Helping Hand

When we came home from work earlier in the week, the holidaymakers, who are currently renting the cottage next door were saying to a neighbour how they had found the locals they had come into contact that day particularly off-hand and miserable. The visitors were a mature couple and they had obviously been upset by the treatment they had received at two popular attractions. We tried to suggest that it was not the norm and hoped they would not let it spoil their holiday.

Two days later, after we arrived home, there was a bad storm which resulted in a power cut. We assumed it wouldn't last long but we were finally advised that reconnection could be as late as midnight. Resorting to camping stoves we cooked an improvised meal and dug out the candles from the back of the cupboard. While sitting in the fading light with no television, radio or computer to occupy us we suddenly thought about the people next door.

My husband found them in the dark, staring at an unopened tin of soup. We went into action, took round the camping stoves, one for soup, one for a cup of tea, and enough candles to 'see' them through the night. They seemed surprised but were grateful; we hoped our help would redress the balance of their disappointment earlier in the week; we felt better too.