HarsH ReaLiTy Challenge – Daily Life in Christchurch, New Zealand

OM from HarsH ReaLiTy challenged bloggers to do a day in the life type blog of our regular every day lives. The original post is here. I have been loving the entries and in a small way experiencing other peoples daily lives.

Often we post about exotic places we have been but the daily experience of people in other places is often just as interesting.

So my contribution to this is my bike home from work earlier in the week. I bike to work most days when its not raining, or too icy in winter. Christchurch is a very flat city so ideal for cycling if you are happy to risk your life against the awful drivers, lack of cycle ways and morons who cut you off or fling open their car doors.

Its approximately 6-7kms from home to work dependant on which route I take, and takes me about 25 minutes at a moderate, commuter pace.

So on this particular ride home, I’d started very early in the morning so finished work about 3pm. Probably the worst time to take photos on my poor old iPhone4 #firstworldproblems Therefore I have had to cull a lot of photos which were just too hard to see in the very bright early autumn sunlight.

My desk at work - the window overlooks the Addington Raceway (Horse Racing) — My desk at work – the window overlooks the Addington Raceway (Horse Racing)

View from the carpark at work - we have a large bike shed and you can see the Port Hills in the distance — View from the carpark at work – we have a large bike shed and you can see the Port Hills in the distance

My pink Electra bike - I love this, its awesome to ride! — My pink Electra bike – I love this, its awesome to ride!

Since the earthquakes, there has been major damage to basic infrastructure, there is often a strong smell of sewage near this park - someone obviously agrees.... — Since the earthquakes, there has been major damage to basic infrastructure, there is often a strong smell of sewage near this park – someone obviously agrees….

A token piece of cycle pathway - which stops just around the corner - in a city so flat, its nuts that we don't have cycle ways every where — A token piece of cycle pathway – which stops just around the corner – in a city so flat, its nuts that we don’t have cycle ways every where

And looking back from where I have just come through a commercial & semi industrial area, from now on its more suburban

Since the earthquakes road cones are a common sight everywhere - this one must have been left behind — Since the earthquakes road cones are a common sight everywhere – this one must have been left behind

Past the Countdown Supermarket at Church Corner/Upper Riccarton

Across the intersection while I waited at the lights (the Countdown is just behind me)

Its a little hard to see with the bright light and the shadows but this is St Peter's Church at Church Corner, still awaiting earthquake repairs after 4 years. Rubble stacked around some of the graves. My great-grandmother is buried here. — Its a little hard to see with the bright light and the shadows but this is St Peter’s Church at Church Corner, still awaiting earthquake repairs after 4 years. Rubble stacked around some of the graves. My great-grandmother is buried here.

Then the rest of the ride is through suburbia

The Avonlea Dairy - corner/convenience store — The Avonlea Dairy – corner/convenience store

School's out (about 3.15pm) — School’s out (about 3.15pm)

Just one of the small streets I biked along - most streets are fairly straight but make for boring photos so I chose picks of those with bends in the road — Just one of the small streets I biked along – most streets are fairly straight but make for boring photos so I chose photos of those with bends in the road

Merrin Primary School - where I went as a child (ages 5-12) — Merrin Primary School – where I went as a child (ages 5-12)

And home! Most homes are single story standalone dwellings.

About to approach the front door and release the doglets. My journey home is complete.

9 comments

I really enjoyed reading your post! Christchurch is beautiful!
I love your how neat your desk is and how you can look out and enjoy the bright blue sky, sunlight and beautiful wide open space. Oh and your bike is too cute! =)

The Sock Mistress says:

March 14, 2015 at 3:18 pm

Thanks, its a great city to live in and I’m fortunate my parents chose to move here when I was a small child.

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Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
Thanks for sharing some photos for the challenge! I would love to visit New Zealand someday! -OM
Note: Comments disabled here, please visit their blog.

The Sock Mistress says:

March 14, 2015 at 3:17 pm

It is a fantastic idea. Thanks for the reblog (before I even got a chance to ask 🙂 )

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- Opinionated Man says:
  
  March 14, 2015 at 3:18 pm
  
  No worries! 🙂

I had no idea Christchurch is so flat. Thanks for the tour.

The Sock Mistress says:

March 15, 2015 at 8:18 am

It is situated on the Canterbury Plains but surrounded by hills (or as my British relatives call them – mountains) and mountains – the Southern Alps.

We do get gale force winds in summer sometimes which is a pain to bike in but it’s not often enough to put me off biking.

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that was interesting ……..but I think the number of people in ur city is not big….the streets are nearly empty……I enjoyed the tour ….thanks..

The Sock Mistress says:

March 15, 2015 at 11:08 am

It’s a smaller city – about 350,000 people. Despite this at certain times of day we have traffic problems and many cyclists get killed each year. Both good reasons to have a great cycle path system.

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