Earthquake house

A lot of Christchurch's history disappeared on Tuesday as a result of several large aftershocks pf the September 4 quake. This time we didn't have the foresight to be visiting Australia so experienced all the ghastliness of rolling floors, falling objects (his new imac attacked Peter and threw him to the floor; he suffered skin tears to forehead and both knees), and a noise like an express train roaring through the building. We were lucky to be at home so escaped the devastation in the city centre although we were much nearer the epicentre. Once the major shaking was over the first thing that caught my eye was the mountain of paper and books that comprises my genealogical research occupying a fair proportion of the study floor. Now, I'm not paper-proud but I do usually have the files in some sort of rough order; there's a big reorganisation ahead there but it will have to be in line behind the demolished bookcases, exploded pantry (spilled spices are hard to clean up without water), and our share of the 100-150,000 tonnes of silt on paths and driveways that forced its way from its subterranean home to the surface in the process of liquefaction. It's starting to smell:(.
There's a story about our house that might explain why it has emerged relatively unscathed (a few cracks) from the events of the last six months, despite being constructed with double brick external and internal walls. It was built around 1932, just after the devastating earthquake at Napier in the North Island, when the daughter of the owner of the neighbouring brickworks married. When we had alterations done in the 1990s we discovered 18" of poured concrete encasing railway irons along the ceiling line of every room's walls. For anyone needing to go under the house there was a nightmare as the foundations were solid under every room and that meant there were no working cavities under doorways. We could only speculate that the reinforcing irons were in the foundations also; now, after Tuesday, we are almost sure they are there holding everything together. What damage has occurred has been to the walls of the extension, the newer part of the house. Other older brick houses nearby have collapsed. So we have been fortunate.
Now back to the cleanup and the smelly sludge.

Murphy's Law applies/surnames

Just when I decide to become a blogger I had to fall and break a wrist! You would think that this might solve the genealogist's pet bugbear, lack of time to follow those elusive trails, while my lovely husband takes over cooking and housework (he calls it joining the slave class). But I have found it doesn't work like that. So I will confine myself to a list of surnames of interest and catch up on the 52 weeks of personal genealogy challenge when I have two hands to work with.
In Northern England:
Armstrong
Watson
Cranson
Taylor
Macdonald
Shalders
Asher
In Australia (mostly NSW):
Bell
Pemberton
Pezet
Torrens
Bridge
Price
O'Brien
Shalders (in Victoria)