Jun 21, 2011

A rare visitor from the Antarctic


An Emperor Penguin on the Kapiti Coast

Jun 19, 2011

You don't need an alarm clock if you live in Christchurch

Who needs an alarm clock when you have a regular wakeup call like these?







Jun 15, 2011

Scientists finally admit they don't have a clue...

As reported in stuff.co.nz today, scientists have no idea what will happen next in the Christchurch earthquake sequence:

After such an incredible sequence of quakes, the problem now was knowing what "normal" was.

Earthquake scientists had "cut their teeth" on the behaviour of quakes from plate boundary faults such as the San Andreas in California and New Zealand's Alpine Fault
but knew far less about small crustal quake sequences like this one.

"We know the plate boundary faults' history and behaviour that, say, every 300 years they do this or that. But with this type of event, we don't know what is normal for the Canterbury region," Furlong said.


"We assumed what we had up to September 4 was normal, but it appears it wasn't normal. We don't know what is the background condition that the Earth is now moving towards.


"Each earthquake sequence is unusual, this one both because of its character and observation.

"It's as well-recorded as any of this size has ever been. We are seeing things about it – things that we don't see in any other place.

"It's aspects of this that makes this [sequence] very important to science and why it's hard to be definite about how it's going to behave."


The Rose window & part of the west wall was destroyed in the latest quake.
The Cathedral is now likely to have to be rebuilt from the ground up.



The Anglican Trinity Church.
The oldest stone building in Canterbury - destroyed.



Lyttleton Timeball Station - now completely destroyed.

Jun 14, 2011

More Earthquakes

Well it's been a day of aftershocks following yesterday's now upgraded 5.7 and 6.3 earthquakes.
There's not much more to say really, is there. Pretty gutting. Just had three more in five minutes for good measure.


Carol cooking in the dark following yesterday's quakes.


Yesterdays 5.7 (left) and 6.3 earthquakes (right).
As recorded by the McQueens Valley drum, (borrowed from Geonet)


A day of aftershocks. You can count them if you want. I'm not.

And the wonderful CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority), who are supposed to be running our shining road to recovery, aren't even allowed in their offices at the moment.


CERA - you'd think they would know an engineer or two?


How many shocks before you've had enough?

Jun 5, 2011

Christchurch Half Marathon

The Christchurch half marathon was moved to Lincoln this year, because the traditional course is still unusable due to earthquake damage. I had an enjoyable run, finishing in 1 hour 39 minutes, a little slower than 2 years ago but not bad at all considering the lack of training for that style of event.

With a turnout of over 3500 there was a good atmosphere and it certainly brought Lincoln to life for the morning. There is a race report here.




Christchurch Half Marathon.


Christchurch Half Marathon.