Christchurch and more

 Christchurch, where my brother lives, has had trouble recovering from that devastating earthquake. It is 17 years now and the cathedral, which sat in a large square at the center of the city, is still in pieces and surrounded by fencing. The wonderful White Transitional cathedral made out of cardboard, still stands. The river Avon still does it’s beautiful job, and there is the most extraordinary children’s play park that was built as part of the Recovery Plan and opened in 2015. The Margaret Mahy Playground is simply the largest playground in the Southern Hemisphere and surely one of the most inventive in the world.

Maybe it says something about the New Zealanders that the stone Cathedral of religion remains unrestored, but building water dams and careering down metal slides seemed more important.

When we were there , hundreds of children were racing from one unbalancing act to the next. Or, with their parents, working out how to turn on and off the water to make a small lake.

We drove over to Akaroa, one of my favorite places near my brother’s home of choice.

 A tiny little town at the end of the road that takes you up and round a mountain. On the edge of the ocean. Calm, blue, happy. A place for ice cream licking on a bench looking at quiet water.

On the way to Akaroa

On the way we stopped off at a fete in Governor’s Bay. So called because once the Governor had his residence there. There is no longer a governor, but the bay remains. There were lots of odd things like potato crisps on a stick. And a collection of vintage cars. But they did have scones with cream and jam.  And sack races for the children. And lots of people selling cuttings from their gardens. There was a young girl, a local I am thinking, with a guitar and an amp singing her own compositions and a smattering of American classics like “ Welcome to the Hotel California.” Not one note, not one, was in tune. But nobody seemed to mind.

Just another generous observation about a very generous society. And I got over my disappointment at there not being a cake stand where I could buy a Victoria Sponge.

the girl and her guitar

The sack race

 I can’t leave New Zealand without a visit to my brother’s lovely wildlife reserve.

So here is my brother 

The CFO in duty

and here is the moment when he let a Kea bird climb on my head telling me not to worry.
He said the bird just wanted my little shoulder bag. Not helpful . Not generous. Not at all. I may have to reasses.