Nearly a year ago, now
My Father-in-Law rang me at work, and asked me if I could drive with him to Gatwick, where he was to meet a client. He wanted me to drive his car back to Brighton, because he would be a while. No problem, thinks I.
I meet him, and my wife is in the car. She doesn't work, and so she would sometimes spend the day with her dad, driving around. No problem, thinks I.
We get to Gatwick, and I go to get in the driver's seat. Before I can, my wife is out of the back seat, and is standing infront of me. She is holding my passport in her hand. 'Here, you'll need this,' she says.
Oh, shit, thinks I. She's sending me back to my native Canada. She's had enough of me.
'We're going to Spain for a week! Happy Birthday!' She exclaims, with a huge smile.
'You wot?" says I, utterly confused.
'Dad bought us a holiday. Our flight leaves in a few hours. I've already packed us. Let's go!' Her father is standing there, with a big grin. I'm completely in shock, but I remember protocol and shake his hand, then we toddle off to Spain.
He had arranged my time off work (he was my boss at the time) without me knowing, he had booked and paid for the hotel and everything - even some spending money!
I was in complete shock. At 9am that morning, I was slaving away as normal, and that very evening I was drinking white wine on the beach with my lurvely wife. What a gift! Truly, one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.

Now, enter the dilemma.

When he did that, he was in the property developing business. He is now pretty much jobless and penniless. He is desperately trying to sort out his wife, who had just retired, with a mind to spending a few months in Egypt. She has packed, has the car booked and everything, and has left the payments up to her husband. Who has no money.
He asked my wife this morning if we would lend him the money to pay for mum-in-law's flight.
Should I, or shouldn't I? He and I have pretty much reconciled from our previous differences, but he's a real sneak with money. I'll probably never see it back. Should I repay his kindness, with a family loan?
(w4I4q1O1 was hard at work on, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 17:01, 20 replies)

One that some of you in here will agree with, as it affected you too...
One of the nicest things that anyone's done for me is to make it possible to visit England.

I'm referring to our very own Big-Girl's-Blouse.

I've been to visit her twice now, and both times she's taken me into her house, fed me and arranged for me to meet other b3tans. The first time we had a bash at her house, the second time she took me to London- one week ago today, as it happens. And when we weren't meeting up with you lot, she took me to see the countryside.

Thus far I've been to the Yorkshire Dale, various places near her home, the Lake District in Cumbria, London and York. I've become very enamored of northern England, and very much enjoyed meeting the people that I have. As Davros' Grandad put it, I have yet to meet a b3tan that I didn't instantly like.

So I'd like to thank those of you who have been good enough to go out of your way to meet a Yankee and have a beer with me (or whatever the libation of choice), but I would especially like to thank BGB for making it possible. Were it not for her, I would likely never have gotten to England before the age of 70.

And that's the best that I can enter for this week.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 2 Oct 2008, 17:01, 28 replies)

my boyfriend
moved to the UK for me 3 and a half years ago. He got a job just outside London, supported me through the emotional and financial hell of a PhD, and was generally wonderful. And then, when I got offered a job in the USA, he told me to go, do the job, and he'd wait for me.

He's coming over here in 2 weeks, having spent hours on his visa application, hundreds of pounds on flights/insurance/spending money so he can treat me whilst he's here.

AND, as if it can't get any better, he keeps sending me decent chocolate whilst I'm living in this cadburys free land.
( ascorbate, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:59, 12 replies)

One of me mates
got me pissed one night and paid for me to go on the town with him. It was near payday and I was struggling, so to cheer me up he single-handedly sponsored me to reach Rat-arsed-Land and continue "in da towan". In one nightclub we ended up in, they had a sexual contraceptive awareness night (in conjunction with the local radio station) which also involved some bizarre drunk-games. We got to attend and he paid for all of it; the drinks, the women were participating happily in front of us and the games were enjoyed by all.

Unfortunately me mate's generosity was a bit too much as he paid for me to enter a competition too; the Bucking Bronco. But it wasn't any old Bronco......it was a themed night after all. Yup, Jeccy in his drunk glee bucking bronco'd a 6 foot plastic penis for 1 minute and 46 seconds. I hung onto the bell rim for dear life, losing a shoe halfway through and grinning like a bastard, much to mate's comedy delight.
When the DJ offered his commiserations to me coming 2nd, I slurred "I come second, that means I try harder" and left the place shoulders held high, like a champion. A champion of cock.

Never, never again.
( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:57, 1 reply)

The nicest thing someone's ever done for me…
...was Kate and Gerry going out for dinner, and leaving the window open.

Because now I am in Brazil with my little wifey.

Thank you Kate and Gerry.
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:57, 6 replies)

Not so much done..than said..
We were doing a Christmas Party Gig for a company that had booked the band before, that bizarrely started with the MD, who had a terribly bad stutter, trying to give a speech before we played. It took him about 10 minutes just to say a few sentences, bless him.

Even more bizarre was the fact that nobody was in the festive mood whatsoever, and refused to dance all night.. except for this one old guy, that got up and started doing his thing on the dancefloor ! This'll get everybody up I thought to myself, just as the old fella keeled over and had to be carried away in an ambulance.

