Random acts of kindness
Hello. I did a full day’s work on the pilot today. I met Alexa Chung, my co-host. She is very glamorous and knows famous people. She was really nice, too. I don’t know exactly how famous she is, perhaps you can adjudicate. But anyway, if you know who she is, you can be pleased by the news that she’s nice. The pilot, as I’ve said, isn’t going to be on TV, but the show eventually might. Fingers crossed.
On the subject of We Need Answers, we haven’t decided anything, but it seems likely at some point we WILL do it live again. Perhaps not everyone knows, but that was how WNA began life: as a late-night, drunken Edinburgh show. I kept score on a cricket scoreboard. Key once threw ten eggs at Brendon Burns. The whole thing was much ruder and longer. You get the picture. If it happens again, you’ll be the first to know.
I wanted to quickly record something that happened today. Emily was shopping and bought various bits of equipment for the baby. When she came to pay – with a crying baby, and all manner of clutter weighing her down – it turned out she only had my credit card, and they asked for ID or some sort of validation from the bank, and it couldn’t be done. So she started trying to negotiate some sort of pain-in-the-arse arrangement where she left her iPhone as a deposit and then slogged all the way up the hill to a cashpoint and back again with the baby.
Suddenly a woman, who had observed the whole incident, said ‘don’t worry, I’ll pay for it and you can pay me back’. It was about £115. Emily couldn’t believe it. The woman paid the bill and left an email address. Emily got home, got in touch with her and sent her the money through PayPal. And that was that.
A tiny, wonderful incident of human trust and cooperation. This is what it means to be a citizen of the world. Not everyone can afford to lend a complete stranger a sizeable wedge of money like that, of course. But we can all be inspired to do 110-quid’s worth of lovely things for someone we don’t know.
London in particular is often held up as an example of a modern city where there are too many people and nobody gives a shit about anyone else. And this is often quite true. But now and again someone completely defies this rule and it’s worth ten disappointments for that moment of wonder.
So that’s my pleasant thought for the day. And on the subject of London/nice things/tiny actions making a difference, this evening I was in the newsagent and someone came in immersed in a book, AND IT WAS MY BOOK. He looked up from the book and flinched in surprise, clearly thinking I had some power to appear at will whenever summoned by my readers. It was (I’m also about to tweet about this) the first time I’ve ever, ever seen someone reading any of my books, other than at one of my shows, or some other context where you’d expect it. It was exhilarating.
This day began with being woken up five times in the night by an unhappy Kit, but it has turned out pretty nicely. Thanks, world.
Posted by Al Kennedy on September 4, 2010
These are two really, really lovely stories. It’s always great to have a day like this, where the world basically just proves that it’s worth spending the time and effort on.
Posted by Kate W on September 3, 2010
That’s lovely; glad to know people can still trust strangers. I let a cyclist go first today and he said “Thank you” – hardly on the same level, but still nice.
Posted by Rachael on September 3, 2010
I wonder if she realises how lovely what she did was, or if the man reading your book realised how good it was for you to see him reading it. I hope you have more days like this (maybe beginning with a less unhappy Kit though too).
Posted by Alex on September 2, 2010
A woman reversed into my (well my dad’s really) car the other day. It dented it a bit, but she left her number and she was very nice/guilty sounding/apologetic. Getting the panel popped back out again cost a tenner. We said don’t worry about it, but she did worry about it, so my mum told her to drop a bottle of wine round if she felt like she had to do something. She dropped round a bottle of wine, some bath stuff, a card, AND the tenner.
Isn’t everyone lovely?
Posted by ShineUrShoesGuv on September 2, 2010
After having a bit of a rubbish day and dropping my chill me out bottle of wine on my doorstep, this blog made me smile … thanks Mark x
Posted by Laura on September 2, 2010
It renews your faith in the milk of human kindness.
How exciting for you! I have been really crap and keep forgetting to write a review of it.
Alexa Chung seems very skinny. Is she really as tiny as tv makes her look? Also, her hair often looks like it needs brushing, but I suspect she tries very hard to make it look like that. I do hope the pilot was a success.
Posted by SamJJ on September 2, 2010
What a lovely stories! Both made me smile. At some point on Monday the baby’s sun hat fell off. When I noticed my husband walked back a little way but didn’t find it and I wrote it off as lost. Later on our way home the hat was on a post where a kind stranger had put it.
Little things like that and the lady who helped Emily really make the world a better place. I think that if we heard more good news in the media instead of bad all the time it would have a positive effect sending out ripples of good will and people would be more inclined to be kind. What do you think?
On a different note the baby has just taught me that I can increase the font size on screen by doing a swooping thing on the mouse touch pad on the lap top. 6 months and already a computer whizz, hee hee hee.
