The outside
Looking through the window. Immediately under the window was a large wooden potting bench - as long as the window, about 3 feet wide and 2 inches deep. Gone. The facing wall had contained 3 full height shelving units with the world's largest collection of plantpots. The 2 charred remains of planks had held 3 propagators - 1 electric and 2 large normal ones, all of which have melted completely away.
Looking in through the door - and, yes, that is a semi-melted Black and Decker strimmer in amongst the paint explosion.
The corner under the window - where the fire was started. The fire officer thinks 'they' put or poured something flamable through the louvre window. That's the mangled remains of a petrol leaf hoover, the triton workbench and other as yet unidentified 'stuff' plus the ash of the potting bench.
One petrol Flymo, one small electric hovermower, 2 jerrycans.
All that remains of about 50 metres of hosepipe.
I couldn't bring myself to post any more depressing photos, but I can console myself that it could have been so much worse.
Happy Christmas.
38 comments:
I am so sorry that this happened to you especially at this time of year.
Bless your hearts, I hope 2011 is a fantastic year for you.
Hugs ~ FlowerLady
Hi,
Oh, Liz I am so sorry... I hope you're ok and aren't too upset/distraught/worried about it.
The stupidity of people is beyond me, why anyone would do that and on Christmas evening... Well, they must be disturbed people.
Sending virtual hugs your way.
Hope the police catch the bastards.
What a totally crap thing to do.
I'm sorry to hear about this Liz.
What a nasty, malicious act. I'm so sorry to read about this - all those bits and pieces of precious garden equipment, collected and tried and true. Thank goodness the fire didn't spread to the house. I certainly hope the police are able to catch the culprits.
Nail them up!
There are some shitheads around, that much is true. We had a spate of shed fires here last year, but they seem to have just stopped. I did hear a rumour that a few locals suspected some lads and discussed the issue with them, if you like.
Is it attached to the house? If so, you might actually get a bit of action from the local plod.
Glad you're all safe and well.
That's horrible Liz, You can sort of understand it when things are stolen but this sort of thing is mindless - Christmas drunks do you think?
Thank you everyone for your kind words and support - it has made things feel a lot better. We're all fine because we were down on the Isle of Wight, 6 hours away! Our poor neighbour was most upset that it happened when he was keeping an eye on our house, but I've finally managed to convince him that it would probably still have happened even if we'd been in!
Hi FlowerLady - that was a good hug! :)
Thanks Liz - I was upset and felt very vulnerable at first, but feeling better now. I think it was brainless idiots rather than anyone out to get us.
Thanks Rob - it was a bit grim! To be honest, I don't think the police have a cat in hell's chance of catching anyone for it though.
Hi Pondside - yes, I'm so glad that the potting shed was well away from the house. It's actually an old WW2 air raid shelter so structurally it will probably be okay, but the loss of most of my tools and equipment is a bit of a downer.
Hi IG - if I knew who they were I'd string 'em up! The police have been quite good, but any evidence went up in flames. The police are coming back later on this afternoon, but I doubt if they'll have anything new to tell us.
Hi GLA - yes, I think probably Christmas drunks as it was 11.15pm and whoever phoned it in wouldn't leave any personal details. I just don't/can't understand the WHY they should want to set a fire...:(
Commiserations, I know how you feel- our polytunnel was set alight in the Spring.
No no!!!! How awful! I hope the hooligans who did this are brought to justice. This is absolutely despicable. Luckily, no one was hurt.
Oh Nutty, so sorry to see and hear this. As you say it could have been so much worse but even so it's pretty bad. It does seem unlikely the police will catch anyone, which just makes it worse. There is no explaining it. Some people are just mindless.
How absolutely despicable. I am so sorry that someone did that to you.
I do hope that they catch them, and soon.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Hi GZ and nice to meet you. Sorry to hear about your polytunnel - hope you didn't loose too much. I just don't understand such random, mindless acts of violence against strangers.......!
Hi Thomas - thanks for your support. I very much doubt that anyone will be caught as any potential evidence went up in flames - but at least it wasn't the tea house and no-one was hurt. Not a good end to a not very good year though :(
Hi Woody - yep, a bit of a bugger really! Good job that I've got a strong visual memory and can 'see' what what in there as I compile my claim list - now there's a fun job!
Hi Jen - thank you for your support. Everyone has been very kind. Unfortunately it won't bring the culprits to justice, but we're going to make it very difficult for them to do it again!
Sorry to see that this happened. I just don't get why some people would get any pleasure out of destroying someone else's property. I'm glad no one was injured. Hope the new year is a good one!
Horrors, dear Liz! I'm so sorry ... with all going on here, I had no clue. Do hope they find the culprits ... and smile thinking of you getting justice, driving over them in that tank!!! Like you, happy to cross the remains of the past year off our list! Happy New Year (((hugs))), dear friend.
Hi Catherine - I know what you mean. I can cope with having lost all that stuff in the fire, but I'm still really struggling with the why part....and I doubt we'll ever find that out!
Joey dear friend, don't worry about it - what with Jill in hospital and a new grandson as well I think that you had more than enough going on without wondering what I was up to!!!
I doubt they'll ever catch the culprits, so I'll just have to move on and get on with my claims form!
May 2011 be a better year eh?!
(((hugs)))
Liz, I'm so sorry that such a thing happened... esp. to you!! It's very hard to fathom, as there is no rhyme or reason.
I am glad your building is mostly brick! Please keep us aprised of the progress, once Spring arrives.
