Open house...

We had a burglary on 5 February.  Yes, sure!  A free for all.  Come into our private living space, our home and help yourself to the things that we've worked hard for.  The things we've saved for and loved.  Yes, they're worldly possessions, but they were our possessions.

A burglary leaves you with such a bitter taste in your mouth.  It makes you anxious to be in your very safest place, your home.  It's an invasion of your privacy and your mind goes into overdrive as you imagine these villains breaking into your space, rifling through your wardrobes and touching your thing.  Who are they?  What do they look like?  What did they need our things so desperately for? Were the watching our comings and goings and planning their bargain shopping for a while?

It was the middle of a sunny Tuesday.  My parents had gone out to a doctor's appointment and lunch for a friend's 80th birthday.  Jake was at school.  I was at work.  I picked Jake up from school and we came home to find the mess.  We actually heard a heavy thump and I'm not unconvinced that we didn't disturb the burglars.  They broke in via Jake's room, cutting the glass out of a window pane and pushing the burglar bars out.  I imagine they'd sussed the place out properly before breaking in, as they went for the room with all the electronics in it.  Poor Jake.  He came home to find that his room had been trashed and all his treasures taken - phone, Xbox, headsets, controllers, games, shoes, money, coin collections, watch, bags, camera, Nikes...  I lost my laptop, as well as a bracelet that my sisters gave me for my 40th and a necklace that Jacques bought me (irreplaceable).  My dad's laptop and headphones were also taken.  My dad's study and my bedroom definitely came second to Jake's and he took the worst hit, especially since he saved up for his own Xbox and most of his games and things have been birthday and Christmas presents.

We only heard from our insurance company yesterday, to finally confirm that they will be paying out against our claim.  It's been touch and go for a while - our alarm wasn't armed at the time.  Fortunately it wasn't a mandatory security measure, so we are going to be compensated for our losses.  I took Jake on a shopping spree this weekend past.  I had to replace his Xbox and games, regardless of what the insurance decided.  He is super chuffed with his upgraded Xbox and new games.

The point of entry - Jake's window.  The glass and burglar bar are lying on the "grass" along with the crank for our blinds that they used to force the burglar bar out...

 Jake's room was properly searched.  I was terrified of his knife collection that he always keeps in the draw next to his bed.  The burglars discovered them and we found 2 on the floor in my dad's study...

 The empty shelves that once housed Jake's Xbox and games.  Fortunately, the didn't find Jake's new Xbox control and they left his speaker too.  Oh and his TV.  I don't think they had enough time to get that off the wall...

 My room wasn't too bad - they'd only emptied one shelf and scratched through a bag of clothes.  And then obviously taken my laptop and jewellery from off my desk...

 Jake was super thrilled with his haul of new games, shoes, phone, Xbox and headset.  I was terrified at the thought of having to pay them all off, so very grateful that insurance is paying out...

Sending love,

Sue xxx

Junior Rangers...

 Some time ago, I wrote about Jake having been chosen to become a junior ranger.  The process involved a formal application and only a handful of kids were chosen.  Jake didn't make it on his first attempt and had to wait a year to reapply, but was very excited when he was accepted into the program.  Sadly, one year in, SAN Parks pulled the funding on the program and it was closed down.  The woman who was running it for SAN Parks, Christa, decided to run with the Junior Rangers program on a private level and it's also open to anyone who's prepared to pay the quarterly fees.  It's something that Jake looks forward to ever month.  Well, mostly, besides the early morning wake up on rangers day.  2 weeks ago we went down Venus Pools at Cape Point for the rangers lesson on star fish.

It was a stunning day, the weather was perfect and the cold water crystal clear.  The pool was unexpectedly gorgeous and the water was tempting - if I'd had a ozzie, I might even have braved a swim.  I left my camera at home, so these photos are all from my phone (sorry, not the best).  They're all taken looking into the water...

 The kids bravely waded into the water to have a look below the surface at the hidden treasures below...

 Jake overslept, so didn't have anything with him- he's such a pain to get up and going in the mornings.  The joy of being a teenager...

 Fortunately, Christa had bowls and managed to get them big star fish to check out on land...

 Everybody wanted a touch...

 The absolutely stunning Venus Pools.  they're tidal pools, but if you're looking for somewhere to spend a day at the beach, a little off the beaten track, this is your spot.  No sand, no crowds and this gorgeous pool almost all to yourself!  Just check the tide times, it's a tidal pool and the waves do come crashing in...

 Out in nature, in his happy place.  You wouldn't say that if you saw him slobbing on his bed playing Xbox, but he does love being outdoors.  It totally energizes him...

 

 The star fish set free, with the sun's reflection glowing on the water...

 Some of the kids checking out a little red sea slug that Christa found for them...

 

 Looking for treasures.  This pool was full of little fish and snails and mussels and star fish - so much to look at...

If you do go visiting this pool, please be careful of the sea urchins.  Their spikes are not your friends!  Flip flops or water shoes or flippers are a good idea...

Some pretty cushion star fish in an assortment of colours.  Teeny tiny stripey snails too...

So Junior Rangers still exists as Cape Town Rangers.  The program is great.  Jake's meeting up with the group this coming Saturday at St James to explore the sea anemones there.  Hopefully he gets up in time to actually take his costume with this time!  He's made some awesome friends, as have I.  Long live rangers!!

Love

Sue xxx