Malta coincidences

I have three related coincidences relating to my 4 years in Malta: 1) Some 15-20 years ago my local tennis club were a bit desperate for players for the first team match on a Sunday at Brabyn's near Stockport. At that stage I was not playing much, but they roped me in. We played their 3rd couple and had a good match, but lost. We then played their first couple - they were much too good for us. However, at one stage when we were crossing at the net I thought I recognised the walk of one of the opponents (he was slightly pigeon toed). Next time we crossed I asked him his name - he said 'Jeff Williams'. Jeff was now 6'5'' and wearing a big beard, but he and I used to live about 20 yards from each other in Malta. We went to the same school (Tal Handaq), trained in the gym together, ran together, played table tennis, squash, football - you name it! When we could we would practice tennis 6-8 hours in a day. Jeff went on to be a professional coach, getting a scholarship in the USA, coaching in Mauritius and Japan (coached their #1 woman). Eventually he settled near Stockport because he had married a Manchester girl. I had travelled all over the world with my job, and played tennis less and less, but stayed in Manchester where I had met my wife (also a Manchester girl). Here we were playing against each other in South Manchester! 2) A few years later I was playing guitar (not very well!) at a Jazz class held in the Cinnamon Club in South Manchester. I sat down for my lunch with a couple of guys, and for some reason the subject got round to Malta. One of these men was chairman of the LTA and also a retired pilot - he mentioned he used to fly for BA into and out of Malta (Luqa) - not a great coincidence. Then the other fellow asked me where I lived in Malta and when. I told him Paceville, and 1966 to 1970. He then told me lived in St. Julian’s (about 500 yds. away, and where I used to leave my canoe), and he I and must have shared the same bus every day to Tal Handaq. Although we would be in different classes! 3) A few years later, at my tennis club I ran the electronic key system for the club. Hence I saw the names of all the members (some 850). I noticed there was a lady with the first name of Marijke. I thought this was strange because in my class in Malta there was a girl called Marijke and her brother Marcus. I thought no more about it. A year or so later I was having a coffee with the President, and I had just come back from a holiday in Malta with my dad. He asked me why I chose Malta, and I explained I did my secondary education there. He said 'oh you should meet Marijke, she was at school in Malta'. I did meet Marijke and sure enough not only was it the same girl, that was in the same class as me, I knew her well and played with both her and her brother at school and at the beach. Now she now lives about 500 yds. from my wife and I, here in South Manchester!