About

This blog has three main purposes:

  • to communicate our daily life to our family all over the world;
  • to explore the theme of Joy & Woe as expressed by William Blake in Auguries of Innocence;
  • to counterbalance the woe caused by the four large earthquakes and the 12,500 after shocks (to date) our city has experienced since the first big shake on  September 4, 2010.

(The earthquakes destroyed the centre of the city and damaged many many other properties in the suburbs. Although the big things have changed and continue to change, the little things prevail and bring joy.)

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201 thoughts on “About”

  1. Margaret

    Hi,
    Nice to meet you here via Linda’s blog The Task st Hand. I saw your comment titled gallavantin and was intrigued.
    Mum originated from Republic of Ireland, from a border village Pettigo in Co Donegal which borders Co Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. The term gallavantin is used on both sides of the border and refers to wandering or exploring.
    Mum always said, like my aunt I was a gallavanter.
    I hope to visit some of your posts.
    Take care
    Margaret

    Reply ↓
    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Nice to meet you Margaret. Gallivant was a term used quite often in my childhood home. I don’t know why. I have Scottish and English ancestry, way back!

      Reply ↓
      1. Margaret

        Yes, (sorry I don’t know your name) I think the word is used in both places as I follow another blog Glasgow Gallivanter.
        Thank you for your prompt response .

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  3. Sarah Russell

    Oh my goodness, I see you follow “I didn’t have my glasses on” too. What a small, small world! I’m so glad you picked up that brochure and found me!! Can’t wait to have time to read back over your posts.

    Reply ↓

  4. Pingback: Noah’s Ark: the Unicorn Song | Micheline's Blog

      1. Born To Organize

        I’ve been thinking of you all day. What devastating news. It’s seems unfathomable that an earthquake of this magnitude could strike Christchurch once again. Did you have to evacuate like Pauline? Sending my love and hope for calmer days ahead for all of you. xo Alys

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        1. Gallivanta Post author

          Thank you, Alys. We are okay here in Christchurch. Okay physically anyway. I am anxious about what may come next. We personally didn’t have to evacuate but some other friends in Christchurch were told to leave their homes temporarily. I hope Pauline is safely back home again.

        2. Born To Organize

          It’s the emotions that make it so difficult. I understand. Pauline made it back home, cold and tired, but okay. She managed some sleep. I hope she’ll post about her experience. I hope you will, too. I’m off to bed. It’s 10 pm here. I hope you have a decent night’s rest yourself when your head finally hits the pillow. Xo

        5. Gallivanta Post author

          The sun shines. Haven’t felt any shakes for a while. But I am TIRED. Our present govt, as much as I don’t like it, does know what to do in earthquake situations, so I have confidence the country will mend. 🙂

        6. Born To Organize

          I’m glad you can place confidence in your government. I feel like ours has been pulled out from under us, and we didn’t have an earthquake. I hope you can get some rest. I’m sure you’re exhausted. I’ve found that sleep, plenty of water and hot herbal tea work wonders. They don’t solve our problems, but they do make them easier to face.

        7. Gallivanta Post author

          Yes, I did notice I was lacking sleep and fluids. When I increased fluid intake I felt better. The earthquake areas have received help from the Canadian and US Navy. The photos of everyone working together to help NZ are very heart warming. Such kindness at work.

        8. Born To Organize

          It is wonderful to hear of the kindess at work. I’m glad you’re tuning in to your own needs and that the fluid intake and sleep or providing a bit of what you need. It will be a long time before you can ease your mind. Pauline was explaining the trauma of these recurring quakes, one after the other after the other. And with your daughter struggling and so far away. Oh, my heart goes out to you.

  6. Daal

    Earthquakes are something that leave their mark on psyche as well as physically. Here in Los Angeles we’re always waiting for ‘the big one’ that’s predicted to hit…

    Reply ↓
  9. Art and Soul Space

    Hello Gallivanta
    Thank you for following my blog. I am chuffed!
    And delighted to read your blog purposes.
    I admit to a bias towards Kiwis, though I am Sydney born and bred.
    Managed a little holiday around Lake Wakatipu this year. Spectacular.
    all the best for your ongoing earthquake recovery journey. How incredibly challenging.

    Reply ↓
    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thank you! I have lots of rellies across the ditch, so I am glad we are good neighbours. 🙂 I think Aussies and Kiwis tend to take that neighbourliness for granted, but we are very lucky to have it. So many countries are at war or in conflict with their neighbours.

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    2. Michael Abrahams

      Dear Gallivanta, you can imagine how thrilled I was to see the photo of the LES (Drasa Avenue) Ist XV, which by my estimate is 1959/60. I’m the first person from left to right in the front row, two away from Scott – I also recognise Kevin Beat and William King (deceased) and someone by the name of Davidson, although his first name escapes me at the moment. If you have any further information about the photo or can put me in touch with your brother that would be appreciated. My family also attended St Peters Anglican Church in the days of the the Rev. Burgess, prior to moving to Labasa. I remember the especially the Robley stained glass windows behind the altar. You have a very beautiful and inspirational website. Kind regards, Michael (Abrahams)

      Reply ↓
      1. Gallivanta Post author

        Hi Michael,
        Sorry for taking so long to reply. I have been visiting the family in Cairns and offline most of the time. What fun that you recognised the LES photo. I think it came to me via David Skeoch. You may remember the Skeoch family. If you would like to email me at kaahend@gmail.com I will send you details for Scott. I am also in touch with one of the Davidsons, the Lums and some of the Stuarts. Great to be in touch.

