From the scissor lift

"Shall we get you up on the scissor lift?". I only needed to be asked once ;-)

I thoroughly enjoyed it and viewing my city from a unique angle. I learned a lot about those big construction cranes. Grant the foreman told me when he was an apprentice his job was to go up one of those big cross cranes every morning and get the smoko order.

He also told me in the old days (well hopefully in days gone by) guys used to wee out the window. They go up at 7.30 and don't come down until 4.30. Yes I asked about the loo, there is a bucket. Surely sitting there all day has changed too and they come down?

When they pick up a big load the crane tips forward and you have to brace yourself. "It's disconcerting because it feels like you're going to tip over forwards". I imagine he's right.

As I type the wind is howling like a banshee. I won't be surprised if I loose a punga fern from the front. I'm thinking of the big cross cranes around town. Grant told me that before the weather change came they would all be turned so they face into the wind had have no bulk side on. I hope they're secure.

I often mention the surrounding cough car parks where buildings used to stand. You can see something of them here. The cranes on the right are building the new parts to Christchurch Public Hospital. The cream and blue buildings across the road on the right are the temporary central police station. Yes, we often see armed defenders in their kevlar and masks heading out on a raid. Oh yeah, and there is my favourite wreck of a building on the far left.

I was supposed to drop my car off late today for a service and WOF tomorrow. I don't mind biking in rain, sleet and snow, but gale force winds make it dangerous. I'm glad I'll have the option of my car tomorrow.

On a sadder note, my vet came with me to see my neighbour today. The situation has always been more complicated than just feeding stray cats and today that was more apparent than ever. I feel awful for applying pressure but it has resulted in them catching the stray. It's now a stray at a family members house. That's not the best outcome for the cat but at least it will be fed.

My neighbours now just have their own original cat, a timid wee thing whose been traumatised by cats in her space. Hopefully she'll go inside now and her skin conditions will ease and heal.

Things were fine before the feeding strays started. In theory now they've gone the feeding issues should be resolved. Sadly I doubt we'll ever be quite the same as neighbours though.