Stolen from but not robbed - project me day 631

I'm going to make this short considering I am trying not to get too dramatic about my birthday weekend that ended up being one I wouldn't like to repeat in a hurry.

It goes a little something like this! My amazing man gave me a beautiful bottle of perfume in the early hours of my birthday morning. Mom had slept out so I got my phone call with happy birthday wishes and she told me she would be home in a few hours. I still wouldn't see her because we were heading out to my long awaited birthday night at the luxurious Mount Grace Country House and Spa.

The 1 and a bit hour drive was awesome but the arrival at the hotel was even better. The second I walked in the door I was greeted with birthday wishes from all the staff! Whoever helped us or saw us knew it was my special day and I was beyond excited for a dream night (our first night away as a new couple).

I've never been one to switch off my phone, no matter how I know I need some time out. I have always worried that someone might need me and I know it might be a little neurotic but that's me. I did put the phone on silent though and only checked the phone once ... when a gorgeous plate of chocolates and fruit were delivered to our luxury suite. I grabbed the opportunity to check the phone and there was the strangest message from my brother asking why Mr Unexpected had left his car in the middle of the road and left the gate to the house wide open.

I knew it ... house broken in to!
They must have seen the signage on my man's car and knew not to take it so they moved it out the way and stole mom's car instead. They took both mine and Mr Unexpected's laptops, the flat screen TV that was the last gift we gave my dad and all mine and my mom's?jewelry.

For my international friends who have shown their love and concern ... no, they most probably won't catch the guys and NO, nothing will be returned. That is the reality of SA. Not one that I'm thrilled about but it's the reality. Yes, I've counted my blessings and it's amazing that my mother wasn't home because she is always home on the weekends. They also closed the door behind them and my kitties and parrot are both safe. My sister drove past the house and saw Mr Unexpected's car in the middle of the road and thought he was moving it out the way so I could take my car out ... Thank the gods she didn't come in to check!

So ... I've counted my blessings and although I was stolen from I was robbed of nothing. I have spent the past few days feeling so lucky that no one was home, my pets are safe and that we didn't come home to tragedy ...

Now I'm entitled to be honest and vent for a moment! I can't believe that we are so accustomed to getting robbed that when the amazing staff of the Mount Grace got the call, they could all empathise on some level and welcomed us back whenever we are ready. The warmest thank you to Clayton Howard and his staff for personally meeting with me and wishing me on my safe journey home ... although I was in your company for a fleeting moment it was on that I will never forget.

I couldn't believe that when I tweeted it everyone told me that I should be lucky no one was hurt ... I couldn't believe that it sits so much in our psyche to be stolen from that we have slipped into the next best auto mode of being lucky everyone is alive.

No one should be stolen from!! It should not be the norm ... and no, I don't know where I'm going with this or what I expect to be done about it! All I know is that it was heritage day and I am very proudly South African. I refuse to blame a nation for the one or two thieves that invaded my home. I never talk politics and maybe because I feel like it's pissing in the wind ... but I could blame a whole lot now!!

I'm not going to pretend that I'm not upset that some material things were taken ... the perfume my man just gave me a few hours before, my D & G watch that my mom gave me knowing I always wanted to own 1 thing from them, my ring my mom just gave me for my birthday the night before, the flat screen TV that was the last gift we gave my dad (yes, I said that) ... and my laptop!

It's crazy to try blog off my phone! It's crazy to try function off my phone! It's crazy that I got that sponsorship not so long ago and it's crazy that I'm back at square one in need of a laptop!

Yes, we are all safe ... Yes, I was stolen from ... Yes, I've counted my blessing ... Yes, I was robbed of nothing I can't replace ... Yes, I'm pissed off and don't know what the hell to do about it!

On a special note ... thank you to the Twitter and Facebook communities for your incredible birthday wishes and support as my weekend went mad.

Another special thank you to my family for rallying together and making the rest of my birthday weekend so special.

The biggest thank you to my beautiful man for making me feel so safe, keeping me smiling and reminding me that love grows when times are rough ... I've truly found my cowboy!