Woop Woop... that's the sound of da police

Ohhh, what's occurin' alright?

So check out this video and see how I got on with RAOK No, 16.

It's a beaut.

I have become a hugger and love standing in queues. Two for the price of one.

Right then – first off I think I need to apologise and perhaps do some groveling.

The last two days I have been unable to update my blog. Random Act of Kindness 14 and 15 have successfully completed yet not uploaded.

The reason for failing to upload RAOK 14, was because I went back to my parents house for my Mothers birthday. I therefore spent the whole day doing lots of exciting birthday things with my Mum and the rest of my family. Surely, that is a Act of Kindness itself.

I travelled back to London on Monday and I intended to update my blog then. However, we have had slight technical issues in the Peckham Palace with our internet not working. I am happy to say now the Internet is in its full, beautiful swing of supplying me with over 30Mb of Fibre optic broadband.

So, please accept my apologise and let me tell you about RAOK, 14 and 15.

Lets start with RAOK 14.

RAOK 14 – Hug someone you don’t normally hug. Extra points if it is a stranger.

On Saturday night it was my friends 21^st. Yes I have had a weekend of birthdays and partying. I thought the party would be a great night to find someone to hug and preferably a stranger. The theme of the party was neon, and was in a middle of a field. Yes a field party in February - they overcame the slight temperature issue by having a roaring fire, which was pumping out some serious heat. Overall, the party was, well… quite frankly EPIC!

After some Dutch courage I decided to go up to someone and ask them for a hug and be willing for me to capture it on camera. The Dutch courage worked and I meandered up to the most beautiful girl at the party (or so I think anyway, judge for yourself). Now I have to admit I do know this girl, therefore, no extra points should be given. However, we’re not normal huggers.

Here is a picture of Rebecca and I enjoying a wee hug. I do hope from now on we will become regular huggers.

RAOK 15 – Swap places with the person behind you in the queue.

Well, a lovely Sunday at home for my Mothers birthday, indulging in lots of lovely foods made me have slight withdrawal symptoms once back at the Peckham Palace. I therefore, went off shopping to stock up on some green veg. and some luxury meats.

I arrived at the checkout to be confronted by chaos. The self-checkout tills were down and the other checkouts were clearly over capacity. I tried to do what everyone else was doing and find the shortest queue. I joined the back of one queue and stood there with my wee basket full of goodies, surprisingly I was the last person in the queue for sometime, however, as soon as I saw someone standing behind me, I politely turned around and asked if she would like to go in front. She accepted straight away and wheeled her ENORMOUS trolley around me. Yes – that is quite typical; it was always going to be a woman with toilet rolls, nappies, orange juice and well half the shop in the trolley. Crackin’.

Obviously I didn’t get angry, as this would defeat the point of a RAOK. I stood there quite happily listening to Sigur Ros.

Next up today is a very exciting RAOK, I am just about to head out and get it done. I am raring to go…

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!