Wednesday 27 April 2011
Earthquake update:
2.42am: 3.9

Tuesday 26 April 2011
Cody's 11th birthday! Cody got lots of presents. We went out for lunch, played his new game all afternoon and had pancakes for tea.
Earthquake update: We were woken by a rattle and the evening was a bit shaky:
7.19am: 3.7
7.16pm: 3.9
10.07pm: 4.2
10.08pm: 4.3

Monday 25 April 2011
This is a public holiday in New Zealand. It is Anzac Day; originally this day paid tribute to the ANZAC (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) troops who were killed in the World War I Gallipoli campaign. New Zealand's part began on 25 April 1915 when they landed at what became known as Anzac Cove on the Turkish peninsula. The campaign against Germany's allies lasted eight disastrous months and resulted in the deaths of 2,721 New Zealand soldiers with another thousands wounded. It was first officially celebrated in 1921, when it became a public holiday to remember the courage and sacrifice of all New Zealanders who fought and died in the Great War. Later Anzac Day expanded to include remembrance for New Zealanders lost during World War II and other wars - and honour all returned servicemen and women.

Sunday 24 April 2011 (Easter)
Earthquake update:
12.14pm: 3.6
8.51pm: 4.3

Wednesday 20 April 2011
Earthquake update:
11.13am: 3.8
8.11pm: 3.7

Tuesday 19 April 2011
Earthquake update:
1.31pm: 4.0

Saturday 16 April 2011
Earthquake update: The moon is slowly closing in on the earth again. The gravity powers involved may trigger earthquakes - big and small. At the end of the afternoon evidence was given:
7.41am: 3.7
5.49pm: 5.3. This was the largest aftershock since 22 February (when Christchurch was devastated by a deadly earthquake). A few things fell off benches and shelves in the house and the kitchen lights were swaying for a minute after the shaking had stopped.
8.40pm: 4.1

Thursday 14 April 2011
Earthquake update:
5.39am: 3.6

Sunday 10 April 2011
Earthquake update:
4.33am: 3.6

Friday 8 April 2011
Martijn has had a scheduled operation to his lower back. A piece of the Sacrum-5/Lumbar-1 disc has been removed as this was protruding and pressing against the right sciatic nerve. He remained two days in hospital.
Earthquake update:
3.12am: 3.6

Thursday 7 April 2011
Earthquake update:
3.57am: 4.0

Monday 4 April 2011
Earthquake update:
2.23pm: 4.0

Saturday 2 April 2011
Earthquake update:
11.21am: 4.0

Friday 1 April 2011
Earthquake update: After another couple of calm days we were woken by a few tremors:
6.28am: 3.8
6.54am: 3.5

Wednesday 30 March 2011
Earthquake update: After a few calm days it becomes a bit easier to get on with our lives. At the beginning of the night (0.53am) there was an aftershock though (3.8).
0.53am: 3.8

Saturday 26 March 2011
Earthquake update: And yet again there was a stronger aftershock in the middle of the night. And towards the evening the were a handful of tremors:
2.11am: 4.3
4.51pm: 3.7
5.29pm: 3.8

Friday 25 March 2011
Earthquake update: The night started with a stronger aftershock (4.1). We're still very alert to any low frequency sounds that may be followed by any shaking.
Also the East Cape (north of Gisborne in New Zealand) have had a 5.4 earthquake tonight.

Thursday 24 March 2011
Earthquake update: A video clip has popped up on YouTube with footage of us walking home alongside a damaged building. Click here to see it and pay attention to the last 13 seconds of it.
The aftershocks have become considerably less in the last few days, but there have been a few again today:
9.06am: 3.6
9.24pm: 3.7

Sunday 20 March 2011
Earthquake update: Many people from Christchurch are spending the weekend away from the city. Not just of fear of the predictions of 'the moon guy', but also to have a bit of a rest in the long weekend we're having due to the Friday memorial day we had. Coincidence or not, the shaking has increased today throughout the country.
Last night Taranaki (region in the North Island) experienced a 4.7 earthquake.
This afternoon the centre of the South Island was shaken a few times, the biggest of which was a 4.6 earthquake. And tonight at 9.47pm the people of Christchurch itself were treated to a big 5.1 aftershock. This is actually the third biggest aftershock we've had since 22 February lunchtime; the first and second biggest were recorded within the first 2 hours of the 6.3 one.
Can the moon contribute to predicting earthquakes??

Saturday 19 March 2011
Earthquake update: According to 'the moon guy' there will be a higher chance of earthquakes especially on Sunday 20 March as this is a so-called perigee day; the day that the moon is closest to the earth for the month. We'll see what the weekend brings us. The only noticeable tremore was a 3.5 magnitude one at 8.24pm.

Friday 18 March 2011
This is a one-off public commemoration day in the Canterbury region. It is Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Day; the day that the destructive earthquake of 22 February is remembered.
Earthquake update: We had a good night sleep but throughout the day the frequency of aftershocks has increased. There have so far been 7 aftershocks of magnitude 3 or higher; the latest at 8.59pm being the largest (3.8).  After a few calm days the shaking is set to go on

Thursday 17 March 2011
Earthquake update:
7.17am: 3.1. This one was centred just over 3 km from our house. This was the only registered tremor for the day. Great!

Wednesday 16 March 2011
Earthquake update:
2.57am: 3.7
11.23pm: 3.2. This one was centred just over a kilometer from our house.

Tuesday 15 March 2011
Earthquake update: Finally a day with hardly any aftershocks:
3.49pm: 3.2. This one was centred right in the middle of Halswell, less than 1 km from our house.

