There is a positive too
Every morning when I do my 10,000 steps I see a young woman probably in her early twenties walking her Pomeranian dog along the broadwalk.
She is clearly a popular character as her walk is accompanied by those on their balcony greeting her and engaging in conversation. She has probably done this walk for many months before the lockdown and I doubt if anyone hailed her but now many do.
Yesterday our paths crossed as much as they can with social distancing and with Simba her dog straining at his leash.
We commented on the fine weather. Such a story enhances life, the community and makes me grateful I chose to live in Brighton and not, for example, Cornwall where you need to live for five generation before acceptance by the locals.
I had a further example of inspiring behaviour by a friend of mine I called who lives in Windsor.
Had I not chosen Brighton six years ago I was drawn to Windsor for its proximity to London but I was put off by the noise of the flight path.
My friend travels regularly to Cape Town and always stays in the same guest house. He got to know the two African ladies that served breakfast and helped with the cleaning.
The owner suddenly died and the children are squabbling over the house. As they say, “where there is a will there is a relative”.
He learned that the two African ladies, now redundant and not even having been paid their wages, are receiving just 350 rand (£18) monthly each so he winged off a payment of £500 to help them.
I doubt if anyone outside his family or the ladies know of the payment and to me he acted nobly in accordance with the maxim “charity begins at home”.
Having been involved in the charitable world myself it does attract career CEOs no different from any other enterprise and those seeking social advancement or a gong.
So when I hear of such a noble deed, I make no apology for drawing its attention to the wider National Rust audience.
It’s been tough for us all but these two stories give me enormous faith in the strength of the human spirit.
