Ferrymead TC3 Silence is NOT Golden!

UPDATE Nov 2012:

The below was something I wrote one night when life just seemed to have no light at the end of the tunnel. This has not changed, so thought I would publish it still.

Since the below was written I have had 'official' CPT drilling done carried out on behalf of my Insurer they said. The guys couldn't answer my question on who did the prior drilling. This was approx 24th Oct, and they said to check with Project Manager in about 6-8 weeks (There goes Xmas)

A couple of weeks ago I received the EQC land damage report, or should I  rephrase that to 'The report I could have written myself'. It stated in hand written lingo that the 'Entire site is damaged'. Well that's about it, no costings, only words stating more assessment required.

Man am I frustrated. Just read about the man who was going to douse himself on fire, just to get his payout http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10847689 - I fully understand his frustrations.

This morning after cleaning out the fans in my boys computer (silt inside), I had nearly forgotten that the man hole to under the house is in his room, and maybe this is contributing to his higher than normal bouts of sickness? (contaminated silt pores)

I rang my Insurer again to see what the heck was going on, well nice of them to tell me:

1. Since the DRA report and my signing an agreement to rebuild onsite, they had to re-cost it, due to missing my two broken chimneys and the Greenhouse. Crap how'd ya think that happened. And seems they only added on $4,000 to the payout possible total. (Last I read either EQC/Insurer ahd stated just the two chimneys were approx $30,000 for reinstatement. I'm guessing the balance goes towards their Xmas party this year.
2. There are approx 10 issues with my settlement regarding apportionment, land, and god knows what else.
3. I need to contact my Project Manager to see how things are going (This will be my fourth change in PM, yet haven't progressed since 2011????)

So to cut the long winded story down, no progress!

After reading the article on 'Charging customers for any extra damage that occurs over the time' I am at a #$%^&*( loss as to where humanity jumped out the window!

Here I sit on the weekend of Canterbury Anniversary day, doing what?, looking up properties, thinking of ways to find money to buy another while waiting, contemplating going out bush, running away, just doing bloody something, as the thought of sitting here till 2014 for any progress is really getting to the end of my tether!!!!

Insurance companies, CHCH will never trust in you again! You even had one over me when I was being the good Samaritan and providing Insurancewatch.org.nz with some ICNEWS.

Aug-Sept sometime:
 I thought it was about time I kept my diary of NO UPDATES updated for future reference. Its been a while so I warn ya now, you will fall asleep from my blabbering

My last Post in June mentioned that some unknown 'fraction' was on my property for GeoTech drilling. I only knew this when my son messaged me at work, then coming home I seen the signs of the traction marks on the driveway and the lawn. A bit of one of the concrete slabs was cracked, and two of my flowering trees branches cut to head level along ther driveway to make room for one of the drilling areas. The cut off branches were struffed a little further along the garden under other bush, and still sit there now as dead branches.

The holes that were drilled: two in this area, three in the front lawn, and so many in the back of the property.

Today, being the two year anniversary of 'The day that changed Cantabs lives', Sept 4th 2012, and the boreholes are still there. One has opened up, while the others you can look down and see the water table. One lot are in the exact place where the drive way is sinking to the left even more so.

I am sure that if a Borehole drilling is conducted, or a CPT test Drilling is undertaken, the holes are to be filled in within a set time frame.(Dont think I read anywhere that the holes are left to fill themselves).

If I had a toddler in the house I would be concerned with them going on the lawn, as it is a treasure of holes, and has the feeling of walking on sponge.

Still Insurance deny it was them who did the testing when asked, and ringing EQC straight after met with the same response. I have no words to describe how they can say 'We have no idea', its something that I cant comprehend. They obviously arent interested in my wanting to speed things up by going with an easier option for Insurance, as no communications ever since they last couldnt give me any hope - ummm losing track of time, but my other post should give me the dates for records sake.

Coming home each night is still the same ritual, slowly drive up so far, very weary of any visiable changes in the damage, and checking the mailbox for any letter from anyone to give me just the slightest clue to what is happening with my home/property, or what progress is being made, or just a confirmation of who did the drilling.............or.............or..................or........but a BIG FAT Silence!

I was shocked to receive a letter from CERA last Friday, with my name on it this time, instead of 'To the householder'. I realised then, maybe I still have a bit of hope left in me, but it was just to apologise for delays and for no confirmation on apportionment. The start of one of the sentences was amusing. Instead of the usual professional 'We are doing our best..............', it started 'I am doing my best.............' Maybe someones bright thought that it may give it a more personal touch, but it just made me feel like I was being contradicted and to stay in Kindy.

