The Coincidence Meeting At Boscastle, Cornwall

Boscastle, Cornwall

My wife and I had been away on a long weekend break. On the journey home we decided to take a longer, scenic route which took in the north coast of Cornwall. It got to about 11 o'clock and I saw the sign to the coastal village of Boscastle.

I asked my wife if she'd like to visit there, so we could have a tea or coffee while overlooking the sea. She couldn't make up her mind, but I took the turning anyway. When we reached Boscastle I drove into the only car park.

As it was out of the summer season the very large car park was virtually empty, so we found a spot to the middle of one side. As we parked another car stopped directly behind us about four rows back.

My wife went to the back of our car to make some tea - we had a flask of hot water, milk and tea bags with us. I glanced in my mirror and remarked to my wife that the man in the car behind us looked like Mick, a friend of some 30+ years.

To cut a long story short it was our friend and his wife.

Now they live some 150 miles from where we live and they too, unbeknown to us, had also been on a weekend break. They were also on their way home, some 180 miles away.

So a strange coincidence because:

(1) They arrived at the car park a couple of minutes after us.
(2) They parked directly behind us, when they could have gone anywhere in the car park. If they had we may well have missed them.
(3) Neither of us knew the other would be anywhere near Boscastle.
(4) As Mick and his wife drove into the car park they were talking about coincidences!

So, are such coincidences purely by chance - or a meaningful coincidence or synchronicity? Guess it depends on what you believe  - but, whatever, we spent a pleasant unexpected time together,

It's a funny old world!