It was on a very overcast day that my endurance was severely tested. I was busy going about my  household duties as usual, when it started to rain. I made sure all the windows and doors were closed.

My daughter Paula was asleep in her cot in the main bedroom, and the two other girls Lisa and Louise were happily playing in the lounge room. I told the girls that I was going to have a shower, not noticing the weather conditions looming in the background. I was enjoying the warmth of the shower on my skin, unaware that the rain and sleet were beginning to pelt furiously against the windows, which were located along the back of the house. Louise and Lisa became so frightened of this intense freak of nature, that they came running into the bathroom for safety. Less than a minute later all the back windows exploded into small and large fragments of glass accompanied by gusts of wind, which made it very difficult for us to leave our hideaway. We must have stayed in the bathroom for what seemed like an eternity, as the missiles of rain and hail scattered glass projectiles everywhere.

When the storm started to ease off, and I thought it was safe to leave, we proceeded down the corridor to the main bedroom where Paula lay fast asleep and oblivious to the events which had just unfolded. We were in shock, as we stayed snuggled together in the bedroom. If anything this storm brought us closer together, as I realised how near I had come to losing my girls.

The following day was fraught with cleaning up the mess, and reporting the matter to the landlord. His insurance eventually covered the damage, and the house was restored to a better condition.

Sometimes when your whole world gets turned upside down you can really appreciate the important things in life.