Wall

After lying in bed for a couple of hours James and I actually managed to get some sleep but I don't think Tracy got any though. At least we got a call from her folks so we knew they were OK

They drove over in the morning and brought a portable barbecue. Power was still out and so was the water. Our outside tap was working so we were able to have a cup of tea.

Amazingly our house appears to have come through unscathed. A few vases and glasses had fallen from shelves but only an empty bottle and a couple of light bulbs were broken. We will have to get the chimney checked at some point but it looks fine.

After breakfast, we all went for a walk around the neighbourhood to see how things were. It was a lovely warm, sunny, spring morning. It was very surreal after the events of the night before.

A Night to Remember

This morning at 4.35 Canterbury was hit by a series of earthquakes. The first shock was a 5.4 magnitude quake which woke me and 5 seconds later the main quake hit with a magnitude of 7.1. The noise was deafening and our house began shaking rapidly side to side.

I shouted for everyone to 'get under the bed'. James was sleeping next to me so I grabbed him and pushed him under. When he complained I just said 'earthquake' a couple of times and he settled down.

The main quake lasted for about a minute during which the power went out. After a while we retreated to the kitchen and hid under the table. That didn't feel secure enough so we pulled the hall table into the centre of the hallway and sheltered underneath with a camp light. When I made the table I never dreamed I would end up using it as an earthquake shelter. Funny that it is a 'Shaker' table.

At this point we had no idea what was happening. We knew there had been a large earthquake but didn't know where or how big. I was concerned that this might be the 'big one' and about the possibility of a tsunami (though I didn't mention this to Tracy!). We could not get service on our mobiles but we listened to the radio on Tracy's MP3 player. The initial reports were that the epicentre was about 20km inland from us so a tsunami was unlikely. We spent about an hour under the table listening to the radio as a series of aftershocks passed through. Some of these were quick, violent ones that shook the house and some were long slow rolling motions. It felt like being on a plane flying through turbulence.

Eventually we decided to go back to bed. The aftershocks were still coming but nothing like that first one. Looking out of the living room window everything was so quiet and still. All the power was out and the milky way stretched across the sky. It was actually quite peaceful. I think the adrenalin was wearing off.

Glued and Clamped

And here is an assembled frame. Once the glue is set I will sand it and stain it with a coloured wax. 

Frames

Here are the picture frame pieces after they have gone through the router. 

Making Picture Frames

This is a close up of the router bit. I am using it to cut the rebate in some picture frames.

The table is made from some cheap pine and some scrap MDF but it does an adequate job. 

Router Table

This is the router table from above. It sits on a couple of saw benches. The guard is adjustable and also collects the saw dust. 

A New Project

I have built this router table at nightschool, it should help me with my picture framing. I got the router for xmas and here it is bolted to the bottom of the table.

Pororari Valley

Before driving back to Chch, we had to go and visit the Pororari valley. This is a favourite spot for Tracy and I. We must have walked up and down it a dozen times.

This photo is my first attempt at combining HDR and panoramic photography. It's a bit artificial looking but I think it has a painterly quality to it.

Stained Glass

I liked this stained glass window in the Hilton. It is a very west coast scene. 

Lunch

We had a nice lunch in the Hilton, The venison sausages and mash were excellent. James was intrigued by the fire, he has never seen coal before. He took a lump to take to 'show and tell' at school. 

Mine Ruins

Just north of the town are the ruins of the old coal mines. 

Blackball Hilton

World famous in New Zealand! The Blackball Hilton was sued by the Hilton hotel people so changed its name to 'Formerly the Blackball Hilton'.

Blackball is an interesting place, visiting it is like travelling back in time about 50 years. It is an old mining town and the birth of the New Zealand Labour Party. 

Sunset

This was the first time James had seen the sun set behind the ocean. 

WIld Thing

James loves beaches. He would happily spend all day playing in sand. 

Hokitika Beach

I took James to the beach to have a run around and to show him the sunset.

Hokitika beach is a typical west coast beach, very wild (too rough to swim) and littered with driftwood. 

Dorothy Falls

I remember brining my Mum here on her first visit to New Zealand. She saw the name on the map and had to see it. 

Canoe Creek

The calm water made for great reflections.

Lake Kaniere

We had lunch on the shores of Lake Kaniere. The weather was fantastic. On the coast the weather is either glorious or torrential rain. It doesn't seem to do anything in between. 

River Styx

The west coast is a scenic wonderland. There are more forests, mountains, rivers, lakes and beaches than you could visit in a lifetime. It is great to be back. 

Hokitika Gorge

Hokitika gorge is a great place to visit. The river is a beautiful blue colour and there is a nice short bush walk to a swing bridge that crosses the gorge. 

Kahikatea Trees

We are having a holiday on the west coast with Tracy's folks, staying in Hokitika. Before James was born Tracy and I would visit the coast several times a year but this is our first visit in a while. It is great to be back.

Birthday Cake

James is really into Thunderbirds now so Tracy made him a really cool cake for his 4th birthday.

Early Evening Mist

Skiing is fun but the best part for me is spending a whole day on the mountain top. The views here are really special. You can see Lake Coleridge and Mt Cook.

As evening approached, a mist started to fill the valleys. I really did not want to leave. 

Easy Way Down

Skiing along the ridge at the top was great. The slope is gentle so there was plenty of time to check out the views as I glided along.

Avoca Valley from Porter Heights

The weather was great and the view from the top was superb. I could see right down into the Avoca Valley which is one of my favourite places and somewhere we have had many great holidays. The hut we stay at is located at the bottom of the conical hill in the centre of the picture. 

Work Trip

Today I went skiing at Porter Heights with some of my workmates from Tait Electronics.