I'm sure that many of us are thinking of our B & S list members in Christchurch, New Zealand, today. Amanda, Les and Barbara in Christchurch spring to mind and also list members in other parts of New Zealand such as Helen, Chris, Tony and Sandra. I'm sorry if I've left anyone out. I'm also thinking of a former list member in Christchurch, with whom I have had a long correspondence about Bristol families, so I will try to get through privately to her, though I realize that internet access may be difficult. -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com

Yes, I have been thinking of the people in Christchurch, NZ and the terrible, devastating earthquake. Through my genealogy discoveries, I came in contact with a William Pember REEVES descendant, High Commissioner to New Zealand and whose parents built Risingholme (destroyed in the September 2010 earthquake) in Christchurch. One of my daughters, who happens to be on a three year contract in Asia, was on a business trip in Christchurch so I suggested that she visit my distant e-cousin as it is unlikely that I will ever get to New Zealand. She left Christchurch for Auckland on February 12. While she was there, she experienced a 4.2 tremor but did say that a 'big one' was predicted for around March 20th and she was glad that she would be out of there by then. I guess it came early and I'm thankful she escaped. I'm worried about my e-cousin as I haven't heard from her but I don't imagine that email is a high priority at this moment. Already her daughter had to move to the dining room after the last quake in September. She sent me a picture showing the notice on the front door indicating that the authorities had deemed it suitable for living in. There is a Bath connection here, Deborah HIPKINS ROBSON was the great grandmother of William Pember REEVES and she died at 1 Great Stanhope Street, Bath in 1867. Even in those days of the late 1800s, there was a lot of travel which went on between Australia, New Zealand and England. Take care, Susan -----Original Message----- From: Josephine Jeremiah Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 2:12 PM To: bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com Subject: [B&S] Thinking of our list members in Christchurch, New Zealand I'm sure that many of us are thinking of our B & S list members in Christchurch, New Zealand, today. Amanda, Les and Barbara in Christchurch spring to mind and also list members in other parts of New Zealand such as Helen, Chris, Tony and Sandra. I'm sorry if I've left anyone out. I'm also thinking of a former list member in Christchurch, with whom I have had a long correspondence about Bristol families, so I will try to get through privately to her, though I realize that internet access may be difficult. -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Josephine and listers who have sent messages Thank you for your message. Although these things happen to other folk in other parts of the world, when it lands on your doorstep it takes on a whole new meaning. Although I'm living in Auckland now, I lived in Christchurch for fourteen years and my two children were born there - I have a permanent link to a city with beautiful historic buildings and botanical gardens. A 1hr 20min flight time Auckland to Christchurch, it's merely a 'suburbs thrown'! Christchurch (and Dunedin) is our historic building feature and to see some of these buildings so badly damaged is heart breaking. The Anglican Cathedral in the heart of Christchurch city lost its steeple, a landmark. The Catholic Basilica very badly damaged. You people have gone through bomb raids in wartime, New York went through the -----Original Message----- From: Josephine Jeremiah Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:12 AM To: bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com Subject: [B&S] Thinking of our list members in Christchurch, New Zealand I'm sure that many of us are thinking of our B & S list members in Christchurch, New Zealand, today. Amanda, Les and Barbara in Christchurch spring to mind and also list members in other parts of New Zealand such as Helen, Chris, Tony and Sandra. I'm sorry if I've left anyone out. I'm also thinking of a former list member in Christchurch, with whom I have had a long correspondence about Bristol families, so I will try to get through privately to her, though I realize that internet access may be difficult. -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

