Posts by David Haywood
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P.S. I’m currently working every second to get our house finished to a deadline (otherwise the council will take me for five grand), but I felt compelled to make this quick contribution in celebration of the 10th PA Anniversary. Well done Russell and everyone else!
You may be interested to know that this piece was composed while using a nail gun. It has taken a while for me to see humour in the current situation in CHCH, but the nail gun has helped no end.
Oh, and apologies if I don’t reply to messages. Sadly my eyes have gone bung, and I can’t read my computer screen anymore. Once I have a few moments I shall visit an optometrist and either my life shall be transformed or I will be declared legally blind (hopefully the former).
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Quoted on Close Up tonight (in response to CERA’s announcement today RE: their new policy to promote the option of relocating houses):
David Haywood says that if it helps more people – then their hard-fought battle has been worthwhile…
I have it on good (the best) authority that David Haywood said no such thing. No-one from Close Up even talked to him today at all.
The quote sounds good, though, and he doesn’t really disagree with it.
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Very sorry for the radio silence, folks. I have been snowed under -- hope to post a proper update soon. But many thanks for all the erudite and witty comments...
Vita Cochran wrote:
Can you move the apple tree too? Or take a graft of it, best apples ever… Good luck
Very nice to meet you at last, Vita!
I took 20 cuttings of the apple tree -- all of which seem to have perished. But I do have seeds. Peasgood Nonesuch is a terrific apple (the name says it all really). Jennifer and I have lived with a Peasgood Nonesuch tree our whole marriage -- it would be hard to go without.
It had to be chopped down to move the house, but at least we managed to save the weeping elm.
JacksonP wrote:,
Roger Sutton: “There’s only been about 50 people approaching us wanting to move their houses”.
Jen and I were told only 15 (we checked 15, not 50) -- so I wonder if there's been a mishearing here. Most people in "repairable" houses have yet to settle their insurance so wouldn't be in a position to move.
Hebe wrote:
Choice is what is needed -- for those who like subdivision life and for those who do not.
My sentiments exactly.
Dr Eric Crampton from the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of Canterbury has an interesting analysis of the covenants issue here:
http://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/connect-dots.html
It seems to me that covenants are going to bequeath an urban planning nightmare to the future of Christchurch/Canterbury. I'm envisaging a two-year freeze on covenants for any new (not already existing) subdivisions.
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Camera problems -- and huge amounts of paper-work! More soon...
P.S. Bart, you are invited any time! Although, as you rightly surmise, you will at some point (when you least expect it) be handed a shovel...
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An almost factual article in The Press – with a truly great photograph of our house and (some of) my loved ones.
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Southerly: Liveblog: Moving House (Literally), in reply to Allison Haywood,
I particularly like, “one who duns; a dunner.”
You're too polite to say it outright, Dr Haywood, but your observation of my character over the last 43 years (and your two-year superiority in age) has enabled you to make a spot-on diagnosis. I am indeed “one who duns; a dunner.”
Dunsandel has clearly been my destiny all along...
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Southerly: Liveblog: Moving House (Literally), in reply to Allison Haywood,
Glad the weather has been kind this month and long may it continue
Always excellent to hear from one of the other Dr Haywoods!
Alas that the forecast is for rain this weekend -- I'm just hoping that they're wrong.
What a time to have no roof on one's house. Bugger the meteorologists...
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Southerly: Liveblog: Moving House (Literally), in reply to DexterX,
The roof driving off, being driven, down the road on its lonesome will be a "cute" sight. I am assuming you will be reusing it.
Hell, yes! Not leaving anything for Gerry Brownlee.
Thank you everyone for all the very kind and supportive messages. I'm exhausted already (worked until past 2 am last night) and can't believe that I'll be going until dawn. Mind you, the convoy ride in the truck will ease the pain somewhat.
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Southerly: Bricks and Mortar, in reply to John Haywood,
I like how your writing on ‘the list’ turns gradually into a illegible scrawl as you get more tired.
It’s how I imagine The Unabomber’s manifesto would have looked.I must confess that -- at times -- the whole process has given me something of an insight into what might have driven the Unabomber off the rails.
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Southerly: Liveblog: Moving House (Literally), in reply to Stephen Judd,
ear God, I don't know I could handle watching this if I were you -- I think I'd be down the pub trying not to think about it. Sort of getting the operation done under a general, thanks.
I'm giving your suggestion serious consideration at this point...