18+

Well I thought I'd seen it all, but today I meet a couple I'll never forget. Well not for a long time. Ha ha

There I was working and a couple came over to me and bought a calender from me after I showed then I was the centre fold (Mr June).

I was ready to say thank you for buying, when the lady says “he's perfect” to her husband. Oh he was not happy at all. Me not knowing what was going on said the only thing that came to mind. “perfect for what?” with a smile.

They ignored me and stepped back and she whispered something to her husband. Then returned and the wife says “ I want you to come home with us and f**k me in front of my husband.” My hands went up and I backed off very quickly. “WHAT” The wife came forward and said “My husband went out on New Years night and slept with a cheap tramp, so I want something dirty in me so he knows every time he touches me he'll know you was in me like he was in a cheap bitch.”

Now I will say over a thousand thoughts went through my mind in less then a minute. At first I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I looked from her to him and back again. Like was she calling me dirty? I had a shower this morning, okay I may have needed a shave but hey.

“I can't do that, I'm sorry for what's happened with your husband but what your saying is not going to change anything.” me more in a shocked voice because I couldn't believe I was being asked this.

Now this lady started getting very pissed off. She was offering herself to a (dirty person) and being rejected in front of her husband which I never wanted to do, but I may be down on my luck and have less in life now, but I still have my standards and morales. If I was to lose my standards or my morales then I would lose myself.

I do try to keep the bad language down when writing here. Let's just say I had her call and say bad language to me for about 3 minutes, which I didn't even try to stop her. I knew she was hurting and then I had rejected her. Anyone would be really angry.

As they were leaving she stormed off ahead as the husband said “Thanks mate” I gave him a look to show him we were not mates “didn't do it for you” I turned and headed for my bag. I was finished working for the day.

I went to the pub for a beer after that. Having someone talk to you like that really makes you feel bad inside. I came out and headed towards the mall to buy some things. From a distance I could see that same couple walking with a guy heading down the street. I stopped walking and looked better at who they were walking with. I remember him from when I handed out pies on Christmas morning. When chatting to him about being homeless he told me he left home because he told he's parents he was gay and then his father had kicked him out of there house.

I smiled and wondered which he was going to be with when he gets there. Ha ha

Being with a partner should be special, not for revenge. I do get offers to do much the same thing, but this is the first time being asked for revenge. If she went ahead with it she will only hate the guy later and herself as well.

Before I get comments from guys saying how dumb, please don't. I would do the same thing again.

I'd like to thank every-one firstly for reading my blog as I get so much joy writing about things that I see or happen in life. As I've said before “if you like my stories please tell others.” I love to share. Ha ha

I received 5 Christmas Cards in the post and from my customers 17 cards and a few gifts. I want you to know it meant a lot to me, knowing I have friends that care enough to take the time out to do so.

Well the New Year is starting and for some, thinking this could be a fresh start at something. I wish you all happiness and luck for the year ahead.

Thank you again and have a great day.

Grant the Polite guy.

P.S. I just noticed I have 20 followers now. Thank you and great to see. I hope you enjoy the reads.
If anyone has idea's or changes you think I should do then please email me at grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com or put it in a comment.

Pies for Christmas

I will say I have written this post a few times. Sometimes, doing a good thing should be something you don't need to tell others to show you are a good person. But telling it may show people that we are all the same just different turn of events.

Well my Christmas morning started like most Christmas's if you have kids. I was asleep on the couch and woken up by my kids (4:45am) all excited to open there presents.

There's me being a proud dad knowing I had put away enough money to buy gifts for them as they rip open the presents. (worth all the extra hours working and missing out on things myself) very very proud.

For those that have read earlier posts, know I don't have much, but it's a proud moment when I can give to my kids what most kids get.

Rain rain rain, it kept raining. I was asked not to take my kids because of the weather. So I explained to my kids why I had to go and headed into the city to hand out pies and drinks to the homeless. I started at South Bank along the river and ended up in the Valley.

Let me say I meet about 45 homeless people and handed them pies and a can of coke. Some asked for sausage rolls or different things. I was happy to get most of it.

Every person I spoke to was different. Some had the Christmas spirit and was happy to have someone stop and chat to them. Some not so much. Not everyone likes pies or maybe me. Ha ha.

