[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Respectfully, I think you are over-simplifying a very real and complex phenomena, and I do not understand the section I have emboldened, for I am at an age where "being liked" is of no consequence. I posted on this subject because I wanted to, both, elicit other forum members viewpoints, and also discover if any had experienced similar synchronicity in their lives.

I agree that statistical 'coincidences' are inevitable in certain given circumstances, but the synchronicity I am referring to transcends ordinary accepted 'coincidence'.

Please apply your logic to the following - again - perfectly true incident; concerning another of the 4 sole synchronistic incidents in my life involving gambling;

I was very young and working 'continental' shifts at a local factory as a Quality Control Inspector - a 'staff' position. At this particular time - 1980 - I was on night duty, the best shift for Quality Control staff because it afforded lots of spare time which was invariably spent in the office reading.

I started my shift, went into the empty office to dump my 'stuff' on the desk and there on the desktop was a magazine left by the day shift QC inspector, whose name I shall come to shortly. The magazine was left open at a double page spread about Ben Nevis, the mountain in Scotland.

I did my 'rounds' then went back into the office, where I moved the magazine out of the way, put my copy of the 'Sporting Life', in its place', poured myself a coffee, lit a cigarette, then started to read.

I soon came to a feature with the advance entries for the forthcoming Grand National steeplechase at Aintree which was still some weeks away, and my eye was drawn to a horse called Ben Nevis.

During the next couple of weeks, I could not escape that name; my next door neighbour - a keen keep fit enthusiast - announced that he was going on a holiday to Scotland, to Fort William which would take in "walking up Ben Nevis", my older sister won some caramels or toffee at a charity bash which just happened to have a photo of Ben Nevis decorating the lid, and a Writers Circle meeting which I attended were discussing Compton Mckenzie's works - notably, his Highland Novels, some featuring Ben Nevis.

As soon as the betting for the Grand National opened, I started placing 'each way' bets on Ben Nevis at 40/1.

The horse won and I won a tidy sum.

Now, to the name of the day shift Quality Control Inspector who had left the magazine that - fateful - night? It was a very studious, outdoor type of guy who had no interest in horse racing or gambling and who would not know a chase from a flat race, and his name was Charles Fenwick. The name of the American jockey who rode Ben Nevis to Grand National glory? Charlie Fenwick!

The above is true and can all be corroborated.

I cannot accept this as 'bog standard' 'coincidence'.

I think you just have a bit of a gambling issue and a fanciful imagination