Hugs to you and your family.
Hi Shady. It was a bit of a wotsit that's for sure and you're right - I just can't fathom it out. The police think it was drunken yobs, but I don't think we'll ever know for certain.
Hugs back :)
Oh Liz! This is just horrible. What is WRONG with people??? I'm so sorry you had to endure this! I hope they find whoever did it. Hugs to you, my friend.
Sometimes idiots do idiotic things. The important thing is your home is okay, you are okay and the idiots will go on being idiots until they land in jail someday.
Don't let it affect your cheery outlook of life. Feel bad for a bit, then move on.
Loved your photos and descriptions of the festivities! Found your blog via Bush Babe via Jindivick Wildlife Care.
Thanks Kylee - good hug my friend!
I have NO idea why anyone would do this - we don't think it was a personal attack on us, just some idiots haiving 'fun'! :(
Hi there Novel Woman -I wondered how you'd found me! You're right about the idiots and one day karma (or the police) will catch up with them!
I feel okay about it now, but I was stunned at first. At least it was only the potting shed. I'me just sorting everything out with the insurance company, the cleaning company, the electrician etc, etc and at least once the shed is usable again, it'll be a whole heap tidier!!! ;)
this is just so disgusting that I can't find words! I am so sorry this happened to you. Some people just have such ugly hearts that they take pleasure in taking away things that are important to others!
I do hope they catch them soon!
Hi Tootsie - I hadn't thought about it like that but you're so right ... some people do indeed have ugly hearts! But what goes around comes around, so karma will get them in the end even if the police don't!
The police phoned Himself today to say there's no forensic evidence (which we'd worked out anyway!), so nothing more can happen via the police unless the catch them doing the same elsewhere and they cough up to our fire. Ho hum!
Ugh. I hate this. So sorry.
Hi Carolynn. Yes, it was bit grim to come back to, but the police came yesterday to say that SoCo found a good shoeprint after the fire, so if the idiots who did this do something else and get caught and their shoes match our print, we'll have 'em bang to rights! We can but hope!
That's horrendous! I was feeling sorry for myself having discovered that all my Dahlias have rotted in the too-damp garage, found your comment on my blog, and popped over to yours. Couldn't believe it. So sorry.
So sad and unbelieveably wrong... All I gotta say is Karma's a b*tch and the jerks who did this will pay, even if we're not around to see it. What goes around, comes around. Stay strong!
Hi Plantaliscious and thank you for your kind words. It got a bit better once we boarded up the burnt out window because at least that contained the burnt wood and wet smell. I'm just trying to make the list of everything that was in there, which is a bit depressing, but at least the insurance company are being good so far!
I'd have been fed up if I'd found rotting dhalia tubers too!
Hi TS and thanks for popping in. Karma will catch up with them, I'm sure of it. The police say that they're sure it wasn't a personal attack on us, just a random attack of 'fun' by local yobs and idiots, but they are sending the Crime Prevention team round to give us some advice .....apparantly Napalm guns aren't acceptable as a deterent round here! :)
I'm so hugely sorry that you had to endure this...(found you via Idiot Gardener) but I too believe that karma will win the day in this situation. I'm glad too for the generosity of friends...were I closer (like on the same continent) I'd surely bring you tools, pots, etc. Sending good thoughts from Canada...
Dear Nutty Gnomes,
over the post of IG I detected the horrible incident that happened to your potting shed! I feel so sorry for you! Such a vandalism cannot be understood, because it comes from shere lust for destruction. Jealousy never makes sense, and I believe that maybe it is something like that. A person who sees that another one is creating something beautiful - and he/she is not. Although, come to think of it: I even more believe that it is nothing personal, but "only" half-wittedness (not thinking of consequences) Awfully disturbing is a) the feeling: who was it? - (though I would try not to take it personally!) - and the feeling: somebody tresspassed. The every-day-feeling of security is disturbed. Don't muse too much - build it up as quick as you can (and weather allows) - I wish you all the best!!! Britta
Oh that is truly an awful act, with no thoughts to the people whom it affects. I'm so sorry this happened to what I am sure was a lovely and loved shed.
Oh, how dreadful. thank goodness it wasn't worse, it could have involve your whole house and not just your shed.
People are a mystery to me.
Awh, thanks Jodi, that's such a kind thought - I'm touched.
The parcel of seeds from IG arrived yesterday and has a wonderful array of goodies in it :)
Hi Britta and thank you. My thoughts were very similar to yours,but I do feel like I've moved on - thankfully!
The insurance claim moves slowly on - it's slow because so many people had damage to their houses through our extreme cold weather ..burst pipes, broken gutters etc, etc, so our outbuilding fire wasn't a priority. But it's getting there now and should be sorted soon!
Hi Ali - it was a much loved and very messy shed - an old air raid shelter from WW2 actually, but it had a lot in it! We're in negotiation with the insurance company to pay a bit towards having the two internal blast walls removed and possibly a green roof put on when the roofing felt is replaced, so something good may well come out of the actions of idiots! :)
HealingHandsMagic, people are a mystery to me too!....and, yes, it could have been so much worse. Karma will catch up with the people that did it though :)
I hope whoever did this is caught. So cruel and nonsensical. I believe in karma, what comes around goes around. They better watch their step. Hope insurance covers what was lost.
Hi Meemsync and thank you for visiting. The insurance company are being very good (so far!), but slow because so many people have had weather related damage to their houses that our outbuilding comes low down on the list of priorities ...but it'll get there!
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