Last weekend was very difficult here, Matt had a very stressful day on Friday combined with feeling ill. He fell asleep on the train coming home, missed his stop, woke up further down the line and jumped off the train only to realise moments later that his camera case was still on the train.
He called me, I called the transport police, they radioed the train driver who searched the train (3 stops down the line) but found nothing. Matt was seriously annoyed with himself as he had lost his favourite camera and lenses - a mere £4000+ worth. I'm sure you can imagine how he felt.
We went through the rigmarole of reporting it, listing all the individual bits and pieces. They asked what was in the bag that would make it distinctive from other camera bags - his answer was "a Knitting Magazine" - it was only then that I realised he had been carrying it around for over 6 months and showing anyone who would look his first published photos (of the knitted nature trail).
The insurance company would do nothing for 10 days in case it was handed in - fat chance we thought looking at the local area.
Yesterday I got a phone call to say that something sounding like his case had been handed in. He collected it and everything is there - huge sighs of relief. The person who had found it had had to wait to hand it in to station staff on Monday, refused to leave a name so we cannot say thank you or show our appreciation.
My faith in human kindness has been reinforced!
Posted by Yvonne at August 18, 2006 09:14 PMPhew what a relief. My DH has a memory like a sieve & I'm always worried that he'll leave his camera bag somewhere. Like Matt his gear costs a LOT of money. But when he whinges about my stash it's the space that it takes up rather than the cost that he moans about....
Posted by: blueadt at August 20, 2006 12:28 AMI love it when someone turns my natural cynicism about people right on its head :)
Posted by: Gill at August 19, 2006 09:09 PMYou're right - that does restore my faith in human kindness! Whew, I bet it was a huge relief.....
Posted by: Wibbo at August 19, 2006 07:48 PMSo glad the bag is back, what a relief for Matt - perhaps I am a little niave but I like to think most people are good and honest at heart.
Posted by: Carol at August 19, 2006 01:54 PMUtterly unbelievable, it's so refreshing to hear there's still decent people around! :)
Posted by: Annarella at August 19, 2006 10:44 AMWhat a happy ending! Nice to know there are good people out there.
Posted by: Mary at August 19, 2006 09:38 AMI can imagine exactly how Matt felt. I would be devasated if I lost my camera/bag. There are good people out there, and rest assured that what goes around comes around, and although you can't thank the good samaritan personally, some day, somewhere, that person will be on the receiving end of a good deed. That principle has always worked for me in the past (for both good AND bad deeds!). Hope Matt is feeling better.
Love
Helen.
Fantastic news about it being returned - there are wonderful people out there. Maybe the knitting magazine in the bag could even inspire the good samaritan to take up needles (you just never know....) or they live with a knitter. Hope Matt is all better. Looking forward to seeing you soon-ish
Posted by: juliet at August 18, 2006 11:30 PMso glad that you got it all back. It must be a huge, huge relief.
Polly x
Posted by: atu at August 18, 2006 10:50 PMSo it was the right bag? Great news! I look forward to seeing more of Matt's photos on the blog!