How long has this been going on?

Lashings of apologies Hayleigh for the delay in updating! So day 181 - I made taxi John's lemon poppy seed cake - bloody lush! Day 182 - I rode my bike the 14.3km home for the 1st time ever. I love my bike, but I don't think it loves me that much. Day 183 - Attempted to use up remaining lemons by messing with an Andy classic - Risotto. I attempted a lemon, pea and pumpkin risotto. It was OK...but only OK. Day 184 - Cycled to Savemart on my lunch :) Day 185 - Bought my first piece of nice luggage! All my cases over the year have been stolen from my parents or Andy's. After losing our nice cabin case in the Feb earthquake it felt like a good opportunity to get into that buying a nice luggage set by starting the collection off with a purple cabin case. Andy is currently refusing to use on his own.... Day 186 - Made lemon curd (we had a lot of lemons). It tasted gorgeous, but sadly I didn't keep it on the heat long enough to set properly, so it was more like lemon soup! Day 187 - Watched my first ever Crusaders match. I fell asleep halfway through. Day 188 - Ate at the Watershed in Ferrymead. It was ok and in the Entertainment guide which is how I choose 90% of my eateries! Day 189 - My first Simo's experience. Certainly not my last. Great (and Christchurch famous) Moroccan cafe that, thanks to numerous earthquakes, has moved to Addington. The most amazing wraps, but also salads too! Day 190 - My first book group meeting in Christchurch :) Day 191 - My first visit to Penny Lane Records. Not as good as Real Groovy, but a fair substitute. Day 192 - Ate at the Redcliffs Chinese restaurant. Lovely and hot food and huge portions! I had the Ma Po Tofu - nice. Day 193 - Had my first driving lesson in Christchurch with Russell who looks a bit like Nunkey. Day 194 - SAW HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2....Cried alot. Felt like a huge end of era sadness.AND YET SO GOOD!! Day 195 - Did a 40km cycle ride along some of the Little River Cycle Trail - from Motukarara to Caton Bay then back. Day 196 - I made a ginger fish curry apparently. I don't remember this! Day 197 - I went to yoga! It was hot. This was probably the first time with Hamish - he is hardcore. Day 198 - Viewed the Cashmere Castle! A property for sale that looked really good on Trademe - not so good in real life. A big sprawling mess in fact. Still for sale incidentally! Day 199 - I listened only to female artists all day on my ipod. Feist, Ladyhawke, Florence and many more.... Day 200 - We went to Flames Restaurant in Mount Pleasant - really lovely food, but sadly dry July meant we couldn't indulge in lovely wine too. Still, cheap meal! Right, time for Game of Thrones so more updating to be done later in the week :)

Days 166 - infinity......