Finally with a few songs left, a small lady in her 40's got up and started dancing in a very strange, almost child-like manor. (I found out after, that she was a special needs).

But despite the ballet movements combined with jumps and spins, I was relieved that somebody, at least, was having a good time. (It was particularly odd that nobody had got up to dance, as we gig regularly and use the same cheesy songs that never fail to pack the dancefloor..and it left us, as performers, rather deflated).

It came to the end of the set, and over the mic, I wished everybody a very merry Christmas, and may their God go with them..well it was the season of goodwill and all that, and even if there was more life at the local cemetary, it felt like the right thing to say..and I meant it.

I got off the stage, unimpressed with the idea of packing down, when somebody came up to me. It was the ballerina lady, and she was having trouble saying what she wanted to say.. She gently held my hand, and said

"...and a ...very... Merry... Christmas...to you too"

Even now, it brings a tear to my eye. Out of a room full of misery, and self importance.. She felt the need to say those simple words.

And it meant more than any riches, and always will.
(TheRiddler Hmmmmm... I concur., Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:57, 4 replies)

Sweat Lodge Surprise


My fiancee is wonderful, although like myself somewhat mad.

Before my birthday, she told me my present was to be a surprise. In my heart, I prepared myself to smile politely and pretend to be delighted when I got whatever it was, for I'm ashamed to say my expectations weren't high. How wrong I was.

She started dropping hints - I was allowed several guesses, which got me the information that it was a day out activity, but not parachuting or paintball.

I was then told that we'd have to do a lot of driving to get to wherever it was - so make sure the car was in tip-top condition. I've got a Mini Cooper S convertible, the (non-human) love of my life. Christine (it's the only car I've ever named) after the Stephen King book. She's cost me 9 points but it's been worth it. Anyway.

So, the night before the big day, Christine is fully prepared.

I'm then told that:

- we have to drive to near Bedford (from Ipswich) to pick someone up and give them a lift to the location which is many miles from there;
- I need to pack my sleeping gear, although we're not sleeping overnight (???);
- some nudity might be involved, but no sex (?????).

I go to sleep completely unable to think what it is we'll be doing the next day, but still sure that it's not going to be good.

We drive to just outside Bedford for 8am, and en route she tells me that we're picking up an Indian guy she's been communicating with on the Internet, who sounds very nice, and we're then driving to Wales (?????????)

We get to a village just outside Bedford. Now I'm to be told what the "surprise" is. At this point, I still have no idea but am extremely worried. After all, girlfriend and I have only been together a matter of months...maybe she's misjudged me dreadfully.

"Right" she says, "we're picking up Deepak in this village, and then we're driving to rural Wales together. Deepak is a spirit guide, and he's going to build us a sweat lodge which we'll be in with other couples and find out what our inner animal spirit is".

It took a lot to look happy at this news. I am generally up for anything, but 6 hours driving with some would-be Shamen plus getting semi-clad or nude with complete strangers all madder than a box of frogs to pay to do such insanity was something, even for me.

"Here's the details" she said, handing me an envelope...

...which was entry for a day's track-racing in my car at the nearby Bedford racing circuit.

Nicest birthday surprise ever ! Just wish I could think of a good one in return for her.
( I_Was_Mordred, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:57, 4 replies)

I was drinking in my local
trying to get to know people and this grumpy man told me to fuck off. I went home and cried for a month.

Then the rest of the locals all came round and told me to come back as they had all wee-ed in his pint. That was nice.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:53, 2 replies)

There's a hideously boring arsehole who drinks in my local.
One night he kept trying to talk to me, so I told him to fuck off.
And he did.
He walked out and didn't come back for a month.
That was rather nice.
( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:47, Reply)

first
rats
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:47, Reply)

Someone sent my wallet back to me...
...from Amsterdam.

I was foolish enough to leave it on a train on my way to a hockey tour in Delft, when I realised I cancelled all my cards etc, but when I got home a week later it came through the post with €5 taken out and a little note explaining that the lovely dutch lady who found the wallet took it to pay for postage - the remaining €45 was still there.

How unlikely is it that I would ever see my wallet or my money again had I left it on the National Express?
(ptentacle, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:47, 4 replies)

My cats parents....
for bring my lovely kitteh into the world...

*yep reach for the sick bag now*

He may only have three legs, be epileptic, piss all over my bed when he has a fit, but he's always there for me and wants attention which I'm happy to provide for him, I love him to bits.

I'm so sorry for posting this, was just feeling very fluffeh all of a sudden, I'll return later with something horrible!
( MonkeyOfCode is your favourite waste of time, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:46, 3 replies)

Join Danny
I once bought a copy of "Join Me" by Danny Wallace, in which he founds a 'cult' based in "random acts of kindness". Later that day, as I began to read his delightful tale; from within the pristine pages out fell a £1 book token, with www.join-me.co.uk/ hand written upon it.

