Incredible co-incidences
Discussion
About a decade ago I went to Leeds to setup a new regional office for the Oil and Gas company I worked for. The office building wasn't new and had been occupied In the previous months.
In the first day or two I was there (before fit-out) the alarm engineer visited for us to 'take over' the system and set it up how we wanted it. He told me to think of a 4 digit code and enter it whilst he turned his back so he didn't see. I tried but there was an error message on the display. He turned around to see what the error was and told me that the error meant that the 'code was the same as the previous one'. By (1 in 10000) chance I'd elected to use exactly the same code as the previous tenants...
In the first day or two I was there (before fit-out) the alarm engineer visited for us to 'take over' the system and set it up how we wanted it. He told me to think of a 4 digit code and enter it whilst he turned his back so he didn't see. I tried but there was an error message on the display. He turned around to see what the error was and told me that the error meant that the 'code was the same as the previous one'. By (1 in 10000) chance I'd elected to use exactly the same code as the previous tenants...
& what was that code? 
I remember watching a programme about co-incidence's & this recovery/breakdown guy had been called out to the middle of nowhere & was looking at the broken down vehicle when all of a sudden, the pay phone (they did exist up until recently) started ringing so he decided to ignore it.... It rang again & again until he decided to answer it! On the other end was his wife asking what time he was expecting to get home that night to which he replied"how on earth did you know I was by this payphone" ? She said no, I have been trying to ring your mobile! Turns out she had got the number wrong & by shear luck rang the exact payphone that he was stood by!
I remember watching a programme about co-incidence's & this recovery/breakdown guy had been called out to the middle of nowhere & was looking at the broken down vehicle when all of a sudden, the pay phone (they did exist up until recently) started ringing so he decided to ignore it.... It rang again & again until he decided to answer it! On the other end was his wife asking what time he was expecting to get home that night to which he replied"how on earth did you know I was by this payphone" ? She said no, I have been trying to ring your mobile! Turns out she had got the number wrong & by shear luck rang the exact payphone that he was stood by!
Split up from long term g/f and was about to start making up for lost time, but living in Suffolk 200 miles away from best mates and so on.
First call had been to an old flame who had trotted out the "If you ever find yourself single again' line many times over the last 6 years. One booty call to London (where she now lived) and it was clear that she was after more than just sausage time, which was a shame as whilst she was a nice girl and good in bed that was about where things were always going to stay for us. Might just see if i am right or not though over the next few months I thought...
A week later I am in Worcestershire at a mate's house party. End up speaking to random girl in the kitchen (oh how predictable) who had been brought along as a friend of a friend and knew 2 people at the party before she arrived. After a little while she was sitting next to me and making it quite clear that she was interested in some sausage time of one form or another. She's busy telling me how good looking I am and generally stroking my ego so well I am beginning to hope that egos aren't the only thing she can stroke. She then tells me that her best friend also goes mad for blokes like me. Ever the optimist I raise an eyebrow and she giggles, "Not tonight, Jess lives in London these days." Shame i think. Then hang on a minute. "Jess you say, describe her to me."
Yep it was the old flame I had just reignited. I had never met her best friend and their name had long since gone from my brain so the chances were i could have got away with it. I am too much of a gent for that though and so introduced her to another friend (Little John) who entertained her for the evening. Doubt that she was to emotionally put out though as Little John got his name as a result of being built like a 18 month old holding an orange.
First call had been to an old flame who had trotted out the "If you ever find yourself single again' line many times over the last 6 years. One booty call to London (where she now lived) and it was clear that she was after more than just sausage time, which was a shame as whilst she was a nice girl and good in bed that was about where things were always going to stay for us. Might just see if i am right or not though over the next few months I thought...
A week later I am in Worcestershire at a mate's house party. End up speaking to random girl in the kitchen (oh how predictable) who had been brought along as a friend of a friend and knew 2 people at the party before she arrived. After a little while she was sitting next to me and making it quite clear that she was interested in some sausage time of one form or another. She's busy telling me how good looking I am and generally stroking my ego so well I am beginning to hope that egos aren't the only thing she can stroke. She then tells me that her best friend also goes mad for blokes like me. Ever the optimist I raise an eyebrow and she giggles, "Not tonight, Jess lives in London these days." Shame i think. Then hang on a minute. "Jess you say, describe her to me."
