rachel.blog

About

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I started this blog after the Christchurch earthquakes because I needed somewhere to vent my anxiety. I am terrified of earthquakes and in the midst of all the aftershocks I felt the need to talk about my fears but I found that people got sick of me doing this. So I started writing them down instead. This helped me considerably.

If anyone would like to see what Christchurch looks like today, watch this: Another year of quake coverage

Eventually we left Christchurch and now call Scotland home. Without the constant aftershocks keeping me awake at night my anxiety naturally drifted away. So this blog morphed into other things that I am interested in, like climate change, ethics, travel, urban planning, cycling and whatever else takes my fancy.

Comments

70 responses to “About”

  1. Thomas Avatar
    Thomas

    I understand you totally about moving. We lived in Cashmere overlooking the Port Hills for a couple of years. We moved to Australia well before the destructive earthquakes happened but went for a holiday in April 2011 and saw the CBD. My wife grew up in Christchurch and we were both sadden by what we saw… Look forward to reading your post 🙂

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Cashmere is a beautiful part of Christchurch – views of mountains, city and sea. But Christchurch isn’t the same city anymore. There isn’t a city there now. A current affair’s program drove around the CBD just before Christmas last year (almost 2 years after the February 2011 earthquake), took photos and matched them up with the google Earth photos taken before the earthquake. It’s viewable online – http://www.3news.co.nz/Another-year-of-quake-coverage/tabid/367/articleID/281066/Default.aspx

      It’s very sad and shocking.

      I could never live in the south island of New Zealand now, knowing what I know about earthquakes and the imminent threat of the much larger fault, the Alpine fault which runs diagonally through the middle of the south island.

      Reply
      1. Thomas Avatar
        Thomas

        HI Rachel Sorry for the late reply. I miss it for some reason. I totally understand what you are saying. Actually my wife too feels the same way and she grew up there. We still have heaps of relatives there, but some have moved as you have done. Thanks for sending the link. Pretty amazing. We used to go to the Art Gallery and walk around shopping in the CBD very often, but to see it now its pretty shocking..

  2. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    I miss it too. What it used to be.

    Reply
  3. cvdanes Avatar
    cvdanes

    (As you no doubt know) Auckland generally ranks as one of the top five best cities in the world. It is definitely at the top of my list of cities I’d like to visit!

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      I do know it, although I’m not sure that I completely agree with that ranking. There’s a lot of traffic and urban sprawl here. But it does have some nice natural beauty with the harbour and its many volcanoes.

      Reply
  4. Villanueva Avatar
    Villanueva

    thanks rachel for dropping by on my blog and following as well, I’m having so much fun reading some of your blog. Keep ’em coming 🙂

    Reply
  5. Gator Woman Avatar
    Gator Woman

    What a beautiful picture.
    If you haven’t already chosen a career, may I suggest comedy, you are hilarious~
    How lovely to meet you.

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thank you! I don’t think I’m very funny at all, but thanks for the compliment.

      Reply
  6. tonyburkinshaw Avatar
    tonyburkinshaw

    Hi Rachel,
    many thanks for the follow on http://www.postsofhypnoticsuggestion.wordpress.com it’s much appreciated.
    Wishing you all the best
    Tony

    PS I’m not sure if you know; I’m also on Twitter (www.twitter.com/btalks) and have a Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/PostsOfHypnoticSuggestion). If you fancy joining me there, you’d be very welcome.

    Reply
  7. xbox2121 Avatar
    xbox2121

    You have a very interesting site here!!

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thanks, xbox2121. It’s still evolving.

      Reply
  8. cate b Avatar
    cate b

    Hello Rachel. Thank you so much for the follow. We have friends here who were in Christchurch for a visit and meetings and came home and earthquake hit. Glad you are good – better and feel safer. ? Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
    cate b

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thanks, Cate. I am feeling better and safer, especially at the moment as we’re in the UK and so no longer on the ring of fire. I feel as though I could kiss the ground here.

