Random Act of Kindness - to balance all the ranty threads, tell me of a random act of kindness that you have never forgotten.

Years ago, I left my handbag on the tube on a Saturday because I had loads of shopping bags and I was distracted. When I realised I was very upset and went to TFL lost property for that line but they didn't have it. Lost my phone, purse, keys, some cash, everything :( Had spent loads that day and was feeling very stupid.

Anyway, Sunday night my Granma calls me - "a young man" had called her to say he had my bag and he had left his number. So I called him, turns out he'd waited till he went to his Mums then got her to go through my bag and phone and the only identifying number was 'Granma' every other number was just a name! So thats why he'd phoned Granma.

I met him at Farringdon the next evening and he was v.posh and good looking and embarrassed that I'd brought him a bottle of champagne to say thankyou.

God knows why he went through all that rigmarole (or needed a female to investigate the handbag!) and didn't just hand it in but I will never forget the delight of getting everything back exactly as I'd left it on the tube. I never thought I'd see it again in a million years. Thank you kind and handsome young man (who must by now be getting on a bit).

The one about the lady in the shop putting £10 on the electric card has made me well up

Years ago, when DS was almost a year old and I was pregnant with DD, we went on a huge family holiday to Cornwall. We were walking into the town (me, XH, DS in the buggy, my mum and sisters and my grandad) when XH suddenly hit the ground like a sack of potatoes and began fitting. He's not epileptic and this had never happened before. I went to pieces a bit. My mum is a nurse, so managed the situation somewhat, but some very kind people came out of their houses and called an ambulance, and a couple of lads in their late teens pulled their car over, bundled their designer jumpers and coats and used them to put under XH's head to stop him damaging it on the pavement, and as blankets to keep him warm while we waited for the ambulance. They waited until the ambulance came, then just collected their things and left. I never got a chance to say thank you, but I'm sure my mum did.

All the lovely (16+) students (there are some among the not so pleasant ones!) who I have taught who have said lovely things. I don't know that they would realise it, but when i was having some very dark days, they could really make a difference. Just things like 'you're a great teacher - don't let anyone tell you otherwise' and 'we are so glad you're back!'. I hope that in return I have been able to do things they will remember (like being there when they wanted a cry and simply listening and passing tissues - nothing much really!)

The nurse who sorted me out with sleeping pills when i was in hospital with jaundice and hadn't slept more than an hour in 3 days. I slept like never before that night. And on the same day, the ex student who phoned me (got my number off his mum, who I had been ringing as he was a bit of bugger (lovely but still!) - and had had to use my mobile to phone) not long after i had a huge crying fit on the ward because of lack of sleep. He was so concerned when one of his friends told him I was in hospital that he wanted to say he hoped i would be ok. It really cheered me up.

The young man in McDonalds who realised DS (7) and I were there and asked his friends not to swear in front of us.

The young black men who were the only ones to give up their seats on te Tube to me when I was pregnant.

The lovely man who realised I had dropped my teddy when I was three and chased after us to bring it to me. I can still remember him.

The people this summer who realised I had hurt myself really badly and came over and helped.

The wonderful couple who looked after DS (6) and me when DH had a bad accident abroad and just absorbed him into their Halloween festivities, with him accompanying me to the hospital following the ambulance, and her looking after three boys. If she's ever on this thread, you are remembered with affection and gratitude

someone came chasing after me recently and handed me my shiny new treasured iphone - I had no idea I'd left it behind (distracted by children). very grateful!

I was at a car park pay machine with my 3 under 5 and the oldest 2 were being horrible brats and there was a big queue beside me. I had planned to pay by card but the machine was broken and would only take cash. I was 20p short of the cash total and was about to load everyone into the lift to go back to the shopping centre for cash when I found the man behind had paid the whole lot for me :) I was very grateful.

And lots of people who have helped me on and off the train with my double buggy and up and down the stairs at the station, which has no lift.

A couple of years ago when my DM became very very ill, my DB and I were quite at a loss at what to do, just to organise "stuff". One of the nurses on my DMs ward suggested a visit to the Maggie's Centre, so the next day we wandered over there.

We were completely bewildered, and at a loss as to how to cope with what the coming months were to bring us. DB had given up work to look after DM, and I lived 500 miles away. We walked in to the Centre, and immediately were offered coffee, and some home made treats by a very frail woman who was clearly undergoing chemo. Despite us being fit and healthy, just a bit fragile and upset, she sat with us till we gathered ourselves a bit, and waited till someone could come and talk to us.

We left that day with my DB sorted out with benefits, a social worker to organise care for my DM, and a blue badge form all filled out. More than that though, we realised just how marvellous and giving people can be.

Walking into the Maggie's Centre that day was like walking into a hug. I really can't describe it any other way.

Just a couple of months ago, we were travelling home from a wedding in the States. DS had been woken really early to catch the flight, so was sleeping while we waited to board our flight. In the meantime, DH and I were chatting to some fellow travellers sitting by us. When the time came to wake up DS, he proceeded to be violently sick all over himself and his Dad! The people we'd been chatting to, fished tissues out of their bags and told us not to worry, that they'd tell the airline staff what had happened and make sure the flight didn't leave without us. They got DS a bottle of water and even helped to clear up the vomit from the airport lounge chairs! When we got to our destination and got off the plane, they sought us out to make sure that DS was ok. They were so sweet, it almost brought me to tears!

A few years ago when DS2 was a toddler, we were in the supermarket, looking at some of the bath toys etc. DS2 saw a Makka Pakka toy that he really wanted, and he was asking me to buy it. I told him we didn't have enough money so couldn't buy it. An elderly lady overheard and got the £5 out of her purse, and insisted that I took it to buy him the toy - I tried to refuse (not least because the tale about not having enough money was not true - I really didn't think the toy was worth £5 and didn't want to buy it). However, the lady was quite insistent, so I took the money and bought DS the toy, explaining how lucky he had been to be given the money.

When I got home, I made a £10 donation to charity to make peace with myself! DS2 still has the toy in his bed every night, and when I see it I am reminded of that lady's generosity.

When dd was 2 we where in a card shop and she spotted one of those bears they always stock, she cried for it ( tbf that was unusual for her so she must of REALLY wanted it ) it was 10 pound and I couldn't afford it, told her so and left the shop.

When we where outside, a young woman ran after us and handed dd the bear, saying 'they're only young once' then walked off leaving me open mouthed and sputtering thank you's.

Dd is nearly 8 now and is still inseparable from this bear, sleeps with him every night, he's her special bear. :)

Some lovely stories here.

It's sometimes funny how even the smallest thing can make your day - like someone passing on their car-park ticket so you don't have to pay.

I walked on crutches for a couple of years and found navigating public transport pretty tricky.
One particularly grim afternoon there was a Tube strike, the buses were packed and the one bus it looked like I might be able to get on was set too high for me to physically manage (not one of the low-rider buses IYSWIM). Lots of disgruntled passengers not happy with waiting while I tried to launch myself up the step.
Driver was ready to drive off without me until two punk/metal types scuttled from the back of the bus, lifted me in, paid for my ticket and sat with me so they could help me get off again. They were such a lovely couple and I never got the chance to buy them a beer.

Have encountered some truly lovely people when travelling - my favourite was the elderly lady in the middle of the Turkish countryside who gave me a bag of peanuts to help with morning sickness (it worked!)

So many, I've truly been blessed by some of the people who I've come into contact with.

Thank-you to the lovely guy in Tesco who when both boys were screaming came and told me to cuddle baby while he packed all the shopping away, then unloaded it all back into the car, and took the trolley away again afterwards.

Thank-you to the trainee Dr who sat with me for hours and hours in waiting rooms while my pregnancy was diagnosed as ectopic and DH was 500 miles away, and thank-you to the Sister on EPAC who, having told me I couldn't eat or drink whilst waiting for a result, then found me a corned beef sandwich and a cup of juice at about 3. I hate corned beef, but that was the nicest sandwich I have ever had.

Whoever sent me a £50 note in the post when I was a student
The builders at DSs old school, who patiently answered all his questions, and the one who gave DS a toy of his own digger after months a while of DS watching them every day.
Everyone who helped out with my DCs while DH was ill, and we had barely any kitchen facilities. The cook at my work who bagged up a load of dinners in microwaveable portions for me and DCs to eat over that christmas.

Another one I have thought of from when I was little.

I must have been about 5 or 6 at the time.
I was at the seaside amusement arcades with my parents and there was an old man in a wheelchair playing on the toy grabbers and he was winning loads of them but couldn't reach them to get them out so was asking random people to help him. At one point I was near the machine when he won two toys so I went and got them for him and handed them to him before he asked. He then said I could keep one for being so helpful and honest!

Similar thing last year with DS when we were in Brighton. Hed been watching a couple of 'hoodies' play on one of the pier games and winning prizes. Anyway we finished watching them and about 15mins later they came up to us saying 'excuse me' and I thought we were in for it, but they showed us a toy parrot and asked if it was ok for DS to have it!! Had a few times like that with DS!

Also a few years ago my grandad was dieing of cancer and I was in a card shop buying him what I knew would be his last ever birthday card (he died 2 days after his birthday) and suddenly got really emotional and burst into tears. A lady came over and stood next to me and offered me a tissue and a hug (I took both!) and asked what was wrong. She and her husband stayed with me for a good 5 mins or so listening to me and reassuring me until I was calm enough to carry on. Such a small thing, but very much appreciated at the time.

I was on holiday in Italy ages ago by myself, and was at a cliff/hilltop lookout area, just admiring the view and wishing I didn't have to go home.

A lady with her family came and told me in very broken English it was a place where people sometimes jumped, and she wouldn't leave until I was on the bus back to the hotel!

I wasn't suicidal at all, just dreamy - but if I had been, she might have saved my life

I grew up in a small town where you reconise most faces and When ds was small he was coo'ed over by a regular bunch of people on our usual trip to town, he has a taggie blanket and we dropped it once, someone who simply knew our faces walked town until she found me and returned it.

Also ds, tesco every friday the same old lady would be in the cafe when I arrived, dp was on a building site nearby and we'd have breakfast, ds would be asleep and shed always ask after him, most weeks the minute I hit the till and the trolly stopped he'd go off like a siren, this lady would come and cuddle him whilst I paid, I know some people would say its risky allowing a stranger to do so but she'd rocked his carseat for weeks and one week it wouldn't work, she told me once ds was weaned and would knaw on a rice cake instead those fridays were the highlight of her week, so instead I met her for coffee whilst ds babbled in a highchair, I haven't seen her for 3yrs :( but having someone help me in such a simple way made such a difference.

Also shopping one, once we added dd to the family it got more interesting, she wasn't ff like ds so no one could settle her but me, dp used to stay home with ds whilst I went to asda with dd (I know it would be easier for me to stay behind with both but it was a break for me and I actually enjoyed going) one week she freaked as I got to the till screamed and screamed and two asda ladies came and loaded my shopped on the conveyer packed it all and brought it out and waited for my taxi with me.

And the biggest one, with newborn dd and 1yo ds, dp and me had a bad patch and he walked out, I was home alone in january about 7.30pm ds was in bed and the electric went out, can't drive it was raining, I'd got dd bundled up in the sling managed to move ds to the buggy still sleeping and wrapped him up to trudge to the shop 20min walk, only to find I was Over drawn I'd got £3 in coppers change in the nappy bag so got £3 elec, all wet snotty and miserable the lady behind the till smiled and said, it passes soon sweetheart and gave me a bar of chocolate and when I got home I stuck the key in and there was £10 on it, I rang imeadiatly and she said not to worry it was no accident she'd put the extra on, I went in a few months later with flowers for her, I was truly miserable that night and she saved me from very dark thoughts. I popped in that same shop last week, 3yrs later nearly to the day with my two dcs and she gave me the biggest smile and said, I told you so, I wanted to hug her :)

When I was about 15, I had to ring my dad for a lift home from the town where I'd been dropped off after a hockey match. Due to struggling with my hockey stick, games kit and enormous bag of goalkeeping kit, I managed to leave my briefcase in the phone box, but didn't realise until we were on the way home. Returned to the phone box and it was gone, along with lots of my GCSE work- gutted. When we got home (a fairly remote farm), it was sitting on the kitchen table waiting for me- someone had found it, got our address from my bus pass and driven miles out of their way to get it back to me! And because it was my dopey brother who answered the door to them, we never found out who it was and were never able to thank them properly.

Really nice thread
I got knocked of my bike by a taxi that didn't stop and was unconscious in the road in heavy rain, I came too to find myself covered with a duvet, head on pillow being sheltered by an umbrella. Someone had seen it happen from their window and grabbed their beddng to keep me warm as they were worried about moving me - was very surreal but so sweet, took round wine and chocs when I left hospitle.
Also the bus driver who used to walk to the top of a really long scary path to meet me from work and escort me to the bus when it was dark as he worried about me being mugged (had happened to a friend of his there), made me feel much safer.

I have several.

Many years ago when I was living in Italy, my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. I had to get it towed to Siena and then a train back to Florence and then another to Pisa as I was flying home for a week. I had no money at all - it had taken every last lira to get my car towed. I had been up all night trying to get the car sorted, hadn't eaten for ages and I was really fretting, wondering what the hell I was going to do. Got chatting to a Northern African chap who was a student. He gave me L50,000 (about 25 quid). He had no knowledge of whether or not I was going to return that money and he was not a wealthy man. That act of kindness has stayed with me for 20 odd years.

Then there have been the acts of kindness from MNers to me in the last couple of years. From popping round to look after my DDs when one of them was sick so I could go and see DH in the hospice (thank you if you're reading this - I know we don't speak any more, but I will always be thankful to you for that), to amazing, generous gifts from complete strangers in our times of extreme stress, I will never forget.

My mother died when I was 17 and a very kind friend and neighbour of ours bought me a bag of carefully selected blemish-free apples (apples have always been my fav fruit) :) So simple but so thoughtful.

The lady who held my un-put-downable 5mo DD when we were out somewhere so that DH and I could both eat.

The couple who went the extra mile in returning the purse I'd left on a bus.

The lovely chap who calmly took over when MIL hypoed when we took her out for her 91st birthday lunch, and quietly melted away when the paramedics arrived (never did get to say thanks properly - he was a qualified first aider who was also a diver and I think had dealt with a few emergencies. In Gloucestershire... If anyone thinks they know him, I owe him a pint!)

We were on holiday in California with our then 10 month old DD. she was making eyes at a couple in the restaurant we were dining in and we got talking with them. They were locals ( we were in Sonoma) and were delighted that we loved their town so much. We talked about the lovely inn we were staying in etc.

We came back to the inn the next day after a day out at the vineyards to find a huge basket of wine, snacks and chocolates and a card from this couple wishing us a wonderful holiday.

Having lunch in a restaurant and my DS spotted a premier league footballer having lunch with his family. He kept turning round to stare over at him and I told him off. Footballer noticed DS staring, came over, signed an autograph, posed for a photo and sent a dessert over for DS when we'd finished our meal. He must get the staring all the time and I thought it was really very kind of him to do what he did.