When things do not go to plan....
@RawBill1 (8531)
Gold Coast, Australia
August 18, 2012 4:13pm CST
....but work out being better in the end anyway. 
Years ago I was travelling around the world for six months and found myself in London. I had an Aussie friend already living there so when my friend that I was travelling with and I first arrived, we caught a bus from Heathrow and met him at his work. He was boarding in a house owned by a drunk. He and his girlfriend had one room, another Aussie guy had another room, the landlord had his room and there was another spare room which we were told we could use for the week. This sounded perfect for us and a price was worked out beforehand.
However when we got there, the room was full of junk as the guy was renovating, so all we had was a mouldy double mattress for two grown men to share on the ground amongst paint tins, pieces of timber and tools. We thought, OK. We can live with this so we set up in the room. In the early evening of our second night however, my friend and I had just cooked ourselves something to eat when the landlord came home drunk from the pub.
He immediately started blasting my friend and I for leaving his kitchen in a mess. We had not cleaned up after ourselves yet as we were still eating! It was not even really a mess. Just a few dishes that needed washing and some crumbs or whatever on the bench. The guy could not see reason though and told us to leave first thing in the morning. We had already paid him the whole weeks rent up front but he only gave us back half each even though we had only stayed two nights, not even 48 hours!
We then had to find alternative accommodation for our week in London and being poor backpackers, this was not easy as even the cheapest London backpacker accommodation was hideously expensive! Luckily I was able to call on the kindness of a couple that I had only met once very briefly years before when they themselves were backpacking in Australia. 
They had worked very briefly with my mother picking strawberries and had stayed in touch with her by letters and postcards. I knew they lived in London and my mum had given me their contact details on the off chance that if I needed any help, I could call them. So I rang them and they put us both up rent free (in beds) for the week! The couple were not much older than us and had the week off work so were able to show us around a bit too. It really worked out well and I will always be grateful to them.
In the end it was a blessing that the other guy kicked us out of his dumpy house!
Have you ever encountered a set back that turned out to be a blessing in disguise?
Do you have any similar travel stories to tell?
Years ago I was travelling around the world for six months and found myself in London. I had an Aussie friend already living there so when my friend that I was travelling with and I first arrived, we caught a bus from Heathrow and met him at his work. He was boarding in a house owned by a drunk. He and his girlfriend had one room, another Aussie guy had another room, the landlord had his room and there was another spare room which we were told we could use for the week. This sounded perfect for us and a price was worked out beforehand.
However when we got there, the room was full of junk as the guy was renovating, so all we had was a mouldy double mattress for two grown men to share on the ground amongst paint tins, pieces of timber and tools. We thought, OK. We can live with this so we set up in the room. In the early evening of our second night however, my friend and I had just cooked ourselves something to eat when the landlord came home drunk from the pub.
He immediately started blasting my friend and I for leaving his kitchen in a mess. We had not cleaned up after ourselves yet as we were still eating! It was not even really a mess. Just a few dishes that needed washing and some crumbs or whatever on the bench. The guy could not see reason though and told us to leave first thing in the morning. We had already paid him the whole weeks rent up front but he only gave us back half each even though we had only stayed two nights, not even 48 hours!
We then had to find alternative accommodation for our week in London and being poor backpackers, this was not easy as even the cheapest London backpacker accommodation was hideously expensive! Luckily I was able to call on the kindness of a couple that I had only met once very briefly years before when they themselves were backpacking in Australia.
They had worked very briefly with my mother picking strawberries and had stayed in touch with her by letters and postcards. I knew they lived in London and my mum had given me their contact details on the off chance that if I needed any help, I could call them. So I rang them and they put us both up rent free (in beds) for the week! The couple were not much older than us and had the week off work so were able to show us around a bit too. It really worked out well and I will always be grateful to them.
In the end it was a blessing that the other guy kicked us out of his dumpy house!
Have you ever encountered a set back that turned out to be a blessing in disguise?
Do you have any similar travel stories to tell?3 people like this
13 responses
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
27 Aug 12
I'm not able to recall anything off the top of my head Bill but your story is quite amazing.
It could have ended so differently too, how extremely lucky you were, it's a great story.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 12
If it gets too bright you might need some sunnies! 
Yes, that is a great idea. With all the members here that I know now all over, it could be quite cheap to do a trip around the world! The USA, England, Sweden, Germany, India, China, Japan, The Philippines, Malaysia and then all over Australia!
Yes, that is a great idea. With all the members here that I know now all over, it could be quite cheap to do a trip around the world! The USA, England, Sweden, Germany, India, China, Japan, The Philippines, Malaysia and then all over Australia!1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
27 Aug 12
Thanks for dropping by anyway. It is always good to see you in my discussions!
