Homeless, piss x and ready to take off

1. On my way in to work this morning I was walking down Goodramgate and a man came towards me, on crutches asking for money and saying that he hadn't eaten for two days. Usually. No that's just stupid, there is no usually. Lets say often. Often in the past have ignored this kind of interaction, or slipped an embarrassed pound coin or bought a copy of Big Issue and scurried off with it. But for some reason I stopped and chatted to this bloke. He told me that he was from York originally and that he'd lost his home to a mean landlord and that he'd moved away but now he was back and homeless. He told me he had a partner, a boyfriend and that they were living in a tent but had been attacked during the night and the tent was slashed. He brought out his wallet and showed me a photograph of his boyfriend. He was definitely cute. And I said so. We had a cigarette together. I tried to give him advice about Arc Light and the Homelessness Prevention Team and the Salvation Army...he'd done all those... I found a two pound coin in my ratty bag and he grinned the most beautiful toothless and optimistic grin. He was a charming, lovely man and I wished I'd found something better for him. But most of all I wished I'd hugged him just for a moment, just to say thank you for stopping and talking to me, just to encourage him to keep going and find something better for him and his boy.

2. I had another text message this morning which made me laugh out loud. It read "its amazing how one letter can alter things. Anywhere would be fantastic with you Dave. Piss x". I did almost wet myself. Of course it wasn't really funny to anyone else but me.

3. Being ready to take off at any moment was once a way of life for me. Recently some of the spirit of that adventurous mind set has returned to me. I have been challenged to consider alternatives I thought might never be offered ever again. The toothless man and the funny text message were two of those chances today. I hope the homeless man and his boyfriend find something good and somewhere to sleep and get on with their lives. I wish I had helped him properly but I didn't. The text message was full of wit and happiness and its compliment irrisisitable and flattering. I hope its true, I know that anywhere would be fantastic with you. Tugs oxo.