For those of you who may not know, I was the butt of a “smash and Grab” last week. I had popped two doors along for a morning coffee before work, gone only ten minutes, when on my return to work a staff member met me with the words…”your car has a smashed window, did you know?” We both ran to my car only to find the back window behind the driver smashed and glass everywhere. Immediately my heart sunk as I had left my laptop complete with my novel I was finally redoing again, along with other papers, passwords and a number of flashdrives with copies of photos, teleseminars, writing information etc… on, were all inside the laptop bag, which I had left covered by a jacket behind my drivers seat. I have to admit I burst into tears when I confirmed it had gone. You can’t imagine how I felt, I was so heartbroken that my writing material had been taken and at the same time what a fool I had been to not only leave it in my car, but have hard copies with the laptop along with flashdrives……… what an idiot I had been.
Well, I have some good news folks, insurance is a good thing to have. The car was fixed that same day and today, I received my new laptop. It will take awhile getting used to. The keys are a little different to the touch and the screen is wider, I will eventually have it set up to what it was. But the most wonderful part of all, my editor/friend whom had critiqued my novel a couple of times a few years ago still had it on file and sent it to me when she heard….. YAY! She’s the best! I am hoping to view her as a guest on my blog in a couple of weeks so I can introduce her to you all. As for a couple of picture book stories I had written, I managed to track down old copies. Luckily my PiBoldMo ideas and other writing lesson papers where in another folder here at home…. yay! So not all is lost.
Here I am with my new laptop, sorry the picture is not the best quality as it was taken by an old cellphone. I thought I would appear in person, as I was so overwhelmed and wanted to thank you all for the lovely comments, wishes and love that was sent to me on facebook and in emails. I was absolutely devastated when it happened, totally heartbroken and for two days suffered a blood nose and my back went out. Hence my dear hubby took me down country for a couple of days to a lovely beachside town where he hoped it would take my mind off everything for awhile.
I am happy that much of what I can retrive is with me now and I am looking ahead thanks to the help of all of you, my fellow writers.
A BIG “THANKYOU” to PiBoldMo, Childrens’ Book Hub, and 12x12in12 friends. Now on with the writing……. lol.
Writer and Dreamer at work 
So glad you got your car fixed, your new laptop, and a copy of your novel 🙂 Great news.
Have fun getting used to your new laptop.
Thankyou Melissa, I sure will…. 🙂
Doing the Happy Dance with you!!!
Thankyou Mona….. dancing with you..lol.
That is wonderful news Diane. So glad you got a copy of your work back. A new laptop, A weekend away with a thoughtful hubby and things are looking up again. Best wishes.
Heather.
Thankyou Heather…… whew! yes things are certainly looking up….. couldn’t have done it without you guys!
Woo-hoo, Diane! So glad you have a new laptop!
Hi Tina, I am just so glad I am back in action… Thankyou!
Wow, what a quick replacement you had with insurance. Theft is a horrible experience, especially when the value lost is of the heart. I am so pleased to read that you were able to retrieve some of your hard work. I really hope your work from here on your writing glides on your new computer keys xx Nicky Johnston
Thankyou Nicky, I am lucky I get quick replacement, but I was so upset about all the work gone. But I just have to move on, I have much to do, so I must not look back and allow it to upset me…. Love your blog by the way. Do pop back anytime.
So happy with you for car insurance, kind hubby and retrieved manuscripts!
Best,
Joanna
Thankyou Joanna, yeah… smart in some things and an idiot in others…. why can’t I be smart all the time…. mmmm …lol. I am lucky though, very lucky!
So glad to read this, Diane! I had my fingers crossed that somehow you would find your novel manuscript. Getting a new laptop and your car fixed is so great! I had the same thing happen a number of years ago. It is such a violation, and believe me, I too burst into tears. But that’s in the past, and you’ve got some writing to do!
All the Best,
Jennifer
Oh my! Jennifer, it’s horrible when it happens. Thankyou for being so understanding. And yes, now I am equiped, its all go now…….lol.
Now I can breathe a little easier, Diane, to hear the great news that all was not lost! Glad to see your happy face back in the game…;0)
Thankyou so much. All the better for seeing you here. Do pop back again.
My goodness, Diane, that is great news! My computer died a couple of years ago with all of my family photos, videos, and photos of my new babies trapped inside, not to mention years of client work files. I was really devastated, but then, by some miracle, the nice techie guys managed to save my hard drive! Since then, I work from an external hard drive, so if it ever happens again, I know everything is safe. Lesson learned! So glad you’re back on track! 🙂
Ahhh…….. Lesson well learned. Yes I now have a external hard drive which I am also learning to use. But I also like the idea of keeping it in the email file. How terrible you nearly lost all that work. Thankyou so much for your kind words Renee.
