Lesson 33 It is lovely to have Lovely over to stay!

Lovely has come to visit.

She is curled up next to me as I write this. She loves snuggling under a nice warm blanket.
She will be happy to see G, Rufus and Bert in a few days but for now she is having  a girls night in with me!
It is amazing how adaptable she has been this year. We brought her home in early August and a few days later she went with us on her first camping trip. She coped really well with that.
She has got used to our friends and shows real pleasure when people come to visit.
If you are thinking of offering a home to a dog then why not offer a rescue dog a home?
They are so rewarding!

Lesson 32 Dogs know how to appreciate things...

I have just had a lovely Christmas spent with the loveable G and the dogs. Dogs really know how to appreciate the small things. Their faces when they realised they were going to be given some left over food after our Christmas dinner....Now it is Boxing Day and we have just come back from a short walkies in the sunshine and they have just had their dinner. They look very happy indeed.
Happy Boxing day everyone!

Lesson 31 Learn to speak Dog

It was good that at the school where I work we had an assembly by a visitor who taught the children how to read dog body language.
Children sometimes swoop down on dogs to pat them without checking with us whether it is safe to do so. Luckily many dogs are usually fine with this but if everyone took the time to teach their children to ask first before patting any dog then relationships between dogs and young children would go from strength to strength.
I guess it is the same with cats or any other animal. If you know an animal, you get to know their habits and likely behaviours but if the animal is unfamiliar to you it can be harder to read their  body language.
We gain so much from animals and I love having them around. The better we get at understanding their signals, the better our relationships will become with them.

Lesson 30 Winter can be cosy

Ollie used to be my hot water bottle. Whenever it got cold he would snuggle up close and keep me warm. I think he thought I was keeping him warm but it amounts to the same thing.
G and I offered Lovely a home when we lost Ollie and that was something nice to come out of a sad moment in our lives. I see her lots and know she is happy with G and the boys and knowing this makes me happy but it doesn't solve the hot water problem I now have.
I haven't  needed a hot water bottle for 7 years but this week I found a lovely green hot water bottle complete with cable knit cover and I have ordered it. I am looking forward to it arriving and know that every time I use it to keep me warm I will think of my little sweet Ollie-Pal!
Winter can definitely be cosy.

Lesson 29 Dog Retreat!

I feel like I have checked into a Dog Retreat.
I have spoken to G once on the phone and said hello to a couple of people with dogs while on walkies but other than that I have lived exclusively in the company of 3 dogs since 6pm on Friday.
It has been great actually. They started off a bit fed up that G had gone but soon accepted the situation until.....the fireworks started!
They hate the fireworks. They are all rescue dogs from Romania so we don't know what may have happened in their past to make the situation worse but for whatever reason, they hate the bangs and crashes.
Rufus hides under the bed while the other two cower close to me.
People on Facebook have been lovely offering advice from suggesting Rescue Remedy to wrapping them tightly in towels to help them to feel more secure.
During the day things are very peaceful unless someone delivers a letter and then they bark. When the phone rings they whimper too.
The rest of the time they are very chilled out and relaxed.
The walkies are great too.
I am sure they will be delighted when G gets home but I must confess I have had a wonderful time in my Dog Retreat! I thoroughly recommend it.
                                                                         This is Lovely, she is lovely!

Lessson 28 Lick the hand that feeds!

The dogs have just about forgiven me for starting a blog about cats!
I arrived yesterday evening to dog sit. The dogs are always happy to see me and now that I am here for the weekend, dog sitting for The Loveable G, they seem to love me more!
I think this may have a lot to do with the fact that it is me that is taking them for walkies, reassuring them when they get scared of the fireworks and above all else it is me that opens the dog food tin and opens the doggie biscuit tin!
G will laugh when I tell him what Bert and Rufus have been doing. While he is not here I can say 'Are you hungry?' to the dogs and they jump about, wagging their tails with excitement but when I am with him and I say exactly the same thing, they look at me as if they have absolutely no idea what I am talking about.

I guess they are keeping me sweet as I am their current provider.
It was lovely walking them this morning. They behaved really well. I let Bert off the lead as he is so well trained and when he started to run off after a creature he heard in the bushes I only had to call him and he came straight back. I am not about to risk this with Rufus and Lovely however as they are very different characters.
They are all sleeping happily at the moment and are saving their energy until the next time their hear me getting up to find their leads...