Yep it was the old flame I had just reignited. I had never met her best friend and their name had long since gone from my brain so the chances were i could have got away with it. I am too much of a gent for that though and so introduced her to another friend (Little John) who entertained her for the evening. Doubt that she was to emotionally put out though as Little John got his name as a result of being built like a 18 month old holding an orange.
Slightly long one and no sausage action I'm afraid, but it's WWII related so maybe worth a read.
My grandfather was a Commando in WWII.
My gran always used to walk their dog and would regularly pass a house that she said one day she would buy.
One day in the 80's the house went up for sale. My gran, being my gran, decided to have a neb - shy bairns and all that. Having seen the house, she dragged my mild mannered, quiet but always impeccably dressed grandfather along for a second viewing.
My grandfather sat down with the husband as the wife escorted my gran around the house once again.
When the two of them returned to the lounge to meet the two men sat in polite and uncomfortable silence, my gran made her excuses for them and got up to go. As she did so, the husband house owner also stood up and looked at my grandfather.
'I know you' he said to my grandfather. My grandfather replied that he was sure he was mistaken but if he did, it's because he might have seen him around. 'No' the man replied, 'I know you. I met you in Norway. You saved my life'.
It turns out that the man was in fact from Norway and had managed to escape the Nazis on a three day/night excursion through the mountains. He managed to make it to a port. At the port, exhausted and in fear of his life, he ran to a man with a clipboard loading a warship. He pleaded with that man to let him board and escape. That man let him on. That man was my Grandfather.
Apparently the Norwegian was sent to Scotland when he got to the UK where he met a woman from my grandparent's local town, married her and moved there after the war.
My grandfather was a remarkable man. Captured by the Nazis at some point (the details were never forthcoming) where they cut off his thumbs and several of his fingers. He had a hard war (obviously) and it took him a while to recover, but he did and learned calligraphy as a way of learning how to use his hands again. He wrote the invitations and place cards for my wedding. He died shortly after before my children were born.
My grandfather was a Commando in WWII.
My gran always used to walk their dog and would regularly pass a house that she said one day she would buy.
One day in the 80's the house went up for sale. My gran, being my gran, decided to have a neb - shy bairns and all that. Having seen the house, she dragged my mild mannered, quiet but always impeccably dressed grandfather along for a second viewing.
My grandfather sat down with the husband as the wife escorted my gran around the house once again.
When the two of them returned to the lounge to meet the two men sat in polite and uncomfortable silence, my gran made her excuses for them and got up to go. As she did so, the husband house owner also stood up and looked at my grandfather.
'I know you' he said to my grandfather. My grandfather replied that he was sure he was mistaken but if he did, it's because he might have seen him around. 'No' the man replied, 'I know you. I met you in Norway. You saved my life'.
It turns out that the man was in fact from Norway and had managed to escape the Nazis on a three day/night excursion through the mountains. He managed to make it to a port. At the port, exhausted and in fear of his life, he ran to a man with a clipboard loading a warship. He pleaded with that man to let him board and escape. That man let him on. That man was my Grandfather.
Apparently the Norwegian was sent to Scotland when he got to the UK where he met a woman from my grandparent's local town, married her and moved there after the war.
My grandfather was a remarkable man. Captured by the Nazis at some point (the details were never forthcoming) where they cut off his thumbs and several of his fingers. He had a hard war (obviously) and it took him a while to recover, but he did and learned calligraphy as a way of learning how to use his hands again. He wrote the invitations and place cards for my wedding. He died shortly after before my children were born.
Many years ago as a single bloke I used to knock about with two different girls (all above board your honour), weighing up my options. Eventually chose 1 girl, other one not impressed, and planned to settle down with her.
Decided to move out of the big town and into a picturesque nearby village. Soon after moving in I stopped to say hello to the new neighbours. As we're chatting, who drives up but the "other" girl.
I had bought the house next door to her parents! (and still live here and see her all the time).
Decided to move out of the big town and into a picturesque nearby village. Soon after moving in I stopped to say hello to the new neighbours. As we're chatting, who drives up but the "other" girl.
I had bought the house next door to her parents! (and still live here and see her all the time).
I seem to collect coincidences.
