Meeting Former Neighbour

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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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I lived above a married couple for four years. They had a baby during that time and would often have a nanny come around during the week. We sold our respective properties at the same time, nearly a year ago, and moved away to different parts of London - without knowing where each other had gone. I moved into a large building, split into six flats. A fortnight ago I was off work ill and heard a car come onto the gravel drive. I looked out of the window and recognised the make and model as the one my previous neighbours had owned. The car stopped and after a while the driver's door opened. Out got my former neighbour. She entered the building and I heard voices. A moment later she came out of the building, so I went out to say hello. We had the usual "what are the chances of this" chit-chat and I asked what brought her here. It turns out the woman who lives in the flat opposite mine - who I befriended upon moving in - was my former neighbour's nanny. It was she that had been around to our old flat those years ago. It was only because I was off sick that day that I saw my former neighbour. Of all the millions of people in London, what are the chances that my new neighbour was my former neighbour's nanny. Spooky.
Total votes: 176
Date submitted:Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:17:45 +0000Coincidence ID:6263