Monday 14 March 2011
Earthquake update: And another early morning aftershock:
5.14am: 4.1
8.29pm: 3.8

Sunday 13 March 2011
Earthquake update: We had another aftershock during the night:
0.46am: 3.8

Saturday 12 March 2011
Even though we've lived through a disaster, the events in Japan are much more shocking than here in New Zealand. Our thoughts are with all the victims in Japan.
Earthquake update: And again not a full night sleep:
2.37am: 4.2

Friday 11 March 2011
Earthquake update: Again not a full night sleep:
4.00am: 4.1
6.11am: 3.8
9.33am: 3.7

Thursday 10 March 2011
Earthquake update: The shaking continues to wake us up in the middle of the night:
1.48am: 3.6
2.48pm: 4.0
1.05pm: 3.7
8.07pm: 4.5
This picture was taken immediately after the 22 February quake taken from the Port Hills from the south:

Wednesday 9 March 2011
Earthquake update:
0.56am: 3.7
1.18pm: 4.1
9.35pm: 3.7

Tuesday 8 March 2011
This is Shrove Tuesday, a.k.a. Pancake Day. It is the day before Lent, which is the 40-day period of abstaining until Easter. The tradition of eating pancakes on this day is thought to have originated in England, where the day of eating pancakes, partying and gaming has been held since the 15th century.
Earthquake update: We've had a restless night with a number of aftershocks. At night you notice the smaller ones because you're not up and about. Only one of the nightly shocks was bigger than 3.5:
3.01am: 3.6
6.24am: 3.3. This one felt much bigger as it was centred less than 3 km from our house, but it was also just 2 km deep, which is extremely shallow for an earthquake.
10.09am: 3.7
2.47pm: 3.7
4.40pm: 3.5
10.03pm: 4.3
10.44pm: 3.6
In the Japanese satellite image below from the time of the 22 February quake the coloured bands represent movement towards or away from the spacecraft. So the bright rainbow colours represent vertixal movement of the ground durin the shockwaves. The highest movement measured towards the satellite was 50cm.

Monday 7 March 2011
Earthquake update: Only a few minor aftershocks have been registered overnight.
The map below shows the extent of the Civil Defence cordons in the CBD. it also shows the location of the cathedral and our office buildings. The red zone marks the genrally badly damaged buildings. The 'no access' zones appear to be the destruction zones where bodies are still due to be recovered.

Aftershocks (≥3.5):
10.55am: 3.5
12.44pm: 3.7
11.26pm: 4.3

Sunday 6 March 2011
Earthquake update: Maybe today we'll have less aftershocks:
9.00am: 3.5
A quake of magnitude 4.9 struck just east of Kaikoura (>150 km northeast of Christchurch) today though. And a 4.1 quake shook Blenheim (250 km north-northeast of Christchurch). The New Zealand region is obviously on the move.

Saturday 5 March 2011
Earthquake update: initially today the aftershocks seemed to gradually decrease in numbers, but I've had to alter this report since seisomologic activity has increased during the course of this Saturday:
10.49am: 4.1. This one was centred just over 3 km from our house.
2.29pm: 3.5
4.39pm: 3.9
7.34pm: 4.8. This was the 6th biggest aftershock since the 6.3 one on 22 February.
8.54pm: 3.8
10.45pm: 3.6
11.00pm: 3.7

Friday 4 March 2011
Earthquake update: Again Wellington was rocked in the middle of the night by a 4.7 aftershock. What's going to happen there? Here in Christchurch the aftershocks continue:
10.35am: 3.6. This one was centred just 1.6 km from our house.

Thursday 3 March 2011
Earthquake update: After a very steady Wednesday the aftershocks have increased overnight. Some woke us up:
2.55am: 3.9
5.28am: 3.5
3.16pm: 3.5
6.53pm: 3.9

Wednesday 2 March 2011
Earthquake update: The death toll now stands at 160. This morning a working bee at our kids school has taken place to get rid of all the silt that is scattered around the school grounds. The silt had washed up from the earth as mud volcanos during the quake and aftershocks. As soon as this has been cleaned up, the school may be reopened - if the water from the mains has been tested as suitable for drinking.

7.22am: 3.5
It's almost Thursday... only one aftershock that could be felt all day? This means that either seismographic activity is (temporarily) fading, or the tension in the earth is building up without energy release to a bigger one... who knows at this stage...

Tuesday 1 March 2011
Earthquake update: The aftershocks continue as expected. Today at 12.51pm the whole nation will observe 2 minutes of silence to pay our respects to the victims and mark the passing of one week since the deadly quake struck. 154 people have now been confirmed dead.
4.43am: 3.1. This one was centred just 1.5 km from our house.
6.37am: 3.6
7.40am: 3.7
9.10am: 4.3
9.28am: 3.5
10.12pm: 3.6
10.42pm: 4.6. This was the biggest aftershock since last Friday (4 days) and the 14th biggest of all 350 quakes registered since that horrible Tuesday lunchtime.
Wellington (>300km northeast of Chch) has had a 4.5 shake tonight as well.

Monday 28 February 2011
Earthquake update: After a relatively quiet Sunday, today has started a bit wobbly. A few tremors prevented us from having a full night sleep and the morning hasn't even finished yet and we've already had 2 4+ aftershocks:
7.55am: 4.1
10.35am: 4.3
10.43am: 3.8
3.37pm: 3.7
5.34pm: 3.6
9.11pm: 3.6
10.44pm: 3.9

Sunday 27 February 2011
Earthquake update: The aftershocks seem to subside a little bit. Although we all know from experience that it's just a lull and there will be waves of aftershocks again in the near future. There have been 146 dead bodies found in the search and rescue operation so far across the city, but more than 200 people remain reported as missing by their families and friends. This event is on its way to become the worst ever disaster in the history of New Zealand. Even tough we're alive and well at home our thoughts are with the many people affected by this tragedy.
1.03pm: 3.5
4.21pm: 3.7
Did you know that Ingrid and Martijn have been together as a couple for 236 months today?

