Acts of kindness

screamer

My own tales, some may be sweet, some may make you a little bit sad.

3 years ago I went to Orlando with my parents and took my 2 nephews with us. The youngest had just turned 3 so we thought he'd be OK walking but we soon discovered we were walking a lot more than his little legs could manage so me and my mum went halves on a cheap buggy (about $30 I think!) When we were leaving we realised we still had a 2 week old buggy which we couldn't take home with us so like a nutter I started stalking people in the airport. I asked a few dozen people if they needed this buggy then came across a young couple who I'll admit looked absolutely exhausted carrying a little girl. They were just about to get on a bus when I tapped the man on the shoulder and offered my buggy. After a few minutes I discovered that this couple's holiday was paid for by family and friends and they couldn't afford to pay for extra baggage so left their buggy at home. They must have asked a thousand times if I wanted money for it but I was just relieved I could find it a home. I can imagine the little girl was grateful too.

A few weeks ago I saw someone drop a tenner outside Tesco's. I ran in and gave the woman her money and she gave me a big hug. Her bag had just been stolen with all her cash and cards and she'd borrowed the tenner from her neighbour to buy bread, milk and cat food. I'm glad I could give her the money back :-)

I worked in a petrol station, on the evening shift and was chatting with 2 girls. I can't give too many details because of what happened next but from what I was told, I authorised a petrol purchase, the guy came in to pay and saw I wasn't really with it. He vaulted over the counter, grabbed me and stopped me from falling off my chair. After talking to the girls, he realised my boyfriend had called me while they were there so he dialled 1471 and told him to come up to get me. He turned all the forecourt lights out, got my boss' phone number, called him to say I was ill and needed help and the whole time he never let go of me. It transpired that I'd just had my first Epilepsy seizure and he'd basically saved my bacon. His ex wife suffered from Epilepsy and he apparently knew what he was doing. A few months later he came into the petrol station, made himself known to me and I had to give him a hug. Every time I see him now I run up to him, give him a big cuddle declaring he could very well have saved my life and tell anyone who'll listen that he's my hero (yes, I will shout it at the top of my voice so people will take notice.)

If anyone reading lives in Lydney in Gloucestershire, maybe you know of a man who found another man unconscious in a public toilet near a bus station. This was in November 2008. If anyone has heard of any such thing happening I'd like to hear from them. The unconscious man was my brother and he'd accidentally overdosed on drugs (can I add he wasn't an habitual user, as I was to later find out). A man called an ambulance and waited with him until the paramedics arrived. Unfortunately my brother never regained consciousness and died a few hours later. I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, that person. It hurts to know that my dear brother is dead but I am comforted to know that someone cared enough to help my brother instead of him dying without a shred of dignity in a public toilet. Your kindness gave comfort to a family at what was a very rough time.

Aesop

screamer - you made me cry. I am going to stop reading this thread. All I do is cry.

screamer

Another one for you. 8 years ago I was rebelling about my diagnosis of PTSD and Epilepsy and was doing ridiculously irresponsible things, not caring about life. I got into a situation where I ended up locked in a windowless flat in Lincoln with the occupier sat in front of the door to make sure I couldn't get out. I was miles away from home and had about a quid on credit on my phone. After 2 days of being locked up I messaged an internet friend asking if he could come and find me but he was quite drunk and couldn't drive. It also turned out that he lived about 80 miles away, oops. He called me, told me he couldn't help me out but he was working on it. About 4 hours later he called and asked for the address of the flat so I gave it to him. He told me to listen out for a knock at the door and if I heard it I was to scream the place down. I waited and waited then finally, a knock came. I waited for the bloke holding me hostage to answer then shouted at the top of my voice. The people at the door stormed in and grabbed me and got me out. I would have been terrified if there wasn't a a girl about my age there telling me she knew my internet friend and they were there to help. They then took me to a local hotel where they had already booked and paid for a room in a hotel close to the city centre and gave me money for a taxi to the train station. I already had my train tickets or they would have paid that too. They kept telling me my internet friend had already sorted the money out with them so not to worry about it. I got home safely the next day, but rather shaken. I hadn't called 999 while locked up because I was so ashamed at getting myself into that situation in the first place.

I entered into a brief relationship with the internet friend. A couple of weeks later I invited my internet friend over to my house to say thanks. I cooked him a good meal, I waited on him hand and foot and I gave him ALL the money back that he'd given to the people in Lincoln. He didn't want it but nonetheless he took it. My parents were on holiday and I was taking care of my grandma. That night he stayed over and at about 12.30am I got a phone call saying my grandma had died. He came with me and helped me organise the removal of her body, helped me sort out the funeral arrangements and when my parents returned later that day, he kept me company while my folks did what needed doing. As you can imagine I was a bit of a mess but thanks to this man I was able to stay strong and help my family when they needed it the most. At the end of the weekend he said he'd return for the funeral but then called saying it was a family affair and he didn't want to be in the way, I have never heard from him since.

The man's name is Allan Smith. His birthday is on the 18th March (I think). He's a short guy with thinning hair, probably in his late 30's now and the most telling definition of him is he's Welsh. He lived in Selby back then which is 8 years ago. If anyone knows of anyone who fits this description, hunt him down and buy him a drink! He's a great guy and I'm sorry that he's no longer in my life (although, I think I was more hassle than I was worth lol). If anyone does happen to know him, tell him that the lass he gave his Wales towel to says hi, and that she still has the towel! :-)

Obviously, I'll never forget the help I received from the people who got me out of the flat. According to Allan, the guy holding me was a bit bonkers and well known for doing things like that. The irony also was if I'd called the police they wouldn't have had any problems finding me because he was known to them and Lincoln Police Station was about 50 yards away from his front door.