I sat and in most cases just listened to them. They have stories that would fill this blog 5 times over, mostly bad things. After talking to them and biding them a Merry Christmas I gave them a sheet of paper with all the food vans and churches that help with the most important thing at the bottom, The Big Issue office number saying under it “I'll help you by showing you what to do if you wanted to work again.” and that I work at the Post Office Square on Queen st. Please note I wasn't trying to recruit more workers as I get nothing out of it, I wanted them to know I'd help them if they wanted me to.

I don't know if any of them will start selling magazines to help themselves but at least they know they have a friend if they want to try and that's a really great start.

Sometimes it only takes someone saying something nice that could turn a person around.

While walking around I really was holding back my tears, It was only a year and a half ago I was the same, but now I want more in life. I had given up on the worst thing “myself”, Most of these people have been great people in there life but then something happen and I hate to say it but they gave up on themselves and it's so hard to come back from that.

I spent most of the day thinking “I didn't have enough to help more” so I'm doing the one thing I can do and that's give people the information about where homeless helps are. That mega-site I've been planing is going to happen within a month.

All this sounds bad and depressing. Let me tell you I got lot's of hugs and “Thank you” the one thing that impressed me the most. I had homeless men stand as a man and shake my hand with there chest pumped out as if proud to have a friend. It was easy for me, I just treated them as an equal if not better then me.

If it helps just one then it was worth it 5 times over. I know people read my blog from many countries and I say “Being nice to just one homeless or a person down on there luck, will take a few minutes but it may change there life forever.”

I know most read this blog for funny things I see or that happens. I'm sorry about this posting. I want this posting as is, because it may help someone. I do promise to do a really funny postings in a day or so.

I hope everyone has a great day and a very happy New Year.

Grant the Polite Guy.

P.S I'd like to thank to customers that gave me tips over Christmas as it helped me to do the pies and things. You guys are the best. Thank you

Two sleeps left

Well if I didn't know it Christmas time I do now. About 6 am yesterday morning a mother and her little daughter (about 5 year old) walked pass and both said “good morning” of which I replied “Good morning and Merry Christmas”. The little girl turned around and ran towards me. “Do you know how many sleeps until Santa comes?” I could already see she couldn't wait to tell me, so I ask “how many?” her eyes lit up as if excited to let me know. “Just two more sleeps left” all smiles and happy.

Now mum was only a few steps away waiting for her daughter to walk with her. The daughter looked at her mum and moved closer to me as if to tell me something without her mum hearing. “Mum don't know yet but I'm going to have a day sleep today and sleep tonight then Santa will come tomorrow morning because I had my two sleeps.” I laughed so much the mum came closer to find out what was so funny. Of course I told the mum who laughed while taking her daughter to work and explaining it might work but Santa comes to everyone at the same time.

That 5 year old little girl is one smart kid. At lest she's thinking ahead in life. Ha ha

Sometimes I'll come across a person that just doesn’t want to say “no” or “no thank you” and instead says “get a job you bum” or “F**koff”. Now when I meet lovely people like this I really feel like saying something back. But really why bother. I put it down to, that's he's nature not mine.

Firstly I hate to yell and if I started yelling bad language well people wouldn't call me Grant the Polite Guy. Ha ha. I really like my title.

So one morning I'm working and smiling and thinking today's going to be a great day. Up comes a guy and say “Big Issue” and this nice guy says “F**koff and get a job.” and rushes past. I leave it and turn and start asking more people. (trying to pretend it never happen).

Now as I get to know people I say “good morning” instead of “Big Issue”

About an hour later one of my good customers comes up to buy a magazine. Yep he had a friend with him. The customer saying hi and hows things. Then says he's showing the new guy the ropes as he started that morning. Now I will say a lot of thoughts went through my head right then. Things I could say or do. My customer said to the new guy “I only ever buy it from Grant because every morning he says “good morning and is always polite”. Oh now my mind is really thinking of things I could say to this new guy. Ha ha.

I held out my hand and said “Hi I'm Grant nice to meet you.” and acted in front of my customer like I never meet him before. He shaked my hand with a firm grip, smiled and said “I'm Tom good to meet you.” I turned to my customer and said “firm hand shake and manners, he'll do well” the customer agreed and left talking to the Tom.

