Go get 'em shaunybaby! Keep your mind on what you're fighting for and don't worry about the illness or bouts of shakiness.

i will pauly.. it's just the WAITING and the thinking that get to me. eeeeeeeeeep.

So don't think about it! You can only deal with so much at one time. Yes, I think you're doing the right thing too. I will be heartbroken myself, if you and Harry have to be separated. A good friend is hard to find. They're worth fighting for. You should just try to stay amused and away from the fields of battle in your head.

Yeah, I know. Easier said than done.

Stop it Shauny! Bad Shauny! Is that how Clint Eastwood would act? No, he'd shoot everybody. Dead. If he weren't so gosh-darn old. I'm not sure how that relates, or even if you should indeed, "Stop It". Just that in a while it will all be over and you'll be a stronger, no-nonense arse-kicking valkyrie of DEATH!

I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I write stupid stuff, and KILL in capitals - I can't help it.

Hey it's now 2 hours later and I've had my panic and realise how stupid I look and want to delete this post, but you all get the shits with me if I delete posts. SO what can I do!? :P

Delete it anyway :p I promise I won't mention this particular one.

And about Melly, too right :)

Hmm I remember when I signed our lease. That's the most 'official' thing I've ever done. Don't stress- it will work out okay.

Nah, you don't look stupid. You look like someone who's got the courage to fight a fight you don't want to have to fight, but need to fight.

Courage, after all, is when you act despite being scared.

And being scared about a tribunal is completely normal.

(But delete the entry if you want to. It's your blog, after all!)

But you do have a good case. The tribunal are sure to take you seriously, and the Agent is the one who's in trouble now.

it is scary, but just keep as busy as you can, keep your mind off it. and rant at us, we love it when you rant :)

i agree with simon- you don't look stupid (just normal super-human as opposed to giant she-god of all the known universe), and the agents have a sucky case, cos it's all their fault.

For what it's worth, I reckon you'll be fine. The agent misled you into thinking that the dog was okay. You're not trying to bully them into letting you stay, you're only trying to make them let you go. The tribunal will see that this is the best solution for all concerned. They're not going to stay "Nah, stuff it, you've got to keep living in the house and send the dog to the pound." They'll see that the best thing is for you and the landlord to go your separate ways, and for you and the dog to stay together. My guess is that the worst that will happen is you lose some of your bond, but probably not even that. I know plenty of people who have broken leases without any particular reason at all, and ended up still getting their bond back, as long as the house gets rented out again fairly quickly.

Househunting is going to be a drag, but it always is. People with dogs do find rental houses and live in them happily. If worst comes to worst, you could take out a loan and become your own landlord ... (property is cheap in Canberra, so I hear).

Dan's right, Shauny. What's the worst that can happen? You have to move; maybe you lose a few hundred bucks of bond. Moving is a pain but perfectly do-able, and a few hundred bucks is just money. Having to put up with landlord and agent bullshit for the rest of the lease, or having to give up your beloved hound, would be worse.

They can't make you stay there against your will. Given how much they've put you through, they should consider themselves lucky that you're the one making the move. What if you'd chained yourself and Harry to the railings and called in A Current Affair?

ooh! that's a good idea. call in ACA!! it'd be cool to see you on tv :)

Kick arse. This is what you have to do. If they challenge you, just breathe (obviously), remind yourself you are Queen Bloggie and give them that "Who do you think you are, trailer trash girl?" look. Every one thinks that they're being so unreasonable, so this must stand for something in terms of what is right and what is wrong.

You have a hoard of fans waiting outside for you.. crashing up against the metal railings.. Or, comment threads at least.. Stay calm, and go for it Miss Shauny.

Good Luck

Hi Shauny! *waves* I just wanted to say publicly thanks for your nice comments. I just *schniff* Love you, man!

Mattay - calm yourself!

Good on you for standing up for your rights! I really hope everything works out the way you want it to.

Shauny, how very brave you are being. How very courageous! I know that you are doing the right thing. A lot of people in your situation would have backed down and let the agents walk all over them, but not our Shauny.

Just remember this though, on the day you attend the tribunal, don't take a backward step. You know you are in the right and the people on the Tribunal will see that.

Keep smiling chicky babe, we are all behind you.

This will all work out for the best, I know it. I'd hug you if my arms were a few million miles longer.

Oohrah! You're doing it!

best of luck shauna, though by the sound of things, i don't think you need it, you'll ace this anyway!

Honey-bun, I thought the whole aim of the exercise was for you and Harry to stay at the place? Moving out seems a bit defeatist IMO?

BTW I hope you don't mind I stole your lovely butt graphic for my blog.

Don't suppose you're allowed to take Harry to the tribunal...

He could smile a cheesy doggy smile at them and win hearts and the battle :)

good luck, anyway.

BTW Did I ever tell you about the last time I went to the Tenancy Tribunal here in Vic? It was pretty obvious they were going to evict me as I owed them about 6 months rent, had destroyed the place and had no real excuses. On the plus side I had moved out about 3 months previous without telling them. The good thing with the TT is it doesn't really matter, so you can act like a total maniac. I kept fidgeting and jumping up and asking them if we were being monitored. Then I twisted logic to explain that the reason I wasn't paying rent was that they were trying to evict me, and as they were trying to evict me I should really be paying rent somewhere else, and as I couldn't afford to pay 2 lots of rent I couldn't pay them. And I gave them a really blank look and said "Uh, yeah, sure, whatever' when they told me I had to pass on my forwarding address when I got one.

you didn't really hide under your desk...

Agent H5

This is a pretty old forum.. I just wanted to respond and be a part of history here