A wet arrival

I moved to Whakatane on 19 July 2004.  I was so busy packing, finishing my   previous job, and having a leaving party that I completely missed the news all     weekend and wasn't aware that there was a flood in my new town until I was getting in the car to drive down on the Sunday.  By that time it was too late, my entire life was packed up in boxes and I was starting my new job the next day.  

So I drove, my cat wailing her protest the entire way. I got to the Matata straights (which had been closed for days apparently) and had an incident free journey arriving at "Lake Whakatane" early afternoon.  My landlord met me and when I stepped out of the car and into my flat an earthquake hit.  The first of many more to follow.

About then I wondered what I was doing moving here and was ready to move back to Auckland.  This was made worse because I had a horrible cold and ended up having to drive myself to hospital with my first ever asthma attack that week. 

But, I quickly found that despite being in complete disarray for a few weeks Whakatane was a great place.  

Still here. 

Karen Parcell