Grant the Polite Guy's Homeless Stories

4 Days 400 for Singles Night.

2012-09-25T19:59:00.003+10:00

Me and my big mouth. Ha ha. Last night I was talking to a single person and I was hearing how internet dating was bad. Then me and my big mouth saying “I can put a BBQ on in 5 days for the homeless I bet I could put on a singles night for 400 people in 4 days” and joking around.

I got a text this morning saying how it’ll be great on Friday night. I was a bit confessed so I called and was reminded I said this Friday I’m doing a Singles Night. What have I done!

So you guessed it, I kept saying yep and it’ll be great. This was at 6:30am this morning. I hung the phone up and well let me say panic started very quickly. Ha ha.

But I am a person that knows people. By 9:50am I had a venue in the city (The Function Room at The Irish Club) and a D.J/ Event Party Person. This event was going ahead. I had everything needed except about 400 single people) Haha easy I still have 3 days from now.

I’m meeting tomorrow with event planners to work out what games and fun things to make it easier for people to break the ice and meet other single people. This is going to be a great night.

The club will be keeping the drinks at normal club prices but there is a door charge of $20 which gives a free drink voucher.

Now I wouldn’t be me and do something if it wasn’t going to help others. Yes I do think helping single people to help meet other single people is helping, but I like helping homeless and people in need as well, So on this fun exciting night I’m going to ask a few people if they would like to be auctioned off for a date. Where people can bid for a date for the person on stage. I’m sure this will be very funny and make the night that much more exciting. The money will go to helping a homeless person or person’s.

Please note that any auctioning will only be with the consent of the person on stage.

400 is not going to be easy but I won’t quit because things got tough. So if your single and between 18 and 65 I want you to come and have a great night, who knows you may meet that special person you could have coffee with as friends or even meet that Mr or Mrs Right. But it’ll be a fun and great night out.

Called “Your Doorway Singles Night”

Function Room

The Irish Club

175 Elizabeth St. Brisbane City

Starting 6:30pm

I’m really looking forward to this event, mostly because I have never done a event like this and to be honest I’m excited to see how it goes. If your single come and bring friends, if your not single please tell others as 400 is not going to be easy. Haha

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day. I only have 4 days to put this together so please share and tell others.

Grant the Polite Guy.

Two Awesome Ladies

2012-09-18T13:14:00.001+10:00

When I’m out and talking to homeless or people in need I have shared laughter, tears and hugs of gratefulness. So many emotions sometimes when someone wants to sit and talk all about their story. I have often thought if more people could share this they would work as hard as I do to help that many more. I was very inspired when I read two stories that were sent to me within the last 24 hours. I’m going to share them here and maybe you’ll be inspired as I was.

The first one comes from a great person that has helped me many of time with doing things for the homeless and even doing the ‘Pie and Coke’ with me.

Here’s a story by Benedikte Palings

After a coffee with Cornelia I walked to the Valley Station and there was a skinny, elderly Aboriginal guy sitting on the ground asking for money. I asked if I could get him something to eat instead, and he said “Yes please, I’m starving”. He said he couldn’t walk very well because he was nearly blind. I asked what he would like, and he said “something hot”. I asked if he would like a burger, and he did. He also asked for a soft drink. I said I’d get something and I would come back.

I went into the Station hall where there is a KFC, and got him a combo meal. He had not expected I would return, and when I announced myself he said “Awww, you come back”. I put the burger and the chips in his hand, told him what it was. I could see his excitement when he felt the food in his hand. He put it very close to him on the ground. Then I got him the pepsi and two of those little wet towels to clean his hands. OMG Grant, he was so happy. Had one tear rolling down his check and he said “May God bless you, you are my Angel. I love you”. He had me close to tears as well! Just a little meal for under $6 became so much more than that. Such a pity I was wearing a skirt and couldn’t sit on the ground, otherwise I would have done the whole pie n coke thing with him.

It was really, really moving how happy he was, like I had done something HUGE. And if I had not met you Grant this would not have happened. I would have walked pasted him, how sad is that... I was thinking of writing this experience on my wall and encourage others to do the same (buying someone a feed), but not sure if that would be appropriate. What do you think? I would really value your opinion.

But thank you, Best Bud, because you have opened my eyes to something that is truly sad and urgent in our modern society and I am very grateful that you did, because I won’t walk past with blinkers on anymore....

Benedikte is awesome and Ace’s in my book.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Now I’ll share a story written to me by Deb Boundy who is such an inspiration to most that would know her. She helps a great organization called Making a Difference - Brisbane which helps so many people all the time and really does more than I do some days.

Here’s Deb’s story that was written to me.

Morning Grant,

I just wanted to let you know I did something yesterday which made me feel good. There was a homeless man sitting outside a shop in Logan, I said “good afternoon”to him and smiled at him. I went inside the shop, the gentleman looked hungry so I bought him a hot wrap and a iced coffee Breaka. Just thought I’d let you know. Was due to meeting you that did this, in previous times I would have smiled and said afternoon but not bought anything. Thank you Grant.

They don’t come nicer then these two ladies. There awesome and I’m proud to just know them and the fact their doing the same as me and helping wherever they can for people in need and homeless.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now I do have some very good news. I went to the specialist on Friday morning and over the last 6 weeks my red cell count has come downward and the treatment is working well, now I’m doing the treatment for another 6 weeks and then look at the results again. I knew I would get through this, I wasn’t going to quit or give up. Haha. I’m not out of the woods yet but it’s a positive turn. I wanted to thank all those that sent emails and things.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More good news to come. The donation button has collected a total of $618 (Mostly thanks to Sally Piracha) towards building that coffee cart which will help people in need by giving experience and a job.

I’d like to thank you all for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day. This post may inspire others to help others in need so please share using the buttons below.

Grant the Polite Guy.

EBAY

2012-09-01T08:28:00.002+10:00

I come across a lot of people that are homeless or in great need. I mean sometimes people just need that helping hand because they are down on their luck. People lose jobs, accommodation, relationships split ups and one or both feel left alone, there’s many reasons why people fall down. One thing I have noticed with talking to people that are homeless or close to it is that things started going downhill and it just never stopped.

I’ll write about one case without mentioning names. I have spent a lot of time with a lady that lost her job and went for job interview after job interview for months, soon after she had to move into her car because she could pay the same rent as she had when working. I believe she thought it would be for a short time. Then as time went on she slowly just accepts it and it’s become more of a lifestyle. She stopped hiding it and started believing herself to have less worth.

The way I see it, the longer she believes this is a lifestyle the harder it’ll be to come back. This is not a once off story, I’m sure there’s hundreds of names that could be put to that story.

Being knocked back time after time again for work would be hard but losing their home as well could sent someone on a downward spiral. This was written for people that do look for work, not people that never miss Judge Judy or Springer every day. Ha ha

I’d like to write about an idea I mentioned not too long ago. It’s a Coffee cart idea that like other coffee carts sells coffee.

The idea of this coffee cart was to only employ and train people from hardships. The idea is they do a 2 weeks training in a coffee shop which I have set up, then work for above award wages at the coffee cart getting experience in the industry. No limit of how long they stay for.

I was thinking with every cup of coffee sold then the cart would donate 20 cents to the charity I’m putting together which does the BBQ’S and helps homeless. So really it’ll be people in need getting trained and working while each cup sold goes to helping others that are in need. Something like ‘Pay it Forward’

Now I have organized everything coffee machine, beans, cups, eg except the cart itself which Nathan Scholz has said he would make if I bought the materials, around $2,500. I am putting all money I get from my donation button (top left) towards this until I raise enough.

To help me out raising this, an amazing person Sally Piracha has placed a brand new IPAD on ebay which all the money is donated for making the cart as well. A brand new IPAD AWESOME. http://bit.ly/NqZN62

Check it out and know the winner gets an IPAD and helps people in the future. There’s only 6 hours to go.

I’d like to say thank you for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day. Please donate if you can on the donation button (top left) as all money is going towards getting that cart.

Grant the Polite Guy.

An OLD Start

2012-08-30T20:16:00.004+10:00

An old start is so true right now. I’ll start it close to the beginning, I’ve been getting bad chest pains not feeling well at all, the doctors did there tests.

“Polycythaemia Vera” Now I will say he kept talking after that but used really big words and I really didn’t know what he meant. I did look it up on the internet for information and wish I hadn’t.

To shorten this is to say my body produces too many red cells, which makes my blood to think. Blood too think means my heart has trouble pumping it. There is no cure for this but it can be controlled for some time. Once a week I get my blood drained (a lot) to the stage I’m weak so that the red cells are reduced and medication. I am really hoping to stay at this stage but not likely.

