the trouble with visiting is, I don't have anyone to look after the dogs while I'm gone and even if I could afford a train (no animals allowed on coaches) can you imagine Spike cooped up in a train for hours? we'd kill each other...

Mum was the only dogsitter I had and I don't know when she'll be able to do it again - she's going to be in hospital at least another fortnight and she'll be too weak to have the dogs for a bit longer than that yet.