There was a middle-aged woman sitting outside the supermarket. On the ground. With a begging bowl in front of her. There's probably a better way of saying 'begging bowl' but I don’t know it.

I went up to her and we had a chat. She smiled a lot, and we shared some roast chicken.

I've learnt over the years not to presume about the 'whys' of a person's hardship, or what might be helpful. So if I’m not rushing, and feel safe, I stop. I feel at the very least I can give some time and conversation. Mr Finn, the dog, is good too for conversation.

Sometimes it’s hard to know precisely how to help, if indeed people want help. But I think something is always better than nothing.

I also notice that the people who give a little money or food to those sitting on the ground outside this supermarket usually don't display the baubles of wealth and importance. They just seem ordinary. Not particularly of one age group, gender, or culture. Just people who want to give a little even if they don't have a lot.

I admire the little gestures of ordinary people. Makes me have hope in humanity.

I was walking Mr Finn the other morning and bumped into our neighbour three doors down. He was out in the cool early morning, gardening by the berm. We stopped and talked. Finn just sniffed (dogs like the smells that come with gardening).

A few nights back I’d heard a scream. But with a strong West wind blowing, and the cry being in the lee, I didn’t hear anything else. My gardening neighbour did though, he was on the windward side of the scream.

So he rang the cops. And the cops were great. Came straight away, and took the drunk husband for the night.

My neighbour confessed he was feeling a little guilty for dobbing the guy in, while I was really grateful he had. We talked some more about what we neighbours could do for that family that they might appreciate. Not that we reached any conclusions. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to help.

I thanked him for intervening, and headed off down the street.

There’s a prayer by the late Rabbi Sacks with a line in it that reads: “We give thanks for the people we meet every day who light up the world with simple gestures of humanity and decency.”

Amen to that!

‍