Saturday 26 February 2011
Earthquake update: We had a reasonably good night sleep. There were just a few small aftershocks, until the early morning. A few bigger ones woke us up before 6am:
5.49am: 3.8. This one was centred less than 4 km from our house.
6.52am: 4.1
9.23am: 3.5
2.07pm: 3.6
3.33pm: 3.5
7.36pm: 3.6
11.51pm: 3.8

Friday 25 February 2011
Earthquake update: We had a good night sleep. During the night there had not been any large aftershocks. It's raining though. We've updated the report on the events of last Tuesday with our own detailed stories of how we experienced the first hour after the quake. Please see below under 'Tuesday 22 February 2011'...
12.35am: 3.7
5.27am: 3.8
5.40pm: 4.7
7.14pm: 4.3

Thursday 24 February 2011
Earthquake update: The sun is shining outside; it will be 22 degrees - we're hoping for a nice calm summer's day. The kids are playing outside. We're all doing our best to stay positive and hang on through every aftershock. As expected these are continuing although we had a fairly calm night. Between midnight and 6 in the morning 21 aftershocks have been recorded in the Christchurch area, but only a few were strong enough to wake us up. I'm only listing the stronger quakes (≥4.0):
12.12am: 4.1
9.44am: 4.4
9.52am: 4.0
6.51pm: 4.0
Apart from these more than 30 aftershocks were recorded the rest of this day.
The following photos are from Martijn's work office building(s):

Wednesday 23 February 2011
Earthquake update: All schools in the region are closed. Supermarkets and shops around the outskirts of town are generally open. Parts of the city centre are still without power and/or water. We had breakfast with our visitors as the news came through that one of Martijn's colleagues had died in The Press building as a direct result of the earthquake. The 4th floor of the 4-storey building had actually collapsed onto the 3rd floor. As expected the aftershocks continued:
12.02am: 4.4
12.18am: 4.3
12.49am: 4.3
3.04am: 4.6
3.30am: 4.6
3.35am: 4.0
4.44am: 4.0
6.00am: 4.6
8.30am: 4.2
1.59pm: 4.2
3.43pm: 4.0
6.39pm: 4.1

Tuesday 22 February 2011
A major earthquake (or aftershock from the 4/9/2010 earthquake as you will) has wreaked death and destruction in the city centre. At 12.51pm we were violently disturbed in our work offices by a 6.3 earthquake which was centered just 8 km from our offices. The terrifying shaking lasted about 20 seconds and brought down a number of buildings in the city centre. The quake occurred at a depth of just 3 km and 715 meters.

Here's the story of the first hour after the quake from Martijn:
12.51pm - I was sitting at my desk at work on the second floor and was planning to go out to get some lunch. The buildings (well, the whole city) started to shake violently and I had to seek cover instantly. There were 3 more colleagues in the room at the time; 2 of them duck under their desks; the other one was too far from a desk and couldn't move anywhere. I found cover under my desk and was on my hands and knees holding on to the carpet. I was rocked back and forth and with one particular jolt moving outward I thought that the façade would come loose from the building and I didn't believe it would then be able to come back again. But then it did remain attached. The standing workmate then shouted "the cathedral is gone!, the cathedral is gone!". When the shaking started to become less (after 10-15 seconds) I wanted to see that for myself and I popped up from underneath my desk, but all I could see was a curtain of concrete blocks and dust falling right outside the window from our own building. Through the dust I saw the sky where the spire of the cathedral was supposed to be. I locked my laptop, grabbed my bag and through the dust inside the building we got out down the stairs leading to the basement and got out of the building. With sirens and alarm bells ringing we climbed over the debris that had fallen onto the pavement and stumbled out onto Gloucester St. With no cellphone coverage I just wanted to find Ingrid who works 2 blocks further in an office at Latimer Square. But there were guys in high-visibility vests trying to keep people where they were because aftershocks would follow.
12.56pm - The first big aftershock - 4.9. This was really my very first time ever that big quakes were happening in daylight whilst being in the city centre between all these big buildings. Feeling and seeing the force of the road being moved away from underneath your feet is an overwhelming sensation.
1.04pm - A major aftershock - 5.7. It was unreal to see a concrete façade of a building being swung from left to right as if it's made of jelly. New cracks were appearing in the concrete and concrete and dust fell on the kerb just metres away from us. It felt like being a walker-on playing in a disaster movie and instead of being in a city you think you're on a movie set. The sound of sirens and bells all over town was disturbing and there was a smell of smoke, dust and gas. The guys who had held me back earlier had left so I started walking down the middle of the street towards Ingrid's building. I had to watch my step because of concrete and glass scattered all over the street, and had to walk around an abandoned bus. There were seriously damaged buildings, cars crushed under huge concrete blocks, cracked and buckled roads and the smell of fire and gas. It became clear that I had found myself in the middle of a disaster zone. I reached Latimer Square where hundreds if not thousands of people had gathered from all buildings around it but no sign from Ingrid. I'm seriously getting worried at that point. I spoke to a building warden who thought Ingrid had made it out; there was just one person trapped in the lift in their building.
1.21pm - A 4.5 aftershock. I received a txt from Ingrid asking me where I was. I just kept on trying to txt and call hoping it would work at least once. The sign of life was good, but where was she?
1.46pm - A 4.4 aftershock. While I was still fiddling with my phone trying to get some sort of connection, Ingrid walked up to me. An hour after the earthquake we were finally together and ok.

