Acts of kindness

sew109

I was paling on the slots in Vegas in the Veneitian we left there and had some lunch which my wife paid for and then walked up to Ceasers Palace I went to get some ice cream and realised I did not have my wallet. We walked back to the Venetian and I was just going through the motions so I could claim on the insurance it had been handed in intact about $700 in travellers cheques and about $300 in cash credit cards driving licence the whole lot it had been handed in, i coudl not find the person who handed it in but gave $20 to the security guard

Kazipoo

Its taken me two days to read through this thread and my oldest daughter called me a wuss, because the very first story about the forumite paying for shopping made me blub.

I try to always give others the benefit of any doubt and get a warm a fuzzy feeling from helping others in any small way.

I remember when I was turning 19, a friend of my parents was visiting them. He asked me, if I could have absolutely anything in the world, what I would really like to have for my birthday. Since my upbringing wasn't the greatest, I told him I would really love to have a birthday cake, because as far as I was aware, I had never received one. On my birthday, the family friend was at my parents house again, he called me and asked me to come over and pick a card up, so I jumped on the bus and made my way over. When I got there all of the curtains were closed and as I opened the door, I saw the biggest birthday cake, with 19 candles in and the family friend heartily singing happy birthday with a big grin on his face. Needless to say I cried and have never forgotten the generosity of this lovely man.

I try to help whenever possible and remember a few years back I was coming home from a weight watchers meeting when I came across a man who had blood pouring down his face from his head, and was falling into a hedge trying to support himself. It was obvious he was quite drunk, but despite this I decided to see if there was anything I could do to help him. I asked if he was okay and if there was anything I could do, he asked if I had a spare fag (I smoked then, so I was able to give him one). I told him to sit on the kerb while I phoned an ambulance, which he did, then I waited with him until the ambulance came. I knew the cut to his head would probably need stitches as it looked very deep and wide. The ambulance arrived just a short time later, and I was absolutely disgusted when the paramedics dismissed him as a drunk and at first refused to take him. Needless to say they got a piece of my mind and I told them that everyone is entitled to treatment, regardless of whether they are drunk, and that in my opinion the cut warranted stitches. They reluctantly agreed. As far as I know, they could have waited until I was around the corner and offloaded him, but I hope that he was given the care and attention he needed.

Another time a neighbour of mine (a few doors down) was in tears, worrying how she could afford to pay for food and her gas and electricity for the week (she was on a meter) as her hubby had just been made redundant and the job centre had told them their claim could take a few weeks to come through. I went home and told the hubby, and knowing the softy that I am, he agreed that we could just about afford to lend them £50 to get them by, on the presumption that they pay us back when they were in a position to. My friend was ecstatic and was hugging and kissing me. I felt good.

When I found out that she had not in fact spent the money on her electric or food, but had gone out and purchased wallpaper so that she could decorate a room that really didn't need it, I was quite upset. I felt like I had been duped. It is coming up on 3 years since I lent her the money, and despite both her and her husband now working full time, if I ask her for the money back she pleads poverty.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I will never see that money again, but it has certainly taught me a lesson. I should have purchased the electricity or given her some food instead.

elisebutt65

I had someone banging on my front door at 4am the other night, probably cos I like to keep the light on downstairs,when I'm alone.

There was a young lad - I could see blood through the frosting on my windows. He was mega-drunk but beaten up really badly, so I called police & ambulance, then made him sit down on my doorstep. I opened door properly then and helped clean him up. OH. gave me a little lecture for that, but he was only 19 and I just thought about; if it was my lad it had happened to

He'd been jumped outside a club and they'd chased him down to mine, poor so@. Why are people so vicious?????

immoral_angeluk

elisebutt65 wrote: »

I had someone banging on my front door at 4am the other night, probably cos I like to keep the light on downstairs,when I'm alone.

There was a young lad - I could see blood through the frosting on my windows. He was mega-drunk but beaten up really badly, so I called police & ambulance, then made him sit down on my doorstep. I opened door properly then and helped clean him up. OH. gave me a little lecture for that, but he was only 19 and I just thought about; if it was my lad it had happened to

He'd been jumped outside a club and they'd chased him down to mine, poor so@. Why are people so vicious?????

I think you did the right thing. What would've happened if noone had answered?