A few years ago my uncle read, and enjoyed, a locally-published book about the small area of Reading he'd been brought up in. On hearing a second volume had been published, he popped into a bookshop to buy it. On the cover was a photo of a class of primary school kids taken in about 1930. There in the middle of the front row was sat my mother - his sister.
Just last week I was selling a guitar on eBay when I got a message saying, "I know your listing states collection only and I live in Belfast, but I'd really like you to consider posting this guitar to me because I really want it, and for a good reason." Turned out he'd owned it before and always regretted selling it; he recognised it by the grain pattern, and a blemish in the lacquer. He even sent me a photo to prove it. I did of course post it to him.
In the 80's when car boot sales started, my mother pestered me to take her to one, and in the end I did. This was at a school a coupe of miles away from my house. As I was browsing I came across a book in the Collins 'Children's' Encyclopaedia Of Knowledge' series. Lots of kids in my class had one. There was 'Book Of Our World','Book of Wildlife,' 'Book Of History,' and so on. Mine was 'Book Of Achievement,' which was all about industry, aviation and civil engineering. The one I was looking at was, indeed, book Of Achievement. Imagine my surprise when I opened it to find the legend, "From Uncle Brian and Auntie Betty, Happy Christmas 1962." Yes, I'd picked up my own book. I'd given it to a jumble sale about 15 years before but of course, couldn't resist buying it. It's sat in my bookcase for 30 years now.
But I leave the best till last. I went on a blind date and about 40 minutes in, the lady in question realised she knew me. We'd been to the same school and she had been in the year below me. We hadn't seen each other for nearly 40 years, but for the last 30 had been living half a mile apart and never bumped into each other.
(And in case you're wondering why I didn't recognise her, it was because when we had last met, she wasn't a girl! But that's another story.)
A few years ago my uncle read, and enjoyed, a locally-published book about the small area of Reading he'd been brought up in. On hearing a second volume had been published, he popped into a bookshop to buy it. On the cover was a photo of a class of primary school kids taken in about 1930. There in the middle of the front row was sat my mother - his sister.
Just last week I was selling a guitar on eBay when I got a message saying, "I know your listing states collection only and I live in Belfast, but I'd really like you to consider posting this guitar to me because I really want it, and for a good reason." Turned out he'd owned it before and always regretted selling it; he recognised it by the grain pattern, and a blemish in the lacquer. He even sent me a photo to prove it. I did of course post it to him.
In the 80's when car boot sales started, my mother pestered me to take her to one, and in the end I did. This was at a school a coupe of miles away from my house. As I was browsing I came across a book in the Collins 'Children's' Encyclopaedia Of Knowledge' series. Lots of kids in my class had one. There was 'Book Of Our World','Book of Wildlife,' 'Book Of History,' and so on. Mine was 'Book Of Achievement,' which was all about industry, aviation and civil engineering. The one I was looking at was, indeed, book Of Achievement. Imagine my surprise when I opened it to find the legend, "From Uncle Brian and Auntie Betty, Happy Christmas 1962." Yes, I'd picked up my own book. I'd given it to a jumble sale about 15 years before but of course, couldn't resist buying it. It's sat in my bookcase for 30 years now.
But I leave the best till last. I went on a blind date and about 40 minutes in, the lady in question realised she knew me. We'd been to the same school and she had been in the year below me. We hadn't seen each other for nearly 40 years, but for the last 30 had been living half a mile apart and never bumped into each other.
(And in case you're wondering why I didn't recognise her, it was because when we had last met, she wasn't a girl! But that's another story.)
I was catapulted from a fairground ride in 1979 aged 16 while on a week away with a mate from school in Blackpool.
I would have died had I not hit a girl in the thigh with my head instead of the wooden support.
I broke her femur in half and visited her in hospital while she recovered from major surgery.
She was born on the same day/month/year as me!!!!
I would have died had I not hit a girl in the thigh with my head instead of the wooden support.
I broke her femur in half and visited her in hospital while she recovered from major surgery.
She was born on the same day/month/year as me!!!!
A few years ago I bought a watch that came with a couple of expensive mesh bracelets to suit different wrist sizes. I posted up a pic on the watchuseek website asking for more information on it and thought no more of it. A few months later some guy sent me a random pm asking if I wanted to sell one of the bracelets as he couldn't find one anywhere. In the end I agreed a price and he paid by PayPal. His address turned out to be the hospital in London where I was born which was redeveloped into flats many years ago. I had long since moved to Devon but my mum was still living in the family home right next door to the hospital site.
ben5575 said:
Slightly long one and no sausage action I'm afraid, but it's WWII related so maybe worth a read.
