Some things are just meant to happen.....

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Oct 31, 2015.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    At work this afternoon, one of my staff came in and asked what we could do to help an elderly lady and her dog who were struggling to get home. In her 80's, she told us that she had been all over the place for around 8 hours and was trying to get home to somewhere not all that far (four or five miles maybe), but as there was no direct bus route, and taxis were either unwilling to take her with her dog, or they were all busy with the rugby world cup.

    As we were reasonably quiet, I decided the easiest thing to do was to pop them in my car and take them home. She was a lovely soul, and her dog was as friendly as you could ask for, and on the way we nattered away about the local area and how things have changed..... she told me that her husband was a police officer in his day, but sadly that he passed away last week. She went on to tell me that her daughter was arriving from France tomorrow, so she would have plenty of family around her.

    Before too long, we got to her house, but she had no key with her and nobody was in..... so, she said she would wander round to her daughters and get a key from her. However, it was starting to get dark and a bit chilly, and I was less than happy at leaving her by the side of the road, so we got back in the car and went to her daughter's house -- only, the flat that her daughter lived in was in darkness.

    Now, during our travels, a few alarm bells were starting to ring - firstly, her husband died on Friday, then it changed to Monday (fair enough, its a stressful event), but then she was forgetting things that she had just told me, or we had just chatted about. Anyway, I suggested we go back to her house and speak to her neighbours and perhaps she could stay with one of them for a cuppa until her daughter came home.

    We arrived back at her house, only it became the house next door...... I knocked the door (now utterly convinced that she didn't live there) and spoke to a lady who confirmed exactly as I thought and suggested I try another neighbour who may recognise the lady from the neighbourhood as the other neighbours had been there a lot longer than she had.

    Onto the next neighbour, and at first no recognition from the chap that opened the door - - he went to get another neighbour who was in his house watching the rugby, and when she came out, she DID recognise my new friend.

    It transpired that my mystery lady had in fact lived in the house she took me to, but had moved away in the late 1980's! After a bit of digging, they provided me with an address that they used to send Christmas Cards to all those years ago -- an address that was nearly 100 miles away.

    So, I contacted the police and go them involved for assistance. About 30 minutes later, a lovely lady officer arrived, and as I greeted her to outline the story so far she informed me that my new friend had in fact been reported missing by her daughter, and that her daughter lived quite a few miles from where we were (although, not as many as the other address I had been given). The officer was absolutely lovely, and between us we managed to get my friend and her dog into the police car to go and see her daughter for a nice cuppa and something to eat for the dog. All's well that ends well thankfully.

    I will be sending an email to the police later in the week, as every one of their staff from the call handlers on 101 to the officer that came out were absolutely first class; I am also grateful that I struck so lucky in knocking the right door - the people within were genuinely lovely, and we would all be happy to have them as neighbours.

    Most of all, I am pleased that my new friend got safely home -- someone was certainly looking down on her this afternoon.
     
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    • Rustler

      Rustler Super Gardener

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      Beautiful! What a lovely thing to do and persevere the way you did. Much respect for caring as unfortunately a lot of people would walk away. Well done,sir. A lovely happy ending.
       
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      • lykewakewalker

        lykewakewalker Apprentice Gardener

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        Nothing more that I can add to what @Rustler has said, she is a lucky lady to have you come to her aid, another well done both to you and the police.
         
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        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          Ach, all I did was give her a lift really - her ex neighbours and the police did the real work. Bless her, she was a really lovely soul, there was no way I could leave her wandering about the streets at this time of year.
           
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          • lykewakewalker

            lykewakewalker Apprentice Gardener

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            No, you did a lot more than give her a lift, you showed compassion and a will to see through what you had started, once again well done.
             
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            • Anzia

              Anzia Gardener

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              That's really nice to read FC. Well done you and the police for such a kind and compassionate response. :grphg:
               
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              • WeeTam

                WeeTam Total Gardener

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                I had to log back to say nice one FC.


                For some reason this reminds me of the time I was a kid out with mum when she spotted an old lady who looked like she was struggling to get across the busy street.
                So mum being the good samaritan stopped the traffic and helped her across the road which was nice................only then the old lady turned to mum and instead of thanking her for helping her told her she hadnt wanted to cross the street :lolpt:
                 
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                • Fern4

                  Fern4 Total Gardener

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                  Well done FC...you're a star. :yay::yay::yay: :doggieshmooze: :dbgrtmb:
                   
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                  • HarryS

                    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                    Well done FC :blue thumb:
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      Extremely well done :yay:. We don't hear enough of good deeds like these. :)

                      We try to do these type of things as frequently as possible. Apart from being such a good deed it makes you feel good and, I'm sure, the police felt good. The thank you to the police will be greatly appreciated as they don't very often get thanks.
                       
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                      • Jiffy

                        Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                        Well done FC, we don't get people like you around here, keep up the good work :dbgrtmb:
                         
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                          Last edited: Nov 1, 2015
                        • Loki

                          Loki Total Gardener

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                          Oh FC what a wonderful story. What you all did for that lady is amazing. Many years ago my grandma, who has dementia, went missing from the care home she was in for respite. After much panicking and searching the area it occurred to me she just might, somehow, have made her way home, about 5 miles away. I rang her flat and there she was! We will never know how she got there, it was a wet cold winters night and I'm afraid not a very nice area of town either.
                          She is 97 now and very precious to us:spinning:
                           
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                          • Fat Controller

                            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                            Awww, bless you all, and thank you - I only did what any reasonable person would do; it was thanks to the information from her old neighbours and the efforts of the police that we managed to get her back to her family.
                             
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                            • redstar

                              redstar Total Gardener

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                              Cheers from here. Good job. Hugs to you.
                               
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                              • Sheal

                                Sheal Total Gardener

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                                It's good to know there are still people around with a heart of gold. Nice one FC. :)
                                 
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