OOPS!!!!! pushed wrong button and unfinished message. Hi Josephine and Listers who have sent messages Thank you for your messages. Although these things happen to other folk in other parts of the world, when it lands on your doorstep it takes on a whole new meaning. Although I'm living in Auckland now, I lived in Christchurch for fourteen years and my two children were born there - I have a permanent link to a city with beautiful historic buildings and botanical gardens. A 1hr 20min flight time Auckland to Christchurch, it's merely a 'suburbs thrown' from Auckland! Christchurch is our historic building city and to see some of these buildings so badly damaged is heart breaking. In my twenties I walked and worked around the streets that you are graphically seeing on television today. From a beautiful city to a bomb site. You people in Bristol have gone through bomb raids in wartime, New York went through the 9/11 bombings, very sadly Christchurch is looking similar today!!!!! My close friend in Christchurch finally got through to me this morning by txt and said the family is now all together, physically ok, but mentally very fragile. People of Christchurch have lived like this since Sept last year. This latest earthquake was far greater in intensity and damage (due to the lateral movement, rather than magnitude of quake) and 17 aftershocks greater than 4 on the Richter scale in the past 19hrs. How the hell does one get their life together again??! Think please about the 'special rescue squads' that train for assisting in this kind of catastrophe - their life is endangered in the name of rescuing people and they are working tirelessly. Think about the social groups who have come together to feed, water and house the displaced. It must be such a difficult time for those waiting to hear news of their loved one. IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING IN LITTLE NEW ZEALAND?? For those of you who are interested in our predicament www.nzherald.co.nz has regular updates. Warm regards Sandra Auckland New Zealand -----Original Message----- From: Josephine Jeremiah Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:12 AM To: bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com Subject: [B&S] Thinking of our list members in Christchurch, New Zealand I'm sure that many of us are thinking of our B & S list members in Christchurch, New Zealand, today. Amanda, Les and Barbara in Christchurch spring to mind and also list members in other parts of New Zealand such as Helen, Chris, Tony and Sandra. I'm sorry if I've left anyone out. I'm also thinking of a former list member in Christchurch, with whom I have had a long correspondence about Bristol families, so I will try to get through privately to her, though I realize that internet access may be difficult. -- Josephine Jeremiah www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Dear Josephine & list, Thank you all for thinking of us all here in Christchruch. How 5 mins in one day can change your life! I was on the top of a huge hump bridge when the first huge aftershock hit and I thought "if this bridge collapses Im a gonner". I watched from the traffic jam, the windows in the surrounding buildings beneath the bridge buckled and popped out, tumbling 4 storeys to the ground. Two of my family were AWOL in the city until about 4.30pm when I finally got news they were safe. I walked a long way home abandoning my car to get to my daughter, and find out out about everyone else. The city is like a warzone, with tanks down some of the streets and the army mobilising to cordon off the central city. Smoke and dust and rubble everywhere. The damage is far, far worse this time. I live fairly central to the city and am lucky to have power, but have no water and we have been advised not to use toilets at all which poses a small problem if you havent got a garden! There is water available at stations on the east of the city, if you have petrol to get there and containers to collect the water! Petrol is running out. My whole day has revolved around getting water organised, so at least I feel I can hole up for a few days. Id like to fly out to be with the rest of my family South of here but lines to Air NZ are jammed and we have been asked not to go to the airport. Thankfully my family in Chch are all safe and sound, but stil catchign up with all my friends and their family. We just all feel for those who are yet to find their loved ones. It must be awful waiting. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and support! Amanda Kerby Christchurch ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josephine Jeremiah" <jojeremiah@dsl.pipex.com> To: <bristol_and_somerset@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:12 AM Subject: [B&S] Thinking of our list members in Christchurch, New Zealand > I'm sure that many of us are thinking of our B & S list members in > Christchurch, New Zealand, today. > > Amanda, Les and Barbara in Christchurch spring to mind and also list > members in other parts of New Zealand such as Helen, Chris, Tony and > Sandra. I'm sorry if I've left anyone out. I'm also thinking of a former > list member in Christchurch, with whom I have had a long correspondence > about Bristol families, so I will try to get through privately to her, > though I realize that internet access may be difficult. > > -- > Josephine Jeremiah > www.ianandjo.dsl.pipex.com > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message