Coffee in the Bin. haha

Okay I do have a really funny story here ( well I think it's funny ha ha), but I want to make sure I don't embarrass the guy so no names or companies will be listed. Okay I have to start at the beginning or you won't see how funny this is.

I got a phone call from a guy saying his company would like to have a stall at the next Ipswich BBQ for the homeless which I was very eager to have myself so I asked if there was a chance to meet and talk about it at a coffee shop. You see I don't have an office but people and companies are getting to know about Mates Helping Mates doing BBQ'S for the homeless and they want to promote themselves as a company or really do care about the homeless. So I always say something like “ I have appointments in the city on Thursday at 2pm would you like to meet at 3pm at a coffee shop?” I got a yes this time and we arranged a time a place.

Now here's the thing, I have put a BBQ together mostly on my own and about 450-500 people turned up and a lot of homeless people were really helped. But the sad thing is even though I'm doing good and helping homeless, if I show I'm not successful then I get a lot of companies pull out, which is a shame because these BBQ'S are to help homeless get on there feet or at lest let them feel they have value in themselves and if I show I am not business standard and sell Big Issue magazines then I get well 'the cold shoulder' is one way to say it. Ha ha.

So there I was sitting at a table clean shaven and nice clothes talking to this guy about having a stall and what they wanted to do, when I almost died when I glanced over and saw a guy waving to me to come and talk to him. It was a homeless guy. I looked from him to the guy I was with back to the guy. Thinking not now come on. I said “excuse me a moment” in a really nice way and walked over to the him saying “I'm a bit busy now is everything okay?”

The poor guy asked if I would be buying pies and drinks today. I felt like shit right there and then. For a second I was em-brassed I had to talk to him in front of the guy I was trying to impress when I realised the reason I was there in the first place was because of people like him and me not that long ago. (My new wife has a place)

I handed him $7.00 and said “here mate I have to get back to this guy” pointing to the guy at the table as I was walking back. Now here's the thing as I was leaving I noticed he wasn't happy about getting the money for food and I realised it was more that he wanted, someone to talk too. You see when I do my 'Pie and Cokes' I sit and talk to the person and in most cases say about how there's hope.

I must say a huge part of me wanted to just turn and head to the shop to buy a pie and coke and sit with him and show him that he has value with me but the fact was, putting these BBQ'S together help many and they need support from companies and things to run well.

I got back to the table saying “sorry about that” then this guy said the dumbest thing I could think of “ha ha your an easy target you should say firmly get a job” then laughing and really thinking he had said the funniest thing in his life. What a clown, really here he was talking to me about helping the homeless and yet showing what how harsh he could be. Oh did it open my eyes. So I politely told him I sell Big Issue Magazines and not long ago I was homeless as I was letting him know I don't think I want his company to come to the BBQ event.

Oh he left pretty quickly. Ha ha. But here's the funniest bit. (I wasn't going to let you down. Ha ha) The guy didn't understand why I would buy food for a homeless guy yet left quickly and didn't pay his bill for drink and cake. Ha ha I shouldn't help a homeless person with food but it's okay to pay for he's. Let me say I don't think his company will be attending the Ipswich BBQ no matter how much they were donating. Never money but standards makes a man.

Now the afternoon wasn't lost because I had a pie and a coke in the park with a person who really was a decent guy.

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Now this ones a short bit really funny to see. (I know I'm mean sometimes. Ha ha) This guy came rushing pass taking a sip of his coffee and then throwing it in the bin but when it hit it made a louder bang. Stopping he realised he throw his phone instead of the coffee into the bin. Now these bins need a key to open them so he was really angry at first about throwing his phone.

One of my customers called the council to get someone to come and open the door to get the bin out so he could get his phone. Now after a minute or two he seen the funny side of it and smiled a lot, well that was until he took another sip of his coffee and didn't like the taste and throw it into the bin. It was like slow motion ha ha as he throw the coffee he realised his phone was at the bottom of that bin. Ha ha I hate to laugh but I wish I had a camera because it was priceless the look he had.

The door was opened and yes his phone was dripping with coffee and a lot of other bits and pieces. Ha ha. Now this guy was well dress and stepped into a last years model BMW wagon. And I'm the one selling magazines ha ha not right. Ha ha.

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Now I've gotten a bit of slack lately about my wedding wish list Cheryl and I put together. So please let me explain why. Firstly I don't mind about the wedding gifts because if I was to be honest I'd rather people come and celebrate the greatest day of our lives over a gift any day. Really it means more to me that people want to come join me as an equal and show they have the respect to come. I did call and ONE person emailed to get a gift from our wish list which I spent a lot of time setting it up as it's page here at the top. At first I was thinking it's sad and maybe no-one was coming to our wedding.