Yes, I was very lucky and I will always be grateful to the couple. I would have had to cut the trip short or somehow borrow money in order to see London if it were not for them. They lived quite close to a train station and we were able to catch the train into the centre of the city to explore it quite easily.
Yes, I was very lucky and I will always be grateful to the couple. I would have had to cut the trip short or somehow borrow money in order to see London if it were not for them. They lived quite close to a train station and we were able to catch the train into the centre of the city to explore it quite easily. 1 person likes this
@rewardsinlife (1132)
• United States
18 Aug 12
I think there are a lot of disappointments in life that turn out to be blessings. I had a job that turned out to be horrible and it caused me to be ill. I ended up quitting despite having not much else to fall back onto. In the end it was a wonderful thing...I was no longer depressed and my health was turning around.
@tetris15 (539)
• Philippines
18 Aug 12
I agree with you. I think it's called blessing in disguise. We may never like it the first time but upon seeing it's benefits, we'll realize that it's far much better.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
Sometimes we just have to take a step backwards in order to take two steps forward in another direction. I did that six years ago too when I quit my good paying and secure job that was not so good for my health. I struggled financially for a while, but now my health is better too and the finances are back on track as well.
Blessings in disguise are all around us. I believe that a lot of the time we might never even recognise them because they are so small. It is only when they are big that we notice them.
Blessings in disguise are all around us. I believe that a lot of the time we might never even recognise them because they are so small. It is only when they are big that we notice them.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
11 Oct 12
Personally I think many times when we least expect it, God is there watching and ready to reach out, often times in ways we will not really see and understand. It was wrong for this other person to be and react this way, and personally your blessing in discuise. For a couple that your mom helped when they were visiting Australia, helped you in Europe that was good for sure. Just goes to show that no matter where you go there will always be kind caring people as well.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
12 Oct 12
Well I am not too sure about the god part but over and over again I have found myself surrounded by nice people who are willing to help me out these days. As opposed to my younger years when I was a bit wilder, I attracted individuals who were more likely to rip me off then help me out. These days (the last 15 years or so) as a more mature, settled and happier person, I attract nice people only. 
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
20 Aug 12
London is a very expensive city and it sounded a nightmare in the drunk man's home. I am so pleased you stayed the London couple that you had met when they were strawberry picking in Australia. Things worked out much better for you there.
I went to a town on Vancouver Island and the youth hostel only had room for one night. We moved to a student apartment for a lower cost. It was much nicer and we felt more at home there. It was shocking not to find any place to stay in Victoria, Vancouver Island. The motel we had in mind had closed down. The last backpackers hostel lady I asked please can you find somewhere for us to stay. She got us a motel room and it had free Internet. It was really lovely.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Aug 12
That is great that you were able to get help to find alternative accommodation. It sounds like it would have been better than the backpackers anyway. I have stayed in lots of backpackers places during my travels, some have been great and some have been very ordinary. You only get so much details from the Lonely Planet guide book! 
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
19 Aug 12
That's the story of my life
I have often found that most things that have happened to me in my life that were unplanned was actually for the best. I didn't always realize it at that moment and sometimes not for a little while...but it was and it worked out.
I have often found that most things that have happened to me in my life that were unplanned was actually for the best. I didn't always realize it at that moment and sometimes not for a little while...but it was and it worked out.@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
Two of the best things to ever happen to me in my life were both unplanned...my kids!
They are our happy surprises and although it was difficult at the time to change my lifestyle massively to accommodate being a parent, I am glad that I made those changes as I am a better person now for making them. 
They are our happy surprises and although it was difficult at the time to change my lifestyle massively to accommodate being a parent, I am glad that I made those changes as I am a better person now for making them. @KOSTAS499 (1624)
• Greece
30 Aug 12
I wish I had done some backpacking when I was younger. Great experience.
I don't have a story like yours. But I always take set backs as a kind of adventure and kind of like it.
A trip with a little set back is like salt and pepper in your food.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 12
It certainly was a great experience. Right up there with epic motorcycle journeys! 
I love the salt and pepper analogy! It is the little setbacks that you remember for your whole life. Like when I was with this London couple and they took us into the countryside for a day out and we went to lunch at a pub, but had to be evacuated when the kitchen caught fire! You cannot buy memories like those!
I love the salt and pepper analogy! It is the little setbacks that you remember for your whole life. Like when I was with this London couple and they took us into the countryside for a day out and we went to lunch at a pub, but had to be evacuated when the kitchen caught fire! You cannot buy memories like those! 
