Five strange world wide coincidences
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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.
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When I was a trainee Merechant Navy Cadet I shared a cabinwith a guy called Roberts. I was famously erratic and moved like a typhoon. He had the bottom bunk below me. I often leaped oout of bed, in the process either kickinh him or standing on his arm or head. I would rush into the cabin fling the door open invariably when he was behind it etc.
Some years later when I was on a ship in Gibraltar shopping for presents, realised I was late rushed out the shop, knocking a passing man onto his back. On rising he said I should have known in this world there was only one guy who could do that to me and it's you Buckpitt. It was Roberts.
In 1996 in Port Douglas, Australia at a Sunday market, I felt an arm on my shoulder the guy said what are you doing here David, It was a man who sold ferry tickets from a kiosk opposite my hotel in Torquay. My son was in Vancouver airport with his wife he needed to go to the gents, the man in the adjoining stall was looking at him strangely, On returning to his wife my son said there was a guy in the toilet who is the image of my uncle. My brother in law had in the meantime returned to his wife and said there is a man in the gents the image on my nephew. My brother in law's flight had been delayed for twenty four hours, my son was visiting a friend. Neither knew the other was in Canada.
Whilst on my sailing yacht in Australia I was taken seriously ill in Cairns. After fifteen days I flew to Darwin, a young man who was crewing for me, whom I had previously employed, took me to a waterside cafe for lunch. We studied the menus a waitress arrived and said "hello Mark, what are you doing here?" they had been to the same school in Torquay. The last strange occurance was when one day we in the hotel in Torquay an American guy rushed in and said I have lost a yacht can you help me find it. I telephoned all the marinas along the south coast and eventually located the boat in Plymouth. The man was delighted and presented all the reception staff with bunches of flowers. Three years later I was looking for a yacht , saw one advertised in Jersey, made an offer which was accepted. On research realised that this was the same vessel that the chap who came to the hotel had been seeking. He was Morris Henson a relation Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets.
Life is strange.
Date submitted:Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:15:21 +0000Coincidence ID:5523