Someone really got me out the shit today at the beach, I want to give a thank you, but what can I give?

[WoofWoofBeachLife]

I had my usual beach walk this morning and got back to the car with no car keys 😫 cue that horrible flush of panic with various wtf will I do scenarios in my head.
Stranded, 4 big dogs, no house keys either or key safe as my DH in his usual kindness gave ours to our elderly neighbour a few days ago. DH is working miles away, all my friends who could help are working. I'm visualising us all being dehydrated to beef jerky until rescued 😂
Luckily me being there mostly every day means I meet lovely people, one amazing lady i chat too, who is a dog walker took time out her schedule to help me look and she bloody found them!
I want to get her a thank you, a hug just isn't enough 🤗
I don't want anything perishable like flowers as I might not be guaranteed to see her depending on tide times, if I go for chocolates they might melt in this weather, I could put them in a cool bag I suppose, but again what if I don't cross paths for 3-4 days. Is a thank you card enough?
Kind and thoughtful MN, what do you suggest?
Ps, she is from Brazil and did a little dance to say thank you to the Saint she prayed to so we would find them. Now I can't remember the saints name begins with an L. She says she uses him often.
I'll be getting a tag for the keys xxxx

Aw that's lovely. MYBE have a coffee with her another time

I think just saying thanks and smiling and chatting from now on is enough in this sort of situation! I wouldn't expect gifts as someone who helped, might feel a bit odd? Happy to be contradicted of course.

A nice new collar for her furry friend , or dog biccies .

Get her something cute or cool for her dog.

A little bottle of wine? They do some nice ones in Tesco. Small enough to carry round, not a big over the top gesture but enough to show you’re grateful

A special mug

I’m sure in Brazil it’s St Anthony still! I think it’s a Latin American thing too. Definitely Portugal.
I’d get her a thank you card to carry round and write that you promise to pay her kindness back or forward one day!

Thank you these are fab, I'll definitely get a card and I didn't think of biscuits for her own dogs. She's a professional dog walker and I used to be so we got talking a couple of years ago and meet most days in passing and always have a blether. I will put in the card about paying her kindness forward. A mug is also cool
I don't want to be a weirdo though as a PP said its a bit odd. I do tend to be a bit OTT, my DH says although the thought is there with certain things people can be strange about receiving stuff. ❤️ Hence my post.

Maybe a small gift card for somewhere local so can get a coffee and cake or similar from? Not a huge amount £10 or so so it’s not overkill.

@Caspianberg cool great idea and they could get a couple of coffees in between dog pick up and drop offs. 🤗

A small charm of the Saint? If there are any church shops/ cathedral shops near you then their shops are worth a look.

Yes small voucher for coffee and cake is perfect. I would totally do that if someone helped me out in this way, it's not weird at all, it's lovely.

I'll be getting myself a Saint charm 😆, thank you for the suggestion x

Maybe a key ring? Bit of humour and also a thank you

Was it são longuinho? And when she found the keys she jumped 3 times? 😂

Thank you, the car key wouldn't have been cheap to sort, plus getting back into the house I'd have had to sort a locksmith. She said if we hadn't found them they would have dropped their dogs off and come back to take me and my dogs home. All I can think is thank you god for putting some really nice and kind people here, among all the CF there are diamonds. I would do the same for someone too and its nice to have a kindness towards yourself for a wee change x

I don't think anyone would expect anything for this so to speak and I expect she was happy to help - I'd just get a voucher for a coffee and a thank you card, or invite her to coffee and cake to say thanks if you are acquainted and often see one another. Always very affirming to know there are still helpful people out there and must have been such a relief, especially with dogs in tow.

Whilst I understand the gesture I do think wandering around with mugs/keyrings with guesses at saints she may or may not 'pray to' etc is not only inconvenient but also would come across a bit awkward.

Oh bless, this sounds like such a horrible panic! So easily done. What a lovely woman taking the time to help you out.

I'm with you on this and don't think your suggestion is OTT. Some people may think her plan of dropping her dogs off and coming back to get you and your dogs home would be OTT! Everyone's different.

Agree that a coffee and cake would be a nice gesture. You could arrange a date to both be at the beach and you could bring the coffees, if its difficult to fit in actually going to a coffee shop and sitting down. This could be a challenge to juggle with 4 dogs though 😅

Great idea, nice and small to fit in your pocket too so you aren't lugging a bottle of wine down the beach when you next go out.

@WoofWoofBeachLife I'm having a similar thank you dilemma.

A couple of weeks ago I ordered new glasses online... I didn't realise my old address was selected until a week after they should have been delivered. It was several towns over. Not a short trip on public transport, and no guarantee they'd be home if I made the journey.

I sent a prepaid self addressed envelope and a letter asking the new residents to forward them on. The glasses reached me on Saturday. And they're complete strangers to me.

I think I'll steal the coffee shop voucher suggestion. The kindness of people still surprises me.

Thank you everyone, I definitely wouldn't be lugging anything about though, we all park in the same small car park, very small. I'm bad enough carting myself about 🤣
The coffee and cake gift card is a great idea.

@Ladysaurus thank goodness you got them, yeah me too because there are some proper arses who would do nothing for anyone and go out of their way to be horrible. MN has some lovely people in its community. X

If she’s a professional dog Walker you will probably be able to find her details online.

She sounds lovely and I’m so glad you managed to find them!

Get her a ring key fob and one for yourself too

Quoting myself as I meant tile !