New beginnings

[rumpelsnorcack]

I went to my local mall today!  \o/  I understand that for normal people that isn't really something to celebrate, but in a place that has had a major dearth of local shops to go to it's rather exciting.  It was good - got two necessary errands done and managed to frivolously spend money in my favourite clothing shop as well.  It hadn't been on the list of shops either opening today or to reopen in the future so I assumed it had closed totally.  Thankfully not :D

Sadly, there are rumours following the opening that it's unsafe - that contractors refused to work there, that builders walked off the site, that they did shoddy refitting etc etc (so that took 6 months because ... they were pretending to fix it up? I dunno).  People kept saying things like 'OMG take a hard hat!' and 'You wouldn't get me going in there' when I told them I was heading along there today.  I have spent the day explaining that, whatever they feel, I can't sit at home too scared to go anywhere just because places might fall down in a shake.  My house might fall down in another one - that doesn't mean I'm shifting into a tent.  The way I figure it, if something happens it happens.  There's nothing I can do about it except deal with whatever appears when it appears.  So ... they can stay away and I'll keep going along when I want to get something.  It's closer and/or nicer than most of the other shopping centres that are left.

Also YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY word just out that all beaches are fine to use from the weekend.  Yay! Just in time for summer swimming :D  The rivers and the estuary are all still off limits but since I don't fish that means very little to me.  This is a very good thing! Now all we need to do is get the chlorine out of our drinking water and things will be looking much brighter :D

As expected the Rugby World Cup, which starts tomorrow, is driving me batty.  It isn't on yet and I am already SO over it.  I am thankful, unlike a lot of the city, that we had all our games removed.  I understand that many people think of rugby almost as a religion here, but watching the rest of the country getting all silly about it just makes me happy that I don't have to deal with in in my daily life even if it has taken over the TV and internet waves.  The only sad thing really is that all the tourists here are landing, getting campervans and heading right out of the city.  It would be nice if they stuck around and saw the bits of the city that are still (or again) operating perfectly.  But that's a small niggle.  Overall I'm just really happy to be avoiding the chaos.

And finally, those who have been harassing me to go get counseling can stop now :) I have talked to someone today so things are underway.  The whole idea still freaks me out, but I'm doing it :)

Comments

[avron]

Not that I'm a good person to emulate, I'd have no problem going into the tall buildings left in the central city, but you're right about not being able to stay at home forever.
I am looking forward to four things over the next four months, one is the end of October so the Rugby is finished and I won't need to hear about it any more. I'd rather the games had been shifted for another reason, but the fact they're gone is good in my opinion as well.

[rumpelsnorcack.livejournal.com]

Haha, well I wouldn't go into, say, the Grand Chancellor but yeah the normal, leftover buildings I'd go into. But then I wasn't in there. I didn't see them moving around and collapsing so maybe I have a slightly different view than most people.

Yes, roll on the end of October! I can't wait for it all to be over. I have friends who have gone overseas for 6 weeks simply to avoid it and I kind of wish I could afford to do the same.

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

Good for you for getting out and refusing to live your life in fear! I'm glad you enjoyed the mall and your favorite clothing store. Have fun when you get to go to the beach, too! *HUGS*

[rumpelsnorcack.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

It feels stupid to be excited about shops, lol, but it's amazing what living with nothing for a few months will do your perspective on what's exciting :D It's still a bit too cold for the beach but it's nice to know that when it's warm enough we'll be able to go back down there. With no swimming pools around this area anymore I suspect the sea will be utilised heavily.

[promethia_tenk]

Shopping \o/ On DW this week when Rory was going on about how you never miss lights until you don't have them, all I could think about was you saying that about so many things you've had to do without in the wake of the quakes . . . Good for you for getting out and about in the face of the nay-sayers, though!

Ugh . . . sports. Yes, if I could banish sports mania I would : P

[rumpelsnorcack.livejournal.com]

Heh, when Rory was saying that my mind immediately went to 'but when you lose the lights you can see the stars' as it was the number one thing that struck me during the 'no power' phases of things - the stars really are amazing when you get to see them. But yes things you take for granted do take on a whole new meaning when they just aren't a flick of a switch away.

*waves placard* 'down with sports mania' etc etc. People at school today were all 'you going to watch the rugby tonight?' and really ... no. The attitude was a bit *blink* 'really? wow'