What a cr@p day. I went out to check on the goat this morning and it was dead - some dogs had mauled it. Poor goat, he was really friendly and didn't deserve that. God I hate that people don't control their dogs. Luckily I ran out to check without William, but what do I tell him??? He loved going out to check the goat and feed him bread. Poor kid, he is so sweet and innocent. I guess we could tell him that the goat has gone to Uncle Ollie's farm to eat grass... Is it right to lie? He is far too little to tell the truth but he will notice that the goat is gone.

Then we came down to mums, we were here for about half an hour and one of the dogs had snapped at W twice. The first time everyone went quiet and sort of ignored it, the second time I grabbed her and said she would have to go away when W was here because she was getting dangerous and asked if there was somewhere I could put her, mum just said "not really" and that was all that was done. There are cages outside in the shed and in the bedroom, apparently it is more important the dog is comfortable than William being safe. So this will be the last time we can stay here, it just isn't safe having W around all these dogs, especially now they are actively snapping at him.

I am sooo bummed about it. We moved back because we wanted W to grow up around family, it was financial suicide and DH left a job he really liked with great opportunities and took an average go nowhere job so we could move back, and now we basically can't come down to visit anyway because there is nowhere for us to stay and we can't afford to stay at motels all the time. It is too far for day trips (2.5 hours each way). So it was fine for mum to guilt me that I was "stealing her grandsons babyhood from her" when we were deciding to move back, but it seems that we have to make all the effort. We have been back for 17 months and she has only visited once for 5 minutes when she was passing though for something else. She is going to completely miss out on the new baby because I can't bring them here and I doubt she will bother to come up and see us.

Sorry for the big selfish post, I keep crying. Poor poor goat. It was mostly neck wounds, so I hope at least it was quick. The neighbour saw two dogs running off.

Clare, sorry you had such a bad week. I hope that your Oma's health improves. Well done on finally getting a house! What is it like?

MD, hope you are feeling better

Noni, YAY, he will be here soon!