Meeting Bill Oddie
Today, Squirrel and I participated in a PETA protest march against the use of real black bear fur for the tall caps the Royal Fusiliers wear. We started at Westminster Bridge and walked past the Houses of Parliament, went up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, then on to Piccadilly Circus, through Mayfair and ended at Marble Arch: 3.1 miles (5K) in all.
British actors Peter Egan and Bill Oddie also joined the march. Bill Oddie is someone we both like. We have all the episodes of The Goodies, the '70s comedy troupe he was part of, on DVD. We also like his former work for the BBC seasonal programs "Springwatch" and "Autumnwatch". He has defended rats and grey squirrels. Oddie's wildlife work is so significant that he received an Order of the British Empire honor for it.
I had a photo taken with him before the march and Squirrel had one afterwards. He also signed his autograph for me and it wasn't a quick scribble either, but had a lot of gusto to it.
Bill Oddie and me (Peter Egan is in the background.)
Bill Oddie and Squirrel
Oddie hands me his autograph.