This is Rufus, the picture is taken on Dartmoor. He loves being out in wild places like that.

Lesson 27 Halloween is a lot more fun for dogs than fireworks night!

Personally, I like Halloween. Many  believe that it originates from the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain which means 'Summer's end.' It takes place at the end of the harvest season.

I like this idea. I like carving a pumpkin and sitting quietly at home hoping no kids will call round so I can eat all the sweets!

I understand why many people enjoy bonfire night but not if you have young children or dogs. In fact many animals hate the bangs and crashes and it can cause them a lot of distress.
I do believe that we should all learn to live and let live but in order to  minimise the stress to animals and young children wouldn't it be better to limit the number of nights that these displays take place?

If your life coach really was a dog he or she may be encouraging you to ban these events completely.
What do you think?

What time will I be safe in assuming that the kids aren't going to call around trick or treating? I am itching to make a start on those sweets!

Happy Halloween everyone.

lesson 26 guide dogs...

Although they are amazing and very helpful, I am not referring to Guide Dogs that have been trained to help blind and partially sighed people live independently. I am not even talking about Assistance dogs or Therapy dogs that enhance peoples lives in so many incredible ways.
I am talking about any old dogs!
I am talking about your family pet, rescue dogs, dogs you see running about after a ball in the local park.
I am talking about all dogs  really!
Dogs act as our guides in life if we let them.
They encourage us to go outside and enjoy the open air. They welcome us when we come home and show appreciation for every little treat or pat that they are given.
I have just come back from a lovely camping trip with G and  the three lovely dogs.
When I am with them it is easy to remember what is important in life and for me to go out and about appreciating every moment.
When I am on  my own it is easier to forget what is important and it can be tempting to stay indoors.
I have just come back from taking myself on a walk. It was lovely walking around the beautiful area where I live but it struck me that the vast majority of people I come across when walking here are with dogs. Dogs make it easy for us to appreciate our surroundings.
When we are not around them we sometimes have to try a little bit harder to remember how great life is and how lucky we are!

Lesson 25 There is no place like home!

I have just got back from a lovely camping trip to The New Forest. As soon as we got to G's house the three dogs jumped onto the sofas and looked so happy to be back. They absolutely love camping and enjoy sleeping in the van but it was obvious to me that all three dogs were happy to be home.
I am so happy that G has been able to offer them a place to call home and that they appreciate this so much.
I drove home to my caravan a few hours ago and now here I am sitting on my own sofa fully appreciating how lucky I am to live here.
Dogs are so good at reminding me to be grateful for things that I can sometimes take for granted!

This pic is of Rufus, Ollie and Bert. We have Lovely, Rufus and Bert now and the same sofa!

Lesson 24 Go camping!

Half term has arrived and the dogs don't know it yet but we are going camping!
We will emerge from the experience a lot muddier than we are at the moment but we don't care, puddles, mud and falling leaves are fun! 🎉
when you have dogs you go out a lot more in every type of weather.
Dogs encourage us to live life to the full and have fun in every moment.

Lesson 23 You are perfect!

We humans spend so much time criticising ourselves and others. Ollie my dog thought everyone was wonderful. You could come home looking like the back end of a bus and yet he would still leap up enthusiastically to greet you wagging his tail and licking your face and your ears!
I am taking a leaf out of his book. I look at people now and aim to see the best in them. This includes myself. On days when I do this people seem to rise to meet my high expectations of them. It is weird. Even if someone seems a bit annoyed with me I try in my head to think positively about them and amazingly they seem to cheer up and the tension is eased.
I can't pretend I am successful in my aim but I am giving it my best shot. If Ollie was able to think that everyone was wonderful then so can I!

Lesson 22 Your life counts!

I had a lovely day today. I was walking in Greenwich park with G, 5 dogs and our friend Gary. I suddenly realised if it wasn't for my lovely dog Ollie today would never have happened. G has offered a home to three Romanian rescue dogs and if he hadn't been walking the dogs in the woods he would never have met Gary. If Gary had never met G he would not have offered a home to Smurf.
The day Ollie bounced into G's life changed things forever. Getting to know Ollie helped G realise that he would love to offer a home to some dogs too.
Ollie was on this planet for 7 years. He was absolutely bonkers and full of such incredible energy.
He taught me to make the most of every moment of my own life. He also made me realise that we are all important and we all count.
Today was great, walking along with the 5 dogs bounding along with he as we walked past magnificent trees filled with berries and colourful leaves and even the odd parakeet!
Thanks Ollie!

