Thank goodness you are all safe, and your guardian angels protected you!

My mum and dad had a couple of breakins - the last one was during the night and they barricaded themselves into their bedroom. I keep telling them that this wouldn't happen if they had a dog - the criminals wouldn't even have gotten into the garden never mind the house, and the barking would have woken them.

I sometimes think I should just take matters into my own hands and get them a dog when I am back there for Christmas - a year old small or medium sized one from the shelter - my folks are too old and too houseproud to cope with a puppy.

But people always say you should never give a pet as a gift