Cambridge Coincidences Collection

As of the 23rd May 2022 this website is archived and will receive no further updates.

understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.

Many of the animations were produced using Flash and will no longer work.

Well I Never!

Professor David Spiegelhalter of Cambridge University wants to know about your coincidences!

Coincidence?

Your article mentioned that you were becoming 'sensitised' to them. I also thought that - in the beginning - as time went on, I realized that what was happening was my mind was being 'calibrated' by a larger consciousness. By pointing something out, and then providing instant feedback through a synchronous experience, my mind was being trained to respond to psychic 'prompting' - from an invisible presence. One I realized this, the sharing of consciousness with the presence became smoother and more relaxed. Having now been trained to express the wishes of a non-local higher mind, I have been allowed to awaken into a "Larger Life" of existence.

Cancer

My Mother and Father both died of Chronic Myloid Leukaemia. Dad first in 1975 after 9 years and Mum in 1986 after 11 years. Diagnosed in Mum a couple of months after my Dad died. I was diagnosed with Hodgekins Disease a month after Mum died.

Pheasants

Two years ago i attended a cocktail party in Sandbanks - and during the course of the party got chatting to a guy who i have known for many years, but would not class as a close friend. We only met occasionally - he spent 20 minutes or so telling me about his passion of shooting especially pheasant and game. i told him it wasn't up my street. 6 months later whilst walking in the Gloucester hills, i turned a corner and disturbed a large number of pheasants which all took off at the same time. i turned to a family member and said "Crikey, that chap Tim we met in Poole would love it here" at which point my mobile phone rang and a voice said "John, sorry to trouble you, I got your number from Jeff ( a mutual friend) it's Tim here - I need some advice on a car" I said "i can't believe this Tim - I have just been talking about you we are surrounded by pheasants in the Gloucestershire hills" It was very spooky - i have never before or since had any phone communication with Tim in my life!

Wedding the Earth

In 1969, After experiencing a deeply Spiritual awakening, I went into the forest alone and ceremonially buried a gold wedding ring. One year later, a strikingly beautiful young woman knocked on the door of my apartment inquiring about the apartment opposite my door that was for rent. There was immediate 'chemistry' between us. She rented the apartment, and we subsequently became lovers. One evening, while we rested together, I mentioned my ceremony in the forest with the ring. She was completely stunned by what I told her and said that during that same time period, she also had ceremoniously buried a gold ring. She was a Taurus.

Numbers and dates

When my husband and I moved from London to live in the North East in 1973, he worked with a colleague who shared the same wedding anniversary date. The colleague's wife had the same birthday as my husband. We each had a daughter who shared the same birthday and both couples lived at No 8 in their street.

Antique Shop

Some 10 years ago I was driving in a suburb of Birmingham which I did not know very well - I drove past a junk shop and being a collector decided to look round. On entering the owner was on the phone and told me to look round, - he stayed on the phone for about 10 minutes continually apologising to me and telling me to look round - eventually he put the phone down - exasperated that the person he was waiting for was out and said to me "you would think car dealers would be keen for your business these days instead of being impossible to get hold of". I said "I am a car dealer maybe i can help you" to which he said "thanks for offering but all I want is a new Volvo and i always deal with John Leek Volvo Dealer at Quinton" - I said to him "you are not going to believe is but that's me!" He couldn't believe it and neither could I - we both sat down and had a much needed cup of tea and yes he did have a Volvo Estate off us!

number 5

My son James was born on the 5th December 1980. He was born at 5.05 am and weighed 5lb 15ozs. Our house number at the time was 5. The same number also appears in my birthday. 15th June 1950. Unfortunately 5 as a lucky number for me doesn't work! from Mrs B Leeson

name coincidence

My husband's first wife and I, his second wife share the same names incuding the spellings. His marriage was long over before we met. He later told me that he was 'gobsmacked' when I didn't re-act when he called me by both names, soon after we met

The number 6

Partly looking for this but it does come up, when younger had flat number 66, we bought a BT number ending in 666 (to be funny), i went to work offshore, card randomly generated ending in 666, new job with new card number 603066, bought mobile phone few years ago which the supplier failed to register properly and had to issue new number, said to me "done but you may not like it...ends in 666", still using the number today. I tend to look for this, but it does turn up a lot.

names-qe2

debbie w***** my then girl friend ( now partner ) was at sea working on the qe2 and thus not contactable. one afternoon at home i was thinking it would be good if we just have at least a chat. the phone rang , i answered and a girls voice announced " this is a british telecom courtesy call. my name is debbie w***** ( !!) i explained my amazement. we had a brief chat and still stunned i returned to the lounge. showing on the t v was a film, and as i sat down, on the film soundtrack was buona sera , a track by louis prima, pretty much "our song".

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