My grandfather was a Commando in WWII.
My gran always used to walk their dog and would regularly pass a house that she said one day she would buy.
One day in the 80's the house went up for sale. My gran, being my gran, decided to have a neb - shy bairns and all that. Having seen the house, she dragged my mild mannered, quiet but always impeccably dressed grandfather along for a second viewing.
My grandfather sat down with the husband as the wife escorted my gran around the house once again.
When the two of them returned to the lounge to meet the two men sat in polite and uncomfortable silence, my gran made her excuses for them and got up to go. As she did so, the husband house owner also stood up and looked at my grandfather.
'I know you' he said to my grandfather. My grandfather replied that he was sure he was mistaken but if he did, it's because he might have seen him around. 'No' the man replied, 'I know you. I met you in Norway. You saved my life'.
It turns out that the man was in fact from Norway and had managed to escape the Nazis on a three day/night excursion through the mountains. He managed to make it to a port. At the port, exhausted and in fear of his life, he ran to a man with a clipboard loading a warship. He pleaded with that man to let him board and escape. That man let him on. That man was my Grandfather.
Apparently the Norwegian was sent to Scotland when he got to the UK where he met a woman from my grandparent's local town, married her and moved there after the war.
My grandfather was a remarkable man. Captured by the Nazis at some point (the details were never forthcoming) where they cut off his thumbs and several of his fingers. He had a hard war (obviously) and it took him a while to recover, but he did and learned calligraphy as a way of learning how to use his hands again. He wrote the invitations and place cards for my wedding. He died shortly after before my children were born.
That's an amazing story. Thank you for sharing, and your Grandfather sounds like anyones definition of a true hero.My grandfather was a Commando in WWII.
My gran always used to walk their dog and would regularly pass a house that she said one day she would buy.
One day in the 80's the house went up for sale. My gran, being my gran, decided to have a neb - shy bairns and all that. Having seen the house, she dragged my mild mannered, quiet but always impeccably dressed grandfather along for a second viewing.
My grandfather sat down with the husband as the wife escorted my gran around the house once again.
When the two of them returned to the lounge to meet the two men sat in polite and uncomfortable silence, my gran made her excuses for them and got up to go. As she did so, the husband house owner also stood up and looked at my grandfather.
'I know you' he said to my grandfather. My grandfather replied that he was sure he was mistaken but if he did, it's because he might have seen him around. 'No' the man replied, 'I know you. I met you in Norway. You saved my life'.
It turns out that the man was in fact from Norway and had managed to escape the Nazis on a three day/night excursion through the mountains. He managed to make it to a port. At the port, exhausted and in fear of his life, he ran to a man with a clipboard loading a warship. He pleaded with that man to let him board and escape. That man let him on. That man was my Grandfather.
Apparently the Norwegian was sent to Scotland when he got to the UK where he met a woman from my grandparent's local town, married her and moved there after the war.
My grandfather was a remarkable man. Captured by the Nazis at some point (the details were never forthcoming) where they cut off his thumbs and several of his fingers. He had a hard war (obviously) and it took him a while to recover, but he did and learned calligraphy as a way of learning how to use his hands again. He wrote the invitations and place cards for my wedding. He died shortly after before my children were born.
SimonD said:
About a decade ago I went to Leeds to setup a new regional office for the Oil and Gas company I worked for. The office building wasn't new and had been occupied In the previous months.
In the first day or two I was there (before fit-out) the alarm engineer visited for us to 'take over' the system and set it up how we wanted it. He told me to think of a 4 digit code and enter it whilst he turned his back so he didn't see. I tried but there was an error message on the display. He turned around to see what the error was and told me that the error meant that the 'code was the same as the previous one'. By (1 in 10000) chance I'd elected to use exactly the same code as the previous tenants...
1234.In the first day or two I was there (before fit-out) the alarm engineer visited for us to 'take over' the system and set it up how we wanted it. He told me to think of a 4 digit code and enter it whilst he turned his back so he didn't see. I tried but there was an error message on the display. He turned around to see what the error was and told me that the error meant that the 'code was the same as the previous one'. By (1 in 10000) chance I'd elected to use exactly the same code as the previous tenants...
