Dear LPG

I have a thought for readers and I would like to start by relating a short and not particularly remarkable story.

I went out to Catford the other day, my plan was a trip to the bank, and while I was there I saw a lady who had dropped her shopping bag and by the time I reached her she was trying to gather her shopping.  I stopped to help her.  She was a little older than me and appeared to be struggling with her bag once its contents were replaced and so I asked if I could be of help.  She was grateful and as we walked along I mentioned that I was driving and offered her a lift home with her shopping.  We arrived and I left her outside her gate and said goodbye.  We talked about quite a lot during the fifteen minutes or so that we were in each other’s company and I learned that we had quite a lot in common. 

When I got home I told my daughter about my good Samaritan deed of the day and she pointed out that I had missed an opportunity to make a new friend.  Years ago both the lady in question and I would most probably, without reservation, have felt quite comfortable at the prospect of inviting me in for a cup of tea but, in my head, we are all reminded so often about how important it is for us not to give too much away because of the risk of identity theft, other security-centred issues and the dangers that are such a big part of modern day life.  which dictate that no one gets too close.

Having thought about it, it occurs to me that in these days when so many people live alone I most probably missed a really big opportunity to improve the length of time we spend wishing we had someone to talk to that day.

I would like to ask readers about what their perception of such a situation would have been.  Would they have had the presence of mind to take, or offer, an address or telephone number; or would instinct have set in as automatically as It did for me on the day.

LH, Catford