Here's the story of the first hour after the quake from Ingrid:
12.51pm - I was at my desk about to head to the kitchen to prepare a salad for lunch. When the noise and shakes started I thought it was another one of those pesky aftershocks. But when it didn't stop and got worse I fell off my chair onto the floor next to my desk and hung on for dear life. I heard some of my collegues screaming, books falling on the floor and windows shattering. "Must be the one that was loose and held in place by a bicycle chain and magazine", I thought. Of course our appointed safety officer was at lunch, but two of the managers took control once the shaking stopped and moved everybody out of the building. I was the last one to leave as usual as I was busy grabbing my coat and my bag with my evening dress and shoes I was going to need for my fancy dinner that night.
I even took time to stare out the window at the cloud of dust and one of the managers pointed out a building in a very serious lean. Walking down the stairs it finally hit me that the building may not be that safe when I saw some concrete rubble and lots of smashed windows. Outside I found some of my team and tried to quickly assess if we were missing anybody, but we all seemed to be there.
12.56pm - The first big aftershock - 4.9. One of my team mates arrived, she had been out to lunch at the square and got hit by some rubble. She was shaken but okay. She told us about all the damage she had seen and when I asked her about Martijn's office building, to my horror she told me it was badly damaged. Not thinking whatsoever, I ran towards it. I was running in the opposite direction as everybody else, noticed all the destruction and really started panicking. When I finally reached his building I saw the damage to it, I saw all the wounded and I saw lots of people on their mobile phones. So I tried to call Martijn, but he didn't pick up. I tried and tried without any success.
1.04pm - A major aftershock - 5.7. I walked in a zigzag across the square to try and find Martijn. I even found our neigbour. But no Martijn. So I sent a txt, which I never received a reply to. I thought it was so unfair that others seemed to be able to use their cellphones and here I was with my fancy Galaxy and it was worthless at a time I needed it most. I noticed the tower of the Cathedral on the floor, as well as a statue which had fallen down.
There was a crazy man who didn't seem to think it inappropriate to while standing on top of a piece of art pointing out to everybody around him at the top of his lungs what had and had not fallen down.
1.21pm - A 4.5 aftershock. I wanted to see if I could find a bus to get home to the kids. Then I smelled the gas and quite rightfully the crowd on the square was directed to where I came from Latimer Square right in front of the building I work.
1.46pm - A 4.4 aftershock. So back I went, found one of my team mates who tried to console me. Somebody offered me a ride home as she lives close to me and somebody else sent a txt to Martijn to see if they had more luck reaching him. No sooner as that txt was sent I noticed Martijn standing there, fiddling with his cell phone. It was such a relief to find him well and unhurt.

We had a quick chat to some of Ingrid's workmates and decided to try to get out of the city centre on foot. Public transport was obviously out, the heart of the city centre was completely closed off by police and emergency services, so there was no other way than to walk north away from the centre and try to then walk east and then south to get to the road we're supposed to be on to get to our kids' school.
2.15pm - A 4.6 aftershock.
2.20pm - A 4.6 aftershock. It soon appeared the damages were enormous. Buildings that had partly or in some cases completely collapsed, roads with huge cracks and a lot of liquefaction and traffic that had come to a standstill across town.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 1: The Amicus building on the corner of Madras and Armagh Sts has partly sunk in the ground.
Photo 2: Charlie B's Backpackers Hostel on madras St has partly collapsed.
Photo 3: Oxford Tce Baptist Church on Madras St has collapsed.
Photo 4: Oxford Tce Baptist Church on Madras St sign from the 4 Sep 2010 earthquake.
Photo 5: Liquefaction and flooding in Kilmore St.
2.39pm - A 4.0 aftershock. The people we saw on our walk out of town were looking dazed and in disbelief.
2.50pm - A 5.9 aftershock - the biggest so far. Some people simply lost their balance and fell to the gound. More damaged buildings and even uprooted trees. The Avon river didn't look too flash either.

Photo 6

Photo 7

Photo 8

Photo 9

Photo 6: A badly damaged building in Montreal St.
Photo 7: Large crack along Rolleston Ave.
Photo 8: The polluted and raised Avon river.
Photo 9: An uprooted tree near the entrance of the Botanical Gardens.
3.21pm: 4.3
3.43pm: 4.6. In Addington we saw the following devastation:

Photo 10

Photo 11

Photo 12

Photo 10: A badly damaged tattoo shop and asian spices shop on Lincoln Rd.
Photo 11: Another badly damaged industrial building in Wise St in Addington.
Photo 12: Some more of the Addington shops that will need to be demolished.
3.48pm: 4.5. This one was centred just 1100 metres from our house at a depth of 5 km.
4.04pm: 5.0
4.24pm: 4.4
4.32pm: 4.2
4.46pm: 4.2
5.19pm: 4.6. A friend, their friend, daughter and housemate came over to crash at our place as they didn't have power and water in their own house. Also their street had been flooded. We had Mexican nachos for tea and drank a few bottles of wine to try to recover from the earthquake stress.
5.56pm: 4.0
6.03pm: 4.3
6.59pm: 4.6
7.28pm: 4.6
7.43pm: 5.0
9.21pm: 4.8. This one was centred just 2 km from our house at a depth of 7 km.
9.38pm: 4.1
10.16pm: 4.0
10.18pm: 4.0
11.05pm: 4.0

Sunday 6 February 2011
This is a public holiday in New Zealand. It is Waitangi Day; the day that the signing of the Waitangi Treaty is remembered.

Thursday 20 January 2011
Earthquake update: A series of quakes has started rattling the area once again. Especially the start of the day negated the need for an alarm clock:
1.47am: 3.1
6.03am: 5.1
6.28am: 3.2
8.02am: 3.4
8.06am: 4.0
8.14am: 3.3
11.01am: 3.1
11.10am: 3.9
12.36pm: 3.9

Monday 10 January 2011
Earthquake update: After feeling several minor aftershocks leading up to this day, there was a bit of a spate of tremors building up to a bigger one:
4.19am: 3.2
7.34am: 3.8
5.13pm: 3.2
9.58pm: 4.2

Saturday 1 January 2011
Earthquake update: On this first day of the year one reasonably big aftershock welcomed us to the new year:
2.05pm: 4.4

Friday 31 December 2010
Earthquake update: On this last day of the year the aftershocks have started again:
9.35am: 3.1
9.40am: 4.1
9.41am: 3.6
10.43am: 3.3
12.43pm: 3.2
10.46pm: 3.3

Monday 27 December 2010
Earthquake update: There have been a few more aftershocks:
0.10am: 4.4
2.01am: 3.0
8.47am: 3.6
5.18pm: 3.4
5.34pm: 3.0
6.28pm: 3.5

