Conversation:

I just thought I'd check in. I know things aren't even remotely back to normal over there and wanted to say I was thinking of you.

Uh... that's pretty much really. I kinda want to ask if you are OK but I guess OK is a relative term these days...

Hi Vip,
I'm not around so much... as you say 'normal' ain't normal hereabouts at the moment. The shakes go on - although fewer at the moment - but the anticipation of more big quakes is very much on everybody's minds. It distracts and stresses us all in different ways.

I've been watching some demolition of city centre buildings this week and have found it oddly upsetting: it's not as though I was particularly attached to the buildings that have come down, but the brutality and finality of demo is affecting everybody. The latest estimate is that 60% of the CBD will have to be levelled in the next 18 months

As for hootoo - well, I simply don't have the time to contribute, nor do I really have the patience to deal with comments from people who mostly don't have a clue what we're going through, nor do I have the patience to explain over and over again. Having said that, it's lovely to hear from you and to have messages of support

I am keeping up - kinda - with the changes that are happening with hootoo and really delighted that it looks as though things are working out well

Fb

We're not expecting anything from you, please don't worry - real life always comes first. I'm glad you're able to check in and post from time to time, though, it's good to know you're still... again, as OK as can be expected in the circumstances. I do think of you, and you were mentioned only this evening during a conference call. It was lovely to check h2g2 and discover you had replied.

60%? Crickey. That's... huge. It's a complete change in how the city looks and feels and *is*.

h2g2 will be OK, I'm sure of it, although it's a lot of work planning it! I still feel I won't know what's going on but I think that's to be expected. Hey ho.

All the best,

Vip

Wow. It's been a year since my last message. That's pretty scary.

How are you faring?

Things are still changing around here, and in my personal life things have changed dramatically as I'm now the mother of a 6 month year old little boy (h2g2 designation: ).