Things always happen in trees

Punt there is on the word threes, if you missed it I don't blame you.
Anyway where was I. Ah yes.
Could have been worse, lesson learned, still not coming home.
The sign on the wall of my hostel says 'do not leave valuables more than 100,000 in room, management not liable' etc etc. But I ignored that of course and a (pardon my French) bloody good job I did too. Left money belt containing: passport, airtickets, 320,000 shillings, $50 and my debit card.
Left for the morning with camera, phone and Mp3 player in my bag and went to the botanical grounds to sit under a tree and write some letters. Did so, though ended up in the tree rather than under it when it started raining. Was just on my third letter when two guys came into the garden and started the dreaded 'hello white person I'd like to be your friend' conversation. Definately sick of having that one. The guys were really getting on my nerves; why don't you want to be my friend etc etc. all I wanted to do was write my letter in peace, which I explained to them. So they left me alone. Hooray. The one of them comes back 'is it okay if I just sit here then?'. Yes fine I think to myself as long as you don't try to talk to me. I should explain that by this time I'm no longer in the tree but back under it.
I hang my hread in shame at this point as I admit that my bag was still up it and therefore behind me. I hear a noise and turne aroung to see bloke number 2 going for it. As soon as he sees me they bith scarper so I'm thinking good for me I caught them. Few seconds later putting my letters in there to leave I realise that he was actually putting the bag back having taken my camera, mobile and purse.
I know I know but it could have been soooooooo much worse as I will now explain. Some guys who had seen the whole thing (though necer thought to stop the guys?!) walked me to the police station where I met a dutch guy who had not been so lucky. He had his moneybelt taken after he'd just left the bank. Lost passport, credit cards, driving liscence, $170, load of sillings and travellers checks.
The way I look at it is this. The phone is an old model which had no credit on it. The camera cost 12.99 and was covered in paint, the viewing lense was practically opaque from being scratched so much and the winding mechanism was on its last legs. My purse only had 600 shillings in it which is less than 50p. They didn't take the most valuable thing in there (cheesy Christian moment coming up) which was my Bible -well it's all annotated and cool. I'd be gutted to loose it. And they left my MP3 player. Either they didn't see it, didn't know what it was or (and it's pretty beaten up) they thought it was broken and left it.
When I was at the police station I was speaking to one of the interpretors-when he found out what had been taken and that my camera wasn't even digital he just looked at me and asked what I was doing there. I already knew I had no chance of getting it back and really there was no point me spending 2 hours getting an official report. And I've learnt my lessons now too.
*Money belts are called belts because they go around your waist, not in the front pocket of your bag.
*keep an eye on your bag for crying out loud.
I know I should have been more careful but the way I look at it is that it could have been a lot worse, I could have lost everything, I could have got hurt. If it had to cost me my camera and phone to learn that then it was worth it. I'll be so careful from now on ( I walked to the internet cafe with my rucksack over on shoulder tucked under my arm and my thumb threaded through the zip, it only had 10,000 shilling in it). So 've learnt a lesson in time to stop anything worse happening. I plan to replace my camera and carry on like it never happened. Bet the thieves were gutted when they checked the contents o my purse. Haha.
I talked with the Dutch guy (who'd been there 5 hours) and we both agreed that it's the little things we miss the most. He can get a replacement passport through within 2 weeks which is fine because he's here in September. But the one he lost has stamps in it from the last 8 years of travelling. I can buy a replacement camera for not a lot of money at all, but I've now not got any pictures ot the mountains, David or anything else from the last few weeks. I can afford to loose 600 shillings but te were some earings in the purse that I'd bought in Zanzibar (though they probably sell the same things here somewhere).
There's a very sobering message in there somewhere. I'll let you find it for yourselves.
I'm safe, was a little shaken up but I'm fine now. Obviously there's no point any of you texting me now though. I'm not going to replace the phone because it'll be way cheaper to do that once I'm home. It wouldn't have worked in Malawi anyway which is where I'm headed in the next 2 weeks.
Off to get myself a good hot meal and then a shower I think. Strange how much better the world seems after both of these.
Love you all. x