Sunday 26 December 2010
Earthquake update: We've had very few and just small aftershocks in the last 6 weeks but today the shaking has restarted... once more. As usual the tremors started in the middle of the night:
2.07am: 4.2
2.08am: 3.8
2.32am: 3.7
8.03am: 3.8
10.30am: 4.9 (the biggest tremor since 6 weeks ago). This one has caused widespread damage due to the epicentre being so close to the city.
10.35am: 3.6
11.53am: 3.5
12.34pm: 3.7
1.12pm: 3.7
2.25pm: 3.1
3.20pm: 3.0
4.29pm: 3.2
5.26pm: 3.0
6.43pm: 3.5

Sunday 14 November 2010
Earthquake update: And there it was - waking us all up again in the middle of the night and again shaking us about while winding down after tea:
0.03am: 3.2
0.12am: 3.8
1.34am: 4.7 (the biggest tremor since 3 weeks ago)
5.34pm: 3.6
7.21pm: 4.9 (the biggest tremor since almost a month ago)

Saturday 13 November 2010
Earthquake update: After 3 very quiet days the intensity has increased once more. We now know that this is likely a build-up to a bigger aftershock:
10.19pm: 3.1

Friday 12 November 2010
This is a public holiday in the Canterbury region. It's Christchurch Show Day. The region's offcial anniversary was originally held around 16 December, marking the arrival of the the Charlotte Jane, the first ship to anchor at Lyttelton on Monday 16 December 1850. The anniversary day was moved to the Friday of Show Week in the 1950s.
Earthquake update:
9.44am: 3.8
11.04am: 3.3
12.24pm: 3.0
6.32pm: 3.1
7.03pm: 3.2
10.04pm: 3.6

Thursday 11 November 2010
Earthquake update: For the first time since 4 September there have been no aftershocks with magnitude lower than 2.5. In total there have been more than 2900 quakes in the Canterbury region since that day...

Wednesday 10 November 2010
Earthquake update:
5.44pm: 2.5

Tuesday 9 November 2010
Earthquake update:
4.45pm: 2.5

Monday 8 November 2010
Earthquake update:
0.39am: 4.2
2.39am: 3.1
3.35am: 2.6
4.22am: 2.7
4.28am: 3.3
4.55am: 3.6
1.45pm: 3.0
4.48pm: 3.0
7.38pm: 3.2

Sunday 7 November 2010
Earthquake update:
2.52am: 4.6
3.06am: 3.1
4.53am: 3.6
11.08am: 2.6
8.00pm: 2.5
9.28pm: 2.5
11.56pm: 3.3

Saturday 6 November 2010
Earthquake update:
1.29am: 2.5
2.35am: 4.3
2.44am: 3.0
3.43am: 2.9
4.52am: 3.1
5.37am: 3.1
2.17pm: 3.0
3.10pm: 2.5
9.44pm: 3.0

Friday 5 November 2010
This is Guy Fawkes Day - the day to commemorate the foiling of the attempt led by Guy Fawkes in 1605 to blow up the king and members of Parliament in retaliation for increasing repression of Roman Catholics in England, known as the Gunpowder Plot. It is therefore celebrated with fireworks. The picture shows the fireworks display at the New Brighton pier in Christchurch. This year the display had been postponed due to bad weather till Saturday 6 November.

Earthquake update:
1.02pm: 3.8
1.56pm: 3.2
3.52pm: 2.6
10.21pm: 2.7

Thursday 4 November 2010
Earthquake update:
Again, a few stronger quakes were felt amongst a number of smaller jolts.
0.03am: 4.2
0.24am: 3.0
6.49am: 4.1
7.25am: 2.7
9.07am: 3.1
10.02am: 3.1
11.21am: 3.5
1.34pm: 3.3
7.50pm: 3.5
9.44pm: 2.9
11.08pm: 2.6

Wednesday 3 November 2010
Earthquake update:
3.36am: 2.7
12.14pm: 2.6
2.05pm: 2.6
4.15pm: 2.7
5.49pm: 2.5

Tuesday 2 November 2010
Earthquake update:
5.31am: 2.7
1.45pm: 3.8
9.39pm: 2.7
11.39pm: 2.5

Monday 1 November 2010
Earthquake update:
Typically, many smaller quakes were again followed by a larger aftershock:
1.20am: 3.1
9.13am: 2.6
9.23am: 2.8
9.34am: 2.8
10.28am: 2.6
11.20am: 2.7
2.00pm: 2.7
3.38pm: 2.8
5.52pm: 3.0
5.56pm: 2.7
7.19pm: 4.5. This one was shaking the house about again and lasted for up to 8 seconds.
7.25pm: 2.9

Sunday 31 October 2010
This is Halloween! Originally an end-of-summer observation, it marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year (Irish). The name Halloween is derived from All Saints Day, which is 1 November. This Roman Catholic day used to be called All Hallow Day. All Hallow's Eve became known as Halloween during the course of history. 2 November is All Souls Day - the day to honor the dead. It was celebrated with people dressing up as saints, angels and devils. A mixture of these influences makes Halloween what it is today.
Earthquake update:
8.58am: 3.3
11.26am: 3.3
2.04pm: 3.2
7.59pm: 2.7
8.45pm: 2.5
10.32pm: 2.8

Saturday 30 October 2010
Earthquake update:
1.08am: 2.6
1.37am: 3.8
9.26am: 3.5
6.55pm: 3.5
10.22pm: 3.5

Friday 29 October 2010
Earthquake update:
0.15am: 3.3
7.44am: 4.0
6.04pm: 3.4
6.55pm: 3.5
10.22pm: 3.5

Thursday 28 October 2010
Earthquake update:
1.57pm: 2.9
4.17pm: 3.3
10.35pm: 3.4
10.49pm: 3.4

Wednesday 27 October 2010
Earthquake update:
5.43am: 3.4
4.06pm: 3.3
6.14pm: 3.6
7.56pm: 3.3

