good news/bad news

Its looks like a walk in the park.  But he stops to answer his phone.  Good news or bad news?  That's the thing about phones - you never can tell.

Annie's mobile rings at 8.30 this morning - it’s Chris wondering what we’re up to.  We’ve a bike ride planned - he wants to join us so we agree to rendevous at Caffe Nero at 10 o’clock.  Anniemay is really happy about this - a family bike ride.

We’re just setting off when the phone rings again - I can tell from her expression that it’s not good news.  Chris has just discovered that his road bike has been stolen.  

There are ‘secure’ bike storage facilities outside his appartment - access is by coded keypad only.  His bike is was chained to a bolt into the concrete floor.  This might give the builders a good selling point, but it’s not enough to deter a thief.

Anniemay is upset and I am angry for Chris and for myself.  He really liked the bike - I spent at lot of time setting it up for him and he texted me a few weeks ago while out on a ride to say that it was “just perfect”.

The bike used to belong to me.  I bought it after I recovered from my first foray into Cancerworld.  It was a symbol of hope - an indictor that I could beat this disease and get my life back again.  I fettled it and upgraded the parts until it was a fast and comfortable machine.  I had a lot of fun on it, until cancer came back and my days of whizzing about in lycra were over.

I was really pleased when Chris expressed interest in it - he’s just getting into road cycling now that his rugby playing days are coming to an end.  I was happy that it would have a new lease of life and that it would go to a good home.  Now it’s gone to a bad one.

The Police have noted the incident but there’s nothing they can do.  The monetary value is irrelevant - it’s a few years old now and I’ve certainly had my money’s worth from it.  But that’s not the point.  The sentimental value is enormous.

All we can do now is check out eBay and Gumtree.  We'll know it if we see it.