With our CBD in ruins and under cordon, there are no galleries or museums to visit. Public pools are closed. You cannot visit the beaches or rivers - contaminated with raw sewage, they are a health hazard. Some public parks, if accessible, are unsafe due to the risk of falling trees. Parks and reserves in the Port Hills are closed due to instability. The hills have risen 40 centimetres from sea-level as a result of the February 22 quake. Rock fall and land-slides now pose significant risk. Organised or formal child-centric activities are like hens teeth. Besides, who wants to brave the roads to get across the other side of town?
But for the boy-child, there is an upside. The amount of trucks, diggers, rollers and other heavy machinery in the suburbs has him in raptures. Workmen in fluoro vests and steel capped boots are everywhere. He says, 'Hi-ee' to every one.
Yesterday, screams of delight as a Kenworth truck pulled up right outside our gate. Men with socks and shorts tan-lines disembarked and put orange cones about. And then, as if that wasn't beyond excitement, the digger rolled up, and began breaking up the unbroken bits of road.
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| I am standing behind our main gate. We were this close to the action! |
Needless to say, I tired of the spectacle before the boy-child. Not only is he heavy, but I felt uncomfortable in such proximity to the three guys standing around watching the one guy in the digger. (I love that they have such defined rolls: truck driver, cone guy, sweeper.) There's a point where you feel you need to make conversation or flee.
I left the boy-child hanging off the gate, emitting a different kind of scream. Sweets, chocolate, biscuits - I tried them all. But he was adamant. Road works or bust. I returned to the house, hoping separation anxiety would get the best of him. After some minutes of SILENCE, I high-tailed it back outside.
He had devised a novel solution: using our Council issued recycling bin to ram the gate.
Of course, there were some technical difficulties...
...which he and the Burmese turned into opportunities.
2 comments:
Boys and heavy machnery - mine grew up with them as we renovated the house (it has taken 10 years). Love that your cat and boy play together!
Tattie - after two girls, I cannot believe the 'boy' in the boy. Believe me when I say his 'boyishness' is nothing to do with our domestic environment. Even the pets are female. He may as well be from another galaxy. Needless to say, though, I am completely besotted by him.
And yes, he and the Lily the cat are great friends. He's even better friends with the Lucy the dog, but she gave the scene a wide berth when I arrived, having prior experience of being found overly interested in bins!
Your boys must have loved the renovation experience. Somehow, I'm sure you were more circumspect. x
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