Side note:Two weeks ago I came home and my fence was tagged, suppose they thought why not add to the look. But a big thank you to whoever painted over the tagging, an angel.

In sync with exactly two years ago I was up at 4:35am getting ready to get to the airport for a meeting in Auckland for work, and clearly remember those same hours in 2010. After the big one hit, for some crazy reason, after checking my son was ok, I jumped in my Falcon to pick up a workmate who lived closeby to get to our work building in Barbadoes st. Getting to his house I had to avoid dangers and people on the road signalling where not go drive with bricks falling, no power, dark as, and a surreal blankness and sirens heard from all directions. (Little did we even think that this would be the last time we could get into the area before the army came in and sealed the red zone off and could not return to get our possessions)

When I picked up my mate we were sitting at the Ferry Rd/Aldwins Rd lights and watched as convoys of cars were going in the same direction towards the hills (Did they know something we didnt)......................This day changed our lives, little did we know think that by Dec 2012 there would still be no family Christmas dinner in our home. Last Christmas day to me was only the 24th Dec, no special day, infact I finally got to say to myself, Christmas is cancelled in my eyes.

Last night(Monday)I only slept two hours and had to get up at 4am for the airport, I was restless, and a blank feeling deep within me wondering when life will be real. How things have changed and how I have changed............................

With gratitude to the Avonside blog who provide support to Avonside area and others by keeping an uptodate informed Blog, I received an email update that Campbell LIVE was in Ferrymead/Brookhaven today and was airing tonight. When I was waiting at the airport to fly back home my mum text me to say that Campbell LIVE was showing some more houses that were onhold. Arghh I was just jumping a plane so couldnt watch it live.

Mum had text me Monday night to say that Campbell LIVE was interviewing those affected in Kaiapoi, and it disturbed her as she thinks that our house is worse off than some shown(There are people much worse than us so I prefer not to even type it).

I turned on the TV soon as I got back from Auckland, but only caught the last 15 minutes. This short time was hard, hearing their comments, seeing their will tiring and hope diminishing, and it is close to the heart in such a way that I often avoid watching these interviews or programs on the quakes. But to cry will only make ones eyes red and more tired looking and only the spirits will hear you.Tears are not on my list, the SILENCE is the built up wall, for the fear of giving in.

It was a good feeling watching Campbell LIVE online, it showed me that the comraldry support was still there. David Stringer, CEO for our areas Ferrymead-Brookhaven Residents Association, and 'threw in his job' to be part of Insurancewatch.org.nz for no pay people supporter/helper and representative was being interviewed and showed one of the houses in the Block. This was regarding AIG, but to me it was his representation as a whole for us, and it reminded me of the feeling I first felt when David offered his support.(Over the last year and a half David had given me words of hope and strength and guidance in different Insurance/EQC etc areas) And he had to put up with my outbursts at the Community meetings, which he did politely. Thank you David for being our voice. This is what made me get my A into G to post on my blog, so I can refer back to it as I know that day will one day come when I need to prove Im not the guilty one.

At this time of year people are happy that summer is coming, but it only brings me the reminder of the germs around here, and how I changed, wearing clothing that covers all parts of my body, plus hat and gloves just to go outside. with the way things have been, my phobia with spiders and bees is far worse than it ever was, and with all the bites, and skin conditions that was happening, summer is something Im not looking forward to. And recently I have been sick again, different things one after the other, or at a time, which this time may have been helped by some bite, so here I am back again doing the same thing and spraying vinegar everywhere to kill any crawling thing, and standing outside spraying any plant I can. Like a person hellbent on destroying what scared them I am fighting a losing battle, espcially trying to spray trees with flowers so I can at least walk up my drive without fear of a bee coming near me or spiders and mosquitos, fleas or rats hiding in the shrubbery. Three years ago I would have done what a normal person does and got out my saw and hedge cutter, but I cant seem to force myself near any bushes or flowers, let alone out the back of my house past our 'now dead' fish pond. The way I react now is what some would look at as weird, silly or just plain outrageous, and I too are aware of this, but it still cant make me relax at home or enjoy each day on my property.

I realise I don't want to be around what few rose bushes are now left around here, venture out past the grss verge out back, or be near any trees, plants, or even sit on the lawn, and was going to put a sign up 'Trees/Plants' free to take away at your own digging. What a sad end to a once award winning garden, one that neighbours would often stop and look over the fence at the roses. I got mum to come around and grab a few that she wanted, and if time allows will see a few neighbours as they are the ones I would like to see have something that no longer belongs with me and will be looked after by them. I also realised that a sign may attract some unwanted visitors on the property. I just want to have less fear of being out there before summer gets here, so this Saturday, the left standing trellis fences around the pathways in the backyard and a couple of trees will no longer represent the place as it was when I bought it, but will be the shell of our lives. I know some will scream no dont do that, but I see no other way. Of course the trees will be offered to the people in Charlesworth st, where David is near, for 'Saving/growing trees/Trees for Canterbury'.

I have no fear of hard work and prefer to do things myself, but it is a mental thing I cant shake, I cant handle being near these plants now. This is so frustrating as there is so much to do out there, and can be such a beautiful garden (Will put up a pic of how the garden used to look later this week).I feel as useful as a cigarette with no lighter. 'So much to do' funny, so much to do for what, to be ready for what will be undone. Don't junk mail people realise that the mailers only remind me of what I could have.

It doesnt help that the bloody annoying wining Tom cat that has been keeping us awake and terrorising our cats gets under the house through the broken foundations, and has me out half naked early hours of the morning trying to water it, scare it, and last ditch efforts to scare it with the noise of a beebee gun being fired into the air. Buggar I was so mad last time I broke the gun when trying to recoil it. The Devil cat sometimes just sits there and does the tomcat MEOWWWWW to nothing, and as it does this it does some strange movements with its mouth, making the meow drone of a tommy even more screeching and unbearable. Ahha maybe he rose from the liquefaction.

Last thing I want this year is what was under the house dead last year and attracted hundreds of blow flies (in one of my other blogs/posts) Don't really want to bubble wrap the broken vent openings to stop it going under there, and to stop my cats being in the contamination under there then coming inside, it would only further add to the dampness and germs that sit there. I know there would be other options, but what excitement can one bear for doing something not so haphazard knowing it is only 'for now' fix, and wont give the ring foundation the strength it no longer has.

I spotted a crack that had only been a hairline fracture a little while ago, now being accompanied by newly formed small cracks, clearly showing the stress of the load that it cannot sustain,opening up the corners of the weatherboards more. It reminded me of a person trying to do the splits, but unable to fully do this, holding the position under strain. Looking to the front of the house, the open vent under my bedroom window is now showing one of the long beams that run along the top of a row of piles has come off its resting place along the foundation ring and can clearly be seen now. Yet the shakes lately are fewer than they have been for two years, which shows the ground subsidence is still hiding in the shadows, bearing more pressure on the ring foundations which are desperately trying to hold out.

My sons condition is even worse than it was 6 months ago so he cannot see what I see, so it makes it more of a priority that I am vigilant for him. Impressively one of the walls is still just hanging in there, and has been just hanging in since the Feb quake. Same with the heated lighting unit hanging by a spot of loose gib from the bathroom ceiling since the Sept quake. They are yelling, 'No, no, I won't let go'. I am surprised it has lasted this long. Some other cracks have become worse in the meantime, especially by the kitchen. Bloody annoying with plaster bits making mess on the carpet. There are a few places I watch more closely than others due to various reasons.

And here I was beginning of the year sitting on my bed looking into the wardrobe mirror at the window behind me, thinking huh? Is that how things normally look reflected in a mirror?

Besides everything written here, on a more lighter side, a scary thought for me is being in the shower, and the tray and piping collapses due to weakness under the house, I fall straight through the floor to the spooky underworld of germs and OMG spiders. Under the house is like another world, and as I advised all women on one of my first Posts/Blogs, NEVER EVER TAKE PICS OF UNDER THE HOUSE, YOU WILL NEVER THINK OF YOUR HOUSE THE SAME AGAIN :)

My sons Kerataconus has accelerated this year and finally our second visit to the Specialist at the Hospital tomorrow, then hopefully not too long a wait for a suitable donor. Won't go into this anymore for reasons, but I must mention/record, I feel that the last 1 1/2years have been a contributing factor to some extent, whether the eccelerant or the leading lead up cause...............I read a heap of info on this from Wikapaedia as it was much thorough than the kerataconus web sites and learnt quite a lot more................

This sounds like Dejavu from my other blogs, where life is at here is:

* No communications from EQC on my last Claim from June 2011 or any other progress
* No apportionment advisement from EQC
* Temp fix on drain pipes, with bits of material contractors found on the property to cover the area, is not something that makes you want to have visitors see, so no girls catchup/Drinks/mates funny weekends for while :)   (Shit no hangover for over a year and a half or so)
* Both EQC and Insurance won't admit to being the ones who conducted Geotech drilling on the property so many months ago, leaving the holes exposed (No letter from CERA either)
* Nearly a year later, first contact from CERA actually addressed to my name instead of 'To the householder' to only inform me they are trying to do their best.

So late, will finish this tomorrow night...........Sleep tight to those out there,felt the shake before around about 1:40am, which is the first for a few days! xxx