      Reply
      1. cate b Avatar
        cate b

        I get that. We moved to the middle of the USA 4.5 years ago and the tornado sirens terrify me. Thankfully we have had no tornadoes touchdown.

  9. Sherri Avatar
    Sherri

    Hi Rachel. Just thought I would drop by to take a look at your blog, found you from Xbox1212. I’m British born and bred and moved to California when I was in my early 20s and raised my three children there for 17 years. I can relate to you moving and uprooting. It must have been awful going through those earthquakes. You’ve reminded me of my fear of them when I lived in California. Never experienced them in the UK so when I did in CA I was petrified. I remember being in one in downtown LA and also the one that hit San Francisco in the early 90s the most. We lived 4 hours away but still felt it very strongly. Can’t even imagine what it would be like to be so close to one as you must have been. Also, just had to say, I adore red squirrels so love your gravatar pic! I’ll be back shortly to read more of your posts but just wanted to drop by for now and say “Hi, lovely to meet you” 🙂

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thanks for your comment Sherri. I enjoyed reading your blog just now. I think your decision to return to the UK was a great one as I am loving being here. It is particularly nice not having to worry about earthquakes, volcanoes and tornadoes. I don’t think I will ever visit California if I can help it or anywhere along the West coast of the US. My experience in Christchurch was enough for me.
      I think red squirrels are quite adorable and am hoping to see some in my travels. There are plenty of grey ones in York, but I’m yet to see a red squirrel.

      Reply
      1. Eve Spence Avatar
        Eve Spence

        Remember Squirrel Nutkin, Rachel?

      2. Sherri Avatar
        Sherri

        Thanks for the follow Rachel, I am now following you too, your posts are very informative and interesting. Yes, I’m glad we are back in the UK now. I always tell people here not to complain about it (don’t we Brits love to complain!) as we have so much here to be thankful for. You must feel so much safer!! I see your friend’s comment below about Squirrel Nutkin! I adore Beatrix Potter and he was one of my favourites! Brownsea Island in Dorset boasts being the home of the red squirrel, you take a boat trip out there, but we have never seen one there yet! Growing up in the country, I used to see red squirrels all the time when walking through the woods but sadly not any more. It seems the grey squirrels have taken over. Still, they are about, think we just have to look very carefully. Hopefully you will see some soon 🙂

      3. Rachel Avatar
        Rachel

        I had actually forgotten about Squirrel Nutkin until your comment, Sherri. I might have to get that book for my kids. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a good whinge every now and then. I’m certainly very good at it!

        Britain does have so much to offer and today we went somewhere particularly fabulous. I’ll post photos shortly.

  10. Sherri Avatar
    Sherri

    Hi Rachel. Just to let you know that I have given you the One Lovely Blog Award because I think you and your blog are lovely! No rules, just display it proudly. If you would like to collect it you can at: http://sherrimatthewsblog.com/2013/09/13/what-a-week-time-to-bring-out-some-awards/ Have a great weekend 🙂

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thanks, Sherri. That’s such a nice thing to do. Thank you. Have a great weekend to you too.

      Reply
      1. Sherri Avatar
        Sherri

        You’re most welcome, you deserve it 🙂

  11. belsbror Avatar
    belsbror

    Hi! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Please get the badge at http://wp.me/p32YrK-16X and get more info. Have a wonderful day. Blessings, belsbror

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thanks so much for this, Belsbror. I’ve decided not to do awards but I still feel honoured to have the nomination. Thank you.

