(photograph © Kiwidutch)
The Roman Catholic Basilica in Christchurch New Zealand may well be damaged but extraordinary measures are being taken to ensure that the building doesn’t deteriorate further whilst options are being deliberated and even more importantly, whilst they wait for the aftershocks to ease off.
Once again the humble shipping container is being employed to shore up shaken structures, and on both the eastern and eastern sides of the transept shipping containers are stacked high to help the Cathedral withstand the many aftershocks that have continued to rock the city in the last two years.
The space where the Cathedral walls and the shipping containers could make contact has been filled with hay bales, a very low tech but highly efficient buffer material that has the flexibility to cushion and absorb energy from the aftershocks as the building deals with the motion of the earth.
The massive cracks in the transept walls are a reminder of just how extensive the damage is and what a lot of work is going to be needed to restore this building… with ongoing aftershocks further damaging the already weakened structure it’s uncertain if restoration is even possible.
In the meantime it probably largely due to the shipping containers and hay bales that the Cathedral hasn’t collapsed already.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Maybe if the Cathedral can be repaired, the first song played should be dedicated to the humble shipping container, and the tune should be the Bill Wither’s song: ”Lean on Me…” as the words are poignantly appropriate…
“Lean On Me”
Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
Please, swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won’t let show
You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load
You have to bear that you can’t carry
I’m right up the road, I’ll share your load
If you just call me
Call me (If you need a friend)
Call me (Call me uh-huh)
Call me (When you need a friend)
Call me (If you ever need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (If you need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/billwithers/leanonme.html
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