The cynic within me occasionally chimes in, that it may have simply been a cunning marketing ploy; but given that I was already buying the book in question, I doubt it. In any case, it was a relatively cheap yet lovely gesture.
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:44, 4 replies)

Sharing the cash
For the first few years of my life, I lived with my grandparents (both sets*) whilst my mum finished her uni. course. My parents being young when I popped up meant that to my grandparents, I was more like the child they never had rather than a traditional grandchild, if that makes sense.

When my father's mother died a few years ago now, after the funeral her four children sat me down and said that given that I was more like a son than a grandson, they wanted to split the inheritance five ways (i.e. giving me a share). This despite the existence of numerous other grandchildren, albeit much younger than I was.

This remains the nicest thing ever done for me; I was actually better-off than most of them, which made it even more poignant if that makes sense - in that it wasn't the money that was important, it was the gesture.

A boring story maybe, but it meant a lot to me at the time.

The other instance I can think of is my last birthday, when my fiancee got me a day's track-racing but made it a complete surprise. I'll post that one separately.


* No, it wasn't like "Charlie and the Chocolate factory" with all the grandparents living in one house. I did a kind of one week at grandparents X, one week at grandparents Y routine. Given that grandparents X lived in a council house, and grandparents Y were a Mayor and a Lt-Col, it must have been an interesting existence, although one I don't remember at all.
( I_Was_Mordred, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:41, 2 replies)

MrsSpikeyPickle
She gives me lots of love, hugs and kisses and made me a lovely little bouncy boy :0)

The bouncy boy bit is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me......ever!!!
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:38, 4 replies)

The more I rack my brains about this
the more I realise that I'm always doing nice things for people but am rarely on the receiving end.

Well, that's the last time you'll smell burnt martyr. From now on I'm going to be a complete cunt.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:34, 12 replies)

Evil Lu once bought me an icon
However, I have been the recipient of many, many things from the kindness of others. But, the best thing I have done for someone else? That's going to take some thinking about. I'll get back to you.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:32, Reply)

My girlfriend
agreed to get brown curtains.

Now she won't be able to see where I've wiped my knob.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:32, 5 replies)

Hmm..
(Long story but...) When my brother first got engaged I didn't like the fiance at all. I disliked her so much, in fact, that I did the mature thing and posted a massive rant about her on my blog, including comments about her physical appearance ("short."), intelligence ("short") and how she would ruin his life.

Unfortunately, this was on the day that my brother decided to register on to the same website, and he found my account. Rather than drop-kicking me to the nearest incinerator for slagging off his one-true-love, he stayed up all night talking to me about why I felt that way, and helped me to see the good side of his relationship.

I don't think I would have reacted that way. I really deserved to be yelled at, and he was really patient and understanding about it.

Not really funny or heartwarming, but probably the nicest reaction I've ever had to my bitchiness.
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:31, Reply)

Gave me
their last rolo
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:31, 1 reply)

Nicest thing anyone's ever done for me...
Sorry, just been watching Mock The Week:

...one girl phoned herself a cab afterwards! Brilliant!


But anyway, on to the serious stuff. The nicest thing would have to be all my mates, especially one (Nicol337a) putting up with me being depressed for months on end, self harming and eventually feeling suicidal for about a month. Thanks for talking me out of it hun, and god bless you all!

PS
Sockhead if you're reading this, you're only just included in this, because telling me to "cheer the fuck up" and "turn that frown upside down" all the time does not bloody work
(TMAce needs to enter another image challenge sometime, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:30, 1 reply)

Me parents-in-law bought me a car the other week....
...on the reverse side, it means I've pretty much got to stay with her now.

Hmmmm.
( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:30, 4 replies)

I am that heartwarming bastion of fluffehness
I spent the start of this week nursing my boyfriend through a horrible bout of manflu. I made him soup, I brought him freshly squeezed orange juice, I cleaned his kitchen, I fed him paracetamol and I mopped his fevered brow. I am selfless.

Equally selflessly, he shared his germs with me and I'm running a temperature of 39.1 degrees C now and feel like absolute shit. Once this Lemsip wears off I'm praying for unconsciousness because I don't think I can bear another night of sweat and shivering.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:29, 7 replies)

I do nice things for people all the time...

Nobody has EVER done anything nice for me.

I will remember you all when Judgement day comes...

WOOOOOoooOOoooo!
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:28, 5 replies)

The nicest thing someone ever done to me...
Was to let me finish first, and not care about their needs.

...gets coat...
...leaves...
...makes salad out of thrown tomatoes and salad...
(Helo, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:22, Reply)

damn!

(How soon is now?, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:21, Reply)

Hah
Seconds away ... and here's me frantically stabbing F5...
(hangableautobulb is an anagram of the best album ever, on, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:21, Reply)

So close!
and yet so far.

I can't have kids 'cause my heart is crap, and my sister has offered to play incubator if I ever decide my life requires a mini-me. Considering she'd be giving up both cigarettes and her five Cuban coffees a day habit to indulge me, I think that's pretty damn nice.
(louveciennes , Volvospotter, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:21, 5 replies)

The Nicest Thing Anyone's Ever Done For Me
Was delete their post so I could be first.

Come on, Kaol! Be nice!
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:20, 9 replies)

I love it when people are slow
And let me get first post.
( Cawl, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 16:20, 13 replies)