I WANT A SQUIRREL!

While wandering Richmond we found a park by the Thames that had more squirrels than I had ever seen. Most importantly they were so friendly and unsurprisingly really fat. Some of them were probably the size of Millie.

I wanted to go and buy nuts to feed them but someone wasn't having any of it. Many came up to me to eat out of my hand even though I had nothing. I have concluded that I WANT A SQUIRREL! - much like the rich kid in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

We did have a squirrel... Squirt was great. When I was about 6 years old Mom picked me up from school with a baby squirrel. It had fallen out of a tree and Mom had agreed to foster it for the humane society. We kept Squirt in a cage until he was old enough to live in a bird house in the backyard. He'd bury nuts in between you legs and act puzzled when he returned to find them missing. Calling him to you, he would climb up your leg and perch on your shoulder.

Our neighbour had a painter working on her house one day and Squirt decided to say hello. Unfortunately animals in Canada can get rabies and the man decided Squirts friendly behaviour towards him was a symptom. Terrified he locked himself in his car from the big, bad squirrel.

When Squirt was old enough we let him go at Apps Mill. Apps Mill is my favourite place for walking. As a child I would always look out in the hope of seeing him again.