8mm Forum: NZ Earthquake

8mm Forum

my profile | my password | search | faq | register | forum home

next oldest topic

next newest topic

»	8mm Forum » General Yak » NZ Earthquake (Page 1)

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Author

Topic: NZ Earthquake

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted February 27, 2011 09:25 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Sorry if anyone is trying to E-Mail me as the house and everything in it is damaged. Compared to the September quake this one was more violent and sadly this time loss of life. The part of the city where we live was one area that was badly hit, however we are fortunate to be alive many are not. At the time it hit I was at the movies in our local shopping mall, the violence of this shake was extreme with ceiling tiles falling down on folk and broken water lines, when we got out of the cinema the mall looked liked a bomb had gone off with glass everywhere. The roads were flooded with silt being pushed up with damaged cars in holes everywhere. Our house seems to be sinking however the last few days we have been removing this very smelly thick silt about one foot of it. While I was on the street dumping this stuff a voice behind me said do you want a hand the next thing this person said help is on the way. I was over the moon, the farmers from out of town had come to the city to help, they were brilliant and I am extremely greatfull for there help, they even brought a water tanker we couldn't ask for more. Later that day the army arrived with hot food being flown in, the help has been amazing. Many people on our street have left as with no power or water there is little point staying as for us, the first few nights were not easy trying to sleep with constant after shocks you can hear them coming some gave us a good rattle and some not. Today I am at work across the other side of town we are running kids movies during the day, I spoke to a young family today, mum was treating her son to a birthday outing I asked how they had got on she said they had lost the house and was not sure of the future sadly a lot of people are in that position.

Graham.

| IP: Logged

Larry Arpin
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 953
From: Sunland, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2006

posted February 27, 2011 10:35 PM

Author's Homepage

Email Larry Arpin

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I'm sorry to here your misfortune. When the earthquake was reported I thought about you and was looking for the last post about the September one but couldn't find it. Hope all works out well eventually.

| IP: Logged

Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted February 28, 2011 03:54 AM

Email Claus Harding

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Graham,

Good to hear from you; my thoughts have been very much in your direction since the news broke.
All the best with the recovery of your home (or as much of it as can be saved); with the help coming in, let's hope this can become a memory sooner rather than later.

Claus.

--------------------
"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

| IP: Logged

Pasquale DAlessio
Film God

Posts: 3523
From: Bristol,RI, USA
Registered: May 2010

posted February 28, 2011 05:12 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham

You are in my prayers.

Pat DAlessio

| IP: Logged

Antonio Costa Mota
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 171
From: Portugal
Registered: Jun 2004

posted February 28, 2011 01:40 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham
You and your family are alive and well thank God. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many others.
I hope you can achieve a quick recovery of your home.
Bless you. Antonio

--------------------
António C. Mota

| IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted February 28, 2011 02:25 PM

Email Steve Klare

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham,

I've been thinking of you quite a bit these last few days. I guess your news could be much worse, and yet could be much better too.

You will be in my prayers as well. I hope you, your family and your neighbors are able to return to normal life as soon as possible.

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

| IP: Logged

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted February 28, 2011 04:25 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham,
Like everyone else here, upon hearing of the earthquake my first thought was the hope that you and your family were safe and that you escaped any serious property damage. Well you are all safe and that is great. I am really sorry though to hear of the damage to your home. I have been through all that during the 2005 Florida Hurricane season, although I supect the damage we got was much less serious than what you are now facing. But, property can be replaced or repaired, and in a few months you will hopefully be back to normal. In the meantime, best of luck to you my friend.
Paul

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

| IP: Logged

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted February 28, 2011 05:51 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Thanks Everyone
In less than an hour we will be stopping for a two minutes of silence for those that lost there lives.

At the moment all schools are closed and many parents are unable to work as the centre of the city is of limits. Yesterday when I spoke to that family I really felt for them when the young girl said there home was full of sewerage, so the effect on kids going through this is bad. As mentioned its not buildings but people that are important, things like a simple hug can mean a lot. Everyone is under a lot of stress and where we live digging a hole out back to go to the toilet is the only option. Across the city where I work where everything is working its like a different world to where we live. Reading some of the stories of of those who have lost there lives is terrible. This city will be re-built but the thinking behind it will change as much of this place was built on swamp long ago.

The farmers and everyone involved in helping have been great and once again thanks everyone for your thoughts.

Graham.

| IP: Logged

Trevor Adams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 763
From: Auckland,New Zealand
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 04, 2011 04:08 AM

Author's Homepage

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Had a wee yarn with Graham today.Glad to hear his cheery voice again,;-) Also very glad to hear that amongst the chaos his family is bearing up. Graham was projecting "True Grit" when the quake struck.He and the audience must have felt they were in a 3D version of 2012!
We are thinking of you and yours,
Trev

--------------------
Trevor

| IP: Logged

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 04, 2011 01:32 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Thanks Trevor
I was watching "True Grit" at Reading in Shirley not projecting it "never saw the end" [Smile]

[Smile]

This morning the heavy stuff is digging up the road the work crews are doing a great job fixing things, however the damage to this side of the city is extensive anything underground sewage, water, power cables are wrecked and everywhere the ground is uneven. Chemical toilets are coming from China and will be distributed over the weekend.

