Being a good Samaritan and placing blind trust, though sometimes
unusual, isn't always that unusual.

One night when I was out walking the dogs I saw a Westy pull into a
semi-secluded neighborhood area so, after taking the dogs in, I walked
over to them to offer coffee and breakfast before they drove out of town
the following morning.  I explained that I too had a Westy and that I
was less than 1/2 a block from where they were parked.

They did stop in the next morning then drove on to Halifax.

The next time they were in the US they stopped by briefly, went on to
Boston, then stopped again on their way home.  This time, however, they
were pouring coolant from the water pump weep hole.  It was a long
weekend and a water pump couldn't be had until the middle of the
following week, they couldn't get a rental car and had to be back in
Halifax for a scheduled flight to Europe.  We said, here, take our 2000
Beetle, leave it in Halifax while you're in Europe and I'll get a water
pump and install it while you're gone.

Several weeks later they brought the Beetle back and picked up their
Westy which was now ready to travel.  I only asked for the exact
reimbursement of money for parts (no labor or charge for the Beetle) but
they sent me a gift certificate for the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport,
Maine.  I tore up the check they had given me for the cost of the pump
and little hoses and to this day think, "They shouldn't have done that".

Mike
Houlton, Maine