Would you indulge me? I do enjoy writing to you about my adventures but today I’d like to send a letter.

It’s a Christmas letter…of sorts. Normal services will resume in January - promise.

Dear Burglars,

I wonder what was going through your mind as you stepped through the broken window into my ten-year old daughter’s bedroom?

You’ll have known it was a little girl’s room instantly. She’s never had a ‘proper’ room before so she took great pride in decorating this one, making it her own. As you looked around the room, after smashing the locks to get in, you’d have seen her books all stacked up for bedtime reading. You’ll have seen the pictures she drew at school, stuck up on the walls. When she brings them home to show us her face just beams. You’ll have seen horses everywhere! Pictures of horses, books about horses, cuddly horses... My little girl really likes horses. She loves riding them and looking after them. She is very caring to all animals actually, and gets very upset when people are mean to them. I wonder if you like to be caring? Possibly not. Did you care when you stamped your muddy boots across her carpet and made your way through her room. I say her room. She feels like you’ve tried to take her room away from her and make it your room. I wonder if you thought about that?

My son is always thinking about others. We’ve tried to teach him manners and politeness and he is generally very good. We’ve not got everything right and sometimes he has a wobble - but we are all only human, aren’t we? He is responsible. For example, he recently saved up enough money to by himself a game for his Nintendo Switch. A combination of birthday money and some he’d saved up using his special kids account. It’s a great account where kids learn how money works. They learn that if you want something, you have to work and save for it. I can’t remember what it’s called but if you’re interested have a look on the bank card. It’s in his wallet, which you stole.

Incidentally, I am sorry about the mess in his room. If we know somebody is visiting we’ll ask him to tidy up. But you know what thirteen-year-old boys are like! We are quite embarrassed that whilst you were in there stealing a young boy’s pocket money the place was such a tip! We didn’t know you were coming you see.

As I say, he loves his Switch. We try to make sure we regulate the time he spends on it. We’ve read all the stuff about what’s good for kids and what isn’t. Like all parents we worry and are frightened most of the time. You’re so overwhelmed with love that you struggle each day to do what’s best. Gosh it’s hard work! Were your parents like that? Always thinking about others and teaching you to do the same? Did you think about how upset it makes children when you steal their toys?

But, by golly, our boy was brave. He was sad but he wanted to look after his little sister. He told me he’d keep her safe. What a Trouper eh?

Quick question; when you were in our bedroom did you see our wedding day photo? It was a great day - you’d have loved it! She’s amazing my wife – I am incredibly lucky! You wouldn’t know this but she’s just passed her Masters degree! Not only that, she did it whilst bring up two children, looking after me (I’m hopeless) and teaching full-time at a primary school! That, dear Burglars, is really hard work!

Marrying her was the wisest and luckiest thing I ever did. As you’d have seen in the photo, we were married on the banks of Loch Ness in an old castle. The weather was misty, romantic and the atmosphere full of happiness! Didn’t she look astonishing that day! I mean just exquisite. I recall, and I’m welling up with joy just thinking about it, how blissful I felt. We wrote our own vows, you know, to say in front of all our family and friends. I promised her I would always do my best. My best isn’t always great but I try. I know I don’t deserve her – she’s magnificent and way too good for me. Your visit has made me think about how I should be much better.

Anyway, what a day it was! We exchanged vows and we exchanged rings. I’ve had my vows framed and I will cherish them always. You’ve got my wedding ring.

I think it was a bit of a shock for my family when they got home from school to find you’d visited. My son noticed first, he asked where the television was. Well done on getting that out the back door by the way, it was a nightmare getting it in. Pleased you found the keys – must have made it much easier.

If I might be a bit of a negative Nellie at this point; I am a little frustrated I wasn’t around to help with the shock. The children were really sad you’d helped yourselves to their precious things. I‘d have liked to have been able to help my wife deal with the sadness. I was away working at the time; somebody’s got to earn the money to pay for all this stuff right?

Luckily for us our neighbours rallied round, some we didn’t even know. I hope we’ve made some new friends as a result. Someone I know dropped everything he was doing to go and talk to my kids and secure the house. He used to be a Policeman so he knows his stuff. It’s a nice feeling to have so many people around who love and support you. You know what I mean?

This last story will make you smile. Initially, my little girl was too afraid to go back into her room. But, do you know what she just said to me on the phone? The thing that made me write this letter to you? She said that bad people (that’s you I am afraid) should not upset good people, and that her room was her room and you can’t have it! Think of that! All that bravery, resilience and maturity in a little girl whose window you smashed.

So, I’ve got amazingly kind and considerate children, a beautiful and extraordinary wife who loves me, and friends, both old and new, who’ll drop anything to help my family.

All you’ve got is my telly.

Merry Christmas!

Peter and Family x