The best of times, the worst of times

Yesterday I was witness to a rare occurrence.

I was somewhat taken aback by what I saw and had to check that what I thought was happening really was. It was one of those instances where you are left shaking your head in amazement at human nature and how different we are.

The scenario was common enough. I had gone to a local cafe to buy some lunch - itself a rare thing as I normally bring my own to work. Selecting what I wanted I joined the queue, waiting for my turn to pay behind a young woman. She didn't seem to have anything, which isn't out of the ordinary, I figured she was going to order at the counter. Only when she got there, it became clear that was not the case either. No, she had lined up to complain. She had no issues with the food; her problem was she had been undercharged and she wanted to make good with the cafe.

Not only that, she rejoined the queue at the back and waited for several minutes to state that she owed the business more money.

I wonder how many people reading this would do the same.

The more common response would likely be to offer thanks for your good fortune and say nothing. Much like finding money on the street.

In hindsight, I wish I'd intervened to at least find out her name so I could nominate her for our weekly Take a Bow. The reward is small, a $10 Mitre 10 mega voucher, but still I think that kind of honesty deserves a reward, and to be highlighted in our newspaper.

If you spot something or know of someone deserving, email the details to editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz.

I hope the cafe had the good grace to acknowledge her gesture with a free coffee or similar.

Such a stark contrast between that and my thoughts as I ventured into work yesterday morning. Coming in via Great North Rd, I noticed the phonebox on St John's Hill had been vandalised, the glass smashed. Apparently it's not that uncommon. I expect it would take some force to break glass that is no doubt of the safety variety, so the person or persons involved were clearly hell-bent on destruction.

It reminded me of a phone call we received in the office this week.

A local woman rang to express her disgust at mindless vandalism. Not just any but a particularly personal experience. The family had just finished painting a fence and putting up a new front gate for an elderly wheelchair-bound relative in Gonville.

Someone had taken it upon themselves to kick the gate down.

In the overall scheme of things, it wasn't a huge crime. Upsetting, even costly for the family who had to repair the vandal's handiwork, but not really deserving of a story in the paper.

Sadly these sorts of things happen all the time across the city with the targets ranging from letterboxes, fences, sign posts, plants and more.

Who knows what goes through the minds of those responsible that sets them off on a path of destruction.

But for those on the receiving end it can be frightening, wondering why someone would target them and their property this way. And expensive and time-consuming cleaning up.

How the vandals would no doubt sneer at the young woman who was undercharged for her honesty.

What they fail to realise is that if they followed her example they would probably be happier with their lot in life, and society would be all the better for it.

Feedback: editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nzPS: Don't forget to put your clocks forward one hour tonight for daylight saving, and check those smoke alarms.