      Reply
      1. belsbror Avatar
        belsbror

        It’s my way of showing my appreciation. 🙂

  12. belsbror Avatar
    belsbror

    Hi! I nominated you for the Blog of the Year 2013 Award. Please get the badge at http://wp.me/p32YrK-1cL and get more info. Have a fantastic New Year, Blessings, belsbror

    Reply
  13. Bike Ride | ladysighs Avatar
    Bike Ride | ladysighs

    […] Rachel is a blogger who loves her bicycle. […]

    Reply
  14. belsbror Avatar
    belsbror

    Hi! I know you do not participate in the awards but I still nominated you for the Semper Fidelis award. Please get the badge at http://wp.me/s32YrK-combined and get more info. Have a peaceful day.
    Blessings,
    belsbror. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thank you, Belsbror. I am humbled.

      Reply
  15. Bunny Eats Design Avatar
    Bunny Eats Design

    Hi Rachel, I live in Auckland but my husband’s family are in Christchurch and we got married in Rapaki. Do you think you will ever move back? I hear of how so many people moved away after the quakes. It’s sad because Christchurch is a great city.

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Hi Bunny Eats Design,

      Christchurch was a terrific city. I loved living there. It is small and walkable but still has all the amenities you get from a big city. It has mountains and sea and the most spectacular views from the Port Hills. There are ski-fields less than 2 hours away as well and hot springs at Hanmer and generally quite lovely countryside on its doorstep.

      However, I will never move back. I am terrified of earthquakes now, having experienced three of the four large shocks and I now know about the Alpine Fault which is only 200km away and expected to rupture in the next 30 years. I don’t want to be there for that.

      Reply
  16. simplyilka Avatar
    simplyilka

    Hi Rachel!
    I have nominated you for 3 Awards, because I think you have a great imagination and your blog is truly creative and special. I hope you will accept! Congratulations and here is the link:
    http://simplyilka.com/2014/03/01/imagine-there-is-lots-of-sunshine-to-shine-on-more-awards/
    – Ilka

    Reply
    1. Rachel Avatar
      Rachel

      Thanks so much, Ilka. I’m absolutely flattered that you chose to nominate my blog! Thank you.

      Reply
  17. Tony Avatar
    Tony

    Hello Rachel,

    Many Thanks for the recent like over at naturestimeline, it is much appreciated.

    Best Wishes

    Tony

    Reply
  18. cindy knoke Avatar
    cindy knoke

    Hi Rachel, We both live on The Ring of Fire so I understand your fears perfectly and you have a rockin blog. I also have proof you are an outstanding happiness engineer! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Thanks so much, Cindy! You’re very kind 🙂

      Reply
  19. Joy Avatar
    Joy

    Hello Rachel, Thanks for checking out my page – I live with earthquakes too…and they also caused me anxiety. I don’t anticipate moving away anytime soon though, so I’ve had to find tricks to deal with it…glad to virtually meet you! Looking forward to checking out your blog.

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      What are your tricks? Mine was to move away 🙂

      Nice to meet you too!

      Reply
  20. Deborah Drucker Avatar
    Deborah Drucker

    Hi Rachel. I liked your post about nappies and the one about the climate march. Here we call nappies diapers. But when my kids were babies I was a devotee of cloth myself. But then I did switch to paper eventually. I am glad you visited my blog. If you read some of my posts you will see I am familiar with earthquakes as well as a California native. Scotland sounds like a big move. I think it is hard to move to a different country. Some of my ancestry is from Scotland. My maternal grandmother was born in Glasgow. But I have never visited. Maybe someday. Good luck with the move and getting settled again in your new home.

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Hi Deborah,

      Thanks for your comment. I read your recent post about blogger burnout:
      http://notestiedonthesagebrush.wordpress.com/2014/09/27/blogger-burnout/

      I completely understand where you’re coming from here. There are so many wonderful blogs out there that it can feel a bit overwhelming as we’d love to read all of them.

      Thanks for the good wishes for my move. Everything is falling into place. We leave tomorrow!

      Reply
  21. I was Nominated for the Liebster Award… | Graceful Momma Avatar
    I was Nominated for the Liebster Award… | Graceful Momma

    […] RachelSquirrel […]

    Reply
  22. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Hi Rachel. I see you have already been nominated several time for the Lovely Blog Award so I hope you don’t mind that I nominated you as well. Please check out my blog http://spauldis.wordpress.com/ for details. Congratulations!

