We are a bit at sixes and sevens at the moment. Approximately 2am Friday morning, while we were asleep upstairs, our house was raided. Someone grabbed our ipad and iphone, a tub of pasta off the bench, (true :>) a wallet, car key and garage clicker, and my bag and purse, walked out the laundry door, opened the garage and drove off in our car.

After living here happily for twenty years the result was not only a sense of violation,

• the act of doing something that is not allowed by a law or rule

• : the act of ignoring or interfering with a person’s rights

• : the act of showing disrespect for something

but also a loss of independence,  a shattering of our complacency and on the material side, no cash, no cards and no car. The police arrived and were kind and considerate. We were fortunate that this was what they call a ‘gratuitous burglary’ and no large items, like the TV or computer were taken and nothing was trashed.

Thank goodness our dynamic duo came to our rescue. Our son, Paul came as soon as he heard, handed us cash to tide us over and helped sort out what to do to protect and replace our cards etc. Our daughter-in-law, Marian offered us the loan of their two dogs for comfort and security. She also left us their second car until we get our new credit card in the mail and can hire a car.

There is so much to do and all of it as quickly as possible. We now have new locks on all our doors but it feels as if it’s like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

The amazing thing to us is the wonderful support we have received and the kindness shown. Friends have rung and offered to help, neighbours have visited and so many people have been so kind. It restores your faith in human nature. I know there are ‘takers’ in any community but there are also many ‘givers’. These are the people who nourish and support us in times of need. Bless them all.