Tea Nook Al Fresco

This is the current tea nook (that's what the Council peeps call a tea room) at CCC's new digs: the REXEL Warehouse.  You know...sitting outside a converted warehouse that holds 800 of us, whilst we wait for our Hereford Street building to be repaired to take us back in.  I like the positioning of the new 'nook' - right on the edge of the red zone (that space in the photo will soon become the new (take 2) temporary bus terminal.  I like it that the construction (well, demolition) ensures we get shaking all day, and I like it that we all think it is completely normal - and the best digs we've had since Feburary!  I am continually amused with the adapative powers of humans and our enthusiasm on progress.  Each inch helps!

New Obesession: Celeriac

  My private gardener has grown some great Celeriac this year.  Comes on late (as in we've just eaten two lots of it over the past month).  Not exactly an oil painting on the outside...

 Quite the startlet on the inside (if you like purple tie die which I do),

Add a pungent mustart dressing (as in 3 parts mustard, 2 parts oil, 1 part vinegar)...

 And you've got Celeriac Remoulade, which has absolutely BLOWN my mind...some thing so tart, yet crunchy, yet robust in texture, and sweet at the same time.  Its the perfect vegetable dish to go with...

Sunday night dinner:  Tea, sausages, celeriac remoulade, soft boiled eggs, green olives and cheddaaaaaar.  Cha Cha La de Da..

Hello BBQ. Meet Day Light Saving.

For the Record

I'm just posting this for the record - it makes me smile, and makes me think we've got a unique opportunity - and flips me to the glass half full side if I've had a node day in Quake down. And even though it was a bank who made the clip - its this kind of stuff that Otatauhi needs right now. So keep (or please start) funding the good creative stuff for the Cantabrians. We need it.  Thanks Scribe and BNZ (gulp to the Aussie bank, but you deserve the recognition).

My Opening Night

Got to say - although Christchurch is still nursing severe mis-out-a-litis with this Rugby tournament, it has put on a good base to hang out and view games, attend Christchurch Arts Festival , The Body Festival or REAL NZ Festival events - all in the very accommodating Hagley Park. Crazy to think my colleagues in the events industry have had to relocate EVERYTHING...and thank god for that expansive and flat park, ( but not for the Earthquake). 

Dome City - theatres for shows...

As well as a great geo-bar paying hommage to ChCh of old and new...(and it is warm so get down there)!

Beautiful skies for Opening Night at the official Fan Zone

 

And the fan zone (designed for Cathedral Square - hence the grass!), filled up alright - with kids, families, crazy Tongans, a nice bar, and in general a great place to be and hang out!  I reckon its going to be a great 7 weeks here. Long may it go on...

 

It has been a 'node' week

Was going through photos from a trip to NYC 3 years ago and found this which was a good expression of my week.

One of those weeks.  Mis-alignment everywhere!  My sister suggested that it might have been a Node phase in the Biodynamic calendar:  "Most also avoid agricultural activity (or activity of any kind) during disruptive ‘node’ times, when the moon’s path crosses the path of the sun."  Here's to re-alignment!  The Nor-West today and a week of hyping up Rugby World Cup - (where we kind of felt like we weren't invited to the party), may have been contributors...

A year on...the new normal?

September 4, 2010.  It was as still and blue, and idyllic as this weekend - bar the 30 seconds at 4.35am.  It feels like the lead up to today's one year anniversary of our new seismic lives has brought with it a watershed of honesty, and the emmergence of our own voices on the past year.  Maybe its like describing an overseas trip (well this happens for me) - that its only after enough distance, space, sleep or time from it that you 'see' the experience for what it is, and can start retelling the stories, and know what you really think. This post I read yesterday expresses the sentiment that appears to be emmerging for some perfectly.  The balance between bravado, optimism, reality and sheer depression and frustration is a juggling act every day - with everyone, (I don't think anyone has escaped it) trying to find the new 'normal'.   I still get excited as to where the new 'normal' may lie in the end for Christchurch.  Whilst it has been a crap year for many - a solid dose of abnormality for the city in my mind still could be a good thing and an opportunity.  But it has come at a cost for many.

 Sumner on Saturday morning...the Alps were popping...Shag rock still 'new', and I couldn't believe how many strangers I stopped and took the time to chat with.  Is this the new normal?

The 'forgotten' suburb's containers and house wrecks were never really out of view... and unfortunately, whilst they are still shocking 6 months on, it kind of normal to see this stuff. 

And back in the city - The current 'normal: we are now gathering in Geo Domes in Hagley Park for culture and community (they are indestructable) and quite beautiful..albeit cold when below!

Yesterday - Al and I took a bike ride around the Red Zone to the Canterbury Cheesemonger - for his exquisite bread, eccles cakes and cheese for afternoon tea.  His offering is far from 'normal' - absolutely everything in his shop is made with so much love and integrity.  We are so lucky he's up and running.

And this other Christchurch treasure has now  relocated into Victoria Street.  Wow - it truly is the best retail experience ever.  We popped in for 5 minutes - and left after an hour, bottle in hand and stories filed away.

Digby this morning - at Waimari Beach, Pegasus Bay.  Another beautiful day. 

A year on - I don't miss too many things that we have lost. But I was one of the lucky ones - with loved ones and my house in tact.  I mostly miss just bumping into our community as we used to know it.  Hanging out on High Street, having a gauranteed good coffee and service at my two favourite cafes.  The year of shuffling has dispersed us all to suburbs and places we never knew, and I guess we are in the process of developing new communities which is pretty cool.  As I write this - we just had a good old shake!  Digby is up, pacing, trying to stabalise.  Light shades swaying.  Kind of normal now....What a year!