small world - what are the chances?

[Hedgehog]

I had the rare pleasure of having a curry last night in an Indian restaurant out here in Valencia, California. My wife who makes a habit of this, asked the waiter where he was from (always makes me cringe), and he said New Delhi, and then he asked where my wife was from, she tells him blah blah blah... but my husband is from England.

So the waiter says, "Oh I lived there for 5 years in a place called Croydon!" To which I have to reply, "That is where I was born!" He then proceeds to tell be about his uncle who owns a hotel there in Croydon, although to be honest I couldn't quite understand him well enough to say where the hotel is. He seemed to know more about Croydon than I did, which is fair enough as I don't think I've actually been in Croydon for about 20+ years.

Anyway, apparently he would rather live there than out here for some reason. He said he preferred the hustle and bustle and markets like Notting Hill. I guess after New Delhi Croydon does not seem so bad!

[Hedgehog]

In another small world moment, a guy I worked with at my last place working in England that I became pretty close to has ended up out here some 35 years later living probably 5 miles from where I live and having very close connections to where I worked before retiring.

In turn he met his now wife here who has quite a few connections to people I know here.

[Hedgehog]

Ops.... sorry for posting this in the Memory Lane forum. I did a search for "small world" and came up with this thread. I didn't check which forum it was in first.

Sorry!

[Big Gav]

I used to go and see a Mod band called Small World

[big bad John]

Was at the NBC party in New York last November. We were playing West Ham that day. We had to be there at 7.30am although our game didn't kick off until ten. Our little mob were taking advantage of the early morning refreshments when a big bloke with a Palace shirt joined us. Was making small talk with him for about ten minutes and he said he was just in town for a weekend jolly. As usual I forgot his first name so I asked him again later on. When he said Simon, something clicked in my brain." Simon ******" I said." I sat next to you in class in the infants." All of a sudden he was totally recognizable as the fella I hadn't seen in fifty years. He's lived most of his adult life in Switzerland but has a Palace season ticket. Of course we went on the razzle together and I ended up meeting up with him at xmas for the Cardiff and the Chelsea game. I