Things in people that make your heart glad.

This happened 50 years ago, we were lost somewhere in Germany on a dark Saturday night on our way back to the uk. We had missed a connecting train back to the ferry port so took a bus hoping to get to friends who lived in a small town nearby. Bus suddenly stopped miles short of their village , it was the last bus, it was raining and no way to contact our friends.
An older couple on the bus opposite us saw my distress, called a taxi and took us home with them. Fed us, Insisted we use their room, we didn’t, found out train times for the next day. Made us a lovely breakfast and sandwiches to take with us and took us to the station next day in time to get the train back to the ferry.
We had been travelling all day up from the south of Ger many, I had a raging wisdom tooth infection, we were young, newly married, rather scruffy and not so clean but these people didn’t hesitate.
We kept in touch for years, until they died. Lovely kind people inviting strangers into their home. Never forgotten.

I have say that my husband is usually one to try to make someone’s day easier, he recently chatted with a young woman with a baby selling the big issue outside sainsburys, discussing the high price of baby milk, he was in fact buying formula for our daughters baby who happened to be the same age as the baby the young woman had in a sling. So he bought two cartons of formula and gave one to the young woman. We now see the woman every time we visit our daughter and GC, and the last time she gave us a pack of bibs saying she didn’t need them could we give them to our daughter.
Makes me smile every time I think of it.
X

Have to add they spoke no English and my German was limited which made it all the more kind of them to take strangers into their home.
Their children and grand children lived in the flat next door and they all trooped in and curtseyed and bowed as was the custom in those days and no one blinked an eye that their parents/grandparents had brought a couple of scruffy young foreigners home.

@silverlining48
What a beautiful story. Random acts of kindness really are priceless. Just goes to show that despite there being so many selfish and greedy people around there are also many lovely people who do genuinely lift your spirits.

Thanks babs, it was rather wonderful because I don’t know what we Woukd have done without their kindness.

Many years ago I worked in the accommodation of my seaside town. It was high season and 2 German students turned up at closing time with no where to stay. The only accommodation available was £17.50 at a 4 Star Hotel. I wrote my parent's telephone no. on a piece of paper and gave it to them and told them to tell my parents I had sent them. They did this and when I finished my shift, my mum was cooking an omelette for them and had made up our spare room. They gave her a fiver and were very happy. They sent her a post card when they got back to Germany.

That’s lovely Tuaim. Entente cordiale and all that.

As a foodbank volunteer I am humbled every week by the generosity of people, most of whom are not wealthy.
One local story - a friend found a young family outside her house one summer high season evening looking with dismay at their broken down car: a sad ending to their day at the beach. The age of the car suggested that they were not well off.
Within the hour, my friend had given them a drink and, after some phone calls, someone was found who could fix the car the next morning, and the manager of the smartest hotel put beds for them in a small reception room ( hotel full, of course) and sent them on their way after breakfast the next day - no charge.

I have been rescued by strangers several times when I've had car problems. At least twice, passing motorists have changed flat tyres for me refusing to take any money for their time. Also someone towed me & DSs out of a flood & towed me all the way to a supermarket car park opposite my house. An elderly couple who we knew only slightly lived near the bus station & I don't know how it came about but if I missed the last coach home from school I always went to them -they rang mum & gave me a drink & snack & shelter while she came (very cross!) to pick me up.

silverlining48

Have to add they spoke no English and my German was limited which made it all the more kind of them to take strangers into their home.
Their children and grand children lived in the flat next door and they all trooped in and curtseyed and bowed as was the custom in those days and no one blinked an eye that their parents/grandparents had brought a couple of scruffy young foreigners home.

Similar tale, at Zurich airport. A very naive 19 year old me and friend in tow. The plane was delayed for 48 hours, a couple took us to their beautiful home for the duration.

This is wonderful. Thank you. Such a shot in the arm after ' don't turn up at my door unannounced' and 'I'm only paying for what I've consumed'. Again....thank you. Just lovely and heartwarming.

silverlining48

This happened 50 years ago, we were lost somewhere in Germany on a dark Saturday night on our way back to the uk. We had missed a connecting train back to the ferry port so took a bus hoping to get to friends who lived in a small town nearby. Bus suddenly stopped miles short of their village , it was the last bus, it was raining and no way to contact our friends.
An older couple on the bus opposite us saw my distress, called a taxi and took us home with them. Fed us, Insisted we use their room, we didn’t, found out train times for the next day. Made us a lovely breakfast and sandwiches to take with us and took us to the station next day in time to get the train back to the ferry.
We had been travelling all day up from the south of Ger many, I had a raging wisdom tooth infection, we were young, newly married, rather scruffy and not so clean but these people didn’t hesitate.
We kept in touch for years, until they died. Lovely kind people inviting strangers into their home. Never forgotten.

I love this silverlining48, especially with the language barrier.

silverlining48

Have to add they spoke no English and my German was limited which made it all the more kind of them to take strangers into their home.
Their children and grand children lived in the flat next door and they all trooped in and curtseyed and bowed as was the custom in those days and no one blinked an eye that their parents/grandparents had brought a couple of scruffy young foreigners home.

He’s a keeper for sure, what a lovely thing to do.

Oops that was meant for Babs03. Sorry I am new to this.

Some fabulous stories and examples of human kindness here. Warms me cockles for sure.

DH surprised me once when we were travelling through France in his lorry. We were approached by a couple who claimed to escaping from the break up of Yugoslavia (it was that long ago) they had run of diesel for their van, and money. Normally he wouldn't even have listened to them, but this time he helped them siphon some diesel from the lorry and wished them good luck. He said he didn't know if their story was true, but it might have been.

What wonderful stories of kindness and loving concern for fellow human beings. Gave a me a wee tear in the eye and as previous GNetter said warmed the cockles of the heart.
Lovely

I was travelling on a train once, with a broken arm, and because of rail disruptions, part of the journey had to be taken by bus. A very young mother who looked quite poor was struggling with a toddler and a baby as well as a lot of 'luggage' and baby paraphernalia. Who came to help her? A member of the house of Lords who had been travelling in first class. She had no idea who he was and I was SO impressed I wrote to him to say 'thank you' on her behalf and received a lovely letter in reply. Respect!!

As a young single mum I got to the checkout at a local supermarket to find I didn't have enough money to pay and was removing one or two items to get cost down - a gentleman behind me jumped in and paid, I was so grateful and have done the same as a payback.

I love this thread! so good to celebrate random acts of kindness and remind ourselves that kindness is all around us in small ways. It helps to balance out the negative stories we read and hear, and which can overlay our thoughts of kind and generous acts, small or large, which happen unremarked all the time.
As a family, many years ago, we missed a long distance bus on our holiday and there was no other bus that day going where we wanted to go. Another bus driver contacted his colleague who was driving the bus we had missed, and arranged for a rendezvous where we got off the 'wrong' bus and transferred to the right one. I am still grateful many decades later.

My partner this morning. He is the kindest of men so this is not unusual.
He came out of the gym to the car park.
Next to his car was an elderly couple who said is this B&Q
Obviously not.
He told them 3 times in minute detail how to get there, they still didn’t understand.
He then said: follow me, I’ll guide you there.
Once in the B&Q car park he asked them if they wanted him to wait to take them home. 😂
They had been driving around for an hour 😱
The lady kissed my partner 🥰

A few years ago my DH and I went to see Ball & Boe in their first concert together. As usual my husband started talking to the couple sitting next to us. They had been given tickets as a gift from their children. We overheard them talking about whether they would be able to afford to get a programme. So DH bought them one when he went to get ours.

Many years ago I was a struggling single Mum. At Christmas my daughters each received an unsigned Christmas card with £10 inside and a note asking them to treat their Mummy. It still brings a tear to my eye when I remember.

silverlining48

Have to add they spoke no English and my German was limited which made it all the more kind of them to take strangers into their home.
Their children and grand children lived in the flat next door and they all trooped in and curtseyed and bowed as was the custom in those days and no one blinked an eye that their parents/grandparents had brought a couple of scruffy young foreigners home.

It probably has nothing to do with it but your name makes perfect sense after reading about your lovely German friends! 🤩🤩

Many years ago my parents encountered a very upset girl in the street. She was a Dutch au pair & very unhappy with her ‘family’. She wanted to return to Holland, but hadn’t enough money. They went with her to the travel agent and paid for her ferry ticket, contacted her parents, arranged to collect her and her belongings, took her home for a couple of nights, and then delivered her to the port where she boarded a ferry. They waved bye bye and thought that was that. Some time later they received a very grateful letter from her family enclosing a cheque to cover all costs. I was 12 & away at school at the time. A year later I was invited to Holland for a holiday and to cut a very long tale short, I met her cousin (same age as me) and we have been friends ever since. Over 60 years! A small act of kindness led to a lifetime of friendship.