Lesson 21 Stop wishing your life away or worrying about the past-Now is a perfect moment!

Dogs are very present. they live in the now. If they see a treat left on a table they grab it and run! They do things right now, this instant and spend little or no time agonising over the consequences of past or future actions.
When I am in the company of dogs this presentness rubs off on me and I start to appreciate the wonderful things that surround me at this very moment. As I write this I am looking around and appreciating the wonderful plants I have growing, my lovely comfy sofa, the wild wind blowing outside my caravan, the pace of the night....so many things.
Dogs have is sussed in many ways

and I try to be more like them but still resist the urge to roll in fox poo, mud  etc.when out walking....dogs maybe do have room for improvement after all!

Lesson 20 Dare To Be Different~ Sada Vidoo

I am watching X Factor Over 25's and have just seen Sada Vidoo perform. She announced that she is fighting for the right to be different. 

Dogs would back this sentiment. Dogs are very free spirits and no two dogs are the same. In fact, some dogs are a unique combination of many breeds and they are all the more interesting for it. 

Sads Vidoo performs and lives as a doll. Why not? is what dogs would say and I agree with them.

I really admire people who dare to be different and to live their own, unique lives as themselves. 

My lovely dog Ollie would be furious to see this photo of Fisher The Cat appearing on this dog blog but she was so uniquely herself she deserves to be here!

Lesson 19 The things that bother you now...

Dogs have taught me that the things we get caught up worrying about now are usually insignificant in the future.
Ollie used to rearrange my caravan his way, shredding the odd vital document and even consuming a £5 he got his thieving  little paws on.
All of this matters not in the grand scheme of things.
I would be only too happy to have him here messing things up if I could!
We all mess up and we all make mistakes but in the end we are forgiven and our silly deeds are largely forgotten.
We humans hate to get things wrong and will often deny it when we mess up when in reality it is far better to be honest and ask for forgiveness. People tend to respect this honesty and will let it go.
We are loved for the person we are even though we are far from perfect.
Sometimes people spend so many years refusing to talk to certain people that they can even forget whey they fell out with them in the first place.
Life is too short for this. That is what dogs have taught me.
Forgive, forget and move on wherever possible.

Lesson 18 Autumn can be good!

Dogs love being outside whatever the weather. You only have to move towards their lead and they are up and jumping about bursting to get outside and explore.
They love autumn because there are usually lots of puddles to run into and they love to flop down and roll in muddy patches.
I love watching dogs charging about in woods and listening to them racing through the fallen leaves.
I have loved the summer this year but am reminded that there were some days when it was almost too hot to go out and many dogs got easily overheated particularly the ones with thick fur.
These autumn days are providing a welcome relief for them as things start to cool off!

As you can see below, Ollie was a huge fan of a muddy puddle!

Lesson 17 moving on

I was really sorry to hear of the passing of Toby The Terrier. He was 20 something and a real character.  Ollie got on with him and he was loved by all our friends and I have very happy memories of seeing him on a lovely camping trip to Devon. Tilly, Toby's owner was so good with him. They were a real team.
I know how it feels to lose a wonderful canine companion but the happy memories remain.  Our doggie life coaches gently remind us to live in the present and not overly dwell on the past sad events.
As I write this Lovely the dog is curled up beside me.  I am so glad we have been able to offer her a place to call home.

Lesson 16 Show appreciation

Dogs are very demonstrative.  When they are happy with you they let you know by licking you in the face but we don't tend to do that!
I am vey proud of my kids and what they have achieved.  I am going to show I appreciate them not by licking them in the face but by attending their graduation ceremonies.
You could argue that watching someone stand on a stage with a funny gown and hat on their head is as bizarre as licking someone in the face but that's the way we humans roll!
I really admire what my kids have achieved and am looking forward to the celebrations!

Lesson 15

When lesson 14 got taken down by Facebook I felt frustrated. I felt like just leaving it and then I thought, 'dog's wouldn't do that!'
If a dog wants something to happen they keep on and on and on until they get the thing that they want.
An example of this is a walk. If you are sitting on the sofa relaxing and your dog wants you to go for a walk they will gently but firmly apply emotional pressure on you until you relent and get their lead.
Dogs are absolutely right. If you really want something to happen you need to work at it!
I am learning slowly from my canine coaches!
With this in mind I appealed Facebook's decision to take down my post and 24 hours later I have been allowed to repost it. I am very pleased!