I applied for a job in Germany.
Personnel Managers name was Peter Schmidt.
Left after 4 years for a job in Switzerland.
I week before my work permit expired Peter called me offering a job at another company.
Suprised to find it was in the same iffice and same room as the previous German job.
This year and 16 years later I'm looking for a job.
Find an interesting job with another German company.
Sent them my Resume and get an email back from my old mate Peter.
Personnel Managers name was Peter Schmidt.
Left after 4 years for a job in Switzerland.
I week before my work permit expired Peter called me offering a job at another company.
Suprised to find it was in the same iffice and same room as the previous German job.
This year and 16 years later I'm looking for a job.
Find an interesting job with another German company.
Sent them my Resume and get an email back from my old mate Peter.
So as we do every year we holiday in Canada and this year it is Vancouver Island. We get wind of someone from my wife's works that a colleague is also going to Vancouver on the same day and from the same airport.
SO eventually she sees her in the queue to the plane and we chat for a moment then bid out farewells and say have a good trip.
Bearing in mind she was on her own and we had 2 of the 3 seats in the middle. She gets on first and well she had the outside seat. You could not make it up. We even said what do you bet she will have that seat.
7 years ago was another and we were in Whistler, BC in the Irish bar and another from the wife's works walks in.
They chat for 2 minutes and that was it.
For me I was on a contract and met someone that disappeared 3 years before from a previous contract / place.
He was a FT person but just disappeared. That is not the whole story but you get my drift.
SO eventually she sees her in the queue to the plane and we chat for a moment then bid out farewells and say have a good trip.
Bearing in mind she was on her own and we had 2 of the 3 seats in the middle. She gets on first and well she had the outside seat. You could not make it up. We even said what do you bet she will have that seat.
7 years ago was another and we were in Whistler, BC in the Irish bar and another from the wife's works walks in.
They chat for 2 minutes and that was it.
For me I was on a contract and met someone that disappeared 3 years before from a previous contract / place.
He was a FT person but just disappeared. That is not the whole story but you get my drift.
Was in my last year of school exams finished etc and would be the last family holiday was going to the greek island of crete. just before we finished usual chat with friends of what we doing etc etc. I mentioned going to crete my friend also said she was going to crete.
Not only that but to the same town and hotels next to each other, while saying wow what a co-incidence got on to when your going and where from and yes going from Bristol airport at the same time too.
That was a fun 2 weeks for a 16 year old.
About 5 years after I was in my home town have a few drinks for my 21st birthday when yep she walked into the same place with another friend from school many drinks later and woke up in the morning with very little memory of the rest of the evening with her next too me.
Havent seen her since although she is back living in the same area again so might see her again in town before x-mas.
Not only that but to the same town and hotels next to each other, while saying wow what a co-incidence got on to when your going and where from and yes going from Bristol airport at the same time too.
That was a fun 2 weeks for a 16 year old.
About 5 years after I was in my home town have a few drinks for my 21st birthday when yep she walked into the same place with another friend from school many drinks later and woke up in the morning with very little memory of the rest of the evening with her next too me.
Havent seen her since although she is back living in the same area again so might see her again in town before x-mas.
Won a project with a major company in Kingston Ontario.
Made a number of visits during the bidding phase and found a great drinking place called Zappa's Bar.
The owner, Phil, was a great guy and gave us free entree to a number of live performances.
Came to the final agreement meeting and I brought my German boss over.
Having told my boss what a great bloke the owner at Zapa's was, we went there for dinner.
Introducing my boss to the Phil, they shuck hands and Phil said to my boss, "Hamburg Marathon 2008".
Turned out they had stood side by side on the starting line of the Marathon chatting.
Small world.
Made a number of visits during the bidding phase and found a great drinking place called Zappa's Bar.
The owner, Phil, was a great guy and gave us free entree to a number of live performances.
Came to the final agreement meeting and I brought my German boss over.
Having told my boss what a great bloke the owner at Zapa's was, we went there for dinner.
Introducing my boss to the Phil, they shuck hands and Phil said to my boss, "Hamburg Marathon 2008".
Turned out they had stood side by side on the starting line of the Marathon chatting.
Small world.
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