B*stards

I got a call from Fred - he'd come home to discover that we'd been burgled. I was on my way, but I couldn't get there fast enough. Living in London, there's always a fear in the back of the mind that your home isn't safe. We'd been so lucky for so long.

The police were there when I arrived. The thieves had taken the whole of this blipped window out of the frame - we're going to have to replace the WHOLE window. It may have been easier to smash the glass, but then they'd have made a big noise. The window is at the back of the flat in a blind spot that's private from the neighbours. It's good for us, but also bad since it's great for burglars. They'd tried the bathroom window, too, which is a bit splintered (and so easily repaired), but something scared them off that one (the neighbours can see it clearly and they were in during the burgalry).

In total, my laptop, Fred's laptop, an iPod touch, my bicycle and the bicycle belonging to our upstair's neighbour (and which was in the communal hallway) were stolen. Although we're so grateful that the pets are all OK, and most of our sentimental items are safe, I'm completely gutted about the loss of my bike. It's been a good friend through six years of travelling around London, Denmark, Islay, Jura, Arran, Mull, Uist, Barra, Vatersay, Ardnamurchan, Kent and Sussex. I hope someone takes good care of it. Poor bicyclette.

PS The grey stuff around the window is fingerprinting powder. The fingerprinting guy got covered in the stuff when the washing machine shifted under his grip - whoops!