P.S. G and I took our three dogs for a night walk yesterday. As we walked along G told me that he missed little Ollie and being at my caravan site really brought Ollie to mind.
I agree. As we walk along in this wild and wonderful place it is really easy to remember all his antics. This is a good thing though as despite being a very cheeky chappie, Ollie had such a lot to teach us humans. If he wanted something he kept on and on and on until he got what he wanted.
In other words, persistence pays off!

Lesson 14

Dogs are very adaptable and they understand us well. I have just been watching 'The Secret Life Of Dogs.' In the programme they explained that dogs use body language to predict our every move. They are real observers of humans.
The programme described a dog that was able to detect Cancer in their owner and another dog was able to support a chronically depressed man who began to feel emotions again with the help of his canine companion. Another dog called Max was able to search and find a woman who had got lost in a wood and was in danger of dying from hypothermia.
Today's message from dogs is to be observant. Watch people carefully and listen to them. You will find out a lot more about people when you do this.

Lesson 13

The time is Now- get on with it! That is what a dog would say and they would be right!
Last year I sat in my holiday caravan with Ollie my lovely little dog and I read 'The Power Of Now'

The Power of Now- Eckhart Tolle.
I was so inspired by this that I drew some pictures in an art pad. I forgot all about this until today when I needed paper to do some drawing for a children's book I am working on. I started looking through and I found plans I made to support a big dream I have. That dream is to be involved in setting up and running a creative centre where people can come to be creative or enjoy creativity. There would be gallery and workshop space as well as a place for musicians to perform. There would be a lovely cafe and camping spot as well as a small animal sanctuary.
Now I am a realist so when I get big dreams like that I tend to lock them away and 'get on with real life' but dogs remind me if you want something 'go for it.'
I am not about to abandon the other things I am committed to in my life but I have decided that the time is right to put my dream out there to see if anyone else shares this dream and if it is possible that it could ever become reality.
Here are some photo's of some of the sketches I made...

Lesson 12

Bert is a beautiful dog.

He is the big brown dog in the photo. He is a rescue dog who comes from Romania. It is hard to believe that he ever survived as a stray as he is so friendly, loving and trusting. The black and white dog in this picture is Rufus. He takes longer to trust people and is generally much more wary but both dogs have taught me how important it is to be able to trust others. 

Yesterday I went to Greenwich with G, the dogs and my son. We walked through the beautiful park and a lot of people came up to pat and admire Bert. He soaked up all the attention wagging his tail with enthusiasm. People often ask where he is from and what breed we think he is. We can only guess at his breed but we are able to let people know that he is a rescue dog and we are able to promote the animal sanctuary where we got him. 

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People sometimes say that after meeting Bert they would seriously consider getting a rescue dog if they decided to get a dog. 

This is great news as there are so many wonderful dogs and other animals living in rescue facilities looking for loving new homes and the amazing thing is that if you give them  time. love and patience they reward you by starting to trust you. 

This is starting to happen with Lovely the dog who has joined our pack recently. She has had a very hard life but is starting to show happiness that she has a home and people to care for her. 

Lovely is learning to trust and this is something that we can all learn from. If we are able to trust other people this opens up the path to a much more fulfilling relationship with them. 

When I set up my life coaching service I decided to call it Trusty Life Coaching because I feel that the ability to be trustworthy and to trust other people is so important. 

Yet again the dogs have taught me a very important lesson. I really enjoy learning from them. 

Lesson 11

Today is National Dog Day!
It is a day to bring attention the plight of unwanted dogs that have ended up needing new homes and is inteneded to encourage adoption.
http://www.nationaldogday.com/#!about1/c141h
The loveable G has 2 rescue dogs from Romania and we are dog sharing another.
Dogs offer us so much fun, loyalty and love and they deserve this in return!
If you are thinking of getting a dog then why not visit your local sanctuary.Here are two brilliant ones just for starters:
Wanderers Haven:   https://www.facebook.com/wanderershavenanimalsanctuary

and Lord Whiskey: www.lordwhiskey.co.uk

Even if you are not thinking of getting a dog then why not attend their open days and support their fund raising efforts?
I love dogs. They teach me a lot. They deserve the best possible treatment.

