Saturday, October 29, 2011

Earthquakes...snow....and conversations with ducks...

Christchurch has been bombarded by insults over the past year. Earthquake after earthquake. More than 7000 aftershocks since September, in fact. Some more noteworthy than others. Then it was snow.

Yeah, I realize that lots of people around the world are used to dealing with the flaky stuff, but not here.  Not major dumps. Twice.  And the snow covered up the craters and rubble the quakes generated, which made moving around--what's left of--the city, even more hazardous. Interesting times.

When I was walking along the quake-mangled river recently, I stopped to ask a couple of ducks for their thoughts on Mother Nature's new urban design. They cast me a nonchalant glance and flew over to the other side of the river. Fair enough. A woman on the opposite bank had a much more interesting conversation starter--a bread bag. I didn't take it personally.

Anyway, that got me thinking. If Christchurch was still a swamp, with no buildings, what would happen in a quake? Would it just be the equivalent of a bog burp? Or, in other words, it isn't actually the tectonic rumblings we have to fear. It is our own creations. Rocks that fall off cliffs aside, it is our bricks and mortar that killed people. And as long as the quakes continue, the man-made structures will continue to tumble.

Mother Nature has come to reclaim her swamp. Let her have it, I say. Don't really think we are in a position to argue.  Maybe we should rename Christchurch "Topsy Turvy Land" and all live in bouncy castles. That might be the only way to entice the tourists back, and to keep us all safe from further harm...

PS: Since writing the above, I was forced to adopt Mr Maus's philosophy of reckless abandon. I had to leave my unsafe flat, so I dumped/gave away almost everything I own, and fled the swamp.

What happened to Mr Maus? I caught him in one of those humane traps laced with his all time favorite, peanut butter, and rehomed him. I um...I also caught his sister wives...cos um...turns out he was the harem favoring kind of mouse, after all. Talk about a busy mausmaid...talk about a busy Mr Maus...sheesh...

Hated having to disrupt their domestic bliss, but they needed a safe new home too. Here's hoping that I made a good choice in that regard, acknowledging the many perils that face wild mousies in this world...

Thank you Mr Maus, and friends, for choosing my stove to head bob about in. I shall always treasure, and miss, your company :)