I already have my injuries from the accident and now new things have started to develop, blurred vision, weakness, night sweats and fatigue because of this.

I am not wanting people to feel sorry for me in any way. I am writing all this so I can explain why I am going back to selling the Big Issue.

I worked and built up a successful shoe shining chair but the problem was doing all the tests by the doctor and being weak from the Polycythaemia Vera and the blood drain, I wasn’t opening the chair the hours it needs. I really only could thing of two things to do, go on a pension or still work and go back to doing the Big Issue were I can finish early or even have time off when needing it. I didn’t make this decision quickly.

I don’t want people thinking I just gave up because things got worst with my health. I do look at this as taking a step backwards with working and income but it’s better than not working at all.

A lot of people are inspired or even take pride in knowing I made it. Please don’t think I would give up because I won’t. I know what it’s like to go down that road.

I am working out the front of the Post Office Square on Queen St in the city.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The BBQ’S for the homeless are still going ahead but was put on hold for a short time while bad health. I am working on the next event and will be posting here as soon as I know a date and where.

But talking about BBQ’S, I’d like to mention two wonderful people that have helped so many more people in need then I have ever done. I get inspired talking to them. Karen and Peter (Knitting for the Needy) have been to every BBQ event I have ever done helping with clothes and things. Now they need our help. Sunsuper is offering $5,000 to charities that get the most votes by us the people.

Please go to this site and vote for Karen and her team. http://sunsuperdreams.com.au/dreams/popular

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day.

Grant the Polite Guy.

RECONNECT Done

2012-08-19T10:59:00.000+10:00

The ‘Reconnect’ at Petrie went well. It started at around 6:30pm on the Tuesday night at Caboolture where they had a BBQ for the homeless. I loved this, I even offered to help out but they were all sorted. Everyone knew what to do and just done it. So I just talked around talking to people.

Yvonne Jones turned up with blankets and things collected by the Making a Difference (MaD) team. They didn’t last long and more people were going to be warmer this night.

They had around 50 homeless or in need there. They done well.

Jumping into the car Yvonne Jones and I were off to meet others to do the CEO sleep-out at the park in Petrie.

The group of us were sitting around this bowl which had a small fire talking about homelessness and things that were important. Each one talking, but thinking the same thing “It’s really and I mean really cold” haha.

I will say I was proud to meet such great people, we had students from a TAFE, Senior members of the Rotary Club, Business owners and even a Shoe Shiner there too.

One by one the group started getting smaller as they huddled up into sleeping bags. As the night started getting later I noticed every once in a while someone would walk through or around the park. Now I started thinking of how when I was homeless I learnt quickly NOT to sleep in such open places because of bad experiences. I figured it’s best someone stayed up for the night and just keep an eye open.

So keeping the fire going (Oh yes. Ha ha) I just sat there thinking of all the memories of when I was homeless. In a way I think it changed me a bit because since then I feel more driven to success than before, because I don’t ever want to be homeless again.

The CEO Gang

Morning came as did the vehicles bringing all the things to start the ‘RECONNECT’ event. About 40 organizations came from everywhere and setting up things that promoted there services. I helped putting up the Marques and things but mostly helped Making a Difference (MaD) because they had so much in the way of blankets, clothes and toiletries to spread out for the event.

Now I wasn’t going to come to an event to help the homeless without helping with clothes too so I organized all the boxes (around 30 Boxes) of clothes to be loaded and picked up by my mate Lee from ‘The Van That Can’ once again Lee came through and help in such a big way even though he had to be a Caboolture at 6am, the guy is awesome. But while I’m talking about awesome people I want to mention my sweet mum. She noticed a stain on a shirt so she washed and ironed all clothes in the 30 boxes, took almost 2 weeks. Now you know where I get my good nature from. Ha ha She’s awesome.

Denise and Katherine Hoyle

Works with Making a Difference, Not only did they have the biggest stall to hand things out, but they did the one thing I have never thought of and that’s, as females walked around they called them over and asked if they would like to help themselves to a box which had tampons and ladies pads in it. That way guys and others didn’t see them getting the items and a lot less embarrassing for them. Very, very smart.

The whole (MaD) team work very hard all day of which I had trouble keeping up with them myself, being up all night I think it was about 12pm lunchtime when my back was really hurting and I just laid down on a bench for an hour.

Kirsty Richardson

I meet Kirsty for the first time at this event, but Kirsty has been friends with me on Facebook, Twitter and follows my blog for some time now.

I was talking to a girl named Sue and she was telling me how she’d like to get clothes for a baby. I walked Sue right over to Kirtsy’s table which had toiletries and young ones clothes. That when Kirsty asked me if I was ‘Grant the Polite Guy’ and told me who she was.

I later meet up with Kirsty and she told me she puts a few dollars away every week and buys from ebay in bulk just to hand out to the homeless. Ace’s in my book.

Yvonne Jones

Not only did Yvonne stay and do the CEO sleep-out but I can say she made hundreds of calls and meeting people to help put this all together. Then during the event she told me how important it was to help people get back on their feet and I could tell that the passion in her voice that there was no-way she would quit for anything and yet not asked anything in return. Even didn’t take any credit for what she did to help putting it together. I am proud to know her.

There were a huge amount of people helping and I could write all day about them. In time I will as I work with more people.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I did meet a girl named Sue who I got the chance to sit with and chat over a sausage on bread. She told me how her boyfriend was fearing going to jail because of mistakes with drugs and things. It took a few minutes to get her to talk about herself and I must say I heard some really bad things. Nothing she had done wrong it was more that she had gone through and going through rough times. I’d like to say we had a good chat there and then, but a guy who drove her to the event demanded that they go home now. He was a real piece of work. He didn’t want her to get on her feet, he likes her right where she is. I wanted to put my size 13 boot right up his ass. But they call me Grant the Polite Guy. Ha ha. I did get her phone number and from that she is agreeing to chat with counsellors. I will follow up as time goes on but the best I can do is be a friend and help get the right people that know what they’re doing to do their job.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weeks ago I mentioned about putting together a coffee cart which people from harsh background or having trouble getting a start at work because of reasons to get a break in life. I set up a coffee shop to do training and know all they need to know about the business. Also 20 cents from each cup sold would go towards a charity that helps homeless and people in need. So people getting help are selling coffee and helping others at the same time.

I have the machine and things but still need to get the cart. I posted that every cent donated on my blog here would go towards it until I had enough. In the 10 days not one cent has been donated. I must say I thought it was a good idea so I’m still going to put the donations towards the cart until it’s paid for.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Because a lot of people are emailing me about different and other things then homeless, I’m going to be writing in my first blog I started and that’s grantthepoliteguy.blogspot.com

I’d like to thank everyone for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day. If you like my idea about helping homeless or people in need please donate on the donate button on the top left hand side of this screen.

All coming together

2012-07-30T22:05:00.001+10:00

I have so much to write tonight and I’m sorry if this one is longer than normal but at the end I am going to be writing about me sleeping on the streets again, that got your attention. Just grab a drink, sit back and enjoy. This post is very important to me because it’s about amazing people and our next event.

· Making a Difference - Brisbane (MaD)

I remember I was doing a collection for someone in need and a Denise Hoyle called and said she had blankets to give to help out. Even brought them to me. (I love that bit as I don’t have a car). Well on the day Denise was talking about how she has done huge work helping flood effected people and now turning her efforts to helping homeless and people in need. That’s my kind of person, she’s Ace’s in my book. Ha ha.

Not long after Denise heard I was planning another BBQ event and I was collecting blankets and things for the homeless and offered to help using her crew from Making A Difference.

Facebook Page July’s 100 Blankets was put together by Denise and her MaD team who are just as awesome being, Kerry Krause and Deb Boundy. Now when they put this page together they thought collecting 100 blankets would be great. Really when these 3 ladies put their mind to something about helping people then really I don’t think anything could stop them. I know they made calls drove countless Kms (Miles for U.S readers).

So for the whole month of July they have been collecting and collecting, I’m so impressed with the huge efforts which each of them have done and I can say last count I got was a huge amount being over 200 blankets, toiletries packs and things to give to the homeless. THERE AWESOME.

Just think about it, 3 ladies and friends used one Facebook page and a lot of leg work to do so much for people they don’t know.

Now July is almost over and because of the problems with Mates helping Mates I can’t put a BBQ together because I can’t legally ask for money to get insurance and for the purpose of having a BBQ for the homeless. I know it’s legal stuff. But I am setting another charity up right but it takes time.

