A garden visitor

After a day of heavy rain we found this little fellow in our garden. I christened him Arnold of Toady. He didn't stay long but long enough for me to take his photograph...

The best treatment for any ailment...

... tea and cake (and lots of it!)

First paddle of the year

Despite a very wet weekend we managed to find the sun out in Wells-next-the-sea for long enough to enjoy my first paddle of the year. The water was quite cold at first but the sand was wonderfully warm.
We ate fish and chips and caught the little train from the harbour to the beach which was lots of fun.

Stunt car

New shoes

Hey, I put some new shoes on,
and suddenly everything is right,
I said, hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling,
it so inviting,
Oh, short on money,
but long on time,
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine,
and i'm running late,
and i don't need an excuse,
'cause i'm wearing my brand new shoes.


(New Shoes by Paolo Nutini)

Donkey love

Here is me giving a rescue donkey a bit of love. This photo was take by my good friend Pobol Pobotrol

Hillside Animal Sanctuary

All these beautiful creatures (and not so bootiful turkeys) were rescued from very cruel situations by Hillside Animal Sanctuary

Max the office dog

Max the office dog's dog blog has moved here

Making a difference

I don't know if it's because I've been feeling rather disillusioned and underappreciated recently or if it's the inevitable life assessment that comes with being 'nearly 30' but I've been thinking of what I have added to the world.
My mum always wanted me to be a nurse and I think I would have been very good at the caring side of it but I am not very good around ill people. I just don't have the stomach for it.
I chose the career I did because it was something I enjoyed and I thought it was something I was good at. Now I am not so sure.
I admire paramedics, firefighters, aid workers - the heros of our society who save lives and really make a difference. I would love to be able to do that but I can't. It's just not me.
The odd charity donation just doesn't seem enough compared to the contributions made by others to society. But maybe if you take care of the small things it will have a knock on effect - like the old saying, "watch the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves".
Taking care of my family, and to a lesser extent my friends, is something I am good at and find very rewarding. People tell me I am good at it and it makes me happy. It makes me feel like I have fulfilled a need.
It was confirmed by a personality test that I am a 'compulsive helper' but I knew this already as I am at my happiest when I am helping people. So, do me a favour - make my day and ask for my help!

Mr Perry lives

When I was a child, before I left Norwich, I used to enjoy all of the interesting characters that the city had to offer. One of my favourites was Mr Perry the puppet man. So enamoured was I with Mr Perry that we actually named one of our dog's toys after him. In 1997 I moved from Norwich to London and in that same year Mr Perry vanished. Coincidentally, when I returned to Norfolk last year so did he.
I knew that he had returned due to the following article in the local paper but I had not seen him for myself until last weekend. He was as good as I remember. I am obviously not the only one to have enjoyed his unique brand of puppetry as he has popped up on YouTube too. To get the full Mr Perry effect, look here

Here is the story from the Norwich Evening News which heralded his return last year. I would just like to add that he and I grew up in the same area of Norwich so I feel that he is almost family.

The puppet man is back
14 July 2006

Following a nine-year break, Norwich’s famous puppet man David Perry is back on Gentleman’s Walk with his one-man show.
For years shoppers in Norwich were entertained, and sometimes enraged, by his unique dancing puppet shows, until stingy benefit bosses ordered his performances to stop.

Now, following a nine year hiatus, Norwich's famous 'Puppet Man' is back on Gentleman's Walk with his one man show.

Street busker David Perry was a well-known character in the city for more than 10 years thanks to his virtuoso part puppet, part karaoke performances.

But in 1997 he hung up his puppets when his incapacity benefit was cancelled because he was out making money.

Now he has returned to his favourite venue after being told he could perform in the city centre, as long as he does not make more than £20 a week.

Mr Perry, 63, from Oak Street, said: “I am now on pension credit but they say I can do this for two days a week as long as I don't make any more than £20. Because I am a pensioner I don't need a busker's licence.”

For the uninitiated, Mr Perry's show consists of a variety of dancing performances from his four puppets; Dougal the purple dog on string, Roy Waller a snake made out of a sock, Billy McDog a canine hand puppet and Big Tom a duck, backed up by music from his battery powered ghetto blaster.

Occasionally Mr Perry himself takes centre stage and sings using a microphone, however he says he has been unable to do this recently because his amp blew.

Mr Perry says that he performs to 'make people happy' and to try and raise some cash. However, he admits that his performances are not loved by all.

He said: “The reaction has been mixed. Some people say how lovely it is and give you a couple of quid but you get some people who call you an idiot.

“I just like to express myself though. But I do get carried away sometimes, I have to admit.”

Mr Perry was born in Hellesdon and has lived in the area all his life. He has worked for numerous firms in the city but has been unemployed since the 70s.

In 1998 he hit the headlines when his arm was broken following an attack by a 16-year-old armed with a curtain pole.

Mr Sparkle

It's good to be different but sometimes it's nice to be with your own kind. Just sometimes.