What’s the nicest thing a stranger ever did for you...

gogo · 18-07-2020 09:12PM #1

My father always used to tell this story, when my mother was pregnant with my sister, she had to go to Dublin for the birth as she was fierce sick.
When she was born around 6am, my dad was on a high but leaving the hospital he has no where to go, and obviously not been from Dublin had no one to go to. He met a delivery driver delivering drinks to a pub and asked him had he a spare bottle as he’d just had a daughter (his first)..
The delivery driver said ‘ah mister, I can only take one from a broken case.. my father was just about to go on his way, when the driver drops a full case of drink, winks at my dad and says ‘now that’s a broken case’ ... he proceeded to sit with my dad on the side of the truck for over an hour and toast the birth of my sister.
My dad a a fierce gra for the ‘real dubs’ all his life after, salt of the earth stuff..
What’s the nicest thing a stranger ever done for you?

I Am Nobody · 19-07-2020 02:01AM

I had a blow out on my bike in the middle of nowhere in Missouri and with no patch kit.Had about 6 vehicles pass me by and then one old man in a station wagon stopped and offered help.I didn't want to leave my bike,so he drove about 2 hours to a garage to get a patch kit and came back.Got all sorted and offered him $100 for his troubles and he refused.Only said"Happy to help"and drove off.Never will forget him.

pgj2015 · 19-07-2020 04:14AM

I was trying to get to a business with about 10 mins to get there before they closed, i was after driving 2 hours to get there. I asked a guy driving past. he explained how to get there but he knew i was going to find it hard to get there so he said follow me, so I drove after him. very sound of the guy to help a stranger like that. I think its a sign of really good person to help a stranger like that and expect nothing in return. A dub as well, they get a lot of stick but its true the proper dubs are some of the soundest people you could meet.

punisher5112 · 19-07-2020 04:21AM

Trooper broke down, another 4x4 driver stopped and towed me home.

19-07-2020 04:30AM

This guy who stopped and gave me his extra petrol after I had run out in the middle of the mountains in Vietnam.

I was gonna have a really bad time if no one helped me.

oleras · 19-07-2020 04:45AM

^^

Sure, once you got to the top of the road it looks like freewheeling from there...:D

paul71 · 19-07-2020 05:24AM

I was 16 on crutches and got on a crowded bus in middle abbey street. A pregnant lady offered me her seat. I refused of course.

Tell me how · 19-07-2020 06:53AM

I went and did some shopping on the way home from work one winters night a few years ago. About an hour later, someone knocked at my front door. When I opened it, a guy said 'I've the right man anyway' and handed me a wallet. My wallet. I had dropped it leaving the shop and it had my drivers license in it so he knew where to go and who to look for.
I was stunned as didn't even know I had dropped it and by the time I knew what was going on, he was nearly in his car. Wouldn't even recognize him if I met him today in broad daylight.
There was over a 100E in the wallet also which was obviously still there.

Had a guy stop when I was making my way home with a punctured tyre and he threw the bike in the boot and dropped me to my door. Was over 6km away, so that was appreciated.

And just last week, when I got to the window at a Dunkin Donuts drive through, the person in front had paid for my order.

Lots of good people out there, but we remember unsavoury events and people much more than the good ones.

Limpy · 19-07-2020 07:12AM

My dad always tells the story about walking for hours with my mam. They had to use a Donkey after my Mam started getting blisters on her foot. All the hotel's and AirBNBs were full for some reason in this particular village they ended up, (Ballyham) or something the name escapes me. My mam was pregnant on me at the time aswell so they were in a bit of a bind.

Some randomer offer's his Barn and they ended riding for the first time in the hay. Anyways back to the stranger doing nice thing's, 3 lads for Kilnascully got wind of the couple in the barn. The owldest lad gave my dad a bottle of whiskey from Jacksey's, the other 2 boyos as my dad calls um gave him a box of cleanex and a few lose fags. I love hearing that story around Toymass time.

There's some good people out there if you look or walk for awhile.

Will, my oldest cousin used to get into fights so my mom got scared. Told her sister pack his bag's and move him here. I thought that was nice of her.

unhappys10 · 19-07-2020 07:13AM

I was in Paris several years ago with a girlfriend at the time. It was the day we were due to fly home and it was an early flight.

We were at the metro very early, nobody around yet apart from one woman. We tried to enter the turnstile with bags etc and realised we had used up all of our tickets and had no cash for more, the machine wouldn't take card.

We were cutting it close so to go find an atm probably would have had us miss our bus to Beauvais and then our flight.
This woman who had already gone through realised our problem and came back to scan us both through with her leap card equivalent, and people say the French are rude.

Sinus pain · 19-07-2020 07:17AM

I went to get my son sushi last week - we had just discovered a rat in the house and I was all over the place! I usually order it online and collect it - but in all my anxiety obviously never completed the purchase - had to verify my bank card and I didn’t do it correctly. Collection wasn’t till 9.30 so I was standing outside a bit up from the sushi place on my phone telling my friend what happened when I turn around and the guy is pulling down the shutter. I ran over and said I’d an order for collection and went to show him my order and could see I never completed the order. I was so disappointed as son would be in the height of it - and I didn’t want to go into the kitchen to make him food. The guy says I’ll go back in and make it. I said no it’s ok you’re going home / but he insisted. I couldn’t thank him enough.

