The Shape I’m In: Paul Howard - 'Once we reach middle age, our bodies are like vintage cars'

EVERY morning, Paul Howard and his dog set off from Dublin at 7am to drive to Avoca, where he spends the day writing.

It all seems idyllic. But Humphrey, a seven-year-old basset hound, has a mind of his own and has little interest in doing what he’s told.

“He’s incredibly stubborn,” says Paul. “He never does what he’s told. I could call him for an hour and he’ll never come, but the second I stop calling him, he’ll come over to me. I don’t have a huge amount of patience, but he has taught me patience.”