(p.s I love this photo of Ollie!)

Lesson 9 ( I missed this out before but that's Ok as dogs don't count well!)

The next important lesson I have been taught by dogs is to 'get on with it!'
They don't dither about procrastinating! If they want to go and roll in a huge, fresh cowpat then they dive straight in. I try to remember this and it has made me a lot more decisive. I am not a fan of rolling in cowpat myself but you get the idea.
Being around dogs helps me to keep things simple. If you want to do something and it isn't hurting anyone else then why not go for it?

Lesson 10 Explore

Dogs are so curious. They love exploring their surroundings leaving no hedge unsniffed. We gain such a lot from exploring our surroundings too. Being on holiday with 3 lively dogs keeps me on my toes and wanting to explore every new place I come across. We are in wonderful Wales at the moment. I am finding Wales just as beautiful as Cornwall but with a lot less traffic. The dogs and humans are enjoying every moment!

Lesson 8

Your surroundings are beautiful!
Wherever you go with a dog you are reminded of the beauty of your surroundings. They even get excited at the prospect of walking past a familiar fence that they can sniff and pee up!
I am not suggesting that you need to go to those lengths but dogs remind me to take in my surroundings and appreciate the beauty in them.
When you are alert you spot lovely flowers growing in the cracks on the pavement and stunning sunsets out to sea.
A park in the city or a field in the country, all can be amazing if you focus on what you can see around you.
Dogs have taught me this and I am very grateful!

Lesson 7

Be loyal. This is a lesson all dog coaches will teach you.
We have recently offered a home to rescue dog Lovely and today G has had to go out to change the oil filter on his van so it is running well for our camping trip. Lovely is waiting on the doormat patiently waiting for him to come home.
Dogs are so loyal to us. Despite the things that may have happened to them at the hands of humans they are so ready to show how much they appreciate us.
Lovely has only been with us for 3 days and she shows us how much she likes us every day!

Lesson 6

Appreciate your surroundings:
Dog really take in and appreciate their surroundings. I am watching three dogs who are all in the lounge with me. They all have their favourite spots in the house and also outside.
Us humans are often lost in thought and hardly take in our surroundings. Dogs sniff everything and notice every minute detail.
We can learn a lot from dogs. Focussing on our surroundings acutely can help us remain in the present  This is a very good thing to be able to do and greatly helps reduce stress.
Appreciating where we are right now is well worth doing.

Lesson 6

Appreciate your surroundings:
Dog really take in and appreciate their surroundings. I am watching three dogs who are all in the lounge with me. They all have their favourite spots in the house and also outside.
Us humans are often lost in thought and hardly take in our surroundings. Dogs sniff everything and notice every minute detail.
We can learn a lot from dogs. Focussing on our surroundings acutely can help us remain in the present  This is a very good thing to be able to do and greatly helps reduce stress.
Appreciating where we are right now is well worth doing.

Lesson 5

'Stop moping and go and have fun camping! '
I could almost hear Ollie say this to me as G and I drove Bert and Rufus to The New Forest for our first camping trip without him. I felt a little lost and empty as we arrived at the campsite. Usually Ollie would leap out of the van and try and find something disgusting to roll in in order to create his own particular brand of chaos but on this trip things seemed rather more civilised.
I also felt a twinge of guilt while enjoying the camping trip thinking how sad it was that Ollie wasn't there to enjoy it too but then I thought it was a much more fitting tribute to Ollie to have fun camping just as he would have done had he been here and then I smiled and remembered what my friend Phil said, 'Dogs are never more than a thought away.'
Every time I think of Ollie I smile and am very grateful for the time I spent with him.
Today is a good day too as we are going to pick up Lovely a beautiful rescue dog who we have been walking for a couple of years now.
This marks the start of a new chapter.

Lesson 4

Go out in all types of weather! I woke up this morning and it is howling a gale and pouring with rain. I could have stayed in bed but then I thought about Ollie and I could picture him quietly insisting that we go out anyway. I got out of bed and put on my coat and shoes and then I was outside in the elements. It was absolutely the right thing to do. I found it invigorating. I didn't go on a long walk as it is very wild and so after a while I turned back and now I am back in my cosy caravan with a cup of tea.
Ollie is right going out in all weathers is a brilliant thing to do!

