r/Glasgow Tools

I know Glasgow, like anywhere really, is far from perfect. Despite this, I’ve always been so proud of the city’s reputation for being a friendly and welcoming place. The last few days have been really tough for me, I’ll get to that shortly, but the inhabitants of the city have been incredible and actually left me in tears at their kindness and generosity.

On Wednesday night into Thursday morning, I hit a pot hole as I was cycling home from work. I came off my bike hard, at a decent speed and landed square on my left shoulder. I was dazed, in a lot of pain and alone miles from home and the nearest hospital. I lay on the tarmac for a few moments while I tried to figure out what had happened. Before I had even got to my feet, a driver, travelling in the opposite direction, had pulled a quick U-turn and was standing over me as I started to realise what had happened. He told me to sit down, brought me some water from his car and started to ask me how I was, what hurt etc. I told him I felt ok, that I could walk it off etc. But that was 100% the adrenaline talking. I was not in good shape. I had a lot of cuts, grazes etc and when I eventually stood up to get my bike I screamed out in pain. My left arm was basically useless. I couldn’t raise it at all. He knew it was fucked.

Before I knew it, he had picked up my bike, put it in the boot of his car and said, “Right mate, let’s go. You need the hospital.” He drove me straight to A and E without hesitation. Not only that, he insisted that he would take my bike home for me, lock it up and then return my keys to me at A and E. He told me to take a picture of his licence plate so I knew he wasn’t “at it”. He was true to his word and after thirty minutes a nurse brought me my keys and said “Dan” hoped I was feeling ok.

After a few hours in A and E it was confirmed I had multiple fractures of my left humerus. I was put in a sling and sent home. I was in a lot of pain.

Called a taxi to take me from the hospital to my home. Car shows up a minute later. Takes me home. Driver refused to take a fare from me as it was only “round the corner” and he was “nearby anyway”. The guy helped me to my front door and up the stairs as well.

With my typically awful timing I am in the middle of moving home. I cannot drive at the minute due to my injury obviously, but have done 95% of it. Only needed to move a few items/bags and clean up. So my plan was to get my girlfriend to
help me with that last of it. We (she really) cleaned the flat this morning and we started to move the rest of my stuff. As we get downstairs, a neighbour I haven’t even met yet despite living there for six months, sees us both, with bags, lamps a ladder etc, and me with my sling, struggling, and insists he is going to drive us round the corner to my new place. Didn’t even know his name beforehand. Incredible.

Today at the supermarket, I was struggling to empty my shopping basket and load it to the conveyor belt and a lady told very kindly but very firmly to stop what I was doing and let her do it. She wasn’t taking no for an answer. Packed it all for me too.

Then again, as I was walking home with my messages through the park, I’m finding it tough going only having one good arm so I take a break. A young guy I’ve never met before comes up to me and asks if I’ve far to go. I tell him I’m about ten minutes away and he’s like “Nae bother bud, I’ve got this for you” took both my bags and walked them all the way home. Chatting to me the whole way. He’s just become a dad, I’ve my first on the way and we talk all the way home and arrange to grab a pint this week.

I honestly could have gret at any one of these single interventions. They kindness and generosity of spirit shown b