Things getting back to normal - except for the Wellington quakes!

Hi there

7 a.m. 23 July NZ time:  People were asked not to go into the CBD yesterday and it was blocked off while surveyors and inspectors checked the area.  Schools and the university were closed.  There were no trains. Today most everything is almost back to normal.

 About 35 buildings have been damaged, but not that badly, I don't think.  The Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, has told us that thanks to Wellington's strict building code re earthquakes, we were lucky to get away with not that much damage.  Our code has always been even more strict than Christchurch and Auckland because we are on a faultline.  For many years now, all new tall buildings have to have earthquake (movable) foundations.

There were a few dozen little quakes last night.  I slept like a log, woke about 1.30 a.m.-ish, and found out later there was a 5 point-something earthquake around about the same time.  Maybe it woke me up? -  I'm just glad I didn't know.   Oh, I only crouched under the table once yesterday.  The aftershocks will go on for quite some time.

I am so sad for the people in China who have just had that massive earthquake,.  A Chinese earthquake help team came and assisted us when New Zealand  had the huge Christchurch earthquake.

In a way, it was hilarious yesterday in the shops.  So many of us had never bothered getting our emergency earthquake kits made up.  I went into Bunnings Hardware Store and it was like attending a first day sale at Kirkcaldies, or Harrods, or Selfridges, or Macy's,.  Hundreds of Wellingtonians were grabbing torches, barbecues, camping stoves, candles, and portable toilets.  In the supermarket,  it was toilet rolls, water, paper towels, baby wipes, tinned food.   My friend, J ,was jolly cross when she toddled in to Countdown to get her usual health food bars and found the shelf empty,.

It's odd to still see the normal programmes and commercials on television and radio.  Last night was the final of "X Factor: New Zealand".  Life goes on.

Russell Crowe and me (plus Hobbit stars)

I felt sad when it was announced that film actor Russell Crowe and his wife had split.  I never used to think much of Crowe's telephone-throwing and tantrum antics.  In other words, I paid attention to the press who must hound Crowe all the time. 

A year or so ago, he appeared at a charity cricket match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, in aid of the Christchurch earthquake victims  (his cousin is a New Zealand top cricketer).  Crowe was also born in New Zealand.  Many of the Hobbit cast took part in the cricket match.

I was standing by an enclosure when Crowe went past.  I asked the woman standing next to me if she would take a photo of me with Crowe in the background.  From halfway up some steps, Crowe noticed what was going on.  He came back down and over to me.  He asked the woman to take a proper photo of us.  After she'd done that he said, "Let's take another one, just for luck.".

He was a true gentleman.  And here's a photo.

I also took this very (very) long-range photo of  Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Mark Hadlow (dwarf), and Martin Freeman (Bilbo).

and just for your viewing pleasure, here is picture I took of Ian McKellen.