Discombobulation
It was C.S. Lewis who said “Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say “infinitely” when you mean “very”; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.”
I should, therefore apologise for the title of this piece – however, I am in a state of ‘discombobulation’ and feel the need to rant!
First I shall explain – discombobulation is a feeling of embarrassment that leaves you feeling confused. Embarrassment can be caused by many things – such as the behaviour and performance of the England Rugby team – I have seen better from 5th form rugby tours! There is the embarrassment I feel at having neglected this blog for so long, there is the embarrassment caused by the silence that befalls the room as you finish your best joke… but these are not the source of my feelings.
A certain Mr Roger Wade from the UK made headlines in The Christchurch Press this week. Apparently, the soon to re-open, City Mall, consisting of Ballantynes and some shipping containers converted into retail space is upsetting him. Apparently his Boxpark ‘pop-up mall’ development in Shoreditch, London was the inspiration and deserves recognition – having not got this, he is taking legal action.
I am feeling a sense of deep embarrassment – I am from London, England – and (usually) very proud of it. My roots are in the East End – I follow West Ham from afar! (used to go to Upton Park every game.) I am sure that the Boxpark project is a great idea and the East End of London deserves the revitalisation it is undergoing, largely driven by the olympics next year. But I live here in Christchurch, have done for 13 years now – and love it (perhaps I could do without the earthquakes!) and I now have NZ Citizenship, and it is ‘home.’
What is this man hoping to achieve? I heard him on the radio and he said it was not for ‘financial gain.’ So what? I know we do not have sole ownership of the moral high ground due to the earthquakes we have suffered – just look at Turkey, Japan et al – mother nature does not discriminate, but I struggle to see what he can hope to achieve. The people of Christchurch have endured a significant natural disaster – large parts of the City have been destroyed. The City Mall reopening is an attempt to show that the City is rebuilding – amid the continued demolition and aftershocks.
Good on the people behind this – and shame on the knockers. Mr Wade may have right on his side in a purely legal sense I do not know, but, in my opinion, he has no right to pontificate, unless he has ever gone through something similar to us.
A bigger man, would have written an open letter to The Press – congratulated those involved and told us all how pleased / proud he was to have provided the inspiration. The City’s response may well have been to invite him here, show him round and discuss further joint ventures. I doubt that will be the case now.
I suspect that all of us here, who have lived through September, February and June have changed. I know I have – I understand that my time here is limited, I am thankful I am alive and my family survived unscathed. I can empathise with those elsewhere in the World who have to go through similar, often far worse disasters. Mr Wade – my message to you – “don’t sweat the small stuff mate!” Remember the words of the recently departed Steve Jobs “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”
Normal service, regarding interesting and informative real estate articles to resume next week!
Don’t feel discombobulated Tim! Interesting to read of the shipping container shops around the world that have been set up years before Mr Roger Wade – he better watch out someone might put their lawyers on to him for copying their ideas!!