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Thank you, Susan! I’m honoured.

      Reply
      1. Susan Avatar
        Susan

        Good blogs get noticed.

      2. Rachel M Avatar
        Rachel M

        Thanks, Susan. I’ll take that as a compliment 🙂

  23. havau22 Avatar
    havau22

    nice place you have here, very intresting, im now following you,on twitter and google,take care and God bless.

    Reply
  24. Kamila Pala Avatar
    Kamila Pala

    Hi, nice to meet you! You have un interesting blog and I love your cover photo :). Happy blogging! Bye. Kamila

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Hi Kamila, thanks for stopping by. Sorry for taking so long to reply to your comment! You’ve got a great blog: you’ve been everywhere! I enjoyed the Scotland post 🙂

      Reply
      1. Kamila Pala Avatar
        Kamila Pala

        Thanks, Rachel! I look forward to sharing our experiences. Bye. K

  25. misskutts Avatar
    misskutts

    A lovely blog here! it’s really dramatic how an earthquake made you start this blog but it’s wonderful how you cultivated your fear into something positive!

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Thank you! I’m a big believer in writing and talking about things that bother me. I find it helps and I always feel better for it.

      Reply
  26. The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap Avatar
    The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap

    Hi Rachel. I came from the ever generous Ladysighs post to try to see photos of your children, who she says are really cute. It’s not that I have a lot of free time on my hands, but… who can explain why we do some of the things we do that are thought driven? I couldn’t find any “photo” area but did find this and read it. I can relate to the earthquake thing, living in So. Calif and was in Northern Calif. during the biggie in Loma Prieta quake in 1989, actually worked it as a mobile Red Cross nurse. Prior to that quakes didn’t bother me, after that… that’s another story. It was nice to read your post for today on responsible FOS and to learn a little about you here. I love Scotland and hope you’re enjoying its lush countryside and fun-loving people. Nice to meet you. Paulette

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Thanks for your comment, Paulette, and sorry for taking so long to reply! I hope never to experience another earthquake again. I’ve felt enough of them to last my lifetime as Christchurch has had more than 10,000 aftershocks and still counting. It must have been tough working as a nurse in the aftermath of an earthquake: so many people needing help and only so much you can do.

      I am loving Scotland. The people are great and very friendly. I also love the countryside. It reminds me of the South Island of New Zealand in many ways. It’s nice not to have to think about earthquakes and I rarely do these days. Lovely to meet you too 🙂

      Reply
  27. ady Avatar
    ady

    Hello Rachel, we had talked once long back when I began blogging. Came across your blog now. Nice to meet you finally. I can understand the anxiety about earthquakes,we rarely get them here but the last quake(a year back) which was very mild,still makes me imagine and scared sometimes if things are shaking inside house ! All the best in spreading happiness 😀

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Thanks for stopping by, Ady. I’m glad to hear you live somewhere relatively quake-free. The ground just isn’t supposed to shake 🙂

      It looks like you’re enjoying blogging which is great to see. I love your photos too.

      Reply
      1. ady Avatar
        ady

        I agree,we compare stability of a person to earth !

        Thank you very much.it has been an a journey of learning and discovering so far 🙂

  28. TanGental Avatar
    TanGental

    Hi Rachel, just noticed you’d popped over and seen my log and my post on your previous home in Christchurch. Extraordinarily sad visit even though we were catching with old friends there. Thank you fir looking in; hope you do so again and meanwhile I’m following you because your posts look the sort of fascinating mix of everything that appeals to me.

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Hi Geoff,
      Sherri told me about your Christchurch post as she knew I’d be interested and I definitely was. It was my home for 6 years and I liked living there. We moved after the earthquakes and because of the them. Scotland is home now and I’m loving it here.

