Plip Blip

Got a remote for the Nikon from the governor's mum for my birthday this week. however despite much trawling through menus, searches on the internet etc and the combined efforts of the Goat-family-Nikon, we couldn't find out how to select the remote on the camera.
In such desparate straits there was nothing for it but to dig out the big book that Nikon pack at the bottom of the camera box and look up "remote" - easy - and it works.
However it only works if you are in front of the camera.........why?? How to take wildlife shots from behind?
Looks like a small mirror, bit of bendy plastic and a false hot shoe so the infra-red can get reflected into the sensor from behind.
Today's Blip should have been a picture of a seedy building on a famous street in Los Angeles.....think about it.