Beggar who helped Swedish tourists with directions in Edinburgh rewarded with invites

A beggar who helped two vacationers misplaced in Edinburgh was rewarded for his kindness once they invited him to their house in Sweden for Christmas.

Jimmy Fraser, 54, was handled to an ice hockey match, dined on Elk meatballs and even appeared on Swedish TV due to his grateful hosts.

Mr Fraser had been begging on the streets when he was approached by Annis Lindkvist and her youthful sister Emma who wished instructions to a pub.

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Swedish sisters Annis Lindkvist (proper) and her youthful sister Emma (left) invited homeless Edinburgh man Jimmy Fraser, 54, to their house

They bought chatting on Edinburgh's George Avenue and an unlikely and touching friendship was solid.

On the final day of her go to to the Scottish capital, Annis visited Mr Fraser to say goodbye and swapped phone numbers.

However Annis wished to do extra and so invited Mr Fraser house for Christmas, going so far as shopping for his tickets and sending cash for a brand new passport to assist make it occur.

Now again in Edinburgh, Mr Fraser - who moved there 13 years in the past after a household breakdown left him homeless - mentioned he nonetheless could not consider what had occurred.

'I could not consider it at first,' he mentioned. 

'Individuals let you know "See you tomorrow, I will get you a drink" after which nothing occurs however this did occur truly, so it was actually bizarre.

'I instructed a few of my buddies they usually went "No probability, it isn't going to occur" and I went we'll discover out - if it occurs, it occurs.

'I bought their telephone quantity off them and texted them saying "hope you have got a secure journey house" and all that and "textual content me once you get there".

Mr Fraser watched native Ice Hockey staff Leksands, full with a membership scarf

The sisters and Mr Fraser bought chatting on Edinburgh's George Avenue and an unlikely and touching friendship was solid

'We simply began texting one another since then and subsequent factor you understand I've bought a passport in my hand and that was it, I used to be flying away someplace.'

Annis lives within the Swedish city of Sagmyra along with her husband Daniel and three youngsters, aged 13, eight and 5, who all welcomed Mr Fraser open-armed into their annual Christmas celebrations.

Journeys to an ice hockey match, Christmas markets and midnight mass adopted, with Mr Fraser additionally getting to fulfill a lot of Annis's prolonged household.

He even tried some native delicacies within the type of elk meatballs, which went down a deal with.

Mr Fraser is initially from Lanark however moved to Edinburgh from London 13 years in the past following his divorce. 

After being homeless for ten years, after which dwelling in lodging offered by charity The Ark Belief, he has now has discovered a flat to dwell in.

However he nonetheless finds it tough to make ends meet and admitted being 'cautious' when approached by Annis on account of earlier abuse he has encountered whereas begging.

He mentioned: 'If any individual's mendacity on the road you do not know in the event that they're drunk or having a match.

Mr Fraser was begging on a busy road within the Scottish Capital when the sisters invited him to their house. His is pictured with their canine at Christmas time

'Individuals simply stroll previous - they do not even hassle and go away you mendacity there whereas individuals like Annis will choose you up and make it easier to. It was wonderful, I miss them a lot. If I may return tomorrow I'd.'

In reality Mr Fraser bought on so nicely with Annis and her household that they've already invited him again to Sweden for Easter.

He mentioned: 'I believe individuals like Annis, there must be extra of them, as a result of if it wasn't for her I do not know what I might be doing.

'I might most likely be right here over Christmas, sitting in the home by myself doing nothing [and] consuming a sandwich whereas I've had two Christmas dinners this yr which I've by no means had earlier than in my life.

'It is simply actually wonderful, I simply can't thank them sufficient. It is unreal - although I am again I nonetheless cannot consider it did truly occur.'

In addition to his go to to Sweden, Mr Fraser's encounter with Annis means he also can begin volunteering once more within the Capital as his new passport supplies him with the ID required.

Mr Fraser, a father of two, mentioned it was 'uncommon' to have discovered somebody as type as Annis.

He added: 'Present me another person who would try this, as a result of I have not met anyone.

Mr Fraser loved his Christmas dinner in Sweden

'She's so type, so thoughtful and I do not know why she's finished it - I nonetheless do not know, I actually do not, however she's finished it and it occurred.

'It was a dream come true, it actually was. I wasn't anticipating it.

'It was simply sudden and I am simply actually glad that I used to be there. It was an eye fixed opener and expertise.

'I actually had a enjoyable time and I simply can't wait to return at Easter.'

And it isn't simply Mr Fraser who is worked up for the longer term, with 37-year-old Annis telling him she was wanting ahead to having him again.

Recalling once they first met, she mentioned: 'Mr Fraser was sitting on some stairs and we walked by however my sister stopped and wished to return and sit down with him, so we did.

'We sat there for hours, bought to fulfill the individuals who supply meals to the homeless and simply talked about life and stuff.

Annis Lindkvist with Mr Fraser at her house in Sweden the place she invited him to spend Christmas

'We went again the final night time to see if he was sitting on the identical stairs once more and he was.

'We wished to say goodbye and provides him a hug. We modified telephone numbers and we promised to let him know that we bought house secure.

'However I wished to do extra and I do know he hasn't spent Christmas with a household for a few years, so I requested him if he wished to come back go to me and my household..'

Annis defined Mr Fraser spent Christmas Eve along with her husband's household after which Christmas Day with hers.

She mentioned: 'Just a few [people] thought it was a bit loopy since I did not know him that a lot however once they met him they understood.

'He is a beautiful particular person they usually all love him now.

'My youngest child asks daily when's he coming again - they miss him so much.

The sisters and Mr Fraser struck up a friendship after they met in Edinburgh

'He fairly usually meets individuals who say imply issues to him and I hope now perhaps some individuals suppose earlier than they try this.

'He's an individual too, with emotions and he will get actually unhappy once they try this.'

Annis, who works in a retirement house for individuals with dementia, even managed to bag Mr Fraser an look on Swedish tv.

'It was only a fantastic Christmas and he actually cherished it,' she mentioned.

'He bought presents and when he went again house we had gotten a giant suitcase that weighed 18kg with garments and issues that my family and friends had bought him.

'I am by no means letting him go - he is part of our household now.' 

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