        Reply ↓
  12. Jill's Scene

    Ah, another Kiwi! I was last in Christchurch in 2012, visiting my husband’s aunt … the little things, if they are indeed little, such as kindness and support and day to day routines, they do prevail and bring joy.

    Reply ↓
    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Kia Ora, fellow Kiwi. The little things seem more important than ever down here. We are looking slightly better than in 2012 but with a few slight earthquakes recently, our nerves have tensed again. I hope your husband’s aunt is faring well.

      Reply ↓
      1. Jill's Scene

        Yes, I’d heard there had been some more shakes recently. Our aunt seems to cope very well, although O think those big quakes were very difficult for her and her family. Fortunately, her house has been repaired, now.

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  13. Fabio

    Stay strong in Christchurch, Gallivanta! Our second son lives in Nelson. We had a chance to visit your beautiful and well-organized country. Take care!

    Reply ↓
      1. Fabio

        He really likes Nelson, but he does not have much time to appreciate the beautiful nature. He is a doctor at the local hospital and he works long hours.

        Reply ↓
  16. Karin Van den Bergh

    Hi Gallivante (I love the name!). I have come to know you through Britt Skrabanek’s blog. I really enjoyed the colourful sheep blog 🙂 and will take some time to explore your site some more. It’s looks inviting with inspiring topics and beautiful pictures.

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thank you. And through your blog I found Milkmaid, another Christchurch blogger. The connections we make across the internet intrigue and delight me. 🙂

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  21. Leya

    Good day Amanda, I want to invite you to go on a journey with me and other bloggers. I am going to do the post on Monday the 11th August and I want you to join the journey on Monday the 25th August. http://irisgreenwald.wordpress.com/ Iris started the journey and now I’ve been invited by Scrapydo at http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/ ! This journey is only in its baby shoes, but I think reading about how others work will be interesting! There are four questions to answer with photo or what ever you want. If you accept this invitation I’ll send all the information. Hope you want to join if you haven’t done this already! There’s not much work…otherwise I couldn’t have joined it…

    Reply ↓
    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Ann-Christine, thanks for thinking of me but I still haven’t finished a journey that I began with another blogger.:( So I think I better decline your invitation. I am quite hopeless with these things. However, I did check both links and it has been good to meet Ineke at Scrapydo. She has a Schnauzer just like mine. 🙂

      Reply ↓
      1. Leya

        Thank you anyway – I understand…I’m hopeless too with these things, but thought I would choose interesting and different people with different interests. Have a great week!

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  22. Boomdeeadda

    Ahhhh, yes here you are. Also from New Zealand, how wonderful. I’m sorry there was so much devastation in your community, very unsettling to wonder what the next moment will bring with so many aftershocks. It’s a wonder how people pick up the pieces and move forward after these disasters. As they say, time stands still for no one. I hope your blogging is as much a joy in your life as it is mine. Will hang round to snoop now…cause that’s what I do best…hehe. Boomdee

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      You are most welcome Boomdee. I am not a crafter or artist but I admire all of you who are. 🙂 Art and craft have been vital elements in our city’s recovery.

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  23. sheridegrom - From the literary and legislative trenches.

    Gallivanta – I’ve been tagged to participate in a blog tour and I would love to tag you. My blog tour would be published Monday, June 2nd and your blog tour would follow 7 days later. I’ve located some really interesting individuals be following the nominees of a blogger I have high regard for. The blog itself is a matter of posting the answers to four questions about your writing process and nominating 3 other bloggers. This is not an award. I do hope you are able to participate. I look forward to hearing from you.

    Reply ↓
      1. sheridegrom - From the literary and legislative trenches.

        Gallivanta – I’m so pleased. Watch me dance and whirl. You are the first person that came to mind when I was tagged and thinking about who I’d like to connect to the blog tour.
        Would you like for me to post the 4 questions and other information here in your about page or do you have an e-mail where I could send the info.
        I have no problem posting the info here, if you like and then if you wanted you could just delete the instructions after. It’s your choice.

        Reply ↓
  25. Hemingway and Shakespeare

    Thank you for finding our blog and liking it. We showed your blog to Mom and she said it is amazing. You really have some beautiful flowers. Mom wishes she could have bouquets in the house, but we tend to tip the vases over and pull the flowers out so she’s given up. She said she can enjoy all the flowers that you show!

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Are you very fond of the cat mint in the vases then? I have seen your feline friends tip over vases just to get a closer sniff at the flowers. They didn’t mean to tip over the vases, of course.

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  26. Baz - The Landy

    Christchurch, and importantly the people who live there touched me in a way I not thought possible.

    In 2012 I did the Coast to Coast, it was a real challenge for me, I wasn’t fast, in fact quite slow, but as I rode that final leg through the city towards Sumner Beach, my eyes welled with tears, not for what I had achieved, although I was proud of the achievement, but for the people who cheered as I passed. The wonderful people of Christchurch supported me with cries of “good on ya mate” as I passed, I was humbled.

    Never have I felt so welcomed, and despite the hardships they faced, the people of Christchurch looked beyond there own suffering to support someone like me in what many might argue is a selfish pursuit!

    I will never forget those moments, and the wonderful people of Christchurch! 🙂

    Reply ↓
    1. Gallivanta Post author

      How lovely. If I had known you were there, I would have come out to wave too. The continuation of the Coast to Coast run and other such events are important to give us all a sense of hope and normalcy.

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