Devastation

This is another late posting, I just ran out of time! 

It's been extremely windy all day, but the buses have been running, so we were able to get around.  MrMacD went into the city to spend time with S before he flew to Tauranga, except he didn't because Air New Zealand cancelled all domestic flights because of the high winds and he still doesn't have another flight, so he's booked a coach trip for tomorrow at 17:45pm as a back-up.  I went to my Pilates class and then caught a bus into the city to join MrMacD and S.  We had a very pleasant time together, then S left to join up with a friend who'd just arrived and was also hoping to get to Tauranga for the cricket, and we caught the bus home.  

J&K, meanwhile, had a flight booked to Tahiti at 3pm but at 6pm it still hadn't left because they couldn't load the baggage because of the high winds.  I sent a WhatsApp message at 7pm, but got no response, so assumed that the flight had left.

There's been total devastation in Gisborne, Tolaga Bay, Wairoa and Hawke's Bay.  All communications have been cut, there's no power, rivers have broken their banks, bridges have collapsed and people have been rescued from their rooftops.  The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle have been massive.  We're OK on the eastern side of Auckland, but the western side has been hit hard, yet again.  It's heartbreaking. A State of National Emergency has been declared.

The flowers were a lovely pop of colour in the garden as I walked out to the bus, and it was interesting to see that the wind had blown over the bus stop sign.

Apologies, I'm still way behind, but I'll do my best to catch up soon.