Now when you do good in the world there’s good to be found.

I got a phone call from Yvonne Jones who told me she has followed my blog for ages (Her words. Haha) Well after talking to Yvonne she told me that she done huge work helping flood effected with Denise and many others. Now as chance would have it, Yvonne Jones has been working with others to put their own BBQ together called

‘Reconnect’ Homelessness Week Event

On August 8 at Petrie School of Arts

Sleepout for homeless. This is the same as other CEO sleepouts where they raise money to help homeless and the person gets a feeling of what it’s like to be out in the cold. In this case there asking people to buy 3 sleeping bags ($175 for 3 sleeping bags which they buy) of which you donate and there given to homeless the next morning. AWESOME IDEA.

A sleep out from 4.30 pm on the 7th august 2012 in the park next to the Petrie School of Arts will launch the activities. A sausage sizzle will be provided for participants around 7pm. Breakfast will commence about 7 am followed by setting up for the day’s events. Local Members, CEO, Managers, staff and students are invited to bring a tent and warm clothing and participate in this event. For more details please contact Rose Butler of Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre on 0417791891 or roseb@prnc.org.au

The BBQ event commencing at 9am until 12 noon an Inter agency network forum will provide an opportunity services to discover services in our region and new referral pathways. The event will culminate with services invited to engage with people from 12.30 pm- 3 pm to deliver services which include:

Support to access identity documentation including birth certificates,

Centrelink – support to access entitlements,

Department of Housing & Public Works – support to register for housing,

Metro North Medicare Local – free health checks and much more.

This event is going to help so many people, homeless and in need so as you can imagine I was excited when I was asked to join and help with this event. Right away I say that it seems you have so much I’m proud to even know you, what can I help with? The answer came back clothes and blankets. Now I still have injuries and of course the heart attack thing but I swear I could have done cartwheels right there and then. The MaD team have just collected a huge amount of blankets and I can get clothes by asking for them here on my blog and in the city. I couldn’t believe it, everything was coming together so well. Here was Denise and her MaD team waiting for an event to help homeless with blankets and things, then I had Yvonne on the phone telling me about an event and inviting me to join and help out where I can with the contacts I have too.

Now that is a huge ending there, but no this is my blog and the good just keeps coming. I received an email from Craig Michaels from Connected - Volunteers and Supporters They helped flood effected people as well. Now Craig’s email sent floods of memories back because it made me think about the very first BBQ event I put together. You see I was so scared I couldn’t get enough clothes and things for the homeless that I asked Craig and his team at Connected to donate clothes and things for the homeless through my BBQ. The guy was only too happy to give me more then I needed as long as it helped homeless and people in need.

I remember turning up with the van and there was pallets of things just waiting for loading and there was Craig with a huge smile and saying “Do good with this and help those that need it the most” we left with the big van loaded in the back and I was sitting on another box in the front seat with my feet on two box’s.

The guy really is a full hand of Ace’s in my book. Now this guy has helped in the thousands of people and now he’s came through again with the email saying he’d like to donate 200 more blankets and can food and things. The guy is awesome when it comes to helping. It’s no surprise the guy got a call saying he became a finalist for Pride Medal of Australia. Good luck mate.

200 more Blankets. Awesome.

Now Craig is a great man but he finds himself in a jam because the warehouses he uses he can’t use much longer. Now he is a charity and he’s looking for a warehouse to store the huge amount of things waiting to be given to people in need, prefer near railway which the owner can claim on tax because of his charity name and number. It’s another legal thing which I don’t really understand, but if you have a warehouse or large storage available please call and ask Craig about it and I’m sure he’ll explain all about it. 32671629. Sometimes people that help others need help to continue, so if you can please help. Tell him I sent you and I might get a beer out of it. Ha ha

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Now for a short while now I’ve been trying to put a new idea together where it’s a coffee cart on a floor of the BOQ building and there’s going to be two people working it. One making the coffee’s and the other racing it to people office’s (Right to their desk and boardrooms). Now the reason I’m putting this together is because I’m wanting to help people in need with jobs.

I have a coffee shop saying they will do all training and explain everything about what they need to know in a way of getting on their feet. You see I figure if I can set a business up where I not only help people off the streets but helping them to learn and train how to work and even giving them a job to work and stay or just get the experience. (Paying them better then award).

Then I thought even better, After I have set the charity up I could set it up so that a percentage of per cup sold gets donated to the charity to help more as well. So the idea is, I help people off the streets or just in need and train them and offer a job to help them get on their feet and part of the profits go to a charity which helps even more people. People who have gotten help working and helping people to get help.

Now with my contacts that I have now so far I have machine , beans, cups and things but I need one of them carts for the whole thing to go one. Now I have priced one and there $12,000 new. But I know a guy which I can’t wait to write about later, well he’s dad can make one if I buy materials for it. About $2,500.

So from right now I’m donating all money I get from my donations from writing here until I get enough to pay for the cart and things needed. You know that yellow donation button at the top left. Now I normally say that I help people to help themselves, well now I’m saying I’m helping people to help themselves and then others in need too.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the start of this post I said I was going to be sleeping on the streets. I am doing the CEO Sleepout too. My sleeping another night on the streets is going to help 3 homeless people with sleeping bags and while I’m there I’ll maybe inspire someone. Please think about joining me and contact Rose Butler of Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre on 0417791891 or roseb@prnc.org.au

Really there asking people to sleep one night out (which is safe) to help many that do it every night.

Thank you for reading my blog and as I like saying in life “Please share” there’s a little blue F for sharing on Facebook and a little T for sharing on Twitter.

I hope you all have a great day/night and if you like my stories, please feel free to donate on the Donate Button up top left.

Grant the Polite Guy

Twitter- @grantpoliteguy

Facebook and email- grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

P.S Sorry for the extra long post.

A Fresh Start.

2012-07-23T22:19:00.000+10:00

Hi Guys and ladies of course,

To be honest I’m celebrating right now because the Bone Marrow went well and all tests are done; now I’m waiting for all the results. Now I’ll admit I was a bit scared last time I wrote, not because of the Bone Marrow hurting but worried about not getting my fitness and health back quickly afterwards.

But here I am days later and the reason I’m celebrating is I went back to work today. I managed to work the whole day earning money. I even done a ‘Pie and Coke’ which in today case did want a Pie and Coke. Awesome. I must say I’m proud of myself. So here’s some advice. Never give up because you’re the only person that can stop yourself.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been asked a lot about Mates helping Mates and our BBQ’S. Well I’ll put it here so people don’t get the wrong idea. Firstly I’m not going to dump on anyone, because really it doesn’t change anything. Sometimes people run others down so they look good themselves. That’s not looking good it’s showing your standards.

Now don’t get me wrong no-one is running me down (well that I know of, haha) but I want people to know I’m not angry or hold a grudge.

The fact is Mates helping Mates still needed to do legal papers to register for different things to be a charity and we couldn’t move forward until it happened. Well time went on and that’s one of the reasons there was no BBQ’S for 5 months. Except of course for the BBQ I put together by myself without using any resources from Mates helping Mates.

You see I have a burning desire to help people that are down on their luck and I don’t want to be slowed down. I did send an email saying we go get the legal things done now as a team with Randel (a lawyer) help or I would walk away and resign.

The reply wasn’t we are going to get the legal things done.

Over the next 7 days I will be asking a team of people to join me and build a new and great charity that helps people. I will be doing the legal things right from the start with Randel’s help. I am going to need people to be part of the board. There’s two people I’m hoping emails or texts me to ask, but I’ll see what happens.

The fact that I know I can help so many more people is the only reason I’m leaving Mates helping Mates.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope you all have a great day and thank you for reading my blog. I wanted to write more but it’s late and I want to work tomorrow too. Haha

Thank you again.

Grant the Polite Guy

Bone Marrow

2012-07-17T20:43:00.002+10:00

This is not going to be a happy post. To be honest I’m sitting in the dark listening to music to get into a better mood but it’s not working. So here I am writing because it does give me a purpose and mostly something to do.

I know I wrote last time about maybe having a heart attack, well the good news is it wasn’t a heart attack. My blood is way to think with red cells and there was lots of big words mentioned which I would always nod like an idiot and make out I understood all the big words. I do know I’ve done so many test now it’s a matter of saying “what day is it and what test today?”

