Phone call coincidence

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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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This happened a few years ago: I decided to call my friend Lydia for a chat. I dialled the number and a female voice (who I didn't recognise) said "hello". I was slightly confused but said "er hello, is Lydia there please?" The female voice sounded even more confused than I and said "erm, sorry, who's calling?". I was rather put out by being asked by this person who I didn't even know who I was but replied "It's Kerry". A short while later, another female voice came on the line and said "Hello, Lydia here". I said "that's not Lydia" and laughed. There then followed an extremely bizarre conversation until we finally established what had happened: I had actually misdialled my friend's number (by one digit), the house I had called was owned by a lady who had a visitor that day. That visitors name was Lydia! What a freaky coincidence!
Total votes: 238
Date submitted:Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:30:48 +0000Coincidence ID:4585