Lirin

I met a lady yestarday on the internet who had an ad up for a couple of baby items. I'd phoned her and we'd arranged to meet. We'd chatted a bit on the phone, and I'd told her how far along I was, and it was number one- and we hadn't bought a lot so far, slightly money related... When I got to her house, she filled my car with clothes and baby items, and asked me to keep her number handy if I have any baby queries. She wouldn't take money or anything from me.
Of course, when I'm done with the clothing and so on, I will do as she did and launder it before passing it on to someone else who needs it.

catkins12

regret70 wrote: »

Isn't it funny how all these stories seem to be several years ago. it seems people have forgotten how to be kind!.

my husband recently found a blackberry phone on the floor when he was driving home (not sure how he spotted it in the dark!) but he drove back to pick it up. when he bought it home we saw there were loads of photos on it of children so we tried to ring the 'home' number and someone answered. my husband offered to deliver it to their house (about 4 miles away) it was 11pm at night and not in a very nice area.

we literally put the phone down and got in the car when the phone rang, I answered it was the girl telling us to hurry up! she said she want her phone that minute as she was about to leave and we would need to take it to a different address (10 miles away) my husband said we would only drop it at the first address.

when we got there she came out the house and snatched it off him no thankyou or anything. bloomin rude.

a few years ago i found another phone at a festival, I managed to ring their mom and get the address to return it, i posted it to them it cost me about a fiver in postage but I never received any thanks.

I just hope maybe someone would return the favour if i lost my phone but i doubt it!

Shame some people are so rude, but I found a phone on my local park bench a few weeks ago and when I managed to speak to the woman it belonged to she couldn't have been more grateful if she tried. I only really picked it up in case someone less honest came along, cheered me right up if I'm honest.

allybee101

This thread is so lovely, so many kind-hearted generous people out there.
Even if it's just holding a door open for someone struggling with a heavy bag it can give you a real warm fuzzy feeling.

The one I still remember that still makes me well up with tears is from about 3 years ago. The cleaner at our office was struggling financially as her husband had been made redundant about 9 months earlier and they and their 3 children were trying to make ends meet on her wages.
Normally at Christmas we would buy her a bouquet of flowers but that year we bought some Tesco vouchers which would be of more use. Everyone in the office (5 of us) decided to add to the money that the company had contributed and I think it came to about £75 in total. She was overwhelmed by the gift, they meant she could buy christmas lunch and food for the next week or so. And more use than some flowers.
We were all a wee bit emotional that day.

jellybean39

I got home forom work today to fin dmy neighbour had cut my front lawn and was going to do the back but the gate was locked so she couldnt. im 39 and shes late 60s. hubby went round to thank her and said she didnt have to do it as he was going to do it tomorrow bust said she wanted to becauses he knew how many hours we had been working lately because of the times we go to work and when we get back. Amd she puts our recycling and rubbish bins back every week bless her x

MatyMoo

What an amazing thread, it has taken me all evening to read through.

So many lovely things have happened to me and my family over the years it is hard to pick just one.

Sadly my two brothers went missing and died as a result of a boating accident when I was very small, one of them not being found for 3 weeks. We had lived in a small village for about 3 years and were still looked upon as outsiders but this tragedy meant that the village opened their hearts to us and we were so well looked after. From the family down the road who looked after me every day from breakfast until bed time to give Mum and Dad time to do the things that had to be done to the vicar and policeman who walked the river bank daily to see if there was any sign or the teachers assistant who hugged me through her own tears when I wrote in my diary for the umpteenth day that they were still searching for my brother. On the morning of the first funeral Mum opened the door to the back porch to find Sausage Rolls, Quiches, Sandwiches, Dundee Cakes filling it, all made by locals.

We continued living there for many years and it will always feel like home to me. Luckily we still have ties there and, fingers crossed, my sister will be moving back there very soon.

I try to pay back some of this kindness by helping out friends in need by cooking them a meal or giving them a treat and I try to help strangers by holding doors, giving up my seat or passing on parking tickets but this thread has made me feel very humble and I shall be looking for more opportunities for random acts of kindness.

MatyMoo

Just another thought.....

I think the people of Wooton Bassett have probably shown the longest act of kindness with the dignity they have shown to our fallen servicemen.

I am so pleased that this is being acknowledged by making them Royal Wootton Bassett.