Today I went to a specialist on blood and all he done was scare the crap out of my wife Cheryl who was there to support me. You see he used big words too and really I had no idea what he was saying except him saying we’re rushing you in to have a Bone Marrow tomorrow morning and booking more tests on Friday and Monday. I don’t even know what they’re going to be doing except drilling a hole in one of my bones. “Hey I’ll be a Holy Man” you see writing helps. Haha

Hey before I get a whole lot of people call or text or email me about the Bone Marrow and what is going to happen, please don’t!! The way I see it, the doctor knows what he has to do and me well all I have to do is turn up and go to sleep. After I wake up they say what they did and then it’s too late. Not worrying about it because there’s nothing I can do about it. As long as I don’t come out a girl I’ll be fine. Haha. Another joke hey I’m doing better. Ha ha

Oh I have a huge WARNING. I’m not telling my daughter Jasmine anything about this because well really she’s only 9 years old and what’s the point of worrying her. So the WARNING is, please if you know her don’t mention anything because there’s no reason to upset or worry her. I wrote it twice so people would let it sink in.

I want to say I’m scared, not the operation, that’s out of my hands. I’m scared that if things go wrong or I don’t heal quickly or there’s more wrong, then what will happen? Will my family life fall apart again? Will I lose everything again? Then there’s the big one, is there a chance I become homeless again with nothing? I know I have a great wife and daughter but, well there’s always a but.

The Doctors can do whatever they want as long as I’m able to work and provide for my family as a working man. I know over the last two weeks I have worked two days because of my health, doing tests and money is already in a bad way. I need to get better quickly and work again.

I guess that’s why I help the homeless so much, because I know how easy it could happen and really if I was to be homeless again I would want to meet someone doing what I do to help me get on my feet again. I will never stop doing the BBQ’S and helping one on one because of this every reason.

Haha Now I know I won’t post this one.

What the heck. People want to read about Grant the Polite Guy being positive. Well here’s the truth, I’m always positive because I won’t face losing again because it’s a quick road down, but a long journey back.

Please wish me luck for tomorrow and for you I hope you have a great day. Remember the words “Homeless People” are “People” if you take away the “homeless” word.

Thank you for reading my blog and if I lose some readers because it’s a bit sad well I understand. I still wish you a good day.

Grant the Polite Guy.

3 Needing Help

2012-07-09T20:25:00.003+10:00

HI guys, I must be honest it’s only 7:30pm and I’m so tired and weak that I feel like I have been awake for days. But I haven’t, I just have this thick blood thing happening.

About an hour and a half ago I posted on Facebook and Twitter to get help for a girl doing her training for a job and needing black pants and money for a Go-Card an food and things. Let’s face it cost money to buy lunch instead of eating at home.

This girl I have helped in the past with accommodation and clothes for job interviews, so I was happy to know she got a job.

Now normally I would put my hand in my own pocket for things like this but to be honest I have been unwell and not able to work for most of two weeks and I can’t afford it. I even can’t do the “Pie and Coke” this week so I really do feel bad about that. But as I was saying I posted to help this girl when I got a girl message me on facebook and a few minutes later a call on the phone from 2 other people doing job interviews, tomorrow and on Wednesday and asking for help. It’s mostly because I’m so tired but I felt overwhelmed and thought I have to post it here to ask others to help.

People know I help as much as I can but I sometimes can’t help everyone so I’ll type it here and see if I can get people to pitch in please. If people want to be paid back I’m happy to do so.

Sarah doing training for job.

Needed Pants (Black) Size14. I have one pair coming.

Money on Go-Card

Money for expenses (Food, Drinks)

Shannon doing Job interview.

I have arranged clothes but needs money on her Go-Card

Domanic (I think it’s the spelling) doing job interview. (Wednesday)

Money for Go-Card and shirt size M Men’s size.

I know these are small things but to be honest because I have not worked I can’t do it myself. If people can help please email me on grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com or call tomorrow because I’m going to sleep now 0412 190 011.

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you all have a good night.

Grant the Polite Guy.

Heart Attack

2012-07-05T17:23:00.001+10:00

The last few days has really done a turnaround for me. You see last Tuesday night I collapsed clinging my shirt because of the pain I felt in my chest. I climbed onto the bed and thousands of things went through my mind. To be honest I thought “I was done like a dinner and it was all over”.

(Haha the one time I get the house to myself and I couldn’t enjoy it, when really I needed someone there. I can’t win. Haha).

Thinking about things I had done and still want to do in life, people I’ve helped and still want to help.

Well the next morning I went to the Doc’s and he has me doing all these test including blood. It took all day yesterday and all morning today but at least I got the good news at the end. I didn’t have a heart attack but I have thick blood and need a Bone Narrow. I still don’t really know what it is but I’m so happy my hearts good. To be honest after the doc said it’s not a heart attack I really was to happy to care what it was. I have more test to do through to Thursdays day next week which all I kept thinking is I can’t work while doing them. So please if you use my Shoe Shinning Chair and I’m not there. I’m sorry but I have to get this done.

The reason I’m bringing this up is because there are homeless out there who suffer things like this and without a medicare card or insurance they will not get the help that everyone else takes for granted. I know for some it’s better to get worst in health because then the hospitals takes them in and the homeless person gets accommodations/food and things while they get better.

But maybe it something to think about. People need to get worst in health just to get help or a bed and food while being safe. It happens.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A lot of people are wondering when the next BBQ is going to be for the homeless. Well because of things happening lately it’s best to say there is going to be a BBQ soon but I’m working on when. Maybe in 4-6 weeks from now. A few changes has to happen first. As I plan it I’ll post it here. The next one is going to be the biggest one ever. Helping more people in need. I know many of people are preparing by collecting blankets like ‘Making A Difference’ (M.A.D) and I thank you all for doing so. There AWESOME.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’d like to thank you all for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day and remember if you take the word “Homeless” out of “Homeless People” then you are left with just “People”

Grant the Polite Guy

Success 'A Hand Up Day'

2012-06-26T04:02:00.000+10:00

‘A Hand Up Day’ surprised me with what people emailed me. I read all about people buying hotdogs to a pancake place helping homeless by giving pancakes away with clothes collected from staff and friends.

Now some might say only 13 emails is not much, but I say 13+ people took one day out of there life to help in most cases someone / people they didn’t know before or have walked passed and looked down so not to make eye contact. It’s a great start. I must say most emails were from the U.S.A you guys are great.

I’m very proud right now because even if just one of those people help people in need from now then that could be hundreds helped in the future where-ever they are. Pass-it-forward yeah.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

WOO-HOO I did it, I put a successful BBQ together in 8 days. Look at the pictures. Homeless came and there was food, drinks, all the clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, toiletries and much more waiting for the much needed homeless of Brisbane at 10am Sunday morning. Even though most turned up by 8:30am instead of the 10am start as planned. Ha-ha.

I wasn’t the one that made all this happen. There’s many to thank, maybe if I put it into what happened each day and in order I’ll get them all in. So here’s how I was able to put a BBQ on for the homeless in 8 days.

Day 1 Saturday.

It was cold and raining when I thought about putting on a BBQ. Thinking it was the weekend I decided not to do anything about today. Except tell some friends about it.

Day 2 Sunday.

A very icy cold and raining night which followed by a raining and cold day. I thought it was the weekend and I couldn’t do much.

Day 3 Monday.

Well the same cold and not much to do but it was a public holiday here so I couldn’t do anything with putting together the BBQ. This was bad because now I had 6 days left and still no location, food or even clothes.

Day 4 Tuesday.

I remember thinking I can’t do it! Bad timing and to be honest I thought of every reason why I couldn’t do it. I went to work and really was feeling down about it all because it was so cold and I knew homeless were out there in it.

Now when I started doing my shoe shining with Buffed they introduced me to a guy to be a mentor, now I was very lucky because my mentor was David Wilson from BDO (He’s a partner there). Well David kept giving me advice about business matters and how no-matter what the task, there’s always a way to get it done. Which was funny because I’m always saying the same thing to homeless all the time. But when it was said to me it set in more, so I listen.

I started thinking of things David had told me over the past and to be honest I just whipped out a pen and paper and just started writing all that I’d need to have a BBQ. Food, Drinks, Location, BBQ’S to cook, Clothes, Toiletries, Insurance, Tables and a lot of helpers. Then at the bottom of the list I wrote 5 Days to Go. I stared at that piece of paper for about an hour thinking of ways I could do it.