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
19 Aug 12
That is quite a story. Well, with me it is usually traffic related, where for some reason I have an unexpected obstacle that is making me late and then I find out there was an accident or roadblock or something at the place I was supposed to have been and the difficulties kept me from getting into a worse situation.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
That reminds me of those stories that you often hear about people who were supposed to be on a plane that ended up crashing, but they were running late and missed it. The initial anger and frustration at being late and missing the plane turns to relief when they discover that their lateness actually saved their lives.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Aug 12
hi rawbill that was one time whenm things gturned arou nd for
th good for sure.I can only imagine that costs of rooms in
London were not cheap and that couple really came through
for the two of you,. I remember one time when we were vacatoninbg in Canada, C alagry and Banff. we were given directions to
a good trout fishing place,we found the place but the
fence to the creek had a gate that was padlocked.We saw
a huge mansion that was really a castle called a scottish'bname.
My dad rang the door bell and a maid answered it,.He told her he had been told there was excellent trout fishing there bu t the
'gate was padlocked. she smiled. ah you are Americans. my master
is off to America for a vacation bu t you can use the creek as the butler has the key. By then a really pretty older woman came down the stairs and looked at us. She seemed to be pleased to see us and she floored my dad.{"y ou are welcome to stay this weekend free of charge so you can get some trout fishing in in the early morning and we did spend the weekend and were fed and entertained. now years later I married Garland hatley and I found out that the Hatleys that had owned that Castle were distant cousins of my husbands,. some coincidence huh!!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
Oh wow Hatley, that is a great story! So you ended up married to relations of mega rich people who owned a castle! Amazing! And nice people too by the sound of it. What a small world it is!
That reminds me of a time when we were told that there were trout in a local creek. Mostly trout were in the mountains, not near us but we had been told that they had been released into the creek accidentally years ago from a trout farm, so we went along to check it out. The track from the public car parking area ended and we followed the creek looking for this elusive fishing hole but could not find it. We just ended up scratched and battered from the bush and my friend broke his rod and lost his lures!
That reminds me of a time when we were told that there were trout in a local creek. Mostly trout were in the mountains, not near us but we had been told that they had been released into the creek accidentally years ago from a trout farm, so we went along to check it out. The track from the public car parking area ended and we followed the creek looking for this elusive fishing hole but could not find it. We just ended up scratched and battered from the bush and my friend broke his rod and lost his lures! 
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
18 Aug 12
I'm glad it turned out so well for u. U were very blessed by that couple. As for the drunk i wouldn't have wanted to be around him to start with. I despise a drunk.
. I don't mind anyone having a drink or a few but i have had way tooo much heartaches from drunks.
. I don't mind anyone having a drink or a few but i have had way tooo much heartaches from drunks.@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
Well, back then I was in my early twenties and a heavy drinker too and so was my friend that was living in the UK. So I probably did not think too much about a drunk back then and was not too aware of how much of an idiot the guy really was until we got there. My friends and the other Aussie living there had all sorts of dramas with him in the end and they ended up leaving a month or so later too. They had not been staying with him long before we got there, so I guess they did not know the full extent of his issues beforehand.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16544)
• China
20 Aug 12
Good for you! You have travelled far and wide.I have never gone abroad so far. What happened to you in London was quite an experience.At the start,you run across a drunkard that was utterly unreasonable.It was thoughtful of your Mum to give you that couple's contact details.The couple so generous and warm-hearted even you have met only once.This reminds me of an ancient poem here ,"When you come to the point where the mountains and the rivers end and you are worrying about where you can put up for the night,suddenly you find in happy astonishment that there is a village among the dark willows and blooming flowers."
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
19 Aug 12
i have experienced similar situations like more than once while travelling to usa ,when i lost the suitcase and it turned out that i was searching for it ,where i met by longtime friend and when we started further searching i got the suitcase with him since both looked identical.that was really funny
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
Wow, that is quite a coincidence to meet a long term friend in a far away land.
We always tie a bright ribbon around the handles on our suitcases so that we can tell them apart from all the other identical ones out there.
We always tie a bright ribbon around the handles on our suitcases so that we can tell them apart from all the other identical ones out there. @bdfreelancer (518)
•
19 Aug 12
Sometimes blessings lie in disguise. As I also believe that in order to put two steps forward, we need to go one stem backward sometimes. I have often found situations in which I found myself quite comfortable and then caught before thrown out of the scenario and eventually landing upon a fortunate situation. life is full of unexpected surprises.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
Life certainly is full of unexpected surprises. I missed out on spending lots of time with my friend who was living in London, but I got to meet some great English people and see some really cool places that I never would have seen without the local knowledge. That unplanned part of my trip is one of the parts that I remember the most all these years later.
@sunnyhannah (24)
•
19 Aug 12
i think you have a rich experience of the life,also we always do that,not everything going to good as we want,but we also need to face the problem,so remember to make yourself be strong,you can get away the bad things!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Aug 12
Too right! I always try to have rich experiences in life and some of my fondest memories are from those times when things did not go exactly to plan. They may be stressful at the time, but overcoming those issues makes us feel good.
