Nearly twenty years ago I made a definite decision that I was to set up a business based on my loves. I now specialise in French tourism and regularly travel to France to escort tours and look after my various rental properties in France, and check out the various canal boat trips.
At the moment I am in England seeing my 19 year old son before he heads to India to play cricket. I am on my way to escort a tour through France.
It was 5.36pm (here in the UK) on Friday when I was driving through a typically narrow lane in Kent when my phone rang. “Dad, help me, my country is falling apart” my darling daughter chockingly (hysterically!) screamed. “Please can you get someone to help me”. She could barely breath with terror. What does a father do?
My daughter had just experienced the most traumatic event of her life as a major earthquake shattered the peace of our hometown Christchurch. No power, no lights, nothing!
She was alone. Dark. House dancing off its foundations. Masonry falling in our house through our normally tranquil lounge, and objects flying everwhere. “I thought I was going to be killed by a flying book” Sarah jokingly exclaimed having experienced this life changing experience. After several minutes of terror Sarah and the rest of Christchurch could assess the terrible damage that had struck them. The centre of town has been decimated by the power of this earthquake – I think it needs a name like a tropical storm! Thankfully there have been no fatalities, but one of our friends is fighting for his life in critical care at the moment, and we constantly think of him.
Following the earthquake the internet coverage made things so helpful. From the other side of the world we listened to constant radio coverage on NewstalkZB, to familiar voices of our radio hosts, as well as the Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, who comfortingly talked the citizens through this disaster. For us so far away we thank them.
To be separated from your loved ones at such times is desperate. Even when things are all good I struggle with these separations. When I started my business, which I like to describe as “the best job in the world”, every trip away to France was an emotional wrench for me as I regularly left behind those that I loved. I don’t mind admitting that I regularly cried myself to sleep in their absence while alone on tour in France.
Nearly twenty years later it’s not as hard, except at times like this. Next month I will have a son working in India, a daughter in New Zealand, and I will be here in France with my wife! Our blessing these days are the communications that are on offer to us making these separations completely bearable! Even during the quake I had contacted other family in Christchurch, and within minutes Sarah had been “rescued” from our home, and whisked away to the comfort of family.
There are always good things that come out of bad. Over the last few days I have been inundated with messages of love and concern from our friends and hotel staff throughout France and from my travel “clients” alike.
I’m pleased that those two minutes of terror are over, and feel blessed that our families are safe and well – buildings can be rebuilt, but lives can’t.
Glad all is well with the family John. Wishing you a less dramatic week ahead.
To John and Family,
So pleased that everyone is safe, and our of harms way.
What a nightmare it has been for Christchurch, and of
course New Zealand – All over the world there has been
tragedies, and we as a country unfortunately have just
experienced the real forces of nature, and hopefully
it will not continue. The miracle is that no one got directly killed, and we do hope that your friend, who was injured, will recover as quickly as possible.
To you Sarah we send our best wishes, and say how pleased and grateful we are that you do have family support. I feel it has left many people in NZ very emotional, and today, Monday morning, we are still only coming grips with the events that have taken place.
We have cousins in Christchurch, in Halswell, and they
are safe and sound.
John and Andrea, enjoy your tour in Provence, and come
home safely,
Sincerely, Rose & Vic (Fans of the French Way Travel)
Like you and your wife John, we were travelling in UK when we heard about this. And you sum up our emotions concisely. I’d agree that the internet these days is marvellous in conveying up to date coverage and a wonderful tool in being able to fully understand events around the world. We could quickly do a roundup of family and friends to allay fears of anything happening to their person.