I don't think anything I could have said would have hurt his job, but if I did mention how he was really an asshole then people may not think of him the same. That's not a great start at a new job.

Now I'd like to say he buys my magazines but he don't. But every morning he says “Hi Grant” in a nice way. Maybe he was having a bad morning the first time I meet him. But using manners cost nothing.

I found a new reason to love Christmas. Don't get me wrong I think that, anything that brings friends and families together or just think of each other is a great thing.

But my new reason is, so far I have got 15 kisses on the chick, about22 hugs, about 50 men's hand shakes, 2 gift cards, 31 Christmas cards and 2 with money inside, a hamper basket (which I shared with others), a bag with beautiful clothes in it, two gifts for my little girl and last but not least “The Little Fat Man” has bought me a sandwich every morning this week as a Christmas gift so I save the money.

Now I don't normally brag but 15 KISSES on the chick OH YEAH. Oh I do have a great big smile on my face right now.

I have people asking me why I do my postings early hours of the morning? Mostly in comments and there's no email address to reply to. Here's why. My back hurts all the time so it makes it hard to sleep. Early hours in the morning is best time for me because the more I do during the day the more my back hurts so therefore at night it's hard to concentrate and that's when I make a lot of spelling mistakes and it's easy to think only of the bad things to write about.

I get asked to write about a lot of the bad things I see.

NO. There's a lot of bad news out there and I wanted my blog to be more about funny or inspiring that way people read it and get a smile or feel a little inspired. All life has good and bad in it. I like looking for the good in life and in people.

My friend Jess,

She emails me most days and says always I'm doing a great job and to keep going. I will say me handing out the pies and drinks for the homeless on Christmas day will be a lot easier as Jess gave me $50 towards buying more and a nice outfit (bag of cloths for Christmas) so I could wear on Christmas day and look good. It's people like Jess that makes it easier to see good in people.

I hope you all have a Great Christmas and New Year. Remember I only have one Christmas wish and that's your all safe over the holidays.

Grant the Polite Guy.

Please visit our Forum at http://www.grantsmates.freeforums.org/

Or email me at grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Bike Pump.

 

Okay I know Christmas is a time to show people you care or at least thinking about them. But really a gift a got today from a customer really makes me wonder. Ha ha

I'm working and this guy comes up with a great smile and says “Grant I got you something for Christmas.” and hands me a gift covered with newspaper. I of course say thank you and say you shouldn't have. Now most people want to leave quickly before I open it but not this guy. I open it and it's a second hand bike tyre pump. Ha ha. I say “mate I don't own a bike” in a joking way he says “I thought about that but at least this is a start.” I politely thanked him for the present and he quickly asked me to join him for a drink at his place.

A few hours later I realised giving me the bike pump was his way of saying hello to a friend. I don't know which was worst getting extra things to carry around when I move about ( I move about a lot and keep the things I carry to a need only) or his whistling (yes it was my old friend Will. I have posted about him before.

Getting gifts is great but sometimes it's the friendships or love behind the gift that matters. I know I'm not the only one that gets gifts like these. Please share with others on our forum at http://www.grantsmates.freeforum.org/ I know a lot of people read this blog but don't use the forum. It's for everyone.

I have my son (15 year old) Aaron (from Melbourne) and my little princess Jasmine (7 year old) spending time with me over Christmas. We will be staying at my parents house. Oh by the way, they don't know what I do for a living, not because I'm embarrassed but I don't want them to worry. I don't lie to them because they visited me in hospital after my accident many of times. They just think I've healed a lot faster and better. So please if you know them don't say anything because it will only worry them and there old and don't need it.

When I was young my parents brought me up teaching me values. Manners, Respect, Do the right thing by people, always be helpful, Someone that can be counted on when need it. Lot's of good things like that. Trust me I'm no saint. Ha ha But I try.

So I'm thinking how can I teach my kids the same values without being successful?

I have posted that on Christmas Day I'm going to hand out pies and drinks to the homeless as a good will, Well I'm going to take my kids to help me to hand them out. Not to scare them, but to show them that doing a good thing is it's own reward. I hope, ha ha. If anyone wants to join me then please email me and I'm sorry for the short notice. I'm sure this will help not just the homeless but the kids as well.