Tuesday 26 October 2010
Rylan celebrates his 8^th birthday!
Earthquake update:
The aftershocks are starting to be part of life. Aa a result most people are moving on with their lives and don't seem to notice the smaller tremors anymore. Today there was a relatively long list of aftershocks, but they were barely felt:
1.15am: 3.5
2.37am: 3.8
7.28am: 3.1
8.10am: 3.0
10.02am: 3.2
2.17pm: 3.4
3.08pm: 3.3
7.21pm: 3.4

Monday 25 October 2010
This is a public holiday in New Zealand. It's Labour Day. It celebrates the accomplishment of an eight-hour working day, a right that New Zealand workers had been among the first in the world to claim, when in 1840 the carpenter Samuel Parnell had won an eight-hour day in Wellington. Traditionally government employees were given the day off to attend the celebrations. A statutory holiday was created in 1900 and then "Mondaynised" in 1910. After World War I the festivities faded and nowadays it's just another holiday.
Earthquake update:
Only one small aftershock at 3.28am: 2.9

Sunday 24 October 2010
Earthquake update:
The earth's tension had been building up indeed. A reasonably big 4.8 aftershock struck at 3.13pm. As it was unusually centred just off shore near Kaiapoi many residents felt this one stronger than most other aftershocks. Apart from this one the following ones could be felt:
1.02pm: 3.7
2.27pm: 2.9
7.57pm: 2.7
11.14pm: 3.2

Saturday 23 October 2010
Earthquake update:
The number of aftershocks is gradually increasing again. This may be a sign of a bigger aftershock just building up in the ground:
0.20am: 3.4
2.23am: 3.3
9.46am: 3.4
4.28pm: 3.2
5.25pm: 3.2
11.26pm: 2.7

Friday 22 October 2010
Earthquake update:
Just the one aftershock today - at 4.23pm: 3.3

Thursday 21 October 2010
Earthquake update:
The unrest of the last few days has settled down. Only a few aftershocks occurred:
5.44pm: 3.0
8.48pm: 2.8

Wednesday 20 October 2010
Earthquake update:
The following aftershocks could be felt:
9.17am: 4.5
10.09am: 3.4
12.49pm: 2.9

Tuesday 19 October 2010
We went to the Simply Red concert - the very last one ever in New Zealand by Mick Hucknall and his band. They played at the CBS Arena in Addington all of their big hits. The encore consisted of "Something got me started", "Stars", "Fairrground" and the very last and farewell song was "If you don't know me by now".

Earthquake update:
The trend of growing numbers of aftershocks and intensity has continued. Three smaller quakes in the night and morning were followed by a stronger 4.0 tremor at 10.45am and a big 5.0 aftershock struck at 11.32am and was centred about 5 km from our house at a depth of just 9 km. This one caused stuff to fall off shelves again - the first time since the initial quake from 4 September. A plant, some tumblers, a windowsill ornament and the wheelbarrow had fallen due to the shaking. These 5 quakes were followed by the following tremors giving evidence of the new Canterbury faultline not having come to rest at all yet:
11.41am: 3.7
12.06pm: 3.4
12.39pm: 3.4
1.24pm: 3.8 (less than 3 km from our house)
2.22pm: 3.3 (just 2 km from our house)
5.06pm: 3.1 (6 km from our house)
10.07pm: 2.9

Monday 18 October 2010
Earthquake update:
Everyone is back at work and has awoken from the relatively quiet weekend. Unfortunately so has Mother Earth:
9.24am: 3.0
9.28am: 4.4
11.39am: 3.7
11.45am: 3.5
2.11pm: 4.1
2.44pm: 3.0
3.42pm: 2.8
4.51pm: 3.3

Sunday 17 October 2010
Earthquake update:
Again it has been very quiet. The only time the house was shaking a bit was at 7.20pm (3.6). We are still very mindful though of this only being a lull.

Saturday 16 October 2010
Earthquake update:
It has been quiet all day. No aftershocks greater then 4.0. But we're quite sure that it will at some point intensify again...

Friday 15 October 2010
Earthquake update:
It has been quiet all day until the evening. At 9.27pm a small tremor was followed at 10.31pm by a sharp strong aftershock of magnitude 4.6. This one shook the house once again and made crockery and doors rattle.

Thursday 14 October 2010
Earthquake update:
4 reasonable aftershocks today; the biggest a 4.1 one at 6.59pm which was centred just over 5km from our house. It remains unsettling.

Wednesday 13 October 2010
Earthquake update:
We've been deceived. The following aftershocks were felt and note the gain in strength:
9.11am: 3.2
9.27am: 3.6
1.28pm: 4.1
4.42pm: 5.0
Almost 6 weeks after the devastating earthquake the latter 5.0 tremor occurred while at work and the office building swayed for about 10 seconds. It was the second biggest aftershock since the first week of this saga.

Tuesday 12 October 2010
Earthquake update:
A carbon copy of Monday - one early tremor at 5.29am of magnitude 3.5.

Monday 11 October 2010
Earthquake update:
And again just one aftershock in the early morning at 5.55am of magnitude 3.4. It has been really quiet in the last few days.

Sunday 10 October 2010
Earthquake update:
Again a very calm day with only one aftershock at 12.16pm of magnitude 3.7. We're starting to think that earth crust has stabalised.

Saturday 9 October 2010
Earthquake update:
This was a calm day although we did feel a 2.6 one at 9.05pm. We felt that one because it was a very shallow shock and centred just over 2 km from our house. At 11.14pm there was another one from 2.8.

Friday 8 October 2010
Earthquake update:
On this Friday morning we were once more woken by a few aftershocks rocking the region:
6.17am: 4.4
6.29am: 4.2
These were followed by about 3 smaller ones throughout the day.

Thursday 7 October 2010
Earthquake update:
Again a few smaller quakes followed by a 4.2 one at 11.09pm.

Wednesday 6 October 2010
Earthquake update:
At 8.43am there was a magnitude 4.0 aftershock and there a few other smaller ones too.

Tuesday 5 October 2010
Earthquake update:
We were woken at 6.29am by a magnitude 4.4 aftershock and after a few smaller ones throughout the day there was a 4.2 tremor at 11.10pm.

