S P O T L I G H T | Kindest Of Stranger

I was recently contacted by Anthony Nolan, a blood cancer charity, who have recently launched a campaign that struck a certain chord with me. Their 'Kindest Of Stranger' campaign focuses on everyday little kindnesses and gestures from people we've never met. It's inspired me to share my own experience of when a complete stranger off of their own back went out of their way to help me out.

Last summer, just before I left Southampton, James and myself decided to venture on a day trip to the Isle Of Wight, which is only a 30 minute ferry ride away from the Southampton docks. The day started perfectly as the sun was shining and we had a mooch around one of the sea side towns spending all of our pennies in the charity shops there. As we only had the day there we wanted to cram in as much of the island as possible. Unfortunately, neither of us drive, so we had to rely entirely on the irregular and overpriced public transport there. When it got to around 3pm, I decided I wanted to go to an alpaca farm, which happened to be about an hour's journey away the other side of the island. James agreed, so we jumped on a bus that took us on a journey through the picturesque countryside. As we had no idea where to get off, the ever so kind bus driver dropped us off right outside the farm, which was literally in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately, when we arrived the alpaca farm, it was a bit of a disappointment.

After paying our entrance fee we hobbled up a huge hill to see some alpacas from around 300m away. No matter how much we tried to grab the herd of overly smug alpacas' attention they just weren't interested in meeting two gawking, overnethusiastic twenty somethings. I'm not quite sure why not, because we're bloody great! Feeling both defeated and deflated we trudged back down the hill to the farm cafe to wait for the next bus into town, which happened to be an hour away.

The cafe wasn't as convenient as we would have liked as we sipped our cups of coffee to the sound of the loudest squawking angry parrot. We started conversation with an older lady we had met with her husband and grandson on the way down the hill. We had advised them not to bother climbing the hill as the alpacas weren't interested in interaction that day. Upon hearing our situation of how we were stranded until the next bus, she kindly offered us a lift back to the main town, which was an hour away. So, there we were, squeezed between a couple in their seventies with their grandson in their tiny car on a road trip across the Isle of Wight!

If it it wasn't for the kindness of that couple, who knows? James and me could still be on the alpaca farm or we could well have killed each other after going completely mad from the constant noise from that damn parrot! I'm not anti-parrot or anti-alpaca, even though it may seem it after this post. I promise.

What's the kindest thing a stranger has done for you or what's the kindest thing you've done for a stranger? Will you be joining the #thankyoustranger campaign?

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