I had a phone call this afternoon from my neighbour to say did I know my goats were in the garden eating my apples. For someone who is struggling to move I was off the sofa fairly quickly (usually need help), shouting for OH.
The horrible creatures had demolished the stock fencing, pushed over some hurdles and got through the fence. Goodbye bean plants, half my cherry tree, a good chuck of pear tree and plum tree and some of the apple tree. Most of the plums had been eaten and a lot of apples (too big to get in their mouths although teeth marks suggest they tried it) were on the ground.
I grabbed a bucket and some dairy nuts and rushed outside (ok hobbled outside). this attracted their attention and they gobble the lot while I got a lead on one and tried to hold the other one but I have no strength in my hands any more and they pulled away. I managed to tie the hurdles over the gap while OH grabbed the baby and shoved her back in the yard. Amazingly he managed to corner the other two and get them onto the patio where they couldn't do any damage.
At this they meekly strolled into their yard while I inspected the damage. I think I'm glad that not much grew this year as there was less to wreck. At least they hadn't got to the strawberry bed or found the blueberries although the bed with the squash plants has been well churned up. by the time I got back into the house, they were lying in the sun discussing their impromptu feast.