Graham.

| IP: Logged

Colin Robert Hunt
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 226
From: Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire
Registered: Aug 2005

posted March 04, 2011 02:05 PM

Author's Homepage

Email Colin Robert Hunt

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham

Glad that you and your family are alright. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and the people of Christchurch and New Zealand. I am so glad that at least things are beginning to happen. I watched the news on our local tv station and the pictures around Christchurch brought tears to my eyes. There is no way that I can imagine how I would feel in your position, but wish you and all the citizens of Christchurch our best wishes.

| IP: Logged

Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 04, 2011 02:37 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Colin,

One of old members, how are you? It has been so long not to see you. Your last post was 3 years ago. Where have you been. Remember that you send "Wild Geese" for me in Fiji? Now I have moved to Toronto.

Sorry for hijacking the thread.

Graham, I used to be in the Pacific islands, so very understand how is the region. At least, I have a sentimental reason with the area, because my son was born there. Please send my deepest sympathy to those victim in Christchurch.

--------------------
Winbert

| IP: Logged

Colin Robert Hunt
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 226
From: Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire
Registered: Aug 2005

posted March 05, 2011 01:44 PM

Author's Homepage

Email Colin Robert Hunt

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Wimbert. I remember sending you the film. Have been off the Internet for a while. I realised you have noved to Canada. Will send you a personal message to keep this thread on track.

| IP: Logged

Kevan Ellis
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Ottawa, Canada
Registered: Jul 2008

posted March 05, 2011 08:03 PM

Email Kevan Ellis

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham
Glad to hear you are still with us.
Kevan

| IP: Logged

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 06, 2011 06:33 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Thanks Everyone
Still no chemical toilet or water yet [Frown]

[Frown]

solar heated shower bags are all the rage at the moment "camping stuff" but cant get one. As its raining I might stand in the street and get a free one. [Smile]

[Smile]

Last week we had strong winds which stirred up the silt into a dust storm and over the weekend it was rain, with little or no drainage that meant flooding so does anyone on this forum like to buy a cheap house [Roll Eyes]

[Roll Eyes]

At the moment the cinema where I work is the only one in the city that is still operating and as a result its been busy with kids films during the day and more adult stuff at night. Around 7.30pm on Saturday we were getting ready for the last sessions when I noticed the masking swinging and the place jumping around a bit, turned out to be a 4.8 "a good shake" however people were not put of and the evening sessions still ran, anything stronger and we would have called it quits.

I must admit by the end of the night I cant wait to get out of the place, being up in that projection room is downright spooky. I have been their during a number of strong after shocks since September and its not the place to be.

Tonight we are heading out of town to people we know "20 minute drive" that have water that flows a shower that works and a toilet that flushes something to look forward to, dont you think... luxury at last [Smile]

[Smile]

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts its very much appreciated.

Regards Graham.

| IP: Logged

David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 07, 2011 02:35 AM

Author's Homepage

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Graham, our thoughts go out to you. It has been massive news here in Australia. You've had quakes, we've had fires and floods!

I understand that it takes a long time for the basics of normal life to return; long after the media have gone.....we'll be thinking of you.

David

| IP: Logged

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 07, 2011 08:39 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham,
So sorry to hear about all this, and hoping things improve rapidly for you in the very near future.
Without meaning to trivialize your situation in any way, but I was wondering if your beautiful home theater and films and equipment survived the quake, or is it all lost.

Paul

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

| IP: Logged

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 07, 2011 02:42 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi David
I was speaking to the mall manager last week and he mentioned a large number of people getting passports. I think many will be heading for Australia or other parts of NZ to live and I dont blame them. Things will improve but the damage is not just to property but the land we sit on. Many parts of this city was built on a swamp and thats the problem, that land is unstable. I looked at our neighbours house yesterday and its a mess everything is out of shape nothing is level and it looks like a write of. Our place is not as bad but has dropped down at the front quiet a bit, with a dangerous and deep sink hole just out front. The water table is just below us so am not sure how safe the ground is at the moment and with constant after shocks if its being undermined.

Hi Paul
Our wee home cinema out the back survived much better than the house. When I did the foundation for the new projection room I overdid things acording to my wife, almost a foot deep of steel re-enforced concrete and over 100 meters of framing timber just for the projection box alone. Even the little cinema when it was built at the time, was way overdone according to some experts. The ground has lifted it and its lopsided and the wet silt got in but its still there [Smile]

[Smile]

Although well shaken and everthing had gone flying its now up and running. I was really surprised at the Panasonic VP that it still goes no problem [Smile]

[Smile]

even a small TV that had flown of a shelf and landed almost 6 feet onto the ground still works fine, been very lucky.

In time things like buildings will be sorted but the people that lost their lives 166 so far and the families effected are the ones I really feel for.

