The rise of Star William Francis

Random Act of Kindness No.42 – Offer some handy advice to a tourist.

In recent times, I have become a real believer in fate, kismet, serendipity or whatever one may call it. And today really supported my new found faith in fate.

As you are all aware, I am not in London at the moment. University has wound down for Easter, and I go to Australia on Saturday, therefore, spending some quality time with my rents, and the bros before I go. I was therefore slightly concerned about todays RAOK. Not many tourists pass through my quiet village. I thought I would venture into Stratford-Upon-Avon and help out the thousands or tourists that flood the apparent ‘world-class’ town.

But as luck would have it, whilst I tucked into my bacon, egg, and black pudding sandwhich, someone came onto the drive and knocked on the door. I wasn’t going to budge, as the likely hood is it won’t be for me and be for one of my older brothers. But as the youngest, there are some things you just have to do. All my older brothers sat around the table looking at me waiting for me to get up and go. And well, of course I did.

I held the dogs back and opened the door. “Hello hello”.

“Oh hello, sorry to bother you on a Sunday morning but do you know where corner croft is?”

Hang on. Let me think about this. “so, as you asked me where this place is you don’t know right?”

“yeeees”

“Right, so I could call you a tourist as you are visiting the area, right?”

“ermmmm, yes I suppose”

“Crackin’, yeah I know where it is” I proceeded to give him a blow by blow description of where it is. Told him about all the potholes in the road, and the good spots to stop to get a good view. Corner croft is only 2 minutes away in a car but still. I thought I would do my best at offering some handy advice to a ‘tourist’.

“You’re a star. Thank you so much”

A star? I only told you where a house is, where two potholes in the road are, and one viewing point on the way, but hey I will accept that. Star William Francis. That has a nice ring to it, I like it.

Awesome. RAOK No. 42 complete. I am nearly at half a century. What can I do to celebrate making it that far? Hmmm.

Lately I have felt a skip in my step and a song in my heart.

RAOK No. 7 – Strike up a conversation with an old man/ women on a bench.

Today is a Sunday, and as if by chance on this day of rest my RAOK didn’t involve running into Hospitals or teaching policemen how to skip (which will be coming up soon).

Entering the Chip Factor has filled up most of my day; I’ve been dancing around my room singing along to Delilah videoing myself looking more of an idiot than I normally do. 

"I smelt the chips on the night that i passed my the counter, I saw the salt and ketchup I wanted on mine"

I decided to take a break and go on a little walk through the park to brainstorm some ideas for my video to successfully enter the Chip Factor. It was slightly overcast and not the best day to ‘meet’ people in the park to strike up a conversation with, nonetheless, I walked to the park with a skip in my step.

I passed several empty benches, well, of humans anyway, there were a few birds sitting on them pecking at the odd crumb or two. Most people were walking in couples, arm in arm enjoying the last day of the weekend. I had gone half way around the park and was heading back home. I could see several people sitting on the benches up ahead. This was my opportunity.

I pulled the lace out of my shoe, so I had an excuse to stop at the bench – I didn’t want to appear like a weirdo! Just as I arrived at the first bench the lady got up and walked off. I carried on another 100meters with my yellow shoelace flapping around. I stopped at the next bench where there was an old man sitting there reading the newspaper. I sat down and took off my shoe and tucked the shoelace back inside.

“Hello sir, how are you?”

He lifted his head from his paper and turned to look at me. I gave him a little smile, a smile that didn’t indicate I was about to mug him, but also didn’t indicate that I wanted to throw my keys in a pot at a party with him… ya get’me?

My well calculated smile obviously portrayed the right message as he smiled back and said he is very good.  I came out with the typically English comment about the weather being slightly overcast. He replied “it is yes, but, it is still nice to come and sit in the park and get away from it all.” I couldn’t agree more with him, however, I think we have slightly different ideas about ‘getting away from it all’ – sitting in Burgess’ Park doesn’t quite do it for me. Or maybe he was implying he wanted me to shut up and move along. This didn't perturb me though!

“Have you lived in Peckham for long then?”

“ooohhh yes my friend…maaaaany, many years now”

I sat on the bench for about 10 minutes speaking to him. It turns out he owns a fruit and veg. shop on Peckham High Street. Before him, his father owned it, before his father owned it, his fathers father owned. You can kind of see where this is going. Let’s just say the shop has been in the family for a loooong time…

Well, my shoelace was safely tucked back into my shoe and didn’t look like it was about to pop out and say hello anytime soon, so I decided to say my goodbyes. I did promise him I would go to his shop next time I am out and about buying some veg. He promised me he’ll do me a good price.

I like that Guy!

Remember your please and thank yous

RAOK No. 4 – Be unfailingly polite to every single person you meet.

Ok first off, there seems to be some concern about me not succeeding in my 3^rd RAOK. People have suggested that I failed as I only offered and did not give the pizza delivery man a slice. I am sorry. It may just be because I am polite that I did not force it on to him. I do not see it as a failure because he did not accept; I see it as a success because it is still a random act of kindness to offer an un-expecting delivery man a slice of pizza. Nonetheless, this spurred me on to fulfill todays RAOK in great detail.

Generally, I believe myself to be a polite person, however, today I had to be unfailingly polite to everyone.

At 2.00 AM my phone rang. I was tucked up in bed after my cup of Horlicks fast asleep dreaming about butterflies flying. The piercing noise of my ring tone made all the butterflies fly away and I came crashing down to reality.

The person on the other end of the phone was in need of a chaperone to walk her home from the bus stop. I of course obliged, naturally. It wasn’t until I left the house that it occurred to me that it was passed 12.00, therefore, day 4 of my RAOK. I know I could have politely refused to walk my friend home, however, I saw this as a sign that it was meant to be. Because of this I felt even better for walking my friend home.

I got back home and soon started dreaming about daffodils in the snow.

I was not at University today, and was therefore not likely to bump into many people to have to be polite to. So my housemates decided to make up for that. I spent most of my day offering cups of tea, biscuits, cucumber sandwiches and foot rubs. For some reason none of them wanted a foot rub, but the cucumber sandwiches were a hit.

I managed to escape the tea duties for half an hour or so, so I decided to go for a run. This would be a good opportunity to meet more people to be polite to.

I started off by smiling at all the other fellow runners. None smiled back. I then stopped at a bench to have a stretch. An old man was sitting on the bench smoking a pipe. I smiled at him and wished him a good day. ‘Lovely day to relax in the park’. Again nothing back, other than a little nod.

I was on the home straight heading towards the Peckham Palace and a little child started running alongside me. I smiled at him and started cheering him along. I saw his parents just in front looking rather worried so I smiled at them and gave them a little wave. Well well, that was it. They clearly didn’t like me being so friendly. They called their child back and told him off for running about and talking to a stranger… Stranger danger!!

It turns out people living in and around the Peckham area don’t like you being overly polite. This is a shame and I fully intend to crack this trend in all good time.