A-penny-saved_2

A few years ago my mum seached everywhere for a new Berghaus winter coat my dad said he had lost. Months past before he finally admitted that he had given in to a homeless teenager he had seen sleeping on the streets of Manchester in December. He said that he had been lucky never to have been cold enough to actually need a coat like that and the lad needed it far more than he did.

OneWickedSon

About 4 months ago, it was nice warm weekend day and I was in the garden with our two girls (10 and 2). We have a communal garden with a few neighbors and some other children were out playing.

Suddenly, I am aware that there is an enormous male Rottweiler roaming about freely.

I'm not a big chap and I'm not keen on big dogs; in fact I'm quite scared of them. No one else was helping; in fact most looked petrified so I swallowed my fear and went to make friends with it. I'm glad I did. He was wonderful; quite placid and very friendly. He was wearing a collar, but had no tag - so I was pretty stuck. I rang around, but even the police didn't know what to do (no dog wardens on the weekends!) - eventually they suggested I took the dog to the "local" police station 10 miles away.

I beckoned the dog into my mother's house (it was very obedient!) and cleared the back of my work 4x4 out (never been so glad of the safety "dog" guard put in to prevent goods hitting the driver!). When I got it to come over to the car, it simply jumped in, looked right chuffed to be going for a drive and we went on our merry way.

I go to the police station and was met by a wonderful young female PC who was not only scared of big dogs, but had been mauled by one as a child. She too, hid her fear so well, and we both managed to get the dog into a small holding area. I left my details and went. The dog looked so sad to see me go

I'd like to thank the kind and very brave young PC for taking the dog. I'm sure it got back home; it was well trained and in wonderful condition.

But the owners never got in contact to a) thank me for driving their tank-sized animal to safety or b) apologizing for letting it go in the first place. That incident could have gone very badly, but I'm glad it didn't. The doggy was worth it.



I'd also like to thank a chap called "Steve" who lived in Shetland in the early / mid 90's for repeatedly saving my bacon with his van when my crappy motorcycle kept breaking down. You don't know the meaning of "middle of nowhere" until you have broken down in Shetland. I assure you though, stick your thumb out there and everyone stops. (So thanks to everyone who stopped to pick me up - I was riding a Yamaha T-80 and then a Suzuki GN125 and they both were a nightmare).

purpleweasel

azkaban420 wrote: »

How about naming and faming

Az

Spot on! Should make it a regular feature (any newspaper editors out there?)

FattyBettyBoo

When my nan was old and frail her next door neighbour used to buy her groceries for her and come in to talk to her and keep her company. the neighbours on the other side used to cut her grass and take her bin down to be emptied. Fast forward 7 years and now my Mum and S dad live in my Nan's house. The neighbours on both sides are now elderly themselves and my Mum and S dad do for them what they used to do for my Nan (only realising recently how history has paid it forward).

When I was a teenager my friend and I used to catch the bus hoe home school and walk the 2 miles from the bus stop to the stables. Quite often the little old lady who lived in a house nearby would drive past while we were walking and offer us a lift. It was greatly appreciated when it was raining or cold. We noticed after a while it was becoming more frequent , and when ask, she admitted that if she needed to go to the shop that day she'd make it coincide with our walk home. She was lovely!

hazelc56

Bittersweet Kindness from an unknown source. A few weeks ago my money ran out on my keypad meter.Money wasnt due into the bank until next day.Hadnt had a cuppa or a meal all day but kept myself warm by working about the house.Came to dog walking time and went for the usual walk but for a change took a slightly different route.Something drew my eyes towards the grass and there fluttering in the slight breeze was a £5 note.Couldnt believe my eyes or my luck as i never find anything.I picked it up and continued on with my walk whilst feeling a certain amount of guilt about the fact that some person had unfortunately lost this £5 note.I resolved myself to the fact that i would never be able to find its owner so decided that i would use it to buy electricity.It felt like i was stealing the money but at the same time that it was meant to be.I bought electricity with it but later gave £5 to a charity.My conscience felt clearer and at least some good came out of someone elses loss.Thank you to that person who unknowingly helped me out.

newyearnewme_2

saw a car today with a banner that said practise random acts of loving kindness... made me think of this thread

FattyBettyBoo

One thing that really made me cry with gratitude and restore my faith was when my Nan was in hospital. She was on a ward where many OAPs had been a long time and many were expected to see out their days their. She had all her faculties and was bored stupid most of the time. One day when I went to visit her she was really perky and look particularly good, and it turns out that a mobile hairdresser in the area gave up her own time one day a week to go to the hospital and wash/dry/set the old ladies' hair. Not only was it a nice experience being pampered but it really buck their spirits too. I took a big box of chocs the next time I went in for my Nan to give her to say thank you ... I also took another big box of chocs the next time as my Nan ate the first one!!!

I love it when little acts of kindness make your day. lats week I was filling up at a shell garage and used my points card. the bloke behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said "I just put £150 in my van, I'll use your points card for that to if you want". It put me in a good mood for the rest of the day!