A Guest Post from Deborah & Leslie Smith - THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

From Deborah Smith

My dear uncle, Leslie Smith, has been a resident of North London since he moved to the Capital from The Midlands as a young man of 30, back in 1958. Now in his mid-eighties,

Leslie continues to be admirably active in his community – and so it was particularly heartening to hear that the community supported him when he needed it. Here is his story…

“Recently, late on a Friday evening, I was dismayed to discover that my wallet was missing. I had travelled in the afternoon by bus from Finsbury Park, North London to my home in Islington and was unsure whether the wallet was lost or stolen.

I walked again over the streets I had used when leaving the bus, to no avail, and then to Kentish Town police station to report the loss. 


The policewoman on duty was very helpful – straight away calling Cardguard, where my bankcards are insured, so that I could speak to them promptly to report the cards lost with the wallet. She took my name and address and telephone number and shortly after I arrived home 'phoned me to see that I had got there safely, which I thought was most kind. (An EverdayFolk thumbs up and thanks to the policewoman )

The next day I mentioned the lost wallet to my neighbours who immediately offered to lend me some money, though I did not need to take them up on their kind offer, as I had a few US Dollars at home that I was able to change for Sterling at the local post office. The post office cashier was extremely sympathetic and helpful – as was enquiry lady at Archway tube station, where I went next, to purchase a temporary Oyster travelcard, as my senior citizen’s Freedom travel pass was also in my missing wallet. (More EF thanks and thumbs up to the neighbours, the local post office and the enquiry lady at Archway station )

Later that evening I received a very welcome 'phone call from Cardguard to tell me that my wallet had been found and handed in to the London Transport bus garage at Cricklewood.  

I travelled on three buses to reach the bus garage, each time offering my temporary Oyster card to the drivers, while explaining why I didn’t have my senior citizen’s Freedom pass, and each one kindly waived me through without charge.(EF thanks to those drivers

)

At Cricklewood bus garage I found the contents of my wallet to be completely intact. I asked which driver had handed in the wallet as, of course, I wanted to thank him. The manager, though very courteous, said that he could not disclose the driver’s identity. (And a huge EF thanks and thumbs up to the manager and the driver that handed the wallet in )

One hears such stories about impersonal and uncaring behaviour in London, but here is an incident where everyone was completely the opposite: concerned, kind, considerate - and honest.

My heartfelt thanks to them all.”

Leslie Smith

Deborah Smith and her Uncle, Leslie Smith

The sunshine helps

Well we're still having lovely sunny days in London and oh, what a difference it makes to everyone's mood; people are happy to say hello and linger.

I'm getting nice reactions to the blog as well, a lot of people asking if I will thank so and so on their behalf and, except for my mum, I'm trying to avoid this as I really want it to be your voice on the posts and comments, not mine.  But moving on.....

I got home late last night to find one of those annoying red cards from Post Office on the door-mat telling me they had tried to deliver a parcel that's too big for the letter box.  Normally I really hate going to the Cricklewood Royal Mail Sorting Office as it's in the absolute opposite direction to my normal route in to work and a mile's walk on top.  But this morning, with the sun shining down, I didn't mind at all.

When I got there, instead of some pimply youth who won't make eye contact, I met the very nice Sunny, who, before he was in the office, was a postman on my route and he asked about all the old neighbours, remembering both them and their house numbers.

So, Sunny, may I offer you a big thumbs up
for starting my day off with such a nice smiley chat and for making Childs Hill feel even more like a real community.  

Later on when I was on the bus, there was this young man, probably in his twenties.  There wasn't anything "wrong" with him but he obviously doesn't understand normal, recognised social boundaries.

His name was Sam and he was introducing himself to everyone around him, be they white grand-fathers, black middle aged men, young Indian mothers or Malaysian students.  He told us where he lived, he wanted us all to stay in touch and drop in on him, he asked for our mobile numbers.  Not unsurprisingly, not only did no one write down Sam's address but they didn't proffer theirs.

What was sad, was that the young Indian mother, when Sam got off the bus, told me she'd been scared by him. 

Even though I'm doing this blog and trying to see the good where I can, I have to admit to also not wanting to "engage" with him in conversation so I have to give myself, and all the others on the bus, a thumbs down .  Sam on the 46, if you ever read this, I apologise.

To close this post, I'll just remind you all again, this is your pin-board, you can send me yours posts or comments, preferably positive ones and preferably with nice accompanying photographs, and I'll put them up here.  Oh, and one other thing, if you are reading this, tell others.  Let's spread the "nice".

Thanks for reading.