So happy things have turned to an upbeat note!
Hurray for your thoughtful hubby, helpful friends and goond insurance!
So am I Cathy, so am I. Yes I am very lucky, when I looked at my emails through my iphone and saw all the lovely heartfelt wishes, I was stunned. Thankyou, call again.
So glad you’re back on track, Diane, and with a brand new state of the art laptop to boot 🙂 But most important that you were able to get some of your work back! It’s really a lesson to all of us – first to back everything up, but also not to leave anything valuable in your car! I have been guilty on so many occasions of leaving things with a jacket thrown over thinking that was safe enough, but clearly it isn’t! Hopefully February will be stellar to make up for January 🙂
Yes Susanna, a valuable lesson learned the hard way. I realise now I was obviously being watched. Have to take more care now. I am very lucky. Yep, I have had a wonderful start to 2012 before this happened so I am not going to let it hold me down, Look out February…. 🙂
That is wonderful news about the story, Diane. Insurance is great for a new laptop, but a new novel, yikes! So nice of hubby to take you away like that, that’s really supportive. Happy Writing!
Thankyou Catherine, yes I am lucky on all accounts, I guess. Looking forward to much writing. Happy writing to you to.
I’m so hapy to hear that all is not lost! Enjoy your new computer. And I look forward to seeing you published. 🙂
Thankyou Debbie so much for your kind words. I will. Come back anytime.
Great news, Diane! It’s wonderful that someone had the copy of your novel! I told you that bad things can not go for so long. 🙂 and now you are cautious and wise. I wish your novel to be published and may a good news follow your way from now on! 🙂
Ohhhh thankyou so much Irina for your lovely words. Well, I hope I am much wiser…lol. Nice to have you here….. *waves to Irina*… don’t be a stranger and come back often.
Great news! Thank you for sharing with us! 🙂
Thankyou Suzie, I was so overwhelmed by all the kind thoughts and I had to let you know I just got my novel back…..yay! 🙂
Yay! I’m so relieived it’s (mostly) worked out. You don’t have to start from scratch on everything. Thank goodness for care insurance and friend insurance. Enjoy your new laptop!
LOL Thankyou Hannah, yeah I am so relieved. Off to do some writing now on my new laptop….. Thanks, pop back soon.
Diane! Happy to hear some good news from you. Have you submitted any of your manuscripts to Rate Your Story? Judges usually delete them, but there might be a way to retrieve an attachment through the email. Let me know and I will check for you. ~Miranda
Miranda, thankyou for you concern. No I a
Had thought about sending a couple in but decided they need more polish.
Diane, I’m so glad to hear you are back in action and that you recovered some of your lost work. It really struck our hearts as writers to think about losing our dear words. You sound much better and I’m glad. I was worried! 🙂
Thankyou Julie for your concern, all is much better now. I have just printed off my Novel and also the first chapter of a rewrite that I just received….. yay….. Things are looking up.
There are still a lot of stuff I have lost such as photos and home made movies etc…. but I can’t dwell on that now…. Thanks again Julie.
This is my second message. Great that you are back up and running. Think we’ve all learned a lesson. Have thought twice about throwing away paperdrafts. Nice to see you smiling again.
aww … thankyou my dear friend. Yes lesson learned the hard way. Oh don’t throw those hard copies away… you never know. Thanks Pat.
What a relief to find at least some of your manuscripts! It was a lesson to all of us — but such a shame you had to do the hard part of the learning for us.
Good luck with your writing — enjoy the new laptop!
Yes it was a relief when my editor friend contacted me and said she still had it. Guess someone had to learn the lesson. Thanks Beth, will do.
I am so glad you got your writing back! And a new laptop too! It is wonderful that you are now back in action. (((hug)))
Thankyou Rebecca for your kind words….. ((hug)) back. Lookout February…
I am happy you have your new laptop and I hope you didn’t loose too much of your work! I am glad you are back writing! 🙂
Thankyou Erik, my chum, I managed to get most of my work back… so I am back writing again…. yay! Can’t keep me down for long…lol. (Your great interview kept my spirits up) 🙂
Welcome back…sorry to hear of your misfortunes, but, praise God your book was saved…Bless You
paul
Thanks Paul. Lesson learned, abiet the hardway. Off writing again…. so that’s a good thing. Nice to see you here.
Yipee!! Congratulations. Its a wonderful thing.
LOL…. now with enthusiasum like that who can be down for long…. I ask you? Yes you are right…. its a wonderful thing…. Thanks Melissa. Happy Writing.
Congrats! I have given you the Liebster Award! Visit my blog for more information, and be sure to pass it on. 🙂
Ohhhh thankyou Debbie, will check out your blog and do as instructed… Thankyou!