Earlier this year I was waiting at a bus stop with a present for one of my nephews tucked under my arm. It started raining, and my atrocious wrapping job started getting wet. Out of nowhere, a woman in a mini-SUV swerved across the road and into the bus stop.
She wound down the window and said "I think you need this!" before emptying 12 bottles of white wine out of her bag for life and handing it to me. "For your present," she said, then went haring back into traffic and on her way.
I thought it was just a one off act of kindness, but after reading this there is clearly a secret sect of Bag For Life Guardians out there, intent on helping jobbing writers.
I also have with me a pen, some paper, small plastic bag, small scissors, two safety pins, four plasters, two small non adhesive dressings, antiseptic wipes, small hand gel,tissues………
I misread this and thought the woman was handing you 12 bottles of white wine. That really would have been an act of kindness (not that the bag wasn't of course)!
We had a lady delivering leaflets along our street and the carrier bag she was using was blatantly going to split at any moment. I gave her a bag for life and felt great all day. It really is a mutually beneficial act, to donate a bag for life at a time of need.
Bus lanes are so confusing. In Brum, you're not allowed to drive in them at all, but there's some places where you can drive in them *sometimes*, and people have been failed in their driving lessons for *not* driving in them at times when they *could*. Bearing in mind bus lane signs are impossible to decipher and a van or bus is probably blocking your view of them when you drive past....!
This is very much the case in West Yorkshire too - it's a bloody nightmare. My driving instructor used to test me with the certain times ones and it really fried my head.
Yes! She was really lovely - such a nice thing to do!
“I tried calling several numbers but had no luck in locating a human.” — What I do is I try all the numbers like there’s no tomorrow and I don’t stop until the bot thinks I am the goddamn bot. Two can play at this game
Expecting a human in an office on a Saturday suggests an incredible level of optimism.
(And, anyway, I'm not sure of the wisdom of trying to reason with somebody whose weekend is taken up with work rather than watching the match ir going to the park!)
If you'll allow me to go all Wodehousian for a brief moment, that was most amusing young scout! And seeing Leeds win, well that is indeed a rarity to be enjoyed by fans of the Peacockian brand of soccer. I've been feeling increasingly angry recently, mainly with Labour, Reeves, Starmer and McFadden - call themselves socialists? Pah! I needed something to lighten the mood and this was it! BTW, You can subscribe to my substack for free (most people do - the tight bastards .. only kidding, really, honest guv). Actually a couple of people do pay to read my inane ramblings - God knows why but the end result is me feeling guilty. Anyhoo as Ned Rierson had it, you'll find mostly political columns mixed with the occasional piece on Cricket, Jacobean drama, Shakespeare and Wine Capitalism. What I lack in style, I'm told I make up for in passion and, rarely, can be amusing. I'd be most interested in any comment you might leave - search for @andygjburge or "Andy's Substack". Toodle pip old bean!
You should try Wodehouse for sure Andy - his books really are very funny and actually self-deprecating - he takes the piss out of the upper classes brilliantly.
Earlier this year I was waiting at a bus stop with a present for one of my nephews tucked under my arm. It started raining, and my atrocious wrapping job started getting wet. Out of nowhere, a woman in a mini-SUV swerved across the road and into the bus stop.
She wound down the window and said "I think you need this!" before emptying 12 bottles of white wine out of her bag for life and handing it to me. "For your present," she said, then went haring back into traffic and on her way.
I thought it was just a one off act of kindness, but after reading this there is clearly a secret sect of Bag For Life Guardians out there, intent on helping jobbing writers.
Haha, I'd love it if it was the same woman. Hope she didn't get whacked with a bus lane fine for her act of kindness!
Haha, we were in the bus lane-free part of town, she's in the clear!
I have to confess to also giving out Bags for Life to people.
I had no idea this was a thing, but I really like that it is. Very thoughtful!
I also have with me a pen, some paper, small plastic bag, small scissors, two safety pins, four plasters, two small non adhesive dressings, antiseptic wipes, small hand gel,tissues………
I misread this and thought the woman was handing you 12 bottles of white wine. That really would have been an act of kindness (not that the bag wasn't of course)!
Ha, I wish. Even one of them would've made the wait a bit more fun.
We never found out why Louise was being nice to you!
I did wonder whether we were going to find out that Louise suddenly remembered trips to Bradford where she might have gone down a bus lane...
Haha, that would have been a better twist, wouldn't it?! Unfortunately, the bus lane misdemeanours were mine and mine only...
Thanks for reading, Bren!
We had a lady delivering leaflets along our street and the carrier bag she was using was blatantly going to split at any moment. I gave her a bag for life and felt great all day. It really is a mutually beneficial act, to donate a bag for life at a time of need.
Good on you - I am enjoying hearing about all these bag for life Samaritans! I might start carrying one.
Bus lanes are so confusing. In Brum, you're not allowed to drive in them at all, but there's some places where you can drive in them *sometimes*, and people have been failed in their driving lessons for *not* driving in them at times when they *could*. Bearing in mind bus lane signs are impossible to decipher and a van or bus is probably blocking your view of them when you drive past....!
Anyway, hurray for Bag for Life lady!
This is very much the case in West Yorkshire too - it's a bloody nightmare. My driving instructor used to test me with the certain times ones and it really fried my head.
Yes! She was really lovely - such a nice thing to do!
Thanks for reading, Helen.
“I tried calling several numbers but had no luck in locating a human.” — What I do is I try all the numbers like there’s no tomorrow and I don’t stop until the bot thinks I am the goddamn bot. Two can play at this game
True, I forgot it was Saturday in the story. Let the bots have Saturdays.
Expecting a human in an office on a Saturday suggests an incredible level of optimism.
(And, anyway, I'm not sure of the wisdom of trying to reason with somebody whose weekend is taken up with work rather than watching the match ir going to the park!)
Ha. That'll show 'em. I like your style.
The trials and tribulations of a modern dad! Xx
Oh yes... Roll on the summer holidays!
If you'll allow me to go all Wodehousian for a brief moment, that was most amusing young scout! And seeing Leeds win, well that is indeed a rarity to be enjoyed by fans of the Peacockian brand of soccer. I've been feeling increasingly angry recently, mainly with Labour, Reeves, Starmer and McFadden - call themselves socialists? Pah! I needed something to lighten the mood and this was it! BTW, You can subscribe to my substack for free (most people do - the tight bastards .. only kidding, really, honest guv). Actually a couple of people do pay to read my inane ramblings - God knows why but the end result is me feeling guilty. Anyhoo as Ned Rierson had it, you'll find mostly political columns mixed with the occasional piece on Cricket, Jacobean drama, Shakespeare and Wine Capitalism. What I lack in style, I'm told I make up for in passion and, rarely, can be amusing. I'd be most interested in any comment you might leave - search for @andygjburge or "Andy's Substack". Toodle pip old bean!
Ha, thanks, Andy. I'm ashamed to say I've never read any P. G. Wodehouse! My brother is a big fan, too. I really need to rectify this.
I can confirm I am subscribed to your publication!
You should try Wodehouse for sure Andy - his books really are very funny and actually self-deprecating - he takes the piss out of the upper classes brilliantly.