Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Earthquake Part 3



Then (22 February)

Listening to radios on cell phones and intermittent Internet access had told us some details, and we heard differing instructions - don't move, go to Hagley Park. Two of us set off to walk towards the hills. A working mother with husband at home looking after the toddler decided to head home if her car was accessible, so we escorted her to Oxford Terrace to find her car unscathed. Traffic was moving slowly down Oxford Terrace and we could see it moving across the Manchester Street bridge, so we hugged her, told her to be careful and watched her drive off.

Returning to Victoria Square, we met two more colleagues to add to our group. My friend noticed a group of people in wheelchairs with carers, and we went over to check whether we could help. It was quite windy, and we thought they might get cold just sitting there so suggested that they might take turns in their minivans. Then we noticed some people huddled up in pastel coloured blankets which they had got from the Copthorne Hotel. My friend negotiated that the people in wheelchairs could also get blankets from the hotel. I was really proud of my friend for doing this - I had not even noticed the wheelchairs.

We decided that it was too cold to sit around any longer and that we would head towards Hagley Park and my car. The next installment will follow after I have done something else useful.

Now
We have water back on - hurray! We have not showered since Sunday morning, so are excited by the idea of being able to come clean.





No comments: