Random acts of kindness from strangers?

[Destinysdaughter]

A few years ago I’d got made redundant from a charity I’d worked for for 9 years. I was in a big department store one afternoon in London and bought a few cosmetic bits. I went to the till and paid. The shop assistant casually asked me if it was my day off, I told her I’d just been made redundant and the charity I used to work for. She was so kind, she knew the charity and it had helped her sister leave an abusive relationship some years before and she proceeded to give me about £50 worth of free cosmetics! I was so taken aback and touched by her gesture, don’t think she realised how much it meant to me to be acknowledged for the work we’d done and was feeling pretty useless at that point. And that kind of thing never happens, it really made my day!

Just wondered if anyone had unexpected acts of kindness from people that they’d like to share here?

My mobility scooter seems to fascinate small children. Was out in the park catching Pokemon this afternoon when a lad of about 4 with I think some form of learning disability came up and asked me about it. He was absolutely delighted as I sat and answered all his questions about the various bits, the horn etc and showed him my Pokemon keyring. Made me smile to stop for a few minutes to make him smile.

The security guard who waived my DHs parking charges when he drove himself to A&E but then was in for days having surgery. It was an awful awful week for this and other reasons so I really needed it.

I was heavily pregnant on crutches with spd working in the City. So many kindnesses from randoms. Builders stopped van and offered me a lift. Elderly man carried my shopping. Always given seats on bus. Actually found Londoners very kind when pregnant and with newborn on tube.

When my granny's car broke down a couple who were on their honeymoon stopped and waited with her until AA arrived

I have two that have stayed with me for years.

The first when I was about 14 (I'm now 57) when I was cycling and camping with a friend in Yorkshire and it was very cold. At about midnight we were so cold in our tent that we gave in and went to a nearby bed and breakfast. They took us in, gave us cocoa and a bed with hotwater bottles, and the following morning would not take any payment.

The second was when I was heavily pregnant, I had just passed my driving test and was driving to a friends on a bitterly cold night in the "UK's least peaceful borough" in inner city London where I live. The car stalled at a T-junction and I couldn't get it started. Two young men approached and advised me what to do but it still wouldn't start. They suggested I got out of the car and they would drive it around to warm it up, which I did and then stood at the side of the road thinking, hmm I've just given my car away. But they drove it around and came back and said, jump in, it will work now, and it did.

I have never forgotten their kindness and wish there was some way to let them now how grateful I still am, all these years later.

My favourite story, on MN a couple of years ago, of a group of bikers who took a lost teddy all the way from somewhere by the sea to the little girls home. She had lost it on the last day of holiday.

When my dd was in nicu there was a lady who came into the parents room carrying a pile of microwave meals. There was a marks and Spencer's simply food downstairs and she went and bought a selection of ready meals to leave in the parents room. It was such a thoughtful, practical help. The food was easy to make and tasty at a time when caring for yourself was lowest priority. It still makes me smile thinking of it.

Now when I have an appointment at that hospital I do the same thing.

My husband had to leave his car at the airport at short notice when he got word that his dad was dying abroad. I had to arrange to move it to a longer stay car park and explained to the man on the phone that I had no idea how long he'd be away. He booked it in for a fortnight "just in case" but only charged for a couple of days.

A lovely lady once drove me the three miles home and back to collect my purse that I’d forgot after I filled my car with petrol and the cashier wouldn’t let me take my car off the forecourt to go get the purse. She wouldn’t accept any money from me either.

I once paid parking for an American couple who only had £50 notes and no change at a tourist attraction. They thanked us and we went spartate ways. Later that day they found us and had bought our DC some sweets and refunded the parking we’d paid for them, even though we said not to.

DS1 was just walking. I had popped into the supermarket for a few bits for dinner and had just got a hand basket and was walking with him. All was fine until I was trying to pay, pack and keep hold of DS who found it hilarious to keep trying to run off. The lady behind me scooped him up and put him in her trolley. I am eternally grateful.

I always pass on my parking ticket from outside the doctors if I have time left as the machine needs an awkward amount of money.

A couple I always do which are really easy if people need ideas!
I pay for the person behind me at the Starbucks drive through. The staff always remember and often give me a free cookie in exchange
Buy a bag of chocolate/sweets if I see emergency services fuelling up at the petrol station and leave them at the full, I just ask the cashier to give them to the "ambulance/police/fire" when they come in