Cambridge Coincidences Collection

Some 40 years ago I inherited a water colour of a view in Bristol which has hung on our wall ever since. My daughter qualified as an accountant in Bristol and I helped her find a flat in Bristol where she lived for three years. During her residence at the flat she happened to notice that the Bristol picture mentioned her road and on examination it became clear that her flat was right in the middle of the picture having been either re built or refurbished. We have taken an up to date picture from the spot where the artist must have sat probably more than 60 years ago.

A few years ago I bought an immaculate 46 year old Jaguar XK120 sports car . Although it was to be garaged I wanted the extra protection of a dust cover so I telephoned one of the two companies that were advertising a car-specific customized service . "Good morning. I'd like to order a dust cover for my car , please." "Certainly , sir , what make and model is it ?" " Its a 1954 Jaguar XK120." " Very rare . Very nice . Yes we can produce a cover for that model. What name shall we put on the order ?) "Moir _ spelt - M O I R ." (Slight pause in time .) "But you already have a dustcover on order with us . You called us last week and placed the order ." "No I didn't _ this is the first time that I have ever called your number ." "Well I have it here _ Jaguar XK120 _ name Moir ! " "Moir ?? are you sure ? " " Yes sir _ Moir _ a Mr D. Moir " "Wow ! I am Derek Moir _ but I have never called you before today ! It must be another D. Moir !! _ with another XK120 !!!!

Last September we booked a holiday in South Africa from 17 November to 11 December. Once place we booked to go to was a small town called Tzaneen because there is a factory making tapestries sewn by local tribespeople. We have bought these particular tapestries (Kaross) on previous visits to SA but only discovered very recently that the centre was in Tzaneen. In October I hurt my back and needed to go for physiotherapy. I had not previously seen the physiotherapist who treated me as she was new to the practice. Her accent was obviously South African and we got into conversation. Her parents live in Tzaneen and are best friends with the factory manager. They go to the small (and very good) factory canteen for lunch every week. They arranged a special tour for us, met us at out hotel and had lunch with us. A wonderful coincidence. When I told my brother, who has lived in Tasmania for 30 years and used to be a prospecting geologist 40 years ago, he said that he had worked in Tzaneen and described the local area, asking me to look out for a particular fruit farm.

In 1982 when my husband and I were moving from Buckinghamshire to London we were house-hunting in Blackheath . During a viewing in one beautiful semi-detached house , its owner said " it would be funny if you bought this house as our neighbours are also called ' A.... ' . As it is not an uncommon surname we thought nothing of it , and actually bought another property half a mile away . Some months later when we were installed in our new house I answered the door bell . There on the threshold was a jolly looking middle aged man who said "you don't know me , but I am ............. and I believe your husband is my first cousin " . I invited him in and listened to his story , which was riveting . I learnt that he and his wife lived in the other half of the 'semis' we had previously viewed , only half a mile away , and that we had never known of the other's existence until this time . Our cousin's father had disappeared after WWII and only now had the old boy been traced .