Passing on a good turn

My parents often cam to visit us in the UK, and usually also spent a week in the middle of their visit to visit other parts. On a visit to Scotland, my dad left the binoculars we had lent him on the bus. He was devastated. Fortunately, I had put our name and address inside. The next day, we got a phone call from a guy in Inverness to say he had found them. He recognized our very unusual surname and it turned out he was at medical school (UCH) in the same year as OH By the time dad got back, they were back with us ... and my dad was so happy. Sadly no mobile in those days, so he had no idea.

The list is endless... wonderful.

On a bus in Edinburgh, with the two boys, I found I was expected to tender the exact fare. Nowhere was there any indication of what this was and I had almost no change in my purse. A very kind gentleman paid the fare for us. I recognised him as one who used to be a lecturer at St Andrews in my time there and knew he had since gained a Chair at Edinburgh. I'm sure he was surprised to receive a letter of thanks from me as I had never been one of his students.

I love this thread! Some years ago we were on holiday in Cyprus and, as we usually did, were using the local public transport when we realised we were lost, we were talking to each other about whether to get off the bus at the next stop or wait until we had gone a little further to see if we recognised where we were, when a man in the seat behind us, leaned forward and asked where we wanted to go. When we told him he said we should get off at the next stop and he would show us where to get the bus to take us where we needed to be. After he had showed us he then went back to wait at the stop where we had got off! Despite not being at the end of his journey he had got off the bus with us to help two visitors to his country - never forgot that and now I help others whenever I can.

Years ago when I was single I was flying back into Heathrow and the plane was many hours late. I was concerned that the banks would be closed by the time we landed and I didn't have enough Sterling for the train fare home. During the flight I had been chatting to the man next to me and I had told him of my possible predicament. He asked how much I needed and offered to give me the money. Of course, I said I would give him my name and address and promised to repay the money asap. He said not to bother, as he had once been in the same position as myself and a stranger had given him the money for his fare - refusing repayment but asking that he passed on the favour if ever he could. So he said for me to pass on the favour in my turn. In the event, the banks were open so I didn't need to borrow the money, but I have often thought back to the kindness of that particular stranger.

Bump

I feel that we do not have enough to smile about so think this thread deserves to have a second chance. Hope you don't mind MamaCaz

dream a little dream for me

Lovely story granjura and you are so very right, "what goes around does come around".

I have been so close to my grandma all of my life. Her and my late grandad were always there for me as a child and I spent so much of my childhood with them. They were so loving and caring. I still visit my grandma (who is 97)every week, sometimes twice/three times if I can. She spends her time reminissing about the "good old days" and I feel that it is my turn to give back the love and kindness she has shown to me all of my life.

On a funny note I visited her last night to update her (very gently) about my mums condition. Whilst I was there I trimmed her toe nails and for a giggle I painted her nails bright fushia pink. We laughed like teenagers and the years just melted away. I would love to have been a fly on the wall this morninig when her carer came to put her in the shower.

MamaCaz

It's lovely to know that so many of you have both given and received selfless acts of kindness.

Looking back, I am not sure if I truly appreciated the many kind things that casual acquaintances did for me when I was in my twenties and had a young family. Nowadays, I often think of those people and wish I could go back and thank them properly. As that isn't possible, I will just try to do more to copy their example

Lovely story granjura. Perhaps we should celebrate such things rather more than we moan about politics etc.?

That's a heartwarming story, granjura. There are some truly kind and thoughtful people out there!

Thinking so often of my next door neighbour in Leicestershire. When we came to live next door, with a 2 year old and me 8 months pregnant, knowing no-one and with no family around, she and her family took us under their wing. She helped with the move, cleaned the all house before we arrived (house had been empty for a year), looked after 2 year old when I went to hospital to give birth to numero due, and looked after me on return. She used to 'send me to town' to shop and get a bit of respite, babysat, or a teenage daughter when we needed, etc, etc. The list is endless. And when she became old and frail, I was there for her, as her children had all moved away. We had moved on by then, but not too far. I did all I could, and when she got Alzheimers and had to go to a home, I visited her regularly, right to the end. We were like chalk and cheese, and yet the bond was so strong. I miss her, our Betty. Bless her cotton socks.

Same here... in a different way. Our turn to help the young ones. One day they might, or not, come and visit us when we get old. Not expected .. but what come round goes around, that is for sure.

I think it's a shame if it has to be a conscious thought.

It is a shame if people are frightened to offer help for fear of a rebuff. I am prone to jumping in with both feet regardless because very few people would be cross with a little old lady! (in their eyes obviously!)

Hope dad is doing ok.

Passing a good turn, and receiving back- has been a constant thread in my life and made it so much the better.

I feel often people are afraid to ask for help as they are not keen on returning.

What a lovely thread, there is indeed a great deal of good will out there, I think, and sometimes it just gets lost in the hurly burly of everyday life; people are not always sure how their 'kindness' will be looked upon, but I am sure the warm weather helps us to slow down a little, and smile which apart from being good for the face muscles, invariably gets a smile in return.

Everyday kindnesses are lovely.

MamaCaz - Hope your Dad is doing well.

I think random acts of kindness are quite common where we live and we certainly actively look for times when we can help others. It is weird when we are in London and try to help as people there are not used to strangers talking to them.

On Saturday we were hot and thirsty and stopped at a pub in a strange village. I said I would have anything long and cold and they made me a lovely drink which included their own home made elderflower cordial. We went outside to drink it and I knocked mine over. I went straight back in and told them how silly I had been and asked for another. When I went to pay they wouldn't accept it. They didn't know us, our accents were not local so we were not likely to be coming back, they were just being nice.

Random Acts of Kindness! My son, when at uni, spent a couple of days with a group promoting the idea of paying kind deeds forward. They would leave books on park benches, with a slip inside saying 'hope you enjoy ths book. Please leave one for somene else' and coins in phone boxes with notes 'have this one on me.'

Good for you MamaCaz for wanting to pass on a good deed, in fact I believe there is now a Pay It Forward movement. I was once so grateful for the extraordinary kindness of strangers when my DD was taken suddenly and seriously ill in Turkey that I resolved I would always do my best to help foreigners in distress in my own country, remembering how helpless, distraught and vulnerable I had felt.

That's really heartening, MamaCaz. I hope your father is progressing well.

I just love your handle , I love the MAmmas & Pappas so much .

Sometimes it can be the simplest of things, such as telling the person behind you in the supermarket queue who has only 1 or 2 items that you are happy for them to go in front of you.

Unfortunately the times I have done this never seem to equal the times that anyone has done it for me, but I live in hope!

There are some kind people out there.

Lovely post MamaCaz.