Posted by amycool on September 2, 2010
I needed that story this morning. I was fuming after yet another inconsiderate act by a member of extended family who shall not be named. I can’t work out if they’re malicious or just plain stupid. But I guess it doesn’t matter all that much as long as there are nice considerate people to balance the world out. I certainly met a lot of the inconsiderate ones at work yesterday but occasionally someone will come in who actually says please and thankyou and very rarely someone makes a nice comment about the effort you put into your work. It’s weird that it’s so rare because it’s so much fun giving compliments.
Posted by Paul on September 2, 2010
That was a bit random comment, I meant to post a line about how I wish everyone was as nice as the person Emily met today. That was quite a big gesture, even a word of thanks or a smile as you walk past would be nice. I havent had someone I didn’t know say hello to me on the street in ages. Bygone era… says the 21 year old
Posted by Paul on September 2, 2010
After a terrible day in Edinburgh trying to get out of the train station with 2 suitcases in hand and a computer bag on my back, where noone was letting me through and I was letting people through and only getting glares… I’m not doing it for my benefit, I wouldn’t mind a thank you or at least a look which didn’t feel like I had just kicked there dog
bad day today.
Posted by Catherine on September 2, 2010
After a non-happy day for me, I was glad to hear about the kind samaritan who helped MrsEmilyWH, the man who was reading your book (bizarro world), and mostly that you sounded happy.
Good night. Going to see the new grandbaby tomorrow. Will read everyday, though, as I can’t sleep without having read your blog.
Cathy
Posted by Tibbs on September 2, 2010
That is a lovely story. I love seeing how wonderful humans can be. One of my favourite memories from my time in Korea was when I’d been caught out in the rain, and while I was stopped at a light a girl I didn’t know held her umbrella over me. We tried to make small talk, but neither of us spoke the other’s language. Although I did at least remember the Korean word for “thank you”.
I hope the pilot goes well. I have never heard of Alexa Chung, but that is not necessarily an indication of her relative fame. I really, really hope I get to see We Need Answers live; that would be awesome. And how nice to see someone reading your book! I’m still on A Lighthearted Look at Murder, I’m trying to take my time with it and I’m really enjoying it!
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on September 2, 2010
Shop lady is indeed very nice!
And speaking of your upcoming pilot, will a studio audience be required? Many Watsonians would love to be there in support! x
PS I wrote the word ‘Watsonian’ so many times, I decided it needed a proper definition, so here we are – http://is.gd/eQj9i. We’re official now, you’re stuck with us.
Posted by Britt on September 2, 2010
I like everything about this blog. Firstly because I absolutely adore Alexa Chung. And secondly because that woman in the supermarket sounds like a completely lovely human being, and there are so few of those left in the world.
Posted by Kathryn on September 2, 2010
Do you mean to imply that you won’t be hand-delivering my copy of Eleven which is due to arrive tomorrow?
It makes me feel better about life to hear about random acts of kindness such as this.
Posted by Laurs on September 1, 2010
What a lovely lovely woman, it makes the world seem a little kinder and nicer to be in when you hear things like this.
After getting some horrible news today, this really has put a smile on my face. Just wonderful. x
Posted by Sarah on September 1, 2010
Oh, I’d love to have seen the face of the person reading your book as he glanced up and saw you!
I do hope the lady who helped Emily reads this blog and the comments that follow… she’s made lots of people smile! It’s wonderful when someone is so kind, and it stands out more when it’s not something that happens often.
Posted by Someone on September 1, 2010
Aw I suppose it is that it takes a world full of sullen and rude people to appreciate the one off lovely. (Weird sentence but I’m knackered so nnng)
Watched WNA repeat on bbc4 tonight with brother who liked it! People never like things I make them watch. You three awesomes shall be the exception (at least this once thus far)
Oh and just watching you on Argumental as reading this post so I got your voice effectively reading it to me.
Thought I should share. Now, importantly, bed.
Posted by Misha on September 1, 2010
That’s lovely
Today whilst taking several bags of too small clothes etc to the charity shop it took me so long to park a man came over to tell me (in his words, risking a slap, but i’m not that kind of person) that it had really amused him. I figure at least my comically bad parking made someone smile.
Then I posted someone some shoes, (at their behest) perhaps today has just been a good day for random acts of niceness.
Posted by Aislinn on September 1, 2010
P.S. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more We Need Answers live. I realise it’s also quite possibly a no, but I’m definitely keeping my fingers crossed.
Posted by Ally on September 1, 2010
Those are both amazingly lovely stories. I saw something yesterday that, while not quite as brilliant as your stories, is just as happy. I was walking down the street and saw a woman and her two little girls crossing the street. The youngest (who was only about 2) was pushing a doll’s stroller ans struggling to keep it in a straight line, so her older sister was surreptitiously helping by pushing it every now and then from the side. It made me happy
Posted by Aislinn on September 1, 2010
If there’s one thing I like more than long blogs it’s happy Mark.