I have a list of the food vans handing out food and drinks on Christmas day that I know about. Please if you know a homeless person or someone in need then print this and hand it to them. Everyone should feel special on Christmas Day.

6:30AM Ecumenical Coffee Brigade, Fortitude Valley, Ivory Street 6:30AM Wickham Christmas Breakfast, BBQ, Wickham Park, Cnr Wickham Tce and Albert Street 7:00AM Wesley Christmas Service, Wickham Park, Cnr Wickham Tce and Albert Street 7:00AM Ecumenical Coffee Brigade, Wickham Park, Cnr Wickham Tce and Albert  Street 7:00AM Jimmy's Van, BBQ, Riverside Drive under GO BETWEEN BRIDGE 7:20AM Ecumenical Coffee Brigade, Riverside Drive under GO BETWEEN BRIDGE 7:40AM Ecumenical Coffee Brigade, City Botanic Gardens River Stage 12 noon Hunt 4 Homeless Co } 139 CLUB, Lunch, 505 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley 12:30pm Wesley Mission, Christmas Lunch, Lunch Deck in King George Square (Ann Street side) 7:00pm Vital connection, Christmas dinner, Vegetarian, Little Roma Street Car Park, Cnr Turbot and Roma Street 7:30pm Rosies Youth Mission, Emma Miller Place or Little Roma Street

Please know that I am getting information from a lot of countries about where help is for the homeless. If you know about food vans or places that help then please email me at grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Laptop Guy

I was feeling down and wanted something to lift myself up. No not drugs, I have better. Ha ha. I read all my comments and emails. I will say this WOW did I have a lot of emails, mostly because they tried to send comments on here and it didn't work. 3 hours later I finished writing Christmas cards to 9 different countries. 86 cards going out in total which I'll send out today. Do I have a lot of mates or what? Ha ha. Here's what counties are getting sent today.

A lot Australia

Germany

United States

Netherlands

Canada

New Zealand

Russia

India

South Korea.

Oh is my hand sore. Ha ha which is good because it takes my mind off my back hurting.

Now some people will say “why send them? I make little money and it cost a lot to send anything overseas.” Well I know there's nothing like opening a card and reading that special message inside. Just knowing it's for you. A person does feel good knowing someone cares enough to buy it, write on it and send it or hand it to you. I encourage everyone to go get some cards (there not that expensive) and write something nice to someone. You'll feel good doing it and they'll feel better receiving it. You still have 9 days left. I have received a few cards from my customers and I love rereading them a lot and I did get a card posted to me. I felt very lucky thank you. If anyone else wants to post me a card then please do I love them. Please post to

To Grant Richards

C/O The Big Issue Office

62 Peel St

South Brisbane, 4101

Queensland

Australia.

I'm happy to send heaps more out. So feel free to send your name and postal address in an email to me at. grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Okay let me start with how my day started at work. I turned up to work at about 6 am ready to sell my magazines. A guy comes up and says “morning Grant” as I always say “good morning” to him. He's a great guy that passes every morning. But this morning he stops and turns back to face me and says “If your going to be in the centrefold of a calender the least you could do is look better.” Now don't take this the wrong way. He was joking and laughing and everything was good. I replied “I come to work ready for 200 people to say hi to me and I feel good and you want to start my day off like that. No Christmas card for you” I was laughing too.

I ask the next friendly face I saw. What did she think about my picture in the calender? She asked why and I told her what the other guy had said while laughing. See laughed and agreed with him. So I told her no Christmas card. I already knew I have given both a Christmas card but it was fun saying it. It was great having a joke with friends because life needs some fun to keep smiling.

Oh I have a great karma story for you that happen today.

I'll be honest I really can't believe this one myself, so dumb. This guy went into a bottle shop and put his bag down near the doorway. ( a lot of bottle shops like you to leave your bag at the doorway while looking around or they search it) Well this guy walks around and puts bottles in his pocket. Walks towards the counter and asks the sales guy for a bottle on one of the sheaves. The guy turns around and yep the guy runs out with bottles in his pocket.

