We're back!

[SweetViolet]

Whew! In case you are wondering, I haven't been ignoring you, I've been without an internet connection. My computer was stolen on Valentine's Day and the backup laptop that the thieves missed just wouldn't work right. We finally discovered that I had two choices: computer without internet or no computer at all...whatever little piece of hardware allows me to connect to the net has gone toes up and if enabled, freezes up the computer. The insurance company has been dragging its feet regarding replacement, so last night Hubby just went out and bought me a new one (isn't he a doll? This is the same guy who gave me Puddin' for Valentine's Day!). So now I have a new Dell...a pink one!...that unfortunately has Vista instead of XP. I'm not happy with Vista, but ecstatic to be back on the net!

Puddin' turned 12 weeks yesterday and she is growing like a weed! And SO cute...and cheeky! She is very bold...nothing frightens her (unless you count Trinny, the Foxy, who jumps up and down to show her delight but doesn't check where she lands...) and yesterday she had her first turn as a watchdog. Puddin' and I were in the house and the maid was outside watering and she accidentally hit the floor-to-ceiling window with the hose. The noise was totally unfamiliar to Puddin' and she jumped up off my lap and ran to the window, barking the whole time!! I praised her and gave her a treat, but she didn't want it! She was determined to frighten off that stream of water and protect her mama! She's so little, but she's so fierce!!

We went to the "slow food market" this morning...sort of like a flea market of food...and Puddin' was the hit of the morning. She greets everyone who stops to speak with her like a long lost friend...Miss Charm and Personality! She stays in her bag (leashed into it) and stands up to be patted and fussed over. As soon as I figure out how to download the camera to this new computer, I'll post some new pics.

So any of my YT friends who think I am avoiding them...no! I just haven't had anything but sporadic internet access for weeks!

[littlewhip]

Welcome back Wow sorry about your puter ! thats awful !
did someone break into your home ? My gosh thats a scary thought.
and to your great hubby

[Patti]

Glad your back. Sorry to hear about the theft. What a sweet husband

[citygirl]

Sorry about your computer and welcome back

[SweetViolet]

Originally Posted by littlewhip

Welcome back Wow sorry about your puter ! thats awful !
did someone break into your home ? My gosh thats a scary thought.
and to your great hubby

Yes, Hubby took me out for Valentine's Day dinner. We were gone less that 2.5 hours and when we got back, they were in the house! Thank goodness we took Puddin' with us...she was only 7 weeks old at the time and they ransacked her room. Actually they ransacked the house...the police think they were looking for a safe, which we don't have. They didn't get away with very much...I don't think they expected us to return when we did. Our TVs were out of their places with their remotes, ready to go out the window they took out of the frame to get into the house. They got a few pairs of earrings, a camera, a couple of watches (and for some reason left the Seiko and Omega behind!) and two laptops, both of which were old and obsolete, one of which seriously needed a trip to the repair shop.

Nobody was hurt, we are insured, and my friendly neighbourhood ironmonger now has a considerably fatter wallet after Hubby commissioned him to make new, custom-fitted Spanish bars for our windows and gates for our doors.

The most aggravating part of this has been the insurance company acting like we are trying to screw them. We pay a higher premium for "full replacement value" on our insurance so that we actually get new, equivalent stuff if our stuff is stolen. It appears the insurance company's definition of "full replacement value " and ours is not the same! So, after 5 weeks of waiting and making do with a barely-functioning substitute, Hubby bit the bullet and bought me a new computer.

He is an absolute doll! (And Puddin' thinks the sun rises and sets with him!)

[silverjoy]

I remember your original post about the theft while you were out with your husband and Puddin> Welcome back

[SweetViolet]

Originally Posted by silverjoy

I remember your original post about the theft while you were out with your husband and Puddin> Welcome back

Thanks! I have missed all of you and your babies! I have learned so much here and Puddin' has only benefitted from the collective wisdom and knowledge on this site!

[BarbiesBabyJada]

Welcome Back Glad you are ok and that you took Puddin with you that day...I think I would get some cameras up ..They say thiefs comes back not sure

[SweetViolet]

Originally Posted by BarbiesBabyJada

Welcome Back Glad you are ok and that you took Puddin with you that day...I think I would get some cameras up ..They say thiefs comes back not sure

Interesting you should say that...these guys certainly know what it is the house now...all the stuff they didn't have time to haul away, like the big screen TV the actually carried down a winding stairway from the second floor! We've had custom-made bars put up on the master suite (where we sleep and where they broke in). Our house is Mediterranean style, so the iron bars look like normal embellishments to the house. The ironmonger is working on bars for the guest suite, kitchen, and gates for our access doors.

Truth is, we think our neighbour's kids are responsible, but she is one of those "they're teenagers, I can't control them..." kind of parent. Her kids steal beer from her fridge and throw the bottles over the garden wall and they climb over the wall at will...I have caught them in our back garden more than once. It's not some flimsy fence...we have a 12" thick masonry wall between their property and ours! Yesterday the maid found a burned down cigarette next to one of the security gates in our back garden...somebody was standing in our yard, next to the gate, smoking. Small wonder our dogs go off barking in that part of the yard!

Cameras won't help...cameras need light and these guys wait until cover of darkness. I'm thinking razor wire and electric fencing...

[Shelby&Seymour]

Originally Posted by SweetViolet

Interesting you should say that...these guys certainly know what it is the house now...all the stuff they didn't have time to haul away, like the big screen TV the actually carried down a winding stairway from the second floor! We've had custom-made bars put up on the master suite (where we sleep and where they broke in). Our house is Mediterranean style, so the iron bars look like normal embellishments to the house. The ironmonger is working on bars for the guest suite, kitchen, and gates for our access doors.

Truth is, we think our neighbour's kids are responsible, but she is one of those "they're teenagers, I can't control them..." kind of parent. Her kids steal beer from her fridge and throw the bottles over the garden wall and they climb over the wall at will...I have caught them in our back garden more than once. It's not some flimsy fence...we have a 12" thick masonry wall between their property and ours! Yesterday the maid found a burned down cigarette next to one of the security gates in our back garden...somebody was standing in our yard, next to the gate, smoking. Small wonder our dogs go off barking in that part of the yard!

Cameras won't help...cameras need light and these guys wait until cover of darkness. I'm thinking razor wire and electric fencing...

How about some security lighting.... or some "motion" lighting. That may help.

[SweetViolet]

Originally Posted by Shelby&Seymour

How about some security lighting.... or some "motion" lighting. That may help.

We considered this, but they entered our property from a neighbour's back garden...our house is impenetrable from the street, even the police agree. We are concerned that putting security lighting will just illuminate the area making it easier for them to see what they are doing!

My husband is considering putting up flood lights in the back that we can turn on whenever the dogs start barking. That way it won't assist potential burlars by giving them plenty of light, but will assist us when our little "early warning doggies" give us an alert.

Personally, I am in favour of putting razor wire up on a specific garden wall...I'll bet our problems diminish considerably if we do!

[Angiedoo]

Hallo,

I sent you a couple of emails this week but it kept coming back

Glad to see you are back online

Kisses to Puddin'

Chat soon

[SweetViolet]

I am finally back up so you can email me. Bella needs to come over and run some of this energy out of Puddin'...she's finally gone from being a "baby" to a real puppy and she is just FULL of it!