Continued.... Day 166 - Andy & I took off to Hanmer Springs. Absolutely beautiful place, and relaxing to boot. I had booked accommodation pre EQ for Andy's birthday - this was exceptional timing for getting out of Christchurch. We hot pooled, got massaged, drank, ate lemon meringue pie and fantasied about living here. Happy birthday Andy! Day 167 - still in Sumner I ate Kedgeree for breakfast and then we walked up to Conical Hill Lookout. Simply breathtaking views. Day 168 and back in shaky Christchurch and my first Riccarton Mall shopping experience. I should explain, I hate malls. They're so identikit with high street shops and they offer nothing unique; they are inhabited by groups of teenagers and harassed families all moving along at a zombie pace. ARGH! Just thinking about them makes me irate. Unfortunately with the loss of Christchurch's main shopping area everything is spread far apart. Needless to say it wasn't a joyful experience, more a trip to the dentist than a trip to New York. Looking forward to when I control the car and can drive from the vintage shops of Woolston to the top quality op shops of Merivale! Day 169 - I discovered and devoured the new Cadbury's chocolate Mousse. Day 170 - My i-player habit is Steve Lamaqc. I never listen to anything else! Today I made myself - so I listened to the lovely Lauren Lavere and the super Welsh Cerys Matthews. I would listen to both again actually, though Cerys had very eclectic taste but it's always good to be introduced to new music. Day 171 - I put the xmas tree up for our first Smithmas in Christchurch! Day 172- went to End of Month drinks and challenged myself to talk to 5 people I'd never had a conversation with before. Big tick! Day 173 was our first Smithmas in Christchurch with the friends that could make it down - Nathan & C and Steve & Michelle (damn you Jetstar with your ash cloud related laziness!). It was excellent and fun evening. I made special Smithmas pies for my meal - roots veggies in a tomato-ey sauce and yummy puff pastry. Excellent! No show from any of the celebs we invited but it didn't matter. A good time was had by all. Day 174 was really quiet unsurprisingly but I rode my bike for the first time to the shops! Day 175- I made turnip curry!!!! Who knew it actually exists as an Indian dish? Not I, until wondering what to do with all the turnip we had left over.....I added it to our Chinese curry sauce and it was good, but not a repeat dish I think. Or so I did think until... Day 176 - still lots of turnip left and rooting in the cupboard I found a korma sauce so I threw in some peas and kumara and had another evening of turnip inspired curry.....probably never again though. Day 177 - I discovered a new bar in Sumner "Clink" - think it had only just reopened after the earthquake. Andy & I popped down for a pre pay day drink and it was very lovely. A fire, comfortable sofas and lovely staff. Could have stayed here all night....I smell a new local coming on.... Day 178 - My first Power yoga class - hot! As in it was 38 degrees.....very good though; lots of sun salutations - you know, downward dog, low plank, warrior 1........I want so much to be flexible, graceful and have good abs so I have to persevere but my bones are so creaky and muscles so tight these days. Maybe after the 2013 NYC 1/2 marathon I'll give up running and become a yoga queen instead. Day 179 - I had my first proper yum char experience! I realise now even more than ever, the Chinese do not do vegetarian. Even radish cakes and spring rolls contained meat! Still, it was lovely hanging out with work colleagues and the pumpkin cakes were to die for. (as this was the 1st July, it was also the start of Dry July....) Day 180 I picked us out a walk in Kaituna Valley - to the Packhorse hut and back. Absolutely stunning setting (though unsure of stream crossings!) - we'll definitely come back here as part of a longer walk as the hut was so gorgeous and with good facilities for an overnight stay. Right, we are into July now so I'll take a break!

MUSIC UPDATE.....// Since my first fortnightly music purchase update - I had a freak out in Auckland's Real Groovy trying to decide what vinyl to buy and ended up only with Cold Roses (which apparently I've owned before but Al sold.....). Shopping impotence at its worst. I have discovered Audiobooks - in particular Richard Armitage's delicious reading of Georgette Heyer's novels and I am hopeful he will do more because I don't want to buy Robin Hood audiobooks just to get my fix.... I have bought from i-tunes both albums by Lawrence Arabia and Drab Do Riffs - both of whom I saw at Christchurch Arts Festival and they blew my mind. This week I bought a dress instead.

Oh my word....

Can't believe it's been 3 months since I last updated - that is proper rubbish of me!

This could be a looooooong post.....

So last time I was at Yoga on day 152.....

Day 153 - I ran the Christchurch half marathon. Only it wasn't in Christchurch proper, but Lincoln which is a student suburb outside that has a nice pie shop - but my god it is dull to run around! Bear in mind also that it was windy, cold and sometimes wet it wasn't my greatest half marathon experience. That said, despite not enjoying it so much I ran a pb of 2hrs 7mins. Then I went home and slept.

Day 154 - thankfully it was a public holiday so no work for my aching muscles. Instead I got to work making a baby cosmetics bag for my friend Pat who has now had a baby, but hadn't at the time.

Day 155 - hmmmm.....lame. I took a different bus home......

Day 156 - I made Terriyaki Tofu (though I have written in brackets "sort of"!)

