New neighbours ?
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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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About 17 years ago and living on a small married-quarter patch, we moved in November next door to an Australian exchange officer and his family who were midway through their 2 year tour in UK. Just before Christmas another couple moved in next door on the other side of them (an artillery officer who would usually have been quartered on a completely different patch within the garrison) and we, i.e. both couples, were invited round for New Year drinks.
Bearing in mind our postings were usually of 2-3 year duration and we could be sent anywhere, this really is a coincidence.
During the general chit chat, suddenly the cry went up, "I don't believe it", "It can't be true". Yes, it was true. The Australian husband and the artillery officer's wife had been in the same class as juniors aged about 9 years old in Singapore when HIS father was serving in the Australian army and HER father was serving with the RAF, and here they were living next door to each other.
A school photograph was forthcoming within a few minutes to prove this remarkable coincidence and there they were, together in the same class photo taken some 25 years before.
Date submitted:Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:53:42 +0000Coincidence ID:5755
