Touchphone.

Today has been the 6th day that I have been with my Mum. I travelled each day to her home and travel back home to mine each night.

On my way back home, while still in the city where Mum lives, there is a dual carriageway. At the traffic lights, there is a bit of ‘path’ that separates the other side of the dual carriageway, that is going the other way, all this week, there has been a homeless man there.

At the traffic lights, he can clearly be seen by us all. One night when it was very cold, there he was, with all his belongs under his head, as a pillow, and a very thick blanket, covering him up, all that could be seen was his shoes on his feet and his face. He was asleep and facing us.

Whenever it has been cold over the years, or heavy rain and snow, at bed time when I am about to snuggle up in a warm dry bed, I always think of the homeless. I think of those who are really homeless, not the ones, who sit outside my Tesco superstore, to get extra pocket money, then go home at the end of the day, but those who have nowhere to go, but to stay outside to the elements! It must be awful. It is hard to know the real ones from the fake ones.

As I looked at this man, as I waited for the lights to change, I wondered about him, if it was raining, he would have been soaked to the bone!

Maybe he was not really homeless, but trying a different strategy, to tug at our heart strings, as other ways have failed? Last night, he had a dog with him, where was the dog the other evenings? Was it at home? With a friend? Usually, I think it is a shame for the dogs, but I understand why the real homeless person has a dog, for company, warmth, and security. The dog gets lots of strokes and nice food from passersby, none I have seen looked like they are starving, but seem to be well trained and snugged warm and clean. I assume they have good walks and plenty of space for them to go to the ‘loo.’

I popped into my local Tesco near my home late last night. As I got back to my car, I noticed a woman standing three feet from my car, she didn’t stand out, I took my items from the shopping trolley and when I went to get something else out, she came right up to me, which I didn’t expect and she said quietly, “Please can my phone touch yours?” Or that was what it sounded like, I said, “NO!” Thankfully she quickly walked away from me, and went to the other side of the car park.

I don’t know if she was in dire need or not, but what was she expecting me to say? “Yes, here is my phone, do whatever you want with it?”

I don’t even know half of what my phone can and can’t do, without letting a complete stranger, touch my phone with hers!

Meghan my young daughter has often taught me things that my phone can do, over the years, some of it sticks, some don’t and I have to ask for help again.

I do know that she can set up her phone, and mine, that we can touch phones and get a picture that I have taken and she can get it onto her phone, in a second! Technology is amazing.

If she was really in dire need, I hope that someone was able to help her, who knew what they were doing.

xXx