Day 157 - I ran around Hagley Park on my lunch with a work colleague. She's now left, but since this day a hardy group of 4 of us have started to run every Tuesday and Thursday lunch (mostly). Excellent way to chat and exercise and get fresh air!

Day 158 - Tried Indian Blues restuarant in Sumner. Knew we shouldn't - Indian Sumner is soooooo good! But thought we ought to really. Alarms bells started ringing when they asked if Andy wanted his jalfrezi Kiwi hot, and how spicy did I wanted my korma. Oh dear. Not great food. Not bad, just not anything to write home about.

Day 159 - I made rhurbarb crumble!!! I love rhurbarb crumble, mum always made the best puddings ever, and this was right up there. It overstewed the rhurbarb and didn't crumble the crumble enough - but hey it was a good first effort.

Day 160 - I made Veg Cornish pasties. Very yummy filling, but put a bit too much sugar in the pastry....

Day 161 - Had a facon & salad wrap. As someone who has been a vegequarian for a long time I've never eaten a BLT - I know, I'm a freak - so this was my veggie attempt. Very nice it was too! Ha, have just re-read my diary entry for this day, turns out this was June 13th - 6 mg EQ day!! Must have been when we finally got electricity back on in the evening!

Day 162 - I watched The Road. Shit the bed, that is one depressing film.

Day 163 - was due to be my first book club in Christchurch, but there were no buses running......so, how about I ate Thorntons Chocolate eggs instead?

Day 164 - I put my new bike together! It arrived with the front wheel separate and other complicated things to put back together. I don't know how many angry hours I worked on it, but I'm happy to say I got there in the end with immense satisfaction.

Day 165 - I went to the Ballantynes Sale. BIG department store in Christchurch, store munted in Feb EQ - selling off all it non damaged stock before re-stocking for re-opening before Xmas. Fun!

Think that will do for now...

Music.

I have started to give myself $40 to spend on music every pay day since I now have to work for money again. This gets me one full price CD (though only for collectible artists now!) a vinyl LP or 2 downloaded from I tunes.

My first pay day treats are as follows:

Sleigh Bells – Treats
Just like a Bubblegum shouty version of The Kills. It got me like the first time I heard Pendulum - like a full on attack of the senses. I wanted to run from it, but was unable to because it is so awesome!

Jenny & Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now.
I love Jenny Lewis. Her voice, look, style….I even love that she’s got a cool rocker boyfriend and they recorded an album together. My issue is that I get a bit bored by her. I listened to Rabbit Fur Coat and loved it, then loved it a bit less and now I skip tracks or don't really listen to it. I have a real de ja vu sensation about this album for the same reason – On first listen I was already bored towards the latter songs, only getting my jollies back for the final track “Commited”. But keep trying Jenny you minxsy pixie you.

I want to buy the Kills proper (i.e. on CD) next week though locating a CD store in Christchurch ain't all that easy.

Update. Updated.

It has been so long since I have updated. And I will – though I have made nothing of immense excitement happen to me of late. I have stopped trying - it’s winter, I live in a shaky city and I work 40 hours a week. Excuses done - I will keep going I promise!

The spirit of Christchurch has of late taken on a whiff of resignation. There are those who feign indifference to the always constant threat of aftershocks, those who laugh in the face of natural disaster and those who have left the city they called home for a relatively safer place. Most however are living in a state somewhere between over it and under it (the table that is.)

It’s hard not to be anxious when the room you are in starts swaying suddenly or you woken up at 3am by the sound of the earth roaring, then rushing through the foundations of your home causing it all to shake uncontrollably. I can now tell a 3.5 from a 4.7 and I usually hear an aftershock seconds before it hits.