      Reply
  29. TanGental Avatar
    TanGental

    oh and thanks for the follow back!

    Reply
  30. Real Neat Blog Award | PedalWORKS Avatar
    Real Neat Blog Award | PedalWORKS

    […] RachelSqirrel – Rachel is a young Australian mother living in Scotland. She is a “Happiness Engineer”, a job I would love to have. Her posts are eclectic, imaginative, insightful and, personal. She hates cars and rides a beautiful bike 🙂 […]

    Reply
  31. PedalWORKS Avatar
    PedalWORKS

    You may already follow Edinburgh Cycle Chic but, just in case you don’t, I thought you might enjoy this – https://edinburghcyclechic.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/off-to-deliver-a-bakfiets/. I hope to see you featured one day.

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      That is great! Thank you. I’m following 🙂

      Reply
      1. PedalWORKS Avatar
        PedalWORKS

        I see you hooked up. I really enjoy her pictures.

      2. Rachel M Avatar
        Rachel M

        We did! Thank you

  32. Five Photos Five Stories – day one | TanGental Avatar
    Five Photos Five Stories – day one | TanGental

    […] takes the most beautiful images and always has a story to tell about them. I would like to nominate Rachel at Rachel Squirrel who takes great, imaginative pictures and writes so well, to take up this photo challenge […]

    Reply
  33. roweeee Avatar
    roweeee

    Hi Rachel,
    I’m an ardent follower of Geoff Le Pard’s and came over for a visit after he mentioned your photography. Have only dipped my toe in your blog so far but am looking forward to further exploration. We live in Greater Sydney and we went to New Zealand for our honeymoon. We flew out of Sydney Airport in the very early hours of September 12, 2001 after watching the plqanes fly into the World Trade Centre and Washington on a day, which been forever etched into the public conscious as “9/11”. Despite spending that first night watching coverage on TV, I still remember the stunning view of Auckland Harbour. We spent a few days staying with family in Christchurch and it was so pretty and compared to0 the horrors taking place overseas, it felt like such a safe haven and yet it was harbouring its own secrets. Geoff put me onto the chair memorial, which was very poignant and I love the ecclectic range of chairs and especially the inclusion of a wheelchair. Some of our family has remained in Christchurch but some have left. So pretty but from my perspective, not worth the risk but once you own real estate, it’s very hard to walk away. Scotland sounds great xx Rowena

    Reply
    1. Rachel M Avatar
      Rachel M

      Hi Rowena,

      Thanks for stopping by. I can imagine Christchurch would have felt very safe just after 9/11. It has never been a target for terrorists and that’s unlikely to change. I was always a bit uneasy about the earthquake risk even before September 4th 2010. But everyone told me that Christchurch would be fine and it would be Wellington that gets hit. That turned out to be wrong and I wanted to leave after the first big earthquake in 2010 but my husband didn’t want to go. Everyone said we’d had our big one and Christchurch would be safe now. Then there was another big one in February 2011 and this one was worse and people died. That was when we made the decision as a family to go but we didn’t get out of there until July and there as another big one in June. We fortunately missed a fourth big one in December the same year. Even when the whole family agrees to leave it can still be hard when you’re tied to a mortgage and a job which we were. Real estate does make it hard to walk away. But we managed to sell our house fortunately and Ben managed to find a job first in Auckland and now in Scotland and I’m very happy here. I don’t miss Christchurch at all now and don’t think I will ever go back there. They have another big earthquake on the cards at some stage with the alpine fault predicted to rupture at some point over the next 30 years.

      Reply
  34. My First #Book and My First Year of #Blogging | PhoTrablogger Avatar
    My First #Book and My First Year of #Blogging | PhoTrablogger

    […] Rachel for all the help during the BU 101 […]

    Reply
  35. My Comments on Your Posts May Be in Your Spam Filter! | Avatar
    My Comments on Your Posts May Be in Your Spam Filter! |

    […] About […]

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