I called a mate of mine “Peter” who is the manger of ‘Bleeding Heart Cafe’ (It’s a Art Gallery, 166 Ann St City), Peter says “Mate happy to have you use our area out the front to help the homeless, But because it’s Heritage Building no naked flames like a BBQ”

Awesome I had a location, covered by insurance and they had tables we could use to put the clothes on which are the three biggest things when having a BBQ for homeless. I’ll say I had a bit of a skip in my step for the rest of the day. Ha ha

I went home and started printing and cutting up lots of pieces of paper to hand out to people asking for clothes and things.

Day 5 Wednesday.

Starting at 6am I handed out a flier to every person I could get to, saying I was collecting any and all clothes, blankets, toiletries and things for the BBQ they never wanted to see again collecting on Friday morning. But also asking for helpers to cook and fold clothes to be put on the tables for the homeless to go through for what they wanted and keep for free.

Day 6 Thursday.

Two of my wonderful customers (Wendy and Stephanie) came up to me and said they had sent an email to all Bank Of Queensland (BOQ) staff and collecting a huge amount of clothes and going to be passing the hat around to collect for food and drinks, there AWESOME.

Now I still have injuries so I didn’t but I felt like doing cartwheels up and down the foyer. Ha-ha My BBQ was coming together because the community were coming together to help the homeless and people in need.

After work I meet up with the fantastic Benedikete, she’s a counsellor that helps me to help people that well really need counselling in life. Benedikete and I handed out fliers to homeless from the Valley through to Southbank. Just stopping and quickly chatting and saying about where and when the BBQ is and getting clothes and blankets. A lot of walking. (Was really feeling it in the legs. Ha-ha )

Day 7 Friday.

Now I have my Buffed chair in the foyer of the BOQ building and they have said if I ever need to there’s a small storeroom out back. I spent all morning saying thank you and grabbing bags of clothes and blankets to carry to the backroom. Huge amount, bags came from everywhere. Not just BOQ but the coal company Peabody, Qcat, Department of Veterans Affairs all came together to help people they may have never meet, but wanted to give someone in need a Hand Up. Remember “A Hand Up Day”.

Wendy and Stephanie came up to me about lunch time and told me they had passed the hat and collected $850 and asked me to write a shopping list of food and drinks and things needed for the BBQ and with the rest bought new jumpers to hand out.

2pm came and I asked as many people as I could to help move all the clothes, food and things to a Taxi just outside to take to Bleeding Heart. We needed two Taxi’s and one of them was a Maxi Taxi, we kept throwing bags and bags in saying it’ll fit, but no we needed the second one too.

4 of us took about a 1 ½hrs to unload and stack the bags in a room waiting for Sunday morning. A lot of bags.

Then I spent the rest of the day handing out fliers to as many homeless and people in need as I could find.

Day 8 Saturday.

Thinking I had everything done and planned all I had to do was tell the homeless to come and eat and get warm clothes. But no, my wife Cheryl asks how we are going to cook the food without using flame BBQ’S? I’d forgotten about that. OHNO. Some people had given me money for the BBQ event which I didn’t use yet but was holding it for extra things you need that you run out of. I handed her the money and asked her to buy a electric BBQ plate because there’s power there. I knew I didn’t give her enough but we had money in the bank.

I came into the city and meet with two lovely ladies (Liz and Cath). I’m going to be talking about how wonderful they are later, but this post is long enough already.

We walked and walked everywhere handing out fliers to homeless. Some stopping for a chat. A good 3-4 hours of walking to get to as many people as we could. Then the best idea, (I know some will not like) we stopped at the pub and had a couple of beers as a reward for doing such a good job.

Day 9 Sunday.

It says day 9 but really I couldn’t do much for the first 3 days. I felt proud knowing I had put together a BBQ in less than one week and because it was getting so cold, I was going to be handing out sleeping bags, blankets, clothes, toiletries while homeless ate and drunk all they wanted.

8am my family turn up to start setting up tables and things and not to my surprise there were homeless there already waiting, even though we said it starts at 10am.

The bags came out, the tables were set up and the food started cooking.

Some left and came back for more clothes or food and there were many of happy smiles. The toiletries, sleeping bags and blankets were first to go.

Staff came from the BOQ building and helped homeless as a community coming together.

About 90-140 homeless turned up.

I got 4 phone numbers of homeless people that said they want to get on their feet. A week later one changed his mind and didn’t meet. Great result, we can’t help everyone but look for the ones we can.

The one thing I’m very proud of is that, these people were offered extra blankets and warm clothes but only took what they needed and most said they wanted to leave enough for others too. NOT GREEDY.

Now I normally donate all clothes left over to the 139 club (homeless centre) but this time I know there’s a Mates helping Mates BBQ coming shortly so I bagged all clothes and stored at my little unit to give straight to the homeless. The left over food went to ‘Knitting for the Needy’ as they were meeting a food van that afternoon and they will cook and hand out.

Nothing is ever wasted at our BBQ’S (Too hard to come by everything. Ha-ha)

Now some people aren’t sure if this event being a Mates helping Mates BBQ. It wasn’t. Mates helping Mates which I am a director of had postponed the event they had planned and It was getting very cold out so I as Grant the Polite Guy put a quick event together to get warm clothes and mostly blankets out there for people to use now.

The great thing is 13+ others didn’t something the same across the world as well at the same time.

I call that a successful week.

I have a lot of new readers now so please if you would like, go to grantthepoliteguy.blogspot.com for past posts before I started working as a Buffed shoe shiner.

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day.

Grant the Polite Guy

grantsmates@gmail.com

A Hand Up Day

2012-06-12T16:25:00.002+10:00

I wrote about Kerry’s family and Sarah in my last post. The good news is people stood tall and said “I have clothes and things” and Sarah went to her interview with beautiful clothes. She thought she looked like a million dollars, (well except for a zipper that would do up) ha ha I don’t think she believed she could look so smart. She didn’t get the job in the Army but Sarah and the 19 yr agree to let Mates helping Mates help them get a fulltime job. Meeting once a week for 8 hours. Also because I asked so nicely the whole family is doing counselling every Thursday afternoon with a counsellor at their home.

Giving food and clothes did help but with the extra services like looking for work and counselling is going to help long term as well.

Now I’m sure there’s going to be up’s and down’s here but I said as long as they don’t give up I won’t give up on them. They think I’m inspirational. Ha ha. I think I have a size 13 boot for their butts if they quit. Ha ha.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Van That Can

Lee and his lovely wife came to a Mates helping Mates meeting saying he has a van and can move anything for us. Now I do try to get people to drop off things themselves, but really this van has done hundreds of km’s over the last 2 weeks helping people for us and out of the goodness of his heart. So I say please if you need anything moved call him first because if I can give him business for help us then it’s worth it. The guy set a new record for being ACE’S in my book.

The Van That Can

0410 583 991

www.thevanethatcan.com.au

theman@thevanthatcan.com.au

On Facebook too.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Hand Up Day

I remember a large number of nights were it was bitterly cold and raining, you cover yourself up with everything you have just to protect yourself from the wind. But nothing works because it feels like the cold is in your bones. So you just shiver wishing or praying for the rain to stop, the wind to stop, but most of all for the sun to come out and warm everything up again. But as daybreak hits the rain hits harder and the wind gets stronger and the sun doesn’t come out.

Now that was a bit harsh, but really to think that it doesn’t happen is fooling yourself. This is one of thousands of reasons why I work so hard helping homeless people and really any people in great need.

Now I’m reminded about this because here in Brisbane it’s been bitterly cold and raining off and on for weeks now.

I get a lot of people saying to me “Grant people want to help more but don’t know what to do” or “Grant you’re an inspiration and I wish more people were like you”. I say I’m nothing special and anyone can do it. So let’s help people to help themselves.

If people are waiting to hear what they can do then I’ll say it now, because I have a plan. Ha ha

On the 17^th of this month should be a Sunday no matter which State or Country you’re in. So that gives you a 5 days if you read this quickly. I say, tell your friends and family to collect clothes, blankets, food and as a group or on your own take them to homeless or have a BBQ and put up posters to invite or something like that. I mean it, I want to hear from people everywhere about what they did and I’ll post it here.

People have clothes they never want to see again and really collecting them will be easy and handing them out will be one of the most fulfilling things you could do. (Helping someone in need) If anyone says why? You just say “Grant the Polite Guy says to ask”.

Do we want to call this a special day? I do this a lot but let’s call it “A Hand Up day”

I know you can do this. I’ll even make it easy and I’ll type a notice for people to copy and paste and all you have to do is change the details for your area and put everywhere. e.g. Office kitchens, Shops, walls or even to hand to your friends and family.

Copy and make changers and print. You will look like a hero I promise and you will be doing so much good.

I’m Grant the Polite Guy and this Sunday is A Hand Up Day.