The first I hear is the sales guy yelling for him to stop. He didn't. I was bored so I asked what happened. The sales guy filled me in on what had happened. Then he noticed the bag still there. We open it together and JACKPOT a laptop computer with lots of uni papers including his name on everything. Real dumb. Ha ha

I'm sure you all have seen dumb people doing dumb things. Hey share your stories with everyone else on our forum just click on http://grantsmates.freeforums.org/

Thank you for reading my stories. If you like them, then please share with your friends.

I hope you all have a great day.

Grant the Polite Guy

No roses here.

I'm going to call this one a victory but really I'm not proud.

A customer asked me out for a Christmas drink yesterday afternoon. We sat and talked and had a great time. About 1 hour later he went to the bar and bought me my next 2 beers and said he was heading off. I thanked him and sat at the table enjoying my beer I already had.

A few minutes later I heard a guys shout out “Hey you is this what you do with all the money you beg from people” I look and yep he was talking to me. I knew him from walking pass every morning. Never bought a magazine from me. Now I really don't like shouting out loud so I walked over to him and said “I'm having a Christmas drink with a friend and he just left, oh and by the way I don't ask anyone for money I sell magazines” I could see this guy had had a lot to drink and just looking for trouble. I turned to walk back to my table when he said “f**king bum” I stopped walking but didn't turn to face him. I must say I thought about it. I just headed to my table and sat in a different chair so my back was to him.

I know I should have walked out there and then, but hey the beer on my table was nice and cold.

This guy and for the sake of this story I'll call him because I don't know real name(Tim) walks to my table and sits in front of me, with 3 mates as well. I don't know where the mates came from because they weren't there before but I could tell they had been drinking a lot. Tim started saying “ so what's it like being a bum?” his mates laughing. I said “I really don't want trouble, I'll just go” I went to stand and this heavy hand pushed my shoulder down. “don't go now we just got here” came from one of the guys behind me.

Oh I really wished right now I walked out the door instead of coming back to my table. I quickly thought of my options. Yell out loud and hope someone helps while I'm defending myself against 4 guys, try stand again and hope they let me walk away (not likely to let me), throw it back at him and show I don't fear him, well the truth was I didn't fear him it was the 4 total I didn't like.

So that's what I did. I said “what's it like being a bum you say, well really it's not that bad. I go where I want and do what I please. Whys that you thinking of trying it?” Two of the mates laughed. Now (Tim) was really mad, he spat out “What, I work.” he lend forward only inches from my face “let me tell you I have everything in life I even pay people to even mow my lawns you little insect. Okay you and me outside” one of the mates grabbed hold of my sleeve of my shirt.

Now my dad went to The Commonwealth Games for boxing and as a young boy he show us sons how to fight. My mum showed us how to not fight. But even on my very best day of my life 1 against 4 are not good odds.

I sat back and said “pal I have people mow my lawns to and more.” I was totally ignoring the let's go outside bit. “what you mean?”

“well the council mow the lawns, picks up the grass and pays electric bills for me, oh and my rubbish I just put it in the bin and it gets empty twice a day.” The mates start laughing mostly because I was saying it as if I was telling a joke. Not (Tim) though “My tax's pay for that” even angrier now because his mates were not looking like they wanted a fight and he may be on his own. “your tax's well I should at least say thank you” The mates laughed even harder because I had shot him down in flames.

I stood up grab my bag and walked out very quickly. (Tim) followed. Pushed me from behind and punched the side of my face. I stepped back then stepped forward placing two hits to his jaw. He went down. The mates were still inside and didn't see it. Right away I'm having shoots of pain running through my back from the sudden movements of being hit and then hitting.

Hunched over I walked slowly to a bench and laid down for a few hours for the pain to stop. I kept thinking the whole thing over that had happened and what I could have changed. As I said at the start, It's a victory but I'm not proud. I'm sure (Tim) and his mates are nice guys but they had way to much to drink and was looking for a fight.

I was always raised to be polite and caring towards people but as my dad always says “always be polite unless there's no choice.”

I can't work today and maybe tomorrow because of my back still hurting so bad.

The reason I'm posting this story is because I'm not proud of what I did, to be honest I'm glad I got out of there before things got really bad. I wanted people to know life isn't all roses being on the streets I just tell the funny side of it.