Tokyo · 19-07-2020 07:32AM

Deleted User wrote: »

This guy who stopped and gave me his extra petrol after I had run out in the middle of the mountains in Vietnam

I was gonna have a really bad time if no one helped me.

I've had similar experiences, a couple of times in the past.

Anyone living in Asia will recognize the pic below - they call them Iron Donkeys - basically a small donkey engine with two wheels that can be attached to trailers, aerators for rice paddies, etc. On more than one occasion I've had some old fellow pull over when I've had a blowout on the motorbike, help me throw the bike up on the back, and drive me back to civilization.

oleras wrote: »

^^

Sure, once you got to the top of the road it looks like freewheeling from there...:D

It's not uncommon to see two bikes side by side this side of the world doing exactly that. Driver of bike #1 has his right foot on the rear footpeg of bike #2. Bike #1 pushes bike #2 up the hills this way, and both freewheel down.

Quite a few years ago I got stuck with a clogged fuel filter on an XR250 in the mountains of northern Thailand. Travelled 35km to the nearest town by dropping the bike into neutral and holding onto the hook of a mobile crane that happened to pass by at the time

XsApollo · 19-07-2020 07:33AM

When I in my 20’s I was riding motorbikes.
My wallet must of fell out somehow.
I didn’t Know where I lost it or wether it was when I was on the bike or what.
About a month or 2 later it shows up in the post.
Driving ,birth certificate , license , bank cards and money, notes and coins , they were covered in water stains and a bit of mud, so the person must of got out the car and proceeded to pick it up gather it all up and went through the trouble of posting it to me.

mrcheez · 19-07-2020 07:34AM

I ran out of money in Ethiopia and the only ATM in the country was 100s of miles away in Addis. Local guide insisted on paying for my dinner and food until I was due to head back. Loveliest country I've ever been to.

DopeTech · 19-07-2020 07:41AM

Tell me how wrote: »

And just last week, when I got to the window at a Dunkin Donuts drive through, the person in front had paid for my order.

Lots of good people out there, but we remember unsavoury events and people much more than the good ones.

You are probably tiktok famous now. Seems to be a trend at the moment that you pay for the persons food behind you and film their reaction on your phone and post it to tiktok. Still a nice thing but not totally selfless on their part.

ALS · 19-07-2020 07:50AM

Was closing up the barbers a few years ago when a guy knocked on the door asking if I could give him a haircut even though I had closed, which I did no problem we got talking and I was telling him I was going to Washington on hols 2 months later , he proceeded to tell me all about the city, where to eat/ drink etc. I asked him if he wouldn’t mind shooting off an email with the tips as I’d never remember all he said, fast forward 2 months and a few emails later , myself and the Mrs are sitting back in row 25 when the air hostess comes down and asks my name? Says the captain would like us to be her guest in 1st class,
Turns out the stranger was also a pilot and had a word with the crew on our flight and got us upgraded without telling us...
Thanked him profusely on the next email, he replied no problem, was his pleasure... happy days

el_gaucho · 19-07-2020 07:52AM

DopeTech wrote: »

You are probably tiktok famous now. Seems to be a trend at the moment that you pay for the persons food behind you and film their reaction on your phone and post it to tiktok. Still a nice thing but not totally selfless on their part.

Probably also looking to see if you return the favour for the next person and will vilify you if you don’t.

Dempo1 · 19-07-2020 08:03AM

Nice idea for a thread. Back in the last recession and it was terrible, I agreed to feature in a prominent newspaper article and indeed follow up TV feature about people affected by the recession, they choose different categories of people, Married, Single, professional, unemployed, Mortgage arrears etc. There was at least 6 people, couples interviewed.

About a month after the features, I received a letter, post marked Dublin (I live in the middle of nowhere), a short hand written note wishing me well and that I'd survive the challenges and a €50 note inside. The address on envelope was generic, the village and county and my name, I actually have a specific address, house name and townland, way before eircodes but living in a rural district I was easily found. I say this as it confirms I definitely did not know this person or they me.

It remains to this day a mystery to me but the kindness shown was remarkable. I survived but this latest pandemic crisis will be the next challenge.

To that person, thank you, whomever you are

gigantic09 · 19-07-2020 08:09AM

Many years ago I was In a motor bike crash where a car pulled out in front of me. A passer by called an ambulance and waited with me, talking and reassuring till it came. It looked bad as the bike was smashed to pieces and there as blood coming under helmet etc(got lucky with just a few broken bones). I think the driver of the car was too shocked to offer any assistance. The following day she called to the hospital to see how I was, but left no name so was never able to thank her in person.