(And nice incidents where people help other people out.)
Posted by Tim on September 1, 2010
Its nice to hear about events like this. They should be in the national news to cheer everyone up. By the way I understand why the person was fully into your book it is really good. I am currently halfway through and really enjoying it
Posted by Natalie-Helen on September 1, 2010
Ahh. I’m so glad you had such a good day!
Was wondering when the London launch for Eleven was going to be? I seem to remember that it was suggested to be in September but I could very well be wrong.
I quite like the idea of you creeping around book shops and libraries in the hope that someone will be reading you books as you turn the corner!
On another note I made my donating to the Molodova Project today which made me feel fuzzy inside. So keep running, I can’t wait to hear how you all do!
^_^
x
Posted by deanna on September 1, 2010
sometimes, the world is entirely surprising. hope your day/week continues in this manner
Posted by Hannah Mae on September 1, 2010
Lovely post. Aw, what a kind lady. I love it when things like that happen.
Alexa Chung is significantly famous, I think. She’s presented a lot of UK TV, now hosts a chat show in America and has done a lot of modeling campaigns. She seems funnier, edgier and more intelligent than most beautiful-but-vacant presenters, so it’s pleasing to know she’s nice.
The story about you bumping into a reader of your book is brilliant! Lovely for both of you, I’d imagine, if a bit surreal. It must be odd to come across a complete stranger who is essentially reading your thoughts! I’d find that aspect of being an author so peculiar – I know it’s fiction and all, but you can’t help but put a bit of yourself in there. The relationship between an author and reader is an incredibly complicated and strange one, especially if the author is someone you know something about as a person. Almost all the authors I read are long dead, so I barely imagine them as real people, just sort of conduits through whom I receive the narrative. I found it weird, in that respect, when reading ‘Eleven’; I’d be so involved with the characters, then I’d see you on a repeat of ‘Mock The Week’ or something and it’d be difficult to consolidate the two people! In ‘Catcher In The Rye’ Holden talks about enjoying a novel so much that he wishes he could call the author up afterwards, and I often feel that too, but the bizarre reality is that even though you share so much whilst immersed in the story, immediately after, you go back to being strangers. Ha, how rambly and philosophical this comment has become! Sorry about that. Sounds like a good day though; I’m glad.
Posted by Anna Lowman on September 1, 2010
Awesome! And this World Cup Moments thing you’re on is cool too – all round good stuff.
Posted by Mariam on September 1, 2010
What a lovely woman! It’s things like that that restore my faith in humanity.
Posted by SarahV on September 1, 2010
Wow, what a fantastic person!!!
It makes you feel so good when a stranger is kind. Makes you want to do a random act of kindness, and keep the ball rolling. If this happened, imagine how much nicer the world would be
Posted by heatherooo on September 1, 2010
It’s nice when people are nice. It can, sadly, be a rare occasion these days. But certainly, it makes it all the more appreciated.
I’m liking the stuff about seeing a stranger reading your book. I’m pretty sure it would have been a bit of an “Oh my goodness!” (though, perhaps, slightly less polite words) moment for this man. Still. He may have gone home to share this story with others, as you have done. Perhaps he even tweeted about it too.
I am glad you had a nice day.
Posted by h2osarah on September 1, 2010
I’m all warm and fuzzy inside now.
Posted by fuzzy_ducky (Laura) on September 1, 2010
I love nice people
Posted by Alice on September 1, 2010
What a lovely post. The human race has done well this week. I couldn’t make it to the festival this year but rather sweetly my little sister (who had a show up) called me when she walked past you at some point and a friend emailed me a glowing review of your show, so that got me a little closer I suppose.
Posted by Kate B on September 1, 2010
Wow, what a lovley blog. I love hearing about small acts of human kindness, it’s very inspiring.
I think Alexa Chung is reasonably famous, at least I know who she is and I’m not someone that knows a lot about celebrities and all of that. It’s good to hear she’s nice, she seems pretty cool in all of the I’ve seen her in. Hope the pilot goes well!
Looking forward to hearing more about We Need Answers.
Posted by MusicalLottie on September 1, 2010
Oh wow, what a lovely post! It’s heart-warming to know that there are people out there who have faith in humanity and who are willing to perform such acts of kindness
Also, that’s cool about seeing somebody reading your book!
I reckon there should be a showing of the pilot to Watsonians …
Posted by Maddie on September 1, 2010
What a very kind lady indeed! Glad you day was okay. Great blog
Posted by lisan66 on September 1, 2010
Aw! Glad you had such a nice day!