Tuesday Stack - Red and Black for Christchurch

Today's stack is based on remembering the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011.  

I did not experience the earthquake first hand, but Christchurch is where I grew up and I still have strong links to the city through family, friends and my personal history.  Although the earthquake was three years ago the effects of it are still and well and truly going on.  Christchurch is a city re-building in many ways.

In our family there is a saying you can take the girl (or boy) out of Canterbury but you can't take Canterbury out of the girl (or boy).  That is why although Wellington is now home Mr Stitchbird and I still support the Crusaders and feel a strong link to our home town.

So it was only appropriate that we chose red and black this week...

Ditsy Floral Grey from Camelot Fabrics

Sketch Dot Grey from Timeless Treasures

Garden Pindot Red from Robert Kaufman

Stripe Black from Riley Blake

Jax Red from Kanvas

Just My Type Keys by Patty Young for Michael Miller

Modern Black by Robin Zingone for Robert Kaufman

Just My Type Crossgrain by Patty Young for Michael Miller

Kia Kaha Christchurch

Christchurch - there just aren't the words

I start this post barely knowing what to say, words seem inadequate. 

My home town and many of my family and friends have suffered in the worst way possible. 

We are lucky in that all my family are alive. 

My heart goes out to those who have been less fortunate or who are waiting to hear about their loved ones.

I find myself losing myself to the TV coverage - hating watching, but unable to turn away, waiting for glimpses of familiar places, people I know.  This blog post has no photos - I could not go there.

What to do?

Give - there are a number of agencies collecting donations - Red Cross, Westpac.

Wellington City Mission is collecting clothes for those that find themselves without any.

Resene is collecting cans of food.

Calls have gone out to provide beds for those escaping Christchurch and have no place to stay.

All these things we can do, but is seems so little.

I wish I could have you all at my house, give you a big hug, a cup of tea and some respite from what you are living through.

Be safe
Kia Kaha
Arohanui to all

Aroha to everyone in Christchurch

Christchurch is my hometown and at 4.35 am this morning it was struck by a 7.2 earthquake.  My family is all ok and so far there appears to have been no fatalities.  Thank God it happened in the middle of the night. 

I know of one person who has lost there home and a cousin's dog was crushed by a boulder.  I am sure there will be a lot of stories that come out over the next few days.  I can't believe the photos, the video footage, the devastation - surely it is somewhere else.

Below is a link of one video of some of the destruction. This is not far from where we used to live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HTySEWxbmc

To all my whanau, friends and everyone else in Christchurch our thoughts are with you - stay safe.