It’s been getting cold out so let’s band together and help those in need most. I’m putting on a BBQ were all homeless and people in need will come and get food, clothes, toiletries and things for free to help during these tough times. I’m asking everyone to look for clothes they never want to see again and give to people who need it, plus food, drinks, toiletries and anything that will help. I’m also going to need helpers to cook and stack clothes. This BBQ is going to be at Bleeding Heart (166 Ann St) from 10am to 2pm this Sunday on the 17^th. I am collecting all clothes in the foyer of the BOQ building (259 Queen St City) before 9am on the 15^th.

To help please call 0412 190 011 or grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Thank you all and have a good day. Grant the Polite Guy.

So that’s what I’m going to use. If people want to join me here in Brisbane please contact me. If you live elsewhere and if you’ve been waiting for someone to tell you how to help then there it is. I’m asking and telling you how and when to do it. I really would love to hear about how things went and maybe photo’s.

----------------------------------------------------

I thank you for reading my blog and I wish everyone a great and successful A Hand Up Day. If you think homeless can’t be helped just remember I was homeless and look at me know.

Grant the Polite Guy

0412 190 011

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Twitter @grantpoliteguy

SOS Helping those in need

2012-06-05T14:00:00.000+10:00

This is a call out for any and all help,

Its well known Mates helping Mates does BBQ’S to help the many. But sometimes we come across people that need that little bit more help because things get tough.

I have two stories in one here, this is the first time I have done this with helping people, but I’m sure and hoping it works.

I got a call from a girl ( Sarah about 25yr ) last night saying she’s about to become homeless again because things with a guy were going badly and things were really taking a turn for the worst in life. You see Sarah has been moving around a lot going from friend to friend doing what a lot call “Couch Surfing” Not a good lifestyle, you never know when you have to leave until it’s time to go and then look for another person’s house to go to.

But then she started saying how this Friday she has a job interview for the Army Reserves and looking for a full time job to get on her feet which that could be a turning point for her. But she has no good clothes for the interviews and I know myself that when you move around a lot it’s easy to lose the little things you have.

I told Sarah that everything will be okay and I’m sure I’ll be able to help get accommodation and clothes as well. So I started putting out a plea for accommodation and things when I got another call from someone needing help.

Kerry called telling me about her story.

Kerry told me all about how she has 3 daughters (Ages 5, 9, 19 and baby on the way). But wait there’s more Kerry also looks after another girl aged 15 which gets no benefits, there was a lot of fights and arguments in her household. Kerry looks after her now.

Kerry called saying how things were getting tough and there was a real need for food and things and asked if there was a way they could get help.

Kerry does get money but hardship hits us all every now and then, it’s just it hits some more than others. Talking more I heard how tough things were getting and I started thinking how proud I was that she was asking for more things for her kids then herself. I wanted to race home and grab food from the cupboards and rush it to her. But she has dinner for tonight.

I started telling Kerry about the problems Sarah has and the fact that both were in great need and I was going to try and help both. Then I thought about it, then thought some more and then asked Kerry if she had room for one more person until she gets on her feet if I helped with extra food and things.

The great thing is Kerry didn’t even think about it. “YES if she’s as bad as us then giving her a room is the least I can do” Now this is ACE’S in mine and most people’s books. She called to get help and is ending up helping someone she has never seen. That’s an Aussie.

Here I can help both at the same time. So right now I’m asking for as much help as I can muster.

all female things needed

Clothes and toys for a 5 year old size 5

Clothes for 9 year old size 12

Clothes for 15, 19 and Sarah size 14. Remember Sarah and 19 are going to job interviews.

Clothes for Kerry size 18 and pregnant clothes too.

Clothes for new born

Food to fill the cupboards for 6 people to get on their feet.

Meat for freezer for healthy diet

Cleaning products.

2 Double beds much needed

Blankets (Getting cold) and pillows.

2 wardrobes

A beer for Grant the Polite Guy, for doing a good job. Ha ha

Okay maybe not the last one, but the rest are much needed. So what we’re doing to asking everyone if they can help with any of this please do. We are collecting it all before tomorrow 2pm Weds the 6^th. To do this please call me on 0412 190 011 or email me on grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Thank you for reading my blog and for this post please forward it and share to help get more help.
Thank you again and I hope you have a great day.
Grant the Polite Guy.

Twitter
@grantpoliteguy

New Idea's (Housing)

2012-05-30T20:48:00.001+10:00

I went walking around to do my ‘Pie and Coke’ thing the other day when I came across a guy “Tim”. Now Tim was at first aggressive mostly because he didn’t know who I was and right away thought me as a threat. It didn’t take long to get to the talking stage and me asking him to have a ‘Pie and Coke’ with me. Mostly with me saying I understand. Tim had a black eye and did look rough and to be honest it didn’t take much to know he hadn’t showered for a few days. But who am I to judge because there was many of days I hadn’t either in the past too.

While eating and drinking he told me about being beaten up and getting the black eye because he decided to stay a night with other homeless, I told him how it’s always safer to leave as soon as alcohol or drugs comes out and that there’s a lot of help there to help him get on his feet.

I even made him feel more comfortable by saying a few homeless jokes which we both laughed. (You had to be there, it was funny). My aim was to build a friendship quickly and then I made a huge mistake. I asked about his family and said I could help contact them. He stiffed up and very quickly got up and just started walking without really saying anything. I knew right away I made a mistake but to my defences some homeless go back home after they think it’s okay too and the family forgives them or accepts them. (Mostly because it’s sometimes a minor thing and the family are really worried)

I tried to talk and stop him, but without holding him down he was leaving no matter what I said. Talking about family went too far. I have spoken to many of homeless and for some I’ve dialled the number on my phone and in some cases even started the call with talking to the family.

But no I started feeling bad in myself because a 14 maybe 15 year old was walking to sleep on the streets and if I tried to chase him he would only run. I don’t know what happened with his family and I can only think it wasn’t good at all. The city is not really that big and I know I will see Tim again, but I won’t make the same mistake again until he’s ready to tell me about it.

I know sometimes I make mistakes and really I wish I didn’t, but I have not done a counselling course and when I see others that have done a course and do what I do then I’ll stop. I might make mistakes sometimes but I still help so many. I would never show, but sometimes I wish I could show the thank you letters I get.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now that last sentence reminded me of something I’ve wanted to write about for a while. Sometimes I post pictures or talk about a person that has gotten on his/her feet and maybe mention to much where someone knows the person. So please listen to this carefully because I mean this to be nice and polite.

I have helped a lot of people get on their feet and trust me the LAST THING they ever want to hear is “How grateful are you for Grant the Polite Guy helping you to get on your feet” If you have said this you are a stupid, stupid person. When I talk or help someone, it’s not want I do that gets them on their feet; it’s already inside them to do it. I just help them to find it. There’s nothing worst then someone being proud of getting on their feet and getting confidence in themselves when someone comes along and says how grateful they should be to someone else for helping or doing it for them. So people please think.

I’m sorry about that, but really I’ve wanted to write that for a while now.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For those that know me, sometimes I get an idea in my head and really it’s all I can think about, until I solve it or put it into action. This idea I can’t do alone. So I’ll write about it here and see if anyone wants to come on board and try and help work something out or have ideas to put it together.

This is hard because it’s so focused in my mind but writing it is so much harder. I’ll do it in point form to make it easier.

· A place near the city.

· Housing 10 homeless

· They call after 9am to stay that night, which they turn up between 6pm and 7pm

· Volunteers stay the night and cook dinner, show where clothes for free, showers and beds are.

· Everyone leaves at 7:30am so volunteers can get to work.

· Food, clothes and everything donated.

· No-one may stay more than 3 days a week so able to help more homeless people.

· The idea is to let homeless people clean up and sleep in a bed while looking for those that really want to get on their feet.

· I know I can get a mountain on volunteers to help.

· This is doing the ‘Pie and Coke’ thing but giving a bed as well. Talking as equals.

· NO Drugs or Alcohol

· 2 volunteers at a time.

They turn up, have a meal and sit and just talk, shower and sleep in a bed. The next morning they take whatever clothes they can carry and a larger number of people are helped.

Now here’s the great thing. I believe I can put this together. I just have to work out how. Any and all ideas needed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Working the foyer of 259 Queen St, doing my shoe shine thing I couldn’t help but notice a lady always smiling at me as she walked past which made me feel more welcome but the thing that got me was the fact she didn’t know me or anything about ‘Grant the Polite Guy’. Well as time went on I started getting to know Fiona. She plans and puts together events for charities and things like that, Title “Communications and Events Consultant”

She’s a person that helps others too but she helps the helpers. (Charities that help people) She is awesome.