I think the hardest thing for the people of Christchurch is like so many experiences, it’s hard for outsiders to express genuine empathy when they have no experience of the occurrence. People assume the one earthquake is all you get, they don’t know that aftershocks happen regularly and can be more terrifying and cause more damage than the original quake. They don’t see how thoroughly depressing it is to walk through your home suburb and instead of green fields, and lovely surfaces there are cracks or liquefaction; or in my case in Sumner, giant containers lined all along what used to be one of the most picturesque roads. People have lost their homes, people are still using chemical toilets and boiling water and there is no CBD anymore. Can you even imagine how weird that is? But in this world it’s a case of same old shit, different country. There have been over 7000 aftershocks since Sept and we are all so tired of it.

Reading that make it sounds like I’m complaining and that’s not at all what I’m trying to get across. Maybe I just needed to hoc it up, spit in out on to digital paper to get it off my chest.

We are zombies here now. Half awake, half asleep in a post quake world wondering when, if it will stop. Will more damage be done or can we start living our lives again?

day 136 - 152....

Sooooo.....

It gets a bit dull from here on in (in life, as well as blog!). On day 136 I started my new 40 hour a week job......it helps with the motivation to get my book published I guess, and the money is nice and necessary.....

Day 137 I had my first MWH Mainzeal month end drinks. Very nice way to meet fellow colleagues whilst drinking free beer.

On day 138 Andy & I bought a Land Rover! Bit different to the Mazda Mx5 - I'm looking forward to testing its shopping and camping capacity!

On day 139, after a messy night chez Hopkins, the running-a-trois club went off for a 9km around Avonhead. First time I've ran around here, and good to run blind, so to speak.

On day 140 I watched Sherlock! It is an amazing TV series. I will forgive Martin Freeman for missing Smithmas as he's doing series 2 of this. And how exciting Benedict Cumberbatch is coming to NZ to be in the Hobbit. Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as being a brilliant actor, has THE best name in the world!

On day 141 I ran my first solo 14m run. I ran home from work (didn't beat the bus, but also didn't have to wait 30 mins in the cold for it to turn up either)- not the most visually stunning run, but good training.

On day 142 I gave free counselling another go. In a futile attempt to cure my fear of flying I went to a work approved counselling session. Unfortunately it was completely useless. The counsellor was quite rubbish; though as a positive I took away that in the last 5 years I've actually controlled my fear quite well - I know all the spin, I know how to make it less scary and I know why I shouldn't be scared. I guess I just want to be fixed really, and maybe that will never happen.

On 143 I bought the Christchurch (/South Island!) Entertainment book. Obviously not much in the way of Christchurch city pubs/restaurants in it - as there aren't many of those about any more...but a few for Sumner, and other places such as Nelson, Blenheim etc.

This one is so lame, so I apologise in advance. On day 144 I ate a Subway 6" tuna roll. I have never eaten a Subway in NZ before. Lame, I know.

On day 145 Andy & I went to the Riccarton Farmers market AND the Craft Collective market. Very expensive but fun day!

On day 146 I got as ill as I've ever been in my adult life. Before the vomitting started however, I made Rum N Raisin Ice cream. Then got too sick to eat it.

Day 147...I've actually written "Dry bagel" in my diary! Well as stated above I was sicker than I've ever been in my adult life, so I think I'll cut myself some slack for that.

On day 148, recovering, and in desperate need for food (all left my body and none allowed to re-enter for many many hours) I made kedgaree. It was my first time as Andy is the Kedgaree king, and it was nice. (though not as nice as Andy's!).

On 149, still recovering, I went into work, got my laptop, announced I had a stomach bug and then went home to work. Working from home (my first official time!)is both awesome and crap - lunch, getting home (easy!) and listening to music all pluses, motivating oneself is a BIG negative.

On day 150 I got to wear my hot pink retro River Island skirt! Bought for $4 a couple of months ago, I finally got to wear it.

On day 151 we ate at Tony's Tepan Restaurant - a nice, if not overpriced Japanese place in Ferrymead.

This one is exciting! (For me anyway). My first ever yoga class! I went with Michelle on a Saturday morning and it was so relaxing, yet stretching...if you know what I mean! Definitely a weekly occurrence.