Monday 4 October 2010
Earthquake update:
A few shocks could be felt throughout the day until a big 5.0 struck at 10.21pm. This was the biggest aftershock since 8 September which then caused more damage to buildings in the city centre. It went on for more than 10 seconds. At 10.29pm there was another one of 4.0. So - instead of more smaller quakes - we are now eperiencing just a few but stronger quakes per day.

Saturday 2 - Sunday 3 October 2010
We drove to Lake Tekapo for the weekend for a short break. It was beautiful weather and we drove up to the Mt John Observatory, went roller skating on the (ice) skating rink, had dinner at the Refelctions restaurant, enjoyed the view with a glass of wine and played a game of mini golf. Here's the view from our motel unti:

Earthquake update:
There was a 3.9 aftershock while having breakfast at a local restaurant before going to Lake Tekapo and 5 more ones throughout the weekend that would have been felt in the region.

Friday 1 October 2010
Earthquake update:
The frequency of the aftershocks is once again on the rise. They are generally small in magnitude but growing in numbers.

Thursday 30 September 2010
Earthquake update:
A strong quake of magnitude 4.5 at 9.39am again reminded us of how unstable the tectonic plates still are. There were 2 more smaller quakes on this day.

Wednesday 29 September 2010
Earthquake update:
One 3.5 tremor in the middle of the night - and 4 others also less than 4.

Tuesday 28 September 2010
Earthquake update:
About 7 aftershocks today - one 4.0 and the others less than 4.

Monday 27 September 2010
Earthquake update:
About 10 aftershocks today - all less than magnitude 4.

Sunday 26 September 2010
Daylight Saving starts in New Zealand. At 2.00am time is brought forward by 1 hour to 3.00am.
Earthquake update:
After a few overnight tremors there was a spate of 4 aftershocks while having breakfast. One of which (a 3.9) was centred less than 1.5 km from our house (at a depth of 7 km).

Saturday 25 September 2010
Earthquake update:
The aftershocks are intensifying; here's a list of the biggest ones:
9.22am: 4.3
4.46am: 4.0
7.58am: 4.1
8.01am: 4.0

Friday 24 September 2010
Earthquake update:
A 4.6 aftershock struck at 3.40am and at 7.50pm there was another one of magnitude 4.4.

Thursday 23 September 2010
Earthquake update:
A 4.5 aftershock at 6.22am was a rattling start of the day. 5 more aftershocks followed throughout the day.

Wednesday 22 September 2010
Earthquake update:
This was a relatively quiet day with just 3 aftershocks - all less than magnitude 4.

Tuesday 21 September 2010
Earthquake update:
A total of 6 aftershocks of magnitude 3.something were felt throughout the day including the middle of the night.

Monday 20 September 2010
Earthquake update:
It's not over yet. A 4.6 tremor in the middle of the night brought the earth back to life again. A few more aftershocks followed throughout the day.

Sunday 19 September 2010
Earthquake update:
In the last 34 hours there has been only one aftershock - of magnitude 3.4. This last one was centred only a few kilometers from the original 7.1 quake, at a depth of about 8km. Has Mother Earh finally come to rest?

Saturday 18 September 2010
Earthquake update:
A 4.5 aftershock at 1.37am and another one of the same strength at 10.03am rattled us today and during the day a few more smaller ones.

Friday 17 September 2010
Earthquake update:
Again the night continued to rattle us:
0.08am: 4.4
...and in the early morning a few tremors in the 3.something range.
The house starts to shake in a sense that we notice it from about a magnitude 3.5 and up.
The day was relatively calm. There have been a total of 10 aftershocks.

Thursday 16 September 2010
Earthquake update:
Having already had a house-shaking experience after a calm day, the night continued to rattle us. In the middle of the night at 3.13am a 4.5 rumble was just reminding us all that this isn't over yet. It was followed at 4.35am by another one, this time of magnitude 4.3.
The day was relatively calm with just one daytime aftershock at 5.53pm of magnitude 4.2.
Today the state of emergency was lifted in the Christchurch and Selwyn districts (we live in the latter) and the 'state of urgency' has replaced it.
Again in the late evening the shocks came thick and fast: between 10.25pm and 11.25pm there were 6 aftershocks including one of 4.4 and one of 4.1.

Wednesday 15 September 2010
Earthquake update:
Back to school today. It was great for the kids to talk to their peers about what they had experienced over the past 10 days. There were no dramatic aftershocks throughout the day, but the evening was the start of an aftershock revival; for the first time since the 7.1 quake:
0.36am: 4.3
8.30pm: 4.0
10.42pm: 4.4. This aftershock was the first in a series that kept many people awake throughout the night...

Tuesday 14 September 2010
Earthquake update:
The following aftershocks could be felt today:
9.12am: 4.3
11.40am: 4.2
...and close to 10 other smaller ones...

Monday 13 September 2010
Earthquake update:
Life is starting to come back to normal again although a lot of facilities are not available due to them being broken or unsafe. Most schools and work places are fully operational; a few schools aren't. One of them is Cody's and Rylan's school. Here's the 3News report on their school.
The following aftershocks could be felt today:
7.54am: 4.1
9.05am: 4.1
1.05pm: 4.2
9.15pm: 4.0
...plus 7 smaller ones...

Sunday 12 September 2010
Earthquake update:
The aftershocks are a constant reminder of the reality of the devastation in the community:
6.03am: 4.6
11.39am: 4.2
5.27pm: 4.5
...and less than 10 other smaller ones...

Saturday 11 September 2010
Earthquake update:
There were further aftershocks:
8.36am: 4.2
9.01am: 4.0
...and just 5 other smaller ones...

Friday 10 September 2010
Earthquake update:
The kids' school buildings and grounds appear to have been badly damaged and it will not be possible to allow kids to be educated there until extensive repairs have been completed. In conjunction with the Ministry of Education local college facilities are being prepared to complete term 3 of the 2010 school year and it is expected this to flow into term 4 as well.
Also the local sports grounds have been extensively damaged including club rooms.
It has been a relatively quiet day as far as aftershocks is concerned. They seem to be further decreasing in volume but not yet in strength:
12.25am: 4.3
7.10am: 4.5
10.04am: 4.3
...and apart from these there more than 10 smaller ones...

Thursday 9 September 2010
Earthquake update:
School was still closed but Ingrid was allowed to go to the office again even though other parts of the city centre remain cordoned off and guarded by the police and the army.
We experienced the following aftershocks:
The earth (and the house) shook again at 2.49am: 4.5
6.14am: 4.2
6.49am: 4.0
12.38pm: 4.2
5.24pm: 4.0
6.27pm: 4.0
8.35pm: A 3.4 tremor was centrered directly below one of the kids' school courtyards at a depth of 6 km, on the surface just meters from Cody's class room, which is about a kilometer from our house.
10.31pm: 4.0
...and apart from these there were about a dozen smaller ones...
So the number of aftershocks per day is steadily decreasing.

Wednesday 8 September 2010
Earthquake update:
School was closed still and business buildings in the city centre were evacuated after a series of aftershocks in the early morning:
12.41am: 4.6
3.59am: 4.5
7.42am: 4.1
7.49am: 5.1
9.01am: 4.4
9.49am: 4.0
Around lunchtime we had a visit from a friend of Ingrid's who had to get out of her house with her 5-year old daughter as the 7.49am tremor was a nasty one since it was centered within 15km of her house. It further damaged a chimney which looked like it was going to crash through the roof sooner or later.
Ingrid baked a Dutch apple cake to have some comfort food in these times of discomfort.
1.41pm: 4.1
2.49pm: 4.3
8.23pm: 3.2 - this one was centred less than 1 km from our house
...and apart from these there were dozens of smaller ones...
For an interactive media view of all quakes since 4/9/2010 go to here.

Tuesday 7 September 2010
Earthquake update:
Another day at home. We had a bit of a restless night when a strong aftershock struck at 3.24am; it was of magnitude 5.5. There were close to 50 aftershocks on Tuesday.

Monday 6 September 2010
Earthquake update:
With schools closed and our work offices cordoned off there wasn't much we could do.
After a reasonably quiet day there was a spate of strong tremors late at night:
11.24pm Aftershock of 5.3
11.40pm Aftershock of 5.4
There were about 80 aftershocks on this Monday.

Sunday 5 September 2010
This is Father's Day in New Zealand. This honorary day to fathers is said to have started in Spokane, Washington State in the US in 1909. A day to honour fathers around the country was proposed to remember the Civil War veterans. During the 20th century the idea developed throughout the United States, but it wasn't until the 1960s and 70s when Father's Day spread over the world, each country deciding on its own official date.
Earthquake update:
5.20am 33rd aftershock since midnight - 5.1
We managed to have a nice and quiet Father's Day breakfast and made plans for the day to clean up further and sort out what Father's Day meals to have.
10.15am We went to Pioneer Stadium to see if the kids' swimming lessons would be on as usual but the gates were closed. We went shopping for a Father's Day cake as most shops were in fact open for business. For lunch we had McDonald's.
1.04pm 62nd aftershock for the day - 5.0
After watching the Wellington Phoenix game in the early evening we were bracing ourselves for another night of the ongoing and therefore terrifying aftershocks. There had been close to 100 aftershocks on Father's Day...

Saturday 4 September 2010
At 4.35am we were violently woken by a 7.1 earthquake which was centered 32 km from our house. The terrifying shaking lasted 40 seconds and brought down furniture, tv sets and crockery throughout the house.

4.35am As we were woken, the house (well, the whole region) was already shaking violently and we had to seek cover instantly - under the bed or a door frame. Then it was just a matter of living through it and hoping the house wouldn't collpase. It didn't. After 40 seconds of terror it gradually stopped shaking. It would appear later that the epicentre of the earthquake was within a few hundred meters of Charing Cross, a road intersection where not 2, but 4 roads cross. It was located between Darfield and the Burnham military camp, at a depth of 10km and 866 meters.
4.36am The lights were switched on and we checked that everybody (including the cat) was ok and we were all fine although Rylan started to shake heavily and had started to go into shock. After comforting him he was fine as well. Unlike most of the Canterbury region our house had power immediately after the earth had come to rest. We also had running water and we have gas bottles in the backyard anyway (no gas mains). All utilities were working.
4.38am Checked the bedrooms for damage and made sure they were now safe and secure with no broken glass or windows.
4.40am We made our way through the house checking the damage and found lots of it.
4.56am As we were getting the photo camera ready to start taking photos the first aftershock presented itself. It was a 5.6 tremor. Little did we know that more than 100 aftershocks would follow in the next 24 hours alone.
4.58am Continued a first assessment of the house before taking photos. Windows and doors all seemed ok. It looked like only damages to the house contents. Switched on the TV but the only live broadcast was actually a live press conference on Dutch TV (BVN) about the formation of the new government cabinet having failed.
5.06am The second aftershock - 4.7
5.13am Started taking photos of the mess while Ingrid listened for info on the radio. Click here for some of the photos and more info on the earthquake.
5.26am Aftershock 3 - 4.7.
5.38am - 6.33am All 10 aftershocks in these 55 minutes were stronger than 4.0
6.40am Made my way through the fallen books and CDs to the computer because in 5 minutes the first Dutch national soccer qualifying match (against San Marino) for the 2012 UEFA Championships would be broadcast live on the internet.
6.45am - 8.30am During the game also kept up-to-date with the news from the earthquake.
7.56am 21st aftershock - 5.2
This Saturday was spent cleaning up...
11.12am 35th aftershock - 5.3
As Prime Minister John Key visits the Christchurch city centre a fire breaks out in one of the buildings and it is aired live on TV as the PM and the mayor wait for the fire service to arrive to fight the blaze.
4.55pm 65th aftershock - 5.4