Why does it always rain?

Apologies for not blogging recently, but on returning from a weekend in Manchester I found my flat had been burgled. Apart from the general rubbish feelings that this brings, it also creates a lot of hassle in your life.

For me, I can cope with the loss of personal property as I was expecting to be burgled at some point - such is life, especially in these harder times. My partner is more distraught at the thought of someone trawling through the underwear drawer and making such a mess. No, my problem is the hassle it creates as you have to face up to a time dealing with officialdom, with strange procedure which make no sense and the constant phone calls.

So far, though, dealing with the Police has been ok, apparently our case was closed within 48 hours as there was no evidence other than a footprint on the toilet cistern. Rather disheartening, I know, to have only 2 days as an active crime! Being called at work by victim support was a surprise, and as I ran into a meeting I didn't have time but to ponder the fact that I'm now a victim with my own social group.

Sending details of the stolen items to the home insurance company was slightly annoying as after faxing the details through, there was no acknowledgment of receipt. A quick phone call eased my mind, but why couldn't I have been informed before having to pick up the phone? We'll see what happens when the claim is processed.

The aforementioned rain is from the Travis song, Why does it always rain on me? A sense of self-pity, brought on by the 'it never rains, but pours' sentiment. Apart from the burglary, my bank card has stopped working and I lost my Oyster card. It's all happened in the last few days, so while waiting for a new bank card I've had to use other ways to finance my luxurious life!

Sorting out a new Oyster card was fun, after reporing it lost I got a new one. Great, I thought, I can transfer my old tickets over to the new card. But had I filled in the form? Had I given it a password? No, the man in the tube office hadn't offered one up when I'd explained my situation. No matter that I'd had to go to the next tube station along, as the one I usually used was closed all weekend for engineering works. I popped into another station for the form, to find a man in the kiosk sat behind a sign saying 'Information Only. For tickets use the machine'. I think he may have been able to have read out the headlines to the News Of The World, as reading that seemed to be his job, but for handing out a form from the drawer next to his right hand - that's just too much.

Anyway, I've got my Oyster card now. And a new laptop, although that didn't have my name on the packaging - checking with work's post room made sure that I got it, means that I should be able to resume my blogging.

Hopefully the rain will move away now.


Squiffy.