Graham.

| IP: Logged

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 16, 2011 08:23 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Just a wee update, today for the first time since the earthquake I tried the GS1200 and ran some film through it and it still goes. The projectors seem fine and I am very surprised that none of them fell down, they should have as mostly everything else did. I was lucky that the door to the projection box was shut and the wet silt "liquefaction" never made it to the films that were lying in there on the ground. With the Ernemann 35mm I had dyno bolted it to the concrete floor so it was ok. I was very lucky with the GS1200 but its going to be fastened a lot better for future use. Its strange as with the house some things went flying others didn't even the wall oven came half way out "and that takes a bit" must be the way the place was hit. The speakers come down, one was broken in bits, but wood glue did the trick and its back up again. [Smile]

[Smile]

As for our wee home cinema it is lopsided but we will live with it. I was given some old carpet so the old wet stuff is gone and the place is fine. Well I have a list of things to do. The corrugated iron arrived today for the roof of our house as the chimney had fallen over so its my job to get up there remove the temporary cover and fix it although hopefully I might get to watch some more films later tonight.

Graham.

| IP: Logged

Colin Robert Hunt
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 226
From: Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire
Registered: Aug 2005

posted March 17, 2011 04:28 PM

Author's Homepage

Email Colin Robert Hunt

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Graham. Glad at least you have some facilities to run on. I am so pleased at least you and your family are safe. It is nice to hear from you and our prayers and thoughts are dirested to you and the people of Christchurch from the people of Great Britain. Very nice to hear from you.

| IP: Logged

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 17, 2011 05:34 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Way to go Graham! Nothing like a good film show to reduce the stress of life a bit! [Smile]

[Smile]

So glad to hear your films and equipment are OK.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

| IP: Logged

Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted March 17, 2011 09:15 PM

Email Claus Harding

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Good man, Graham! Keep 'em rolling. Very glad to hear your Ernemann came through well; a little harder to replace than many machines.

All the best to you and your family, and godspeed with the recovery,

Claus.

--------------------
"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

| IP: Logged

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 20, 2011 09:16 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Thanks Everyone [Smile]

[Smile]

A certain person out here in NZ had made a prediction that on March 20th "yesterday" or close to it that we were going to get a big earthquake, although there was no scientific evidence to back it up many believed him. Over the weekend at work the young staff at the cinema asked me my thoughts. I said its total rubbish and people should not be so gullible, anyway as the weekend wore on everything was fine until Sunday night. With only an hour out from finishing I said to the cashier...I told you so nothing would happen...just at that moment the cinema and office started shaking [Eek!]

[Eek!]

and it was a good one a 5.1...anyway I checked the cinemas and everyone seemed fine after the movies came out I asked some folk did you feel it. Yes they certainly did was the answer, what was it 4 or 5 they asked as we are now all experts at guessing, anyway so much for my earlier comments [Roll Eyes]

[Roll Eyes]

but I am very glad it did not happen during the daytime when we were busy with "Rango" and the kids sessions.

On the home front the Earthquake Commission have done an early assessment of our house and have told us that repairs are likely to exceed $100.000 so its all down to those people and insurance to decide our fate, anyway I am putting on "Logan's Run" on Blu-ray tomorrow night "better quality than the dvd" for some of the staff at work who are fans of the movie in our wee home cinema so does anyone else want to come [Smile]

[Smile]

well once again thanks for your thoughts its very much appreciated.

Graham.

| IP: Logged

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 21, 2011 12:52 PM

Email Graham Ritchie

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hope you dont mind me adding this but its been a lesson from the earthquake to us here as to how precious water is. We were so used to turning on a tap and there it was, took it for granted and never gave it a thought. The last month without it, up to last weekend we had to walk to a nearby mini tanker or drive to fill up containers. From that experence we found we had to be very carefull on how we used the water, to make it last, and how much we use in general it was a real eye opener as to how much we must have been using. As human beings we all need it to survive and over last month a greater appreciation of it and to be less wastefull has really sunk in. Even though we have it flowing through the taps once again its been a lesson on how important water is to our survival for all of us on this planet.

Graham.

| IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 21, 2011 03:27 PM

Email Steve Klare

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Very true Graham,

Water is #2 on the hierarchy of things we need right behind air and right before food.

It's a big deal being able to turn a valve and have it come flowing out whenever we want it to.

We have no idea how liberating it is for us not to have to spend a great deal of time either getting it or worrying about not getting it, and having it not show up deadly to us when it does.

-Sad to say, in most times and places this is life as normal. Our ancestors didn't invent beer so they could have a cold one by the pool: it was simply a way to kill the cooties in their drinking water. Even children drank amounts of alcohol that would lay a modern man flat on his back, because they developed a tolerance to it. (Good Lord! What did it take to get one of 'em drunk?!) For better or worse most of them didn't live long enough for their livers to get back at them for it.

Nostalgia, anyone?

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Move Topic

Delete Topic

next oldest topic

next newest topic

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Visit www.film-tech.com for free equipment manual downloads. Copyright 2003-2019 Film-Tech Cinema Systems LLC

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2