Thank you Katie...yes insurance doesn't cover everything.

My dad kept his books in the shop but he also kept things in his head. People in the village owed him money. He was lenient with them because most people did it tough.

Few called to pay their bills. Many used the opportunity not to.

We didn't move. Everyone in the village lived in council homes, so not many options.

But we survived, and my parents eventually joined us in Australia, where they bought and paid for their house in five years. I'm still in awe of them.