Man dresses as giraffe, does good deeds

DUNDEE, Scotland, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A 32-year-old man who performs good deeds across Scotland dressed as a giraffe said the idea for his venture came to him while he was in the bathroom.

Armstrong Baillie has been spotted over the past six months handing out bananas and water to runners at the Edinburgh Half Marathon, cleaning beaches and giving free coffee to people on cold days -- all while dressed as a character he calls the Good Giraffe -- The Courier (Dundee, Scotland) reported.

When asked why he chose a giraffe, Baillie said: ''I was on the loo and I wondered 'what would happen if I dressed up as a giraffe and went around doing good deeds?' That is the truth -- that was where it started.''

Baillie, who is unemployed, said he funds his good deeds through busking. He said he is looking for a job, but plans to continue his project even if he finds full-time employment.

''I feel good when I do it,'' Baillie said Thursday. ''When I carry out these acts it seems to have a knock-on effect and people seem to have a positive response. That's my whole thing -- what comes around goes around.

''There have been happy and sad moments from my life that have led to the creation of the Good Giraffe,'" he said. ''I am looking for work but I would like to think the Good Giraffe would be part of that one day. Even if it's not, I would still want to do this at least once a week.''