we will be working very hard to keep our reputation intact.

I am so grateful that we are all okay and even more grateful we weren't here on the day.. but would I leave Christchurch ...not likely.

I would rather have shakes than snakes...and today was beautiful and sunny and in spite of all the Media hype the damage to the city is not too bad.We have not been flattened ...a few buildings are missing but we still have plenty left....and the locals have become even nicer...

PS ...have you any idea what comes down the chimney when you have an earthquake?

Well it isn't Father Christmas -that's for sure!! ...and to think I cleaned before we went on holiday!