Then I was told that asking for shampoo, vitamins and things was in bad taste, well a little part of that was some homeless read my blog and I wanted to put very cheap things on the list so they didn't feel bad and could afford something and I don't earn a lot of money and to be honest it would have helped plus I set it up so I got the commissions and I was putting that towards the wedding. So my conclusion is if you feel you want to buy a wedding gift then pick from our wedding list or get something else from elsewhere or hey I love money in envelopes. But remember the most important thing and that's it's our special day and the one wish we have is that you come and celebrate with us being together. So know you are invited to join us on the 22nd of October at 319 Upper Esplande, Wynnum starting 10am. YOU ARE INVITED. Ha ha

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I get asked all the time how people can help homeless. Well now there's a website just for Mates helping Mates so please check it out. Mateshelpingmates.blogspot.com

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you have a great day.
Grant the Polite Guy.

Postpone Ipswich BBQ/ Wedding

First of all I'm sorry I haven't posted for a few weeks but, well to be honest I went through a tough time because we lost the baby and I didn't want to tell people right away because then I would get a lot of emails reminding me about it.

But as I like to say “When things are down think about the good things in life or things that make you laugh.” ha ha.

Unfortunately we have had to postpone the Mates helping Mates BBQ at Ipswich because things were just coming together as well or quickly as it should be. Another date will be set soon. Mates helping Mates the charity will be helping homeless in the meantime but not having the big BBQ'S just yet.

Hey I'll always do my 'Pies n coke day' as the other directors Alicia Wright (http://girlfriday4hire.blogspot.com )and Paula-Lee Harrison ( http://pennysperspective.wordpress.com ) are always doing there thing to help homeless and those in need. Really Alicia and Paula-Lee are one in a million. Check out there sites.

Starting our new (Non Profit) Mates helping Mates charity to help the homeless and those in need we got it all official and no I can't take credit because Alicia and Paula did all the work because hey there the smart ones, But I have my good looks and they let me join them to help more. Ha ha.

A bank account with the Commonwealth Bank so if you would like to donate towards a lot of the good work we do for the homeless here are the details. BSB 064000 AC 1294 8571. The account name is in 'Grant Richards & Alicia Wright' which is good because we both have to sign to get money out which will be put towards our next BBQ event for the homeless or buying things for the homeless.

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Okay do I have some great news. Cheryl and I got back together because she became pregnant, but then she miscarried and we sat down and talked about what to do now. We are still getting married and become a family once again. (Doing the happy dance now. Ha ha)

You see when we separated I was in a lot more pain then I feel now and I had given up on myself and thought I had no value. Now I am Grant the Polite Guy and everyday my back heals stronger and I feel that I have more value now then ever in my life.

Now I started thinking I don't earn much selling my magazines but I want to make this a great wedding because Cheryl deserves at least that so what to do? It hit me, One thing I'm good at is BBQ'S, so yes you got it. Have a wedding by the water and put on a BBQ in the park right near it. Now this won't be a homeless BBQ with all the homeless information there, but it's going to have marquee’s, tables and chairs. It'll be great.

Now there's a lot of people that comment and/or just read my blog and for some I have got to know but never meet. So please this is my invitation to you as well. Come to my wedding and share the special moment with me. Being at the park means I don't have a limit on the number of people coming. Well that's mostly true. Ha ha.

Here's the plan. Get married close to the water and then a few metres away will be the BBQ'S and tables and things for lunch then after the eating is done off to the Wynnum RSL club for some drinks and dance. Sounds like a great plan. Ha ha. I know I am suppose to pay for everything but I can't so what I am doing is paying for wedding and BBQ and then at the club everyone pays for themselves, This is the only way I can invite everyone which apart from getting married means a lot to me to know people wanted to join me on this special day.

Here's the dates and things.
319 Upper Esplande
Wynnum
10am saturday on the 22nd of October.

I want to word this bit nicely and as polite as I can. If you are thinking of getting a wedding gift which you don't have too because your company is far more important to me, but if you were thinking of doing something then Cheryl and I have done up a wish list for people to get. ( I didn't want 15 toasters) ha ha.

We have picked things we can use but don't really have the money for a lot of them. I am asking a friend of mine (Seven) to order it through our Amway business so we get the points and the commission too. Hey there may be something there you might want too.

To view the list please go to top of page and I have added a new page called Wedding Wish List. I have to put this because I don't want some people feeling bad. I know I have readers that are down on there luck right now and to them I say “Mate save your money and come and share a smile instead, a smile from a friend can be more valuable then any gift bought or stolen”

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I would like thank everyone for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day.
If anyone would like to email me please do at grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Thank you again.
Grant the Polite Guy.