Molesworth Street. One of the buildings in Wellington being demolished post-quake.
Category: Wellington
Christmas
So today is Boxing Day. The intense festivities are over and today is more a relaxing day, winding down after the consumption of food and drink.
We went to Midnight Mass at the cathedral in Wellington. It worked very well. We arrived after the beginning of the carols when the church was nearly full. So we sat in the front row; the one that everyone leaves. The carols were good, the service was good led by Cardinal John( who will be involved in the choosing of the next Pope-himself? You read it here first). There were musicians and a choir to provide a good atmosphere. Such an improvement on the St. Ben’s experience from a few years ago.
The only problem with Midnight Mass is the lateness of going to bed particularly when you cannot sleep. Excited? Or too much coffee late in the evening?
Christmas Day was organised as ever with Sara doing lots of cooking to provide the traditional feast with roast turkey and ham. Sven was around to enjoy the offerings. Of course there were the multitudes of presents to be opened.
I even spoke to Michael. All good.
Boxing commenced with a decent lie-in. Much needed after the day before and followed by a family run from Kilbirnie to Oriental Parade. An easy stretch of the legs or Sven, though less so for the older participants. Joe did well.
Festive season
It is December and the season is well under way.
Today in town was the Santa Parade and street activities. Or was yesterday the parade? Anyway there was lots of activity along Lambton Quay as we were trying to do a bit of shopping after our run along the waterfront.
More importantly is was the Messiah yesterday evening at the Michael Fowler centre performed by the NZSO with the Tudor Consort choir. It was intended to be a family trip but in the end Isaac went off to Melbourne this week to visit a friend and Eleanor went to see Swen in Auckland. Dave and Michelle took their places.
As ever I enjoyed the performance but there were few differences from other times. The choir seems relatively small in numbers and were positioned at the same level as the orchestra. I think this made their impact less than usual and reduced the power effect. The arrangement was perhaps different- no ‘ to you a child is born’ and new sections in the third section that I and not heard before. At one point two of the principals were singing together! Not seen that before.
It is now 10+ times we have see the Messiah. We will certainly keep going. We have seen a variety of performances in a variety of venues. Yesterday’s was not the best but certainly not the worst.
We will need to find somewhere very different one year to give it all a boost.
Quake
So last night’s quake was the biggest for us since we have lived here.
We were awoken as the house was shaking big time. We were all up as Sara was ordering us to stand under the doorways for our safety. The quake was long and forceful. It certainly made me think and be somewhat nervous. After that… back to bed. Apparently the rest of the world stayed up all night being nervous and feeling every after-shock.
There was plenty of activity during the day we ongoing rumbles and I came across a few people through work who were somewhat anxious.
So the rumbles go on and we will have to wait and see how they affect us.
Earthquake videos
Big Quake in NZ as reported by the Daily Telegraph
New Zealand earthquake: Powerful aftershocks keep rocking the country after 7.8 magnitude quake kills two in South Island
A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed two people and caused massive infrastructure damage in New Zealand on Monday, as forecasters warned wild weather could hamper rescue efforts.
The tremor, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the quake-prone South Pacific nation, hit just after midnight near the South Island seaside tourist town of Kaikoura.
It triggered a tsunami alert that sent thousands of people fleeing for higher ground across large parts of the country’s rugged coastline before the threat abated.
Rescuers were left scrambling to reach Kaikoura in the South Island, which had no telecommunications and was isolated by landslips, making it accessible only by helicopter.
Civil defence minister Gerry Brownlee said a clearer picture of the scale of the damage was slowly emerging.
November 5 and the view
NZSO trip for nearly all
Four plus Swen went to the Michael Fowler to experience something a bit different. Certainly a popular event with the auditorium being nearly full. We sat close to the stage so could see the musicians in action though only the feet of the star pianist!
The Elgar Symphony No 1 was recognisably Elgar and the full numbers and force of the orchestra made for a great sound.
Always good to try out the various musical options. Next up is the ‘traditional’ trip to The Messiah.
Grease is the word
We have just finished weeks of preparation and he four nights of performance for Grease at St. Pats.
Isaac loved the experience again of being on stage and played the nerdy role of Eugene very well. There was a family outing on the second night to watch the action and I caught the second half again on the last night.
A very enjoyable show, with very entertaining performances all round and and a well executed funny Eugene.
On the way home
