Rescued Today By a Man. Feeling very grateful

[NeverGoingToBeThinAgain]

I have a reliable little car (had for 7 years old) and it has never given me any trouble. A few weeks ago I thought it was taking longer to start than usual and thought I better take it into kwik fit to get checked but then it seemed to be starting fine again and I have to admit it slipped down my priority list.

Today the battery died on me while I was out with the dog and had a full shop in the boot (with frozen stuff). In the interest of cutting costs/saving money I cancelled my green flag membership a few years ago. Mainly because I only drive about in our local town and hardly ever do long journeys now and also because up to now I've never had a days bother with my car.

Obviously I was regretting that today. I was sitting in my car helplessly trying to start it for 5 mins and coming to the conclusion I was probably going to have to phone up the AA and get charged a huge fee to join and get jump started.

I then realised the man at the next car along was talking to the shop worker and asking if he had jump leads to try and help me. I was so touched to realise this complete stranger was taking it upon himself to help me when I hadn't even asked.

Anyway shop worker said they weren't allowed to give us jump leads due to insurance but they sold them in shop. Shit - I had no money with me as I had just popped down to collect shopping (done online all paid for). Stranger Man was on phone to his mum asking how much jump leads were in Tesco and they were £15. He then went into shop and bought jump leads and insisted I take them home with me. That was after he used them to start my car. He had already diagnosed the problem while we were waiting.

I came home and cried because I couldn't believe how kind this man had been (I'm in my fifties and overweight, so not some hot young thing).

So if you are married to a train driver from Fife who shops at Tesco (his wife was a train driver too he said) your husband was my hero today. I'm back home now and of course will be taking out an AA membership before driving anywhere and also going to kwik fit to get the battery changed asap.

The man was also with his two young children and so it was not convenient for him to help me as he had to look after them and he had just collected his own shop too.

We read on here bad things about people all the time and I have to say I never expect kindness from strangers. So for all those that have lost faith in men (or people) this is my story for you.

Meanwhile I pledge to play it forward and help out someone just for the sake of it.

So Mr Train Driver from Fife. At Tesco's today at 4pm - thank you very much.

Anyone else like to share a nice story about help from a stranger

Love this, what a completely selfless act. There are some wonderful people out there.

I know I feel silly for not taking my bag but the shop is like 5 mins away and I go there all the time. I actually remembered i keep an emergency £10 note in the glove compartment (forgot about it until now). That wouldn't have been enough anyway for the jump leads if they were £15.

I'm never leaving home without my bag in future. I'm terrible for going out places without my phone as well. Never again - bag with money and phone at all times. And clearly an AA membership is not a cost I should be skimping on.

How nice of the man to give you his seat. Did he know you were pregnant?

I am loving these stories of all these kind and helpful men (and woman) tonight.

Was just going to say to put it on Fifejammers. Lovely.

Off to google Fifejammers as never heard of it........

That's lovely. We were helped out once in Morrisons by a lovely man who drove home to get his jump leads. Really kind. Now we have a jump start kit in the car with us (also doubles as an emergency power bank!)

Aw what a heart warming story. It’s easy to always think the worst but there are lots of kind people out there and Scot’s are top of the list.

Every day at (I think) 5.30pm Sara Cox gives a Sara Award to someone who did something really kind. You should send this in and if it’s read out someone who knows this person might hear it and pass on your thanks.

These stories serve as a reminder that there’s far more good than bad in the world ❤️

#lovetrumpshate

gosh just googled FifeJammers - had no idea this existed.

Thanks for the tip

Yes, this is the kind of man we need a lot more of. Bravo!

Glad someone pointed you to Fifejammers and thanks for sharing your positive story.

Awww how lovely.

FIL once mocked me for asking to come around so I could jump start my car. Karma - few weeks later he needed to borrow my jump leads, he doesn’t even own any!!

So nice to read

i got a call from dh when we were in France asking me to translate what someone was saying. My French is far from fluent but dh’s is non existent. He took the phone back and I said I’m not sure what’s wrong but he’s saying something about his dad needs picked from somewhere and then something about a tyre (unbelievably I had a school teacher who insisted we knew car parts). And then kept saying thank you.

turns out dh had changed his tyre and he was very grateful because his dad was seriously ill in hospital and he was picking up his mum to say goodbye. He insisted on driving dh to me and finding someone else to clear it up. Dh hadn’t been planning on telling me cause you just help someone if you know how.

very reassuring to know that that’s the kind of man he is.

What a lovely story.

There definitely are good people out there.

A few years ago my elderly parents car broke down in really bad weather. They had no idea how to fix it and I was too far away to help.

A family with young kids stopped tried to help with the car but couldn't and ended up driving my parents home after dripping their kids home.

My folks couldn't stop praising them and I wish I could've let them know how their kindness helped our family.

That is lovey OP.

Thank you for the reminder of the kindness in the world.

So glad someone helped you but so sad that you said you weren't a 'hot young thing'. The two things shouldn't be linked at all. I used to carry jump leads back when I had a older car and I helped jump start several people. It wouldn't have crossed my mind what they looked like. Sure that's the same for the vast majority of people.

That’s wonderful, well done that man!

All the people who help strangers get pushchairs up/down stairs are real gems.

I hope all these hero's are getting extra hugs and kisses tonight from their wives. For no reason other than they are good men.

I had similar once in Asda car park. I was too skint to pay for breakdown cover at the time and wasn't exactly at the top of my game. My very old car wouldn't start with a boot full of shopping and my disabled son awaiting me at home (pre-mobile phones). I put my hands together and said "someone please help me". With that, a man appeared at my window from seemingly nowhere and said "I'm your guardian angel". This is honestly true! He lifted the bonnet, did something and the car started. Then walked off and disappeared before I could catch my breath to thank him.

Thanks for sharing. How refreshing to read a post on mumsnet that isnt dissing men 😊

good for that guy. so kind. i did the same for a man who’d been unable to start his car too. i was the one with the jumpleads in my boot! he wasn’t that grateful tbh. id have been soooo thankful. prat.

look at asdas breakdown recovery. it’s £75 for the year or thereabouts and just as good as the aa only half the price.

How nice to hear.

How did they get their car back? Did it have to get picked up by a towtruck?

I'm loving all these stories of all the good in the world. I really thought this kind of thing had died out.

There can't be that many married train driver couples in Fife. I give it an hour before someone knows them on this or Fifejammers!

Fair play to him. Hope his kindness is passed on to him if he ever needs it.

What a nice chap. I once had a guy help me change my wheel for the spare- I can do this but sometime they tighten the bolts so much it is difficult . Was so grateful.