But more to the point she’s one of those people you just know is nice just seeing or meeting her. Now that’s a great reason for me to write about her, but there’s more (I always wanted to write that. Ha ha) she’s a fantastic cook and she has her own blog where she gives you the recipe’s so you can cook it too. I’ll even say I don’t know which is stronger, her love for helping people or cooking because I think her heart is big enough for both.

So please follow me and check out her blog.

http://theself-raisingkitchen.blogspot.com.au/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day. Please don’t forget I need idea’s about the house thing and if you can please share for others.

Grant the Polite Guy.

P.S This week I have more readers in the U.S then here in Australia. Woo Hoo Thank you U.S

A Celebrated weekend.

2012-05-21T14:37:00.001+10:00

I celebrated over the weekend and no I didn’t get all drunk and things. You see all of last week I worked everyday each for 8 hours. Now most people do this but for me it was the first week I had done it since my accident and I was so proud. You see I have worked all this time but until last week couldn’t do a whole week at 8 hours each day because of injuries.

But wait it gets better, On the Saturday we filmed the DVD I’ve been trying to put together for about 2 years now. A great achievement. I’m not going to say much about the DVD because I want to do a big launch in about 3-6 weeks.

So after all that, I did the one thing that makes me happiest most for a reward for myself. I took my wife and daughter to the video shop and hired movies and bought pop-corn and spent the day as a family. I do have a passion for helping the homeless, but sometimes I have to remind my family there the most important thing to me. (Yes my wife now reads my blog. Ha ha)

I know a lovely lady (Michelle Rhodes) who put together a book called "You Are Not Alone"- A Carer's Journey,
Michelle would be one of the nicest person I have ever meet. Good heart and to be honest one person that does far more then me to help people mostly because it's in her nature but also she has a son 8 year old with Cerebral Palsy and I've never seen her do nothing but smile. She out fitted her van and unit to care for her son easier with husband Peter.

Michelle thought there wasn't enough information out there for other parents with kids with a disability so with the help of Tanya Dennis and others did a like a info book. It has everything about goverment departments to where's good for disability play groups.

All Michelle wants to do is spread the word to help other families so please check out this site and share with others.

Contact - everyaustraliancounts.com.au

------------------------------------------------------------

I was going to write alot more here but I have to pick my little girl up from school.

I hope you all have a great day and thank you for reading.
Grant the Polite Guy.

21 * 2 Birthday Day Finished

2012-04-27T11:36:00.003+10:00

Okay I'm sitting here in my Buffed chair with no shoes to shine so I started thinking of what I can do to be productive. Yep write my blog.

Where to start? I've been checking out other sites and some are really good and helpful but I have them written down on paper at home. "Home" I love that word and I can tell you it's great to be able to use it. I was homeless way to long. But in the end I did it and got on my feet with which I'm proud to help others do the same.

Sometimes I have this powerful drive in me to be successful and start new things but I always only think of things that help people at the same time. I am putting together an educational DVD which will help a lot of people and I'm making it into a business were it makes profit as well. Filming in 3 weeks I'm still putting everything together even writing the script and finding the money for it all. I'm not sure how it will all come together but I am sure it'll work and be successful. The way I see it I have given out such good karma with everything I do, time for me to have some too.

Now I have mentioned putting together this DVD before but never did it, mostly because I didn't have the money and really it wasn't the right time for me then. Why now? Tomorrow is my birthday and I turn 42 which if you think about it positively it's turning 21 twice. I like to think positively. ha ha.

So having a birthday tomorrow I was thinking it's time to stop thinking about ideas and start putting them together. I'm not getting younger. Tomorrow I want to see what I can achieve in the next 12 months before my next birthday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I want to write now about a top guy and yet a homeless guy. Bruce hangs around the Post Office in the city. Bruce is one of the nicest guy I've very meet. Yes some days he yells and abuses people but really it's because he has a mental illness (I believe only)

Bruce gets Centrelink money but instead of buying drugs or beer he wants to buy a few bottles of coke and gives the rest to a church. Now please don't let me start with why the church would accept it, but this guy lives with nothing but the clothes on his back and a small bag of clothes.

I have bought Bruce many of meals (Pie and Coke days) and always he says he gave his money to a church. One day I asked why he did it? His answer almost brought a tear to my eyes. "They help people" To be honest it wasn't so much what he said, even though that's great great in itself, but the way he said it. I got the feel he had done something bad and punishing himself and helping a church was a way to make things right.

Now it took me 4 months and 3 meals to get to know his name so I'm not pushing it but, this is really the kind of people I like helping. The ones that have given up on life and for a lot can't escape because they believe there's no choice.

Before I get alot of emails and comments saying about accomadion and doctors please let me say, I have offered to pay myself for accomadion many of times and really tried to push without pushing to hard. With Bruce I feel he needs to work out the problems of the past and forgive himself.

Now I'm not a Doc or a socal worker but because 'I have been there and then that' I sort of relate and can understand where he's coming from. I wish doctors or social workers would help and to think of it I'm sure some have and tried, but I don't see any around now.

After I buy him a meal and we chat (Pie and Coke Days) I do have a saying which now he finish for me "Pay me back by buying me a meal when you get on your feet" To me it's a saying that in the end he will get on his feet and buy me a meal back and that one meal will be one of the nicest meals I'll ever get. I don't care if I have to buy him a 100 meals it'll still be worth getting that one back when he gets on his feet.

To be honest I've only gotten 5 meals paid back by people I have helped in a huge way and yes it's the best feeling in the world.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope you all have a great day and I thank you for reading my new blog. Please help me to spread the word about the new address by clicking the little 't' or 'F' (twitter or Facebook) at the bottom of this post.
Grant the Polite Guy
@grantpoliteguy (Twitter)
Grant Richards (Facebook)

.

The Young Ones

2012-04-22T17:12:00.005+10:00

This just happened. Ha ha

My wife came to see me and asked how my writing was going? “I'm stuck because I keep thinking about writing that script” You see I'm putting together a educational DVD and the person that was going to write it didn't and I film in 3 weeks. So I'm writing it and I have never written a script before.

Anyway my wife asks “would I like a toasted sandwich?” Which I say “Yes please” and she very quickly returns and hands me a piece of paper. “We will need bread, cheese, tomato and things so I wrote a shopping list” Big smile on her face. Nothing wrong with her being able to write. Ha ha

So here I am enjoying a nice toasted sandwich and my wife feels clever for getting me to go to the shops.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Young ones.

More times then I can count I've spoken to young ones (12-15 year olds). Some I want to boot them in the ass and send them home, because they say it's cool to sleep on the streets. There idiots.

But about 2 in 5 (that I have noticed) have been abused at home and it's safer on the streets and this is well just sad. That's when I feel like booting the parents in the ass.

Ha ha I've mention booting in the ass twice now, please know it's a saying only.

The problem is trust with a lot of them. They don't know you so don't trust you, and the only ones they get to know is other homeless which in most cases are not a good roll model so it doesn’t take long to turn to crime and worst. Before long they start thinking it's a lifestyle of being homeless. Now there is great services out there that do great work but it's not enough because there's still homeless young ones.

I could write about some stories I know about, but it would be to hard to read. I will say I was talking to a guy (14 maybe) a few weeks ago and I tried to help him but he said it's cool to be on the streets, just a few days ago I saw him with a black eye and he look like he had been beaten up. I was on a bus so I didn't talk to him but I know I will see him again. The fact is I hope I don't because maybe just maybe he goes back home.

I have a plea. Please if you see a young one or any age really, please offer to buy a meal if you have the spare coins in your pocket. I always remember I was in there position and for some even worst, look how I turned out. A great guy that helps many. Please pass it forward. Helping a person then they may help others.

--------------------------------------------------------------

I was going to write another piece but my little 9 year old (Jasmine) wants to spend time with her dad. I'm writing this as she's pulling on my arm. Ha ha.

I hope you all have a great day and thank you for reading my blog.

Grant the Polite Guy.

My Saturday

2012-04-14T22:45:00.002+10:00

I woke this morning all excited because I was going to see my mates. You see we were putting a meeting on to plan the next 'Mates helping Mates' BBQ which is going to be on the 1^st July. Don't know the venue yet but in the city or maybe Musgrave Park again.