Lesson 3

Ollie taught me that having fun costs nothing. Let's face it he was having a great time every time he spotted some cow dung and rolled in it! I might not find that quite as much fun but I just watched the little photo show I made in memory of Ollie and I realise that just about everything we liked doing together cost little or no money.
Walking in the countryside costs nothing and spending time with loved ones is free.
Walking Ollie helped me to forget about the things in life that cause me stress such as paying bills and thinking about The News.
I began to realise that those things are there when I get back from Walkies so I don't need to focus on them while I am out in Nature. That was the first step. The next step was realising that I didn't need to worry about them at all. If I have the power to alter something I can take action but if the thing I am thinking about can't be influenced by me then why worry? This helps me to focus on the present and look for the best outcome in every given situation.

That was a very important lesson Ollie taught me. I have started to appreciate Now, focusing on what is happening around me now rather than worrying about things that have happened in the past or might happen in the future.

If you click on the long link below you should be taken to the photo show I made. I hope you enjoy watching!















https://studio.stupeflix.com/v/QXLDwAU7HppQ/?code=AQB1vu97Tnp9mL7AKxvqO342-8LJY5Veyl1AJl-sMhMBxoKecL-qvFvkoEi8rGzyn52iyVhtk4YXNubp8wAXjBRua4hPqhh2iGKi_iEf_FXDcvJhI2CBeWZHd8B00vzY8f9FvoE9WD9dzs-t5feLgtWYURgGu083C2RzYeqb8ZkmgzfCjjyvWaX7zEna-0u7plVysoUtvLvhLr83MIwLzqB2R_DgF0otKR8Tstrw7xwT6TUunE3k6jCKojwPMsrcS15KKh4NYsdQbKlIwZXJU6UpxP1XiuLrsspFKJOsEIU5LkkrD_lsF-RfYMzGhYgtRXQ#_=_

Lesson 2

When you have a dog you need to walk them at least twice a day. If you live in England and you have a dog this can mean that you must go out at least twice a day in all kinds of crazy weather. Having Ollie taught me to appreciate being outside in all weathers. If it was ridiculously cold and rainy he would sometimes walk a few metres and then turn round and drag me back to the caravan but generally we went out in all weathers and I learnt to appreciate being outside whatever the weather was like.
I am still going out for walkies twice a day. It felt a bit weird at first walking about without a lead in my hand and a poo bag in my pocket but I am getting used to it!
Having dogs teaches you to appreciate your surroundings. You notice the plans, the insects and the small animals that surround you. You also end up talking to other people more.
Having dogs generally makes you more observant and more appreciative of where you are.
The good news is I still feel the same appreciation on my solo walks.
Being out in nature is wonderfully relaxing and I am learning to appreciate every moment I spend exploring it.

My Life Coach Said 'Woof!' Lesson One...

As you may know Ollie The Wally was a very naughty, lively and funny Jack Russell-Whippet cross who bounced into my life for almost seven years. he taught me such a lot from day one and so this blog is dedicated to him and the lessons he taught me.
Lesson 1:
Who cares what you look like? You are you and that is wonderful!
Ollie was an odd looking chap:

He had the markings of a cow, his nose was too long, he had a barrel chest and his tail was ridiculous. In fact one day I was walking in Reculver with my friend and Ollie was racing along beside me. A man approached and as he got within earshot I could hear him chuckling to himself and he called out, 

"A large mouse!" 

I have to admit that Ollie did resemble a large mouse.

Did he care?

No!

Ollie really didn't care what anyone thought about him. he lived life to the full squeezing out every bit of fun. That is lesson number one!

My Life Coach Said 'Woof!' Lesson One...

As you may know Ollie The Wally was a very naughty, lively and funny Jack Russell-Whippet cross who bounced into my life for almost seven years. He taught me such a lot from day one and so this blog is dedicated to him and the lessons he taught me.
Lesson 1:
Who cares what you look like? You are you and that is wonderful!
Ollie was an odd looking chap:

He had the markings of a cow, his nose was too long, he had a barrel chest and his tail was ridiculous. In fact one day I was walking in Reculver with my friend and Ollie was racing along beside me. A man approached and as he got within earshot I could hear him chuckling to himself and he called out, 

"A large mouse!" 

I have to admit that Ollie did resemble a large mouse.

Did he care?

No!

Ollie really didn't care what anyone thought about him. he lived life to the full squeezing out every bit of fun. That is lesson number one!