Kylta · 19-07-2020 08:46AM

A few years ago heading to work in icy conditions, I skidded of the road and into a ditch between Clonard and Enfield. While most people continued their journey a local man came to my aid.In regards to if I required an ambulance etc.He tried to pull the car from the ditch but his jeep wasn't strong enough offered me shelter until the car was removed from ditch. But I refused on the grounds I wanted stay with the car. About 20mins later a truck stopped and then another and within 5mins my car was out of the ditch. I still think of these men and the good turn they did me.

19-07-2020 09:29AM

Paid most of the bill for my education, then went and did the footpaths so I can walk places.

Ah shucks thank u guys. Tax: because it's nice to be nice.

Dial Hard · 19-07-2020 10:10AM

Was in Sunderland for Niall Quinn's testimonial years back. My sister and I went to a really nice restaurant down at the seafront the night before, were there for a good few hours, plenty of wine and cocktails had. When we asked for the bill we were told it had been "taken care of". A few of the Sunderland players who had been in there when we arrived told the manager they'd look after it.

They never even interacted with us and were long gone by the time we had finished so it was done with absolutely no expectations of reciprocity of any kind. Just a nice gesture.

pgj2015 · 19-07-2020 10:24AM

Dial Hard wrote: »

Was in Sunderland for Niall Quinn's testimonial years back. My sister and I went to a really nice restaurant down at the seafront the night before, were there for a good few hours, plenty of wine and cocktails had. When we asked for the bill we were told it had been "taken care of". A few of the Sunderland players who had been in there when we arrived told the manager they'd look after it.

They never even interacted with us and were long gone by the time we had finished so it was done with absolutely no expectations of reciprocity of any kind. Just a nice gesture.

reminds me of this story. one of the things that stood out to me when reading the book.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/michael-owen-shares-heartwarming-kieron-19191959

JustAThought · 19-07-2020 10:41AM

My mother went out walking after not having gone out of the house for weeks due to the Covid -19 restrictions - she wasn’t used to walking anymore and fell badly up a laneway. Two lovely woman happened to look back from the end of the lane and thought they saw someone in the distance flat on the ground. They came back to
check, saw my mum, and managed to hoik her up and half carry her all the way home.l which took about 45 minutes.

Thank you so much to these kind strangers. My
mum is still failly banjaxed and can’t walk properly or use her arm but she is still
high on their kindness and goodness of strangers who saw her hysteria over getting an ambulance and having to go into a high risk high infection area (A&E) and who went so far out of their way to help and be kind to her and bring her home.

con___manx1 · 19-07-2020 10:57AM

I missed my bus to Seattle airport and the bus driver that was going a different route took me as far as he could and then called me a taxi. He also waited with me for the taxi.
He was a Russian who won a green card ðŸ˜Š

mojesius · 19-07-2020 11:00AM

On two separate occasions recently I've had tyre trouble. One was a flat, one was a complete blowout. Within 5 minutes on each occasion, fellas in vans pulled up to help me change the tyre and made sure I was on my way.

I used to be able to change a tyre myself on my old Clio but my mammy wagon is a bit tougher, always requires wd40 and brute force strength to get the tyre off, neither of which I tend to have handy!

Tried giving both some money for a few pints and they refused to take it. Not all white van men deserve the reputation they get!

MrCostington · 19-07-2020 11:30AM

I was going to a funeral in Carlow and could not find the church, so I stopped and asked the first person I found walking. The lady started to explain directions, then said, it's too complicated, let me in the car and I'll get you there. I said how will you get back and she replied she was going out for a walk anyway.

Another time me and a mate were driving somewhere and I did a U turn, going into the grass verge to make the turn and got bogged down. Out of nowhere, about 10 big lads appeared and practically lifted the car up and got us on our way again. Before we even had a chance to say thanks they all piled into a coach and were gone. Must have been a rugby team or something.

Last one, one day I got a call from my mother's mobile, it was some guy on the other end. Turned out she lost it in town and he went through the contacts list until he got through to someone. He was a DCC bin man so I met him in the depo and gave him a tenner.

Poochie05 · 19-07-2020 11:54AM

I was in Tesco at the checkout queue after work and the older lady in front of me turned and told me to go ahead of her as I only had a few items. She didn’t have much more than me so I asked if she was sure and she said yes, that I had probably been working all day and was looking forward to getting home.

The chan chan man · 19-07-2020 12:49PM

I met this girl in a pub in town. Complete stranger to me, never met her before in my life and we haven’t crossed paths since.

She brought me back to her apartment and sucked me off in the kitchen.

CathalDublin · 19-07-2020 12:58PM

The chan chan man wrote: »

I met this girl in a pub in town. Complete stranger to me, never met her before in my life and we haven’t crossed paths since.

She brought me back to her apartment and sucked me off in the kitchen.

Then you woke up

19-07-2020 12:58PM

Coming home from being stranded in Amsterdam, I was in London (ferry from Holland to UK, plane from Heathrow to Dublin)

Went into a Starbucks near "cucumber building"

Had my coffee and cake.

Left Starbucks.

Cue a staff member running out few minutes later with a bag I had left there.

Also, on a previous holiday I got lost in Berlin.
Very helpful hostel staff managed to jog my memory enough to find my way back to my hotel.

What’s the nicest thing a stranger ever did for you...

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