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

I’ve broken down twice and each time someone stopped fairly quickly and went out their way to help.

Once I ran out of fuel, didn’t know that’s what it was as faulty gauge was showing 1/4 tank still but the man who came to help knew from the sound. He went to local petrol station and filled a can so I could get there to fill up.

Once my timing belt snapped on dual carriageway, nice bloke stopped and towed me to nearest garage.

I try to pay it back if it feels safe enough, I’ve helped someone once, saw man and family, young kids at the parking on dual carriageway in poor weather. Stopped and said there wasn’t much I could do for the car but could I help in any way. Ended up they put the kids car/booster seats in my car and I drove the kids and his wife home, it wasn’t too far out my way, while he waited for recovery.

Years ago I broke down on a country lane. A lady driving a truck with a few spaniels in the back stopped and said "I drove past you here forty minutes ago, you're still here now so I've stopped to see if I can help you." She asked me a few relevant questions, decided I was out of fuel (turned out the car had a faulty fuel gauge - I'd owned it something like nine days and put a full tank in the day I bought it so hadn't realised) and went off and got me a jerry can of petrol and a hot chocolate from whatever petrol station she went to.

She told me she was a traveller and lived on the site a bit further up the lane, and that she'd have towed me home if she hadn't got me moving. I well up whenever I tell this story.

Exactly. I once stupidly walked down the wrong valley in winter, leaving me a few miles from my car not long before darkness.

I asked a couple where I was and how I could get back to my car without having to climb back over the hills in the dark. They gave me a lift back to my car and I spent the journey praying they weren't the modern day equivalent of Fred and Rose West which thankfully they weren't.

Ahh good stuff!

I was helped by two separate fellas who teamed up to assist me in the car park of the sketchiest Asda in town because I only went in for one thing, came out with several more and am too stingy to buy a bag when I know there's loads in the boot of my car!

One of them picked up my dropped items for me and the other produced a spare bag for me to use instead of me juggling them around. I was very grateful!

That's so lovely.

Just to say that if you want your thanks to get back to Mr Train Driver, you could copy and paste your post to the Fife Jammer Page on Facebook - it has a wide reach.

I took my dog for a walk when I was about 38 weeks pregnant, we were having the roof fixed and my dog is petrified of most male strangers so we made ourselves scarce for a bit. We got halfway down our usual countryside dirt track and I was suddenly overcome with horrendous lightning crotch that had me on my knees, couldn’t put one foot in front of the other! Genuinely thought I’d gone into labour and that I would be having my baby in a field

A man of about 80 appeared with a similarly elderly dog, stood there with me until the pain passed enough for me to be able to move, then helped me up and walked me and my dog back home my dog must have sensed that he was a good man because he allowed this complete stranger to walk him.

yes good tip. Must get home start in case the bleedin thing refuses to start on the driveway when I try to take it in for a battery.

It's actually been worrying me for a while that I didn't have green flag or AA or another rescue body so it's probably a good thing that this has forced me to realise this is not an optional expense but a necessary one.

With the cost of living etc and food being so expensive I was trying to be frugal and watch the pennies but that decision could have backfired today if I had had to stump up for an expensive tow truck or something.

that's a really good point actually as I do only use the car for doing very short journeys now. Do you think that I don't need a battery then and just to take the car for a long drive or is that a bad idea? I don't know anything about batteries in cars. Do they wear out and then need replaced or will some long journeys make it like new again?

How lovely we are up to 246 likes/loves/flowers on my original post.
How nice to see everyone showing appreciation for a man who put himself out today to help a stranger. He certainly deserves them.

I've honestly been quite shocked at how many nice stories people are posting on this thread.

With all the horrible news stories and wars I really think I had started to lose my faith in people.

Every cloud they say has a silver lining. My silver lining is that my breakdown has restored my faith in men/people.

Having had a child I always do this. I wil also help anyone struggling with luggage but I am a 5'2 7 stone woman so don't look like I am going to rob them. I remember some years ago, having borrowed my friends car who hadn't told me the petrol gauge was broken, ran out of petrol at a roundabout and a van load of men jumped out and pushed me to a safe location and took me to get some fuel (I had a petrol can). They may have just wanted to get my car out of the way but it was so kind as I was panicked. I always help when I can.

Heartening to read something to counter all the ‘men are all vile’ posts on here. I’m sure a lot of us know good, kind men. Might add that I can imagine my dh behaving exactly as the OP has told us, ditto my Dbro and a few others I could name.

Goodness I had no idea how many nice men were walking about helping others. I am truly feeling humbled.

Good Point. I wonder if they met through their jobs.

yes I had a cry when I got home at the kindness of a stranger.

Just remembered another one - on holiday in Dorset, went to dinner a few miles from our hotel after going to the coast on the bus. Assumed we could get a cab back (dumb townies). When we asked at the bar if we could order a taxi the manager just got her car keys and dropped us back.

I often feel quite horrified by the MN negativity towards men in general because, despite me being of no sexual interest to them, men have generally been kind.

What an absolute hero. I hope your kind message finds him. Post on local facebook as well.

Gives me hope that there is kindness still left in this world. So glad you’re home safe and dry.

Oh indeed. I just meant how often do you come across a stranger in need of help. I live a fairly boring life (retired) and can't remember the last time I came across someone stranded. At least I hope that is true and I didn't just look the other way.

Anyway I will definately be paying it forward as my thanks to the universe for sending me a kind, helpful man when I needed it.
Especially now that I have read of all these strangers helping others on this thread.

It's funny how things we do can mean so much to someone having a bad day.

I do always give up my seat on public transport to old people or pregnant ladies. I'm just not on public transport much these days.

Get one of these to jump start your car:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015TKUPIC?maas=maas_adg_B08FF63176E949B66107343BA67A511D_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20999409057&gclid=CjwKCAiAkbbMBhB2EiwANbxtbWWfmOQ7B2BHmiA2-263NsL1555moqZ6aAUIXEoYnij1evz_v7MXrBoCDN0QAvD_BwE

I think it's good though that even if they have had problems with a man or men plural they still appreciate the good ones. I know some men read mumsnet and they do get a battering on here sometimes so I hope they see the posts of appreciation that everyone has taken the time to write.

gosh this is so warming to read these stories. I wish the press would pick some of these stories to print rather than the constant doom and gloom.

What a lovely story
I had a park ranger fix my car for me last summer - he flagged me down as I was leaving the car park . Daylight , so it wasn’t dodgy !
I emailed the country park with my gratitude . He took time away from his duties !

I hope the universe sends good things to these men.

I know- I honestly had started panicking and I wasn't even that far away from my house. I could have walked home in half an hour but then I would still have had to get my car collected, my frozen food would have melted and quite honestly my small dog was tired already from his visit to the park prior.