Just before Christmas I listened to a fantastic post from @documentally about his trip to Sweeden, where upon a cold winters night he did a good deed for a local beggar and was rewarded with gratitude. I tried the same tonight on a cold trip home in London but was met with a remarkably different response.

I listened with earnest to @documentally’s trip to Sweeden on Audioboo, he recalled how upon entering the local kebab shop he had passed a beggar. As @documentally ordered a double portion of his late night chips and donated them to the beggar who had been sitting out side the shop, who gratefully received them.

On the cold walk back to the Hotel I’m staying at in London tonight I popped into a local Tesco Express (late night convenience store). A women exited the store and I heard the homless guy say “… please I’m hungry… “. The woman didn’t stop - she just kept walking.

I had only popped in to pick up a toothbrush I had forgotten to pack, but when purchasing the toothbrush I also purchased a prepacked sandwich, and when a left the store the I heard the same refrain from the homeless guy “… please I’m hungry…”. So I stopped. I opened my shopping bag and handed the homeless guy the sandwich,.

“I heard you say you were hungry, I’ve no change but I hope this helps”

“well err….. erm… but… err… it doesn’t help with… er.. my medication….”

..I guess beggars in London are a bit too posh for free food… I have the sneaking suspicion that this beggar was earning more money than me by begging on the street!