Smash and

The Eldest was involved in a smash-and-grab the previous weekend. She was coming from friends on a Saturday night at 10 o'clock!

Luckily she is very alert, and she was watching guys across the road which looked suspicious. The next moment there was this huge smash on the driver's seat window! She did not see them at all! She reacted automatically, and drove through the robot just before the robot turned green for the other side! The window was shattered, but it did not fell out! They could not take anything or hijack her!

She was very shaken when she arrived home and felt a bit deflated! Also very despondent about the "assholes" (her word) that dampened her evening!

So she had to go and make a  case at the police station the next day, and had to have the window fixed during the week. She had to pay in the excess of R500 which was also not planned for... All very unwelcome and a lot of schlepp!

She had to wait for the case number from the police, as we filed the case at another police station. The thought was there that we would wait very long or not hear from the police again.

But she got a phone call from a very concerned police woman who wanted to know if she is okay and is she got hurt. She was told that the crossing is a hot spot and that lots of people are being smash-and-grabbed there. It touched the Eldest that the police woman seemed to care. How many of these cases do they not get on a daily basis? It was not even a mentionable crime as she was not injured and nothing was stolen... The Eldest said it restored her faith in humanity! She also got the case number within a week, and was notified that a detective was assigned to the case!

She was lucky!

And The Mom wants to preach again about going out at night... (But I won't!)


On a totally different note: Check out the cool Prisma app which changes your photos into art works! The picture above was created by using the app.
It's available in the App store and the Google Play store! For free! (The server seems a bit unstable at times, but I can't blame it, as I've got to run through all the filters before I make a choice!)

You think you are safe

Until you are not, anymore!

 

My husband came home yesterday, to see a camera on a couch where it is not supposed to be. Only to find that we have been burgled, and that he must have surprised them...

 

It seems they came through a small opening in the window. Without breaking it, and closing it again! Thanks, burglars!

With the exception of my jewelry, they did not make a mess. They took out the laptops and cameras out of their bags, and meticulously sorted through my jewelry and only took some stuff!

 

It's the second burglary (14 years back in a different place) that they haven't taken my pearls, and my silver.

That's the way to go, apparently! With pearls and silver!

 

We thought we were okay after we had put in extra steel gates, and burglar bars when we moved in. Also because we are living in a complex, irritatingly squashed in next to each other!

 

It doesn't help!

How do they get in through the security gates?

Why did nobody see them?

Is it an inside job? (Most probably)

 

I was extremely impressed with the police coming out within about two hours last night, and taking the statement. And we have a case number already! Thumbs up to Constable Monwametsi and Constable Mulondo of the Honeydew Police Station.

 

I am now waiting for finger prints to be taken, and or extra burglar bars to be put in throughout the house.

 

With a pepper spray in my hand, and jumping each time I hear something creak outside...

 

O, and hitting my head because I did not back-up my photos for quite a while. I hope it was in 2912? (Idiot!)

 

Back up those photos now!

Posted with Blogsy

A 3-year old Princess

Our little girl turned three yesterday! (So freaking crazy lightning speed fast!)

When we ask her how old she is, she still shows us four fingers, but I think it is in tune with her life!
Next year she is going to go to be with four-year old children in a new school...

I am beginning to think that it is not such a bad thing to have a birthday in December. We are on holiday, and there are presents all around!

She gets extra special attention!

The day started with presents...

It was followed by a walk at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.

(We had a dark cloud hanging over the day following a phone call by the MIL to wish her granddaughter a happy birthday.
While she was speaking to me at the Gardens she started to scream! It was followed by silence!
It was extremely scary! With Hubby anxiously trying to phone his dad and mom...

It turns out she was hit over the head and robbed of her cell and hand bag! Back to reality!?
She's got a broken nose, but she will be okay. Scary stuff here!

We can't walk in the streets while talking on a cell...

We can't walk in the street! Period!)

But:
Later on we had a party at one of or favourite places: Papachinos.

With pizza making...

The cake and candles

There was also another casualty on the day.
Friend Kyle broke a small bone in his foot while jumping down... (Boys...?)
Sorry, Kyle! Apparently it is three weeks in a cast!

Photo by his mom, Vicky

Luckily our fairy princess had a lovely time.

You are so cute, my little girl!
I hope I will remember how cute you are right now!

Happy birthday!!


Related post: 
Wordless Wednesday #107 - 3rd Birthday

Who steals a garden umbrella?

The weather is like summer here. And weekends translate into being outside and braais(barbeques). We had a patio umbrella the previous weekend.

This weekend it was gone!

Who steals garden umbrellas? It is a very heavy, especially with the metal base. Dries walked around in our complex to see if someone had nicked it. We can’t imagine seeing someone walking out with it under their arms. Not that it would be that strange... Reality is stranger than fiction!

It could have been the garden services on Wednesday. They trimmed our neighbour’s trees, and it’s possible they could have smuggled the umbrella and stand out with the tree branches.

The case of the missing umbrella... Another crime statistic? No, not even worth mentioning here with our large crime levels in South Africa.

Just suck it up! It is very frustrating! It’s not like we have back pocket money on hand to go out and buy a new one immediately...

What has been stolen from you that are worth a lot to you, but not worth going to the police about it?

Keeping our children safe during the World Cup 2010

It is finally here! The World Cup! We are all caught up in the excitement! This afternoon we are all going to vuvuzela South Africa against Mexico!


You go, Bafana Bafana!!

My sister made me aware of the Mr Price Safe Place Project, one of our chain stores, who has started a safe place campaign for our children. On the site it states that during the last World Cup in Germany, 30 000 children were reported missing. That’s very scary!

I am impressed that Mr Price has “Go To” people wearing “Safe Place” badges. Children should be made aware that every Mr Price will have designated people who will help them. They can look out for the badges or the “Safe Place” t-shirts that the store managers will be wearing.

Unicef has also made a card “Give the red card for child exploitation” with important telephone numbers who has dedicated special resources for our children. As soon as a child is missing, it should be reported to one of these numbers to put the wheels in motion:

Police 0860 010 111


Childline 0800 055 555


Child Welfare SA 0861 424 453 (08614-CHILD)

As a mother I DO hope that our children will not be part of the worst-of-the-worst statistics of these exciting times!

Please keep an eye on your children! Please keep them safe!


Playing FlogYoBlog Friday with Brenda: Please read her rules at MummyTime.