OPINION: Random acts of kindness provide a lift during lockdown

Editor

The Covid-19 lockdown has had a surprisingly ‘positive’ aspect. Whether people are being kinder in their dealings with each other or whether I am more aware of their behaviour is not clear, but I have recently experienced many acts of kindness for which I’m very grateful.

Here are a few random examples.

My wife is not able (or allowed) to get out and I have had to take her denture only to Dr Collis Taylor for adjustment. The exercise was successful; maybe he reads Braille?

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I found my car to have a flat tyre and was assisted by my neighbours in fitting the spare. At SupaQuick it was found that some corrosion had upset the seat of the bead of the tyre against the rim of the wheel. The rim was cleaned, the tyre refitted, the wheel replaced and I was on my way without any payment being required.

A wall clock, purchased within the last six months, was giving trouble. When I took it down to fit a ‘new’ battery it ran well on the dining room table, but not when placed on the wall. At Time Centre the clock was checked, the battery found to be, like me, ageing and therefore not able to overcome the weight of the hands when the clock was on the wall. A new battery was supplied, free of charge (in fact it was full of charge!). The work was also a gift.

Over a period of years I have had invaluable assistance from Direct Technology Solutions. In view of my being virtually computer illiterate this has been a Godsend. Recently I was told that the rechargeable battery in my laptop is on its way out. Silly me, I thought a rechargeable battery would go on and on.

So, when the mobile phone working off my Telkom landline started to give problems (and I got no joy from Telkom over the phone or the courtesy of a reply to my e-mail) I decided to visit Telkom at Shelly Beach. After a full hour in a queue outside their shop and a further quarter of an hour with an agent I was no better off. The less said about Telkom, the better!

However, during the wait in the queue, a woman who could wait no longer offered her spot, a few places ahead, to me as she left. I thanked her and said we would all move forward. It may be that I am beginning to look my age, but her gesture was much appreciated.

On my way to the exit I was able to confirm at DTS that the phone batteries were very likely the source of my problem. I was directed to Denkit to get replacements. Here a four-pack was broken so that I could buy just the two I needed. These and many more little incidents have made life a bit more pleasant and I’m grateful.

PAT MARSHALL

Port Shepstone

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