Whenever it snows in Christchurch I get depressed. I realise I’m no longer living in the climate I like best. I miss the cold frosty mornings, the views to snow-covered mountains, the crisp air and visible breath, the warm woolly hats and scarves, the warm fires, the proximity to ski-fields and ice-skating rinks, the deciduous trees, the exciting prospect of tobogganing and the possibility of snow in the backyard. Auckland has been cold the past two days and I’ve loved it. I loved walking out with the dogs this morning and feeling the icy air against my cheeks and seeing my breath when I spoke but this is a very rare event in Auckland.
When I see the photos and videos of all the snow in Christchurch I long to see it first-hand. But I am also conscious that most Cantabrians have probably had enough of the snow and want it gone. There are people still using portaloos in the street and people without adequate heating and for them it must be very trying.
Our house sold last week so we no longer own a home. Ben is currently staying in an empty house belonging to some nice friends of ours who have also fled the city. He arrived at the house late last night after leaving us in Auckland. The house has not had any heating on for quite a few days and it was cold. The kitchen thermometer read 3.4 degrees. I received a text from Ben saying “could huddle inside fridge (4°C) for warmth”.
rachel.blog 
I'm pleased to see Ben hasn't lost his sense of humour.
It's fair to say that Ben is *very* stressed at the moment. We've just sold our house and although we had packers and movers, there was lots of preparation that Ben had to do before they came and he is completely alone down there. I mean, usually family help with this sort of thing but I'm up here and we have no family in Christchurch. Add to that the stress of working at UofCanterbury at the moment and the cold and the snow. Ben packed up all his winter gear for the movers and had no warm clothes. We were thankfully able to borrow a warm jacket for him from a friend of ours. Then he's been going back and forth on planes and planes that have been delayed or cancelled due to snow. I am amazed that he still has a sense of humour.
duh, why didn't you send us an email… we could have helped him sort things out.
Thanks Just Me, that's so nice. But then I wouldn't get to whinge as much about always living in cities without family support..
bahaha… well whinge away, but if Ben needs a hand while he's down here, we're here. Sometimes even living in the same city as family you don't have support, so it's good to have friends around.
So very true….and we've just left all our friends too….