Cambridge Coincidences Collection

I was making polite conversation with a male co-worker from the large London open plan office we both work in whilst the kettle boiled in the shared kitchen where I work. Gazing out of the window at the sunny day we remarked how glorious it was and that it was only going to get better over the weekend. I mentioned I was going to Strasbourg the next day. ‘That’s funny’ the man said, ‘my mother is also going to Strasbourg tomorrow’.

I have been a member of a small poetry group in London for 15 years. Membership has changed over that time but in total about 40 poets have been involved in the group at some stage. I discovered that one of the other members was born on the same day as me (same day, month and year) in South Africa. I was born in the UK. I wondered what were the chances of two people born on the same day in different countries becoming members of the same group in later life, through shared interests. Besides being poets we have also both been screenwriters.

I happened to be watching a repeat of a prog rock programme on Yesterday channel that I'd missed when BBC broadcast it. The Moody Blues were on,singing Question. This prompted a conversation trying to recall other Moody hits. Of course Nights in White Satin was mentioned. I recalled Go Now,which was another. That evening,a friend on Facebook had decided to remark on Therese May's poll result and was harking back to the Spitting Image satire of Maggie Thatcher during her period in power. The video was the puppets singing Go Now by the Moody Blues!

I didn't realize it until yesterday that on the same day at the exact time but 9 years apart I was sworn to the bar and 9 years later baptized my first child. I must really like this particular date.