Well, they aren't as pretty as a lot I've made, but are as close as I can get towards moving into 'revovery mode' (as opposed to rescue) OMG, what is going to happen to us? We are small and poor (rich country?--yrar. Right. The homes, OMG the homes! the Eastern (poorest suburbs) were hardest hit. The earthquake location was a random event, but the availability and distrubition of help was not random. However much the authorities deny it, the truth is, the poorest are the last to receive relief, especially help with sanitation. Suddenly, after much unedifying publicity, help is beginning to come in. Ohhhh how political it all is. Fanning out from the centre with door-to-door assessments is a patently flawed method. The poorest, as in New Orleans, are hardest hit{ there is more damage there, and fewer services. No running water, sanitation electricity, and certainly not landlines, so they can't use the 5000 donated analogue phones which work with landlines, because they don't have a connection. Those who can afford cell phones pay in advance as they are able to afford it.. Same with electricity; chargers for the phones without anywhere to plug them in???? All the emergency contact details are, of course, being broadcast--which is really useless,unless you've got a way of contacting or even HEARING ABOUT the impressive help that is available for those who know about it and are able to access it. FINALLY they are putting in mobile welfare vehicles, to reach as many as they can, but of course many suburban roads are impassable. In places it's a bloody shambles. A tent city to house around 400 is coming foom OZ Yes, our mates across the ditch are...worlds fail me. They have their field hospital operatig for a little longer. OZ: there are now words. I just hope there's a way of insulating the tents against the worst of the ice cold winter that is coming up too fast. 10s of thousands of chemical toilets are coming from Chine and the US (Oz's of course have arrived, as we are so much closer. We have Navy ships transporting chemical loos. Now how ironic is that! There has been a nass exodus from Chch, It seems everybody who can leave is leaving. This frees up scarce accommodation, but poses problems-- immediate problems for smaller cities in the South Island. These people are real heroes, like the Student army and the farmy army. Everybody working together have removed 120 000 tonnes of silt from suburban homes and properties. Enough, already. Anyway I'm a writer by trade, soooo, I weite. Things are changing, and we are despairing, faced with the gargantuan task ahead. It's too much for us alone. However, some teams will stay. The US leave in a few days. Or maybe it's only some of them. The UK is replacing some of their USR teams with victim identification experts. Every Kiwi is frightned and traumatised. That means all of us. Emorional, financial, spiritual. Last thing to mention in one of the 'most important churches in the Southern Hemisphere'. It's the large cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Wonderful architecture, and the most wonderful stained glass windows,sad Yes, the Anglican cathedral in the Swuare is the symbul of the city. The Catholic Cathedral is another extremewly important[' buildings that will be rebuilt. It won't be the same, of course. So, where are we at the moment. We are quietly desparing while also determined to do all that can be done. If it takes 50 or 100 years we will damnedwell do it!! Whew! Almost book!! I just haven't the energy or heart to do much commenting at the moment. I'm so sorry. I am looking, and leaving messages here and there. From my is-land of reality. Kia kaha be strong) to all Kiwis and those who are helping. We thank them