Thank you for reading.

Grant the Polite Guy.

P.S Please know I would never hit anything if there was a choice not to.
Thank you to all the people who have sent there postal address to my email for me to send them a Christmas card. For those who would like one please send postal address to grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com .
If anyone wants to send me a christmas card please send to.

To Grant Richards

C/O The Big Issue Office

62 Peel St

South Brisbane, 4101

Queensland

Australia.

Merry Chirstmas

A few weeks ago a girl walking towards me waved and smiled as she normally did. I step in close towards her and asked does she read my blog? The girl stopped and said “what blog?” I straight away remembered she had told me she buys from another vendor. I quickly pulled out a thank you note and showed her where the blog address was. I said “there's some funny stories about people's zippers” now straight away this girl looks down and zips up.

The 19 year old stops and starts talking. I was saying how I would tell about 10 people a day. She started telling me that she walks down and catches a bus that's always full of school boys who are flirting and trying to chat her up. Smiling about it, then said “if I had got on that bus and the boys had noticed they would never have let it down.” I laughed saying “oh no I should be on the boys side” with that we both were laughing until she punched me softly on the arm and said “that's why I buy from a female vendor”

I see her every morning walking past and now she stops for a chat and a laugh. I know she will never buy a magazine from me but I know we will be friends.

One of my customers said “good morning Grant” as she walked past and then turned around and asked me “In your blog you say you would tell about 10 people a day about there zippers, is that really true?” I said “It makes me red faced as well” I looked down and placed my magazine in front of her pants. I didn't have to say anything she just looked down, went red faced, zipped up and walked away very quickly saying “thank you”. I know I said to myself “I tell them and tell them but do they listen.” ha ha

Well it's two weeks till Christmas day. I've been handing out my Christmas cards to nearly all my customers now. (Some I've not seen). The one thing I've noticed is the different attitudes coming from people when they get one. Some people talk about religion, some say it's only for the shopping centres to make a lot of money, and then there's the kids. It's the jolly big guy (Santa) that gives them presents for being good, and it's magical.

Here's how I see it.

Weather your religious or not it's a great thing. If Christmas means anything else to me it's showing love to your family and friends and the magic of seeing them smile.

Homeless who do have family's call them or maybe even see them. I know last Christmas I seen my brothers as I know I'll see them this Christmas. We all don't get along every well but we make an effort for mum to be together for Christmas. Really I'm glad because although we don't get along I like knowing there's that one day of the year we do see each other.

I've been handing out Christmas cards to a lot of people (mostly customers), but a few days before Christmas I'm going to hand them out to homeless people with a pie. Well as many as I can afford. There is charities doing special things too because Christmas isn't just for the people that can do great gifts it's for people who want to spread joy and for some to forget there life's problems and think of good things.

This is only my views but really anything that makes people happier and think of others can't be a bad thing.

A guy I know (Will) who has accommodation staying in lodge came up to me while I was working and asked “ Grant you drink beer don't you?” I replied “yes mate why?” He placed his bag down and pulled out a long neck of beer and handed it to me. “Merry Christmas mate” I accepted the beer and thanked him. Then noticed the bottle had been opened and was half full. “ Mate you been drinking it already?” He just smiled and said “I bought it for you and walked into the city from home (He lives in the valley about 30 minute walk) it's a long way and I had to drink something.” I laughed and handed the bottle back to him saying “mate you need the other half to have something to drink on the way back” He took the bottle and said “Good idea” and whistled as he started walking back home. Now I first meet Will about 9 months ago at an op shop buying cloths. He wanted some warm pants and a couple of shirts. The bill was only about $14 total. I was standing behind him buying a jacket.

Will put all he's money on the counter and started putting aside his rent money different things like that. This guy had money everywhere. After a few minutes he had said to me “sorry for taking for long” he worked out what he could buy and put a shirt back. I picked the shirt up and handed him the shirt and the $2.50 to buy it saying it's going to be cold winter mate.

Been great friends ever since. Just don't go drinking with him, he whistles all night. Ha ha.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.

I only have one Christmas wish and that's, everyone is safe over the holidays.

Thank you for reading. If you like it then please tell others about my site.

Grant the Polite Guy.