Reinstatement

One of the gifts I received for Christmas was 'The quake year' by Fiona Farrell.  I have started reading it, but often  put it aside as reading the stories stirs up memories and emotions.  I have another book about 22 February 2011, which I received at the beginning of the year, but I have yet to open it.  That book is mainly photographs of that day and the immediate time after.  I am still not ready for that book.

In the week before Christmas my insurance company kindly informed me my house is scheduled for "reinstatement" in April-June 2014.  "Reinstatement" being the term for either a rebuild or repair. This seems a lifetime away, but at least I now have a date to focus on.  At this stage I still do not know if the insurance company will repair or rebuild my house.  This "reinstatement" will take between 38 and 42 weeks depending on which path the insurance company takes.  Until then I will live in this house I have come to dislike to put it mildly.  At the time of the first quake in September 2010 we were redecorating and are now unable to complete this.  If we do our house will not be repaired or rebuilt.  As a result my house is a collage of partially redecorated rooms and earthquake damage. 

 If the house is repaired we will possibly sell up and move out of Christchurch.  A family member I spoke to on Christmas day was surprised by this as he sees the potential for added value to our property once the red zone houses on our doorstep are demolished, and the land along the Avon River possibly becomes a river park. Who knows what the time frame for this is and the wait may be a little too long for us. Many of those on the east side of Christchurch feel forgotten as plans for the "new" Christchurch appear to be concentrated on the CBD.  Personally, I realise that little can be done until most of the demolition of the residential areas have been completed, but it is hard to drive by overgrown sections, very sad looking houses and ugly riverbanks.

I don't like talking to people about my house as I sound negative, but I don't mean to be. I am only telling my story as it is.  It didn't help when I told said family member  I had suggested to my daughters they move overseas and maybe think of returning to Christchurch in 10-15 years.  They are young and the opportunities here are limited.  This is not only about job opportunities, but also the availability of social activities.  My daughters should be enjoying these years, not waiting for the rebuilt Christchurch to rise from the ashes, or to be more accurate from the dust and rubble.

On a positive note we moved my mother from her red zoned home at the end of October to a house in Parklands.  Her new house is more modern with a beautiful garden.  Mum's red zoned house has yet to be demolished.  It looks abandoned and without the very soul that made it a home.  Mum has yet to feel settled in her new house and has become very security conscious. In an attempt to start creating new memories for her we gathered at her house for an evening meal on Christmas day.  It was a lovely evening as we were able to sit outside on her patio to eat and enjoy each others company.

For some in Christchurch life has pretty much returned to normal, but others are living with their "new normal".  It doesn't stop us from having dreams and goals, but it does put some aspects of our lives on hold.  My mother is glad all the business dealing with insurance companies, CERA and lawyers is over for her, but finds it hard that her 3 daughters are not able to move on with their lives until their houses are repaired or rebuilt.  Although it took an earthquake to do it I am glad my mother is in a new house that requires little maintenance, is insulated, has a good floor plan and easy care grounds.  She would never have admitted it, because she never wanted to leave it, but her red zoned house was getting beyond her ability to care for it.  Given time this new house will eventually become her home.