B.

Didn't get to sleep last night

Behind the scenes

The title of Jim Speers's sculpture rang true yet again the other night. But this time it wasn't aftershocks keeping me and half the neighbourhood awake – it was a roadwork crew.

They arrived at 9pm on the dot and stayed till around 2.30am, levelling and re-laying a street that had been hit hard by liquefaction. It was noisy, but as far as I know no one in the neighbourhood complained – we were just happy to have all that loose shingle removed and replaced with beautiful smooth black tarseal.   

James Fitzgerald Repairing the Road c.1932. Aquatint. Hocken Library

James Fitzgerald Repairing the Road c.1932. Aquatint. Hocken Library