I was beaming shaking hands and chatting about everyone helping more and more homeless people. A lot of great idea's came and really the goal is to make these BBQ'S bigger and better which helps even more people. One great one was we are going to make posters to put up at lodges and food vans around the city. I can't believe I didn't think of it, but that's why we are have meetings like today, to get fresh idea's.

This is going to seem like a few stories in one but it's the only way I think I can write it.

Now I always say I don't write everything about things I do to help homeless, but this is one of them times were I'm not saying what good I did, but others too.

While at the meeting Alicia and Steve (great people) rolled up with her wheelchair and had 6 sleeping bags and 6 back-packs for me to hand out to homeless after the meeting. Telling me that and great person named Colleen had bought them to be handed out to homeless before the winter hits. (on twitter @dinkumdusty )

Now I want to say how great is Colleen. I'm not sure if I have meet her but if I haven't I'd like too. This person spent a lot of money buying sleeping bags and back-packs for people she will most likely never meet. Just the fact that they needed help she is there. Now if anyone was A's in my book that really is up there with the best in my book. So please if you do the twitter thing, please contact her and say how great she is because I just heard she's going through a tough time now.

The meeting was ending when a couple (Denise and Dave) said they would help carry and hand out the sleeping bags and back-packs with my wife and I. Let me say I was so happy at first because I didn't want to carry them all on my own. Now I have known Denise and Dave for a year now, I wrote about them when we both did the 'Be Brave and Shave'. We both collected $2,000 each and got the shave at the same time. In fact that's when we meet. (Getting head shaved on stage. Ha ha)

Walking walking, we went to King George Square and meet our first homeless person. As it turned out he turned up at our last 'Mates helping Mates' BBQ and knew who I was. He sleeps on the streets and told me he had clothes and things in a locker at the 139 club. ( They let homeless keep things there in lockers so they don't lose clothes and things)

I talked to him for a few minutes and then handed him a sleeping bag and back-pack and left saying “have a good day” knowing I still had 5 more sleeping bags and back-packs to hand out.

Walking through the mall I didn't see any homeless at all. I really couldn't believe it. So the 4 of us headed towards The Botanical Gardens at the end of Albert St. Just before reaching the park we came across “Rain” yes that's his name or at least the name he gave me. Rain told me he was only 16 years old and from what I understood he's being homeless for a while now. He said he moves around and just spent 3 months in the valley.

Now sometimes in this type of thing I'm rolling a magazine up and hitting them on the head for being dumb and saying it's not fun being homeless with your mates, but this guy wasn't saying how fun it was being homeless and didn't put across anything like that at all. If anything, he had the look of giving up. I had to go but I can assure everyone I will be meeting him again to spend a lot more time with him and get the whole story and maybe help if I can. I mean he's only a 16 years old kid and should be having the time of his life and everything in life great, not sleeping on the streets not knowing where his next meal is coming from.

Then the 4 of us walked through The Botanical Gardens looking for homeless people and then through the Queen St Mall. That's a long walk. Ha ha. But no homeless anywhere that I noticed. I even said “ I do such a good job that there's none left” It didn't last long because as we got to the end of the Mall and I noticed a guy I had bough heaps of meals for in the past. My 'Pie and Coke days'.

I walked over and just started talking and asking if I can give him a sleeping bag and back-pack and would he use it. Now this guy is well know by a lot of people in the city because he is always going through bins and getting food and drinks people throw away. Not only did he take the sleeping bag and back-pack but for the first time ever, even after I've bought him lunch at least 50 times he handed out his hand to shake and told me his name “David” I'm not going to say it brought a tear to my eyes but I will say it came close. In my eyes he was starting to trust me and let me say that's a great start.

Leaving David the 4 of us walked to the next corner and just waited and to be honest just had a rest when I notice David opening the sleeping bag and checking it out and repacking it. He done that 2-3 times (not really sure) but the whole time he had a huge smile and to be honest the best words I can think of is “he thought it was Christmas” the 4 of us beaming with pride from a distance but with 3 sleeping bags and back-packs still to hand out.

Now the reason we headed for King George Square in the first place is because through the week I had seen 5young guys sleeping on the chairs in the underground bus way through the week and thought I could help them too. So we went back there and as it was they were there. Well 3 guys and a girl. I asked “if they were the guys that slept on the chairs in the bus-way” I knew the answer but I needed a way to talk to them. They said they were and I asked if I could give them sleeping bags and back-packs because it's getting colder.

All I remember is lot's of “WOO HOO'S” and smiles all around.

Minutes later I was saying goodbye to Dave and Denise and to be honest at that every moment I couldn't have been more prouder. I spent time with great friends and my wife helping people and it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Colleen in the first place helping.

That's what I did today. I'm not special you could too. Maybe that will encourage others to help people down on there luck.

Thank you for reading my blog and please share with others as I'm sure sometimes it may help others to think about others too.

I hope you have a great day.

Grant the Polite Guy.

A New Beginning

2012-03-21T21:29:00.000+10:00

Thank you for checking out my new blog and welcome.

Part 2 A New Beginning.

To be honest I don't know what it is but I feel like I need to start fresh. Am I changing? Well really we all do in life as life goes on. I guess doing a new start with this blog is having a new start with what I do with it. Maybe it's because I'm not a Big Issue Vendor any-more, I don't know.

I was sitting here all excited, thinking what to write about first. Ha ha.

A quick history.

I'm called “Grant the Polite Guy” because I'm always polite, my parents drummed it into me well as a kid.

I had an accident and spent 9 months in and out of hospital then became homeless and after a while started selling the Big Issue.

While selling the Big Issue and being homeless myself I started helping others who were homeless themselves, with my 'Pie and Coke' days and then moving on to doing BBQ'S with 100's of homeless on a bigger scale.

I got my wife and family back and got remarried last October.

I got on my feet in a huge way by starting a new franchise with Buffed doing shoe shines at the BOQ building (259 Queen St Brisbane City).

There all court up. Ha ha.

Pie and Coke

A lot of people don't know what I mean when I say 'Pie and Coke' so here it is.

I meet homeless and ask them if they would like to join me for lunch or a meal. (Depends on what time it is) The idea is that I buy both of us a meal and drink and then sit and just talk to them as friends or even mates. I don't really talk that much but I do listen a lot. I hear lots of different stories about so many things. The one thing I'm looking for is that one person that wants to get on there feet and not be homeless any-more.

Don't get me wrong I never push, ever. I encourage only and wait to see what they say back. Sometimes people aren't ready so I would rather be there friend so they will want to talk to me again and maybe that day they'll be ready or maybe not. But the day they are ready I will be there for them.

Sometimes I post here about people that are looking for help and I ask for others to help as well. I do try and do it myself as much as I can but I too have a family to keep.

-------------------------------------------------------

Buffed

I'm not sure if I have mentioned them much in the past. But they are Australia's first social franchise and I was one of the first to get one. Pretty much it means it helps people who have hit have times or come from a bad past they have to opportunity to start there own business and they set everything on a payment plan and give you all the training you could ever need, In fact it's still ongoing even after 3 months now. Helping people that what to get on there feet. But really check them out or even better come meet me and get a shoe shine from me at 259 Queen St (I'm the good looking, Polite Guy in the foyer)

Facebook name
Buffed

Twitter name

@BuffedOz

Hey they even give me a mentor. “Hi David” ha ha

But really it's a business set up by great companies like:

The Wise Foundation,

They set many of things up including The Big Issue.

Bank Of Queensland BOQ,

They have helped me and others so much with everything including getting the chairs and letting me be in there building foyer.

The University Of Queensland,

They a great they helped put the whole franchise plan together and continue to work with us.

Wil Valor,

Hey they gave us our shirts as a uniform. The guy is A's in my book. Check his site www.wilvalor.com.au mention me and I might get a beer or two out of it. Ha ha.

Really all these together banded together to help others that need it most and that's when they needed a hand up not a hand out and I can say I was one.

I say “Thank you”

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I have so much I want to write about but I always remember a mate of mine saying that anything over 1,000 words and I lose the reader. I don't know if it's true but I do try and keep it under 1,000 words when I can. I must admit I get to excited and just keep writing and then I have to shorten it. Ha ha not fun.

Once again welcome to my new blog and please do share with others as I'm sure I will lose a lot of readers because of the blog address change.

I am excited to be starting a new blog and really in my eyes I get to show a new start as well.

I have the same Facebook, Twitter and email for chatting to.

Facebook:

Grant Richards

Twitter:

@grantpoliteguy

Email:

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Thank you again for reading my new blog and I hope you all have a great day. Remember being polite cost nothing but get so much out of life.

Grant the Polite Guy