"Fireworks, Fun & Walking..."

1. New Brighton Fireworks....

Guy Fawkes Day 2013 we decided to trip it out to New Brighton to see the fireworks display that the Christchurch City Council put on each year. It was themed this year '50 years of Bond Theme Songs'. It was pulled of rather well - the firework bangs went off in time to the music. It wasn't too bad getting out there & didn't take too long to find a park. We got there in plenty of time & there were people all over the place.

It was a lovely night. After it finished though, came the trying part. We had decided to get to the car & just sit and wait for the traffic to die down before attempting to leave for home. We sat in our parked car for an hour before attempting the drive home. Once we got out of the side street it was fairly straightforward in getting home, thankfully.

The sad part of the evening though is driving through the eastern suburbs & seeing how they now are more than two & a half years after the February Quake. There are many many many homes gone, land just left to grow grass, yet many many many homes still standing, waiting on EQC & insurance. I firmly believe that Christchurch has been ripped off by EQC & insurance companies who aren't honouring the contracts that people have been paying for. I do not think the government has done anything to help this mess, only worsen it. And people who have claimed for damage of things that was not damaged by either or any earthquakes are pretty much just as bad. I really feel for those who are STILL fighting for their rights under the agreements after more than 3 years since the September 2010 quake. It is NOT on!!!

2. Fun....

Last Saturday my package from Amazon.com arrived & I felt like I was 13 again!! Can you imagine why?? I'll tell you. In this package (which the estimated delivery date was up until 5 December) was the new Backstreet Boys Album "In a World Like This" - it is fantastic & takes me back nearly 20 years. Plus it also contained Nick Carter's Autobiography - "Facing the Music & Living to Talk About It". And Yes I have started to read it (meaning I'm now in the process of reading 4 books at once). We were headed out when we saw the packaged in the mail box. My husband wouldn't stop the car so when it was slow I put on the handbrake and rushed over to get it, ripped it open & immediately put the CD on - I was transported back to my teens, it was great, it is great, will continue to be great. With the husband working tomorrow morning I will just have to do the house work with it on UP LOUD!!!!

I look forward to finishing off the book & listening to this fantastic album over & over & over again - until I know all lyrics by heart no doubt.

Love It!!!

3. A Walk Through Town...

It is a long weekend for those of us in Canterbury, NZ - known here as Show Day/Anniversary Day. Thinking/believing the weather was going to get to 21 degrees, we decided to walk into town for lunch & wonder round to see what was happening. However the wind was a nor-easter which called things down immensely. But we still headed through the park to town. Had delicious kebabs from Demetri's for lunch sitting by the Avon, with construction for 'The Terrace - the new Strip' behind us. It looks interesting and promising.

Oxford Terrace - formerly 'The Strip'

Broken Windows in a Building where only birds accommodate

Cnr Oxford Terrace & Worcester Street - Cathedral in back

New Regent Street upper storey of the buildings

And then we finished the afternoon off with fresh, warm Mrs Higgin's cookies for afternoon tea, before heading back through the other side of the park for home.