Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Update

Thank you for all your messages yesterday. They were very much appreciated. Joe called this morning and he is okay. He was with his friend doing the cleaning in his hostel when the earthquake struck. The building had started to collapse so they got out quickly into the square past the cathedral as it too was collapsing. We spotted them both on the BBC news last night which seemed slighty surreal. They were ushered to the main evacuation area where a local couple offered them somewhere to stay so they had a bed for the night and breakfast this morning. They have lost all their belongings. He only has the clothes he was wearing - no passport, no wallet, nothing. But we know he was one of the lucky ones - he's alive and unhurt - everything else can be sorted. I can't imagine how awful it must be for others.

He has no plans to come home - he figures there will be work to be done in Christchurch in the coming months. I'm just happy that he's safe. The relief feels exhausting.
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37 comments:

  1. busybusybeejay23 February 2011 at 17:17

    How lucky was that!You must be so relieved and it is great that he is staying behind to help.

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  2. LOVE STITCHING RED23 February 2011 at 17:29

    Gina what a huge relief for you. I am so pleased to hear this good news. What a terrible worry for you and your family. Hope all will work out for them. Thinking of you x

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  3. Heather23 February 2011 at 17:36

    What a heartwarming picture Gina. I can only try to imagine how weak with relief you and your husband must be. Everyone out there must be trying to function in a state of shock.

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  4. Diane Kelsey23 February 2011 at 17:45

    Wow, what a story to have lived through. He sounds like a lovely person and I'm sure he will enjoy the challenge of the months ahead. You must be so relieved!

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  5. Sandra Scott Textile Artist23 February 2011 at 17:45

    Glad that Joe is safe and well, I can only imagine the relief and happiness you felt when you found out he was ok.

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  6. Thimbleanna23 February 2011 at 18:10

    Wow Gina -- I didn't realize he was in NZ! Your post brought tears to my eyes -- I just can't imagine the relief you're feeling!

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  7. fabriquefantastique23 February 2011 at 18:12

    Oh, thank goodness...and what a great pic. Hope the passport etc is fairly easy to sort out.

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  8. JuliaB23 February 2011 at 18:27

    Thank goodness he's safe Gina! We have friends there, who are also ok thankfully .. It is lovely that he wants to stay and help. It must have been a relief to see him on TV even if surreal! x

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  9. Stephanie Pettengell23 February 2011 at 18:30

    So pleased he is safe,he certainly will have tales to tell when he does return.

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  10. Fi23 February 2011 at 18:32

    Phew. What a relief. Mother's worst nightmare.

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  11. Anonymous23 February 2011 at 18:56

    So pleased to learn that they are safe and well and that they want to stay on and help. You must be feeling weak with relief.

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  12. JP23 February 2011 at 19:56

    Gina so glad all is well - do you ever stop worrying about your children i wonder?!

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  13. PinkCatJo23 February 2011 at 20:10

    What luck! I can't imagine how relieved you must be feeling. x

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  14. Mermaid's Purse23 February 2011 at 20:17

    What a huge relief for you all ........... glad they're ok x

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  15. greenrabbitdesigns23 February 2011 at 20:18

    The relief you must feel Gina!!!
    I'm so glad your son is ok and like you say the material things can all be replaced.
    Vivienne x

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  16. Scented Sweetpeas23 February 2011 at 20:45

    Goodness me, how scary, so glad he is alive and well . xxx

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  17. Carol Q23 February 2011 at 21:04

    lord - must be difficult to let him stay out there after all that Gina (not that you could force him to return home lol) he certainly doesn't look any the worse for wear.

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  18. Julie23 February 2011 at 22:19

    very strange to have seen Joe on TV but so wonderful that he got out unscathed. You need to take a little time to yourself to get over your own shock. Joe looks happy and it's good that he feels he can help out there. I know you will be very proud of him when you get over the shock. :) xxx

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  19. Downunderdale23 February 2011 at 22:29

    the best news Gina...

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  20. Annie23 February 2011 at 22:47

    Gina, your son is just amazing!
    So glad to hear he is safe.
    You must have been frantic.

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  21. dottycookie23 February 2011 at 23:27

    Thank goodness he's OK! And the fact he wants to stay and help speaks volumes for the way you've raised such a generous young man.

    So, how many minutes will you allow him to hang onto his passport when he returns home?

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  22. Quinn23 February 2011 at 23:31

    Good gracious, what a relief that must be for you and your husband! Cannot imagine seeing one's own on the news after such an event. Whew.

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  23. alice c23 February 2011 at 23:53

    It seems that Joe has a genuine excuse for losing his credit card this time...

    So very, very glad to hear that he is safe.

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  24. Kitty24 February 2011 at 08:50

    What a worry it must have been for you, Gina. I'm so glad Joe is safe. Hopefully the British Embassy can help him replace his passport, etc. I have a friend who lives in Canterbury, NZ ... she has lost her home for the second time in less than 6 months. It's awful, isn't it?

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  25. pam24 February 2011 at 09:24

    Oh goodness what a close shave - he looks super and seems very relaxed about it all - I bet you are still trying to get over the worry of not knowing what was happening. It will take time to sort everything bless him - all those poor people who have lost their homes and livelihoods let alone loved ones does not bear thinking about. Quite sobering really.

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  26. Patchwork Linda24 February 2011 at 14:25

    Lovely to hear such good news, after such a shock you should sit down, eat cake and sew to calm yourself down. Well that's what I would do.

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  27. wonderwoman24 February 2011 at 19:59

    am so glad that he's safe and well, and so relieved for you all. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and for some reason the first thing i thought of was the woman who was trapped in her office under her desk and how horrendous it all is. Have since found out that she is one of the lucky ones but my heart goes out to those families who have lost their loved ones.

    xxx

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  28. Lesley Turner24 February 2011 at 22:44

    so pleased to hear Jo is safe and well. i have a nephew who was attending his 1st lectures at university when the quake struck. he is fine but probably doesn't have a good impression of university life.

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  29. silverpebble24 February 2011 at 22:58

    Oh my goodness Gina - so sorry to have missed this. What a rollercoaster for you. Hope you're OK x

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  30. Unknown25 February 2011 at 00:09

    so happy to hear he is safe and strong.

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  31. Jude25 February 2011 at 09:25

    I'm so happy for you and my heart goes out to all of Christchurch.
    Take care

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  32. Locket Pocket25 February 2011 at 10:04

    Oh Gina! How terrifying, but thank goodness he is ok. Lucy xxx

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  33. Iz25 February 2011 at 17:41

    So glad for you that he's safe and well. All best wishes, Iz

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  34. Tracey Petersen26 February 2011 at 13:49

    Goodness me! I'm very pleased that he is safe and well and that he has such a resilient attitude.

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  35. kat27 February 2011 at 17:52

    Like a flood I should think, overwhelming - glad for you

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  36. Jackie1 March 2011 at 11:29

    What a worry and what a relief. I'm so happy for you but so sad for the others.

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  37. Judy Martin1 March 2011 at 14:29

    Good Grief Gina!!

    I don't know how you managed to stay sane . Am so glad to hear that Joe is all right, and am also glad to hear that he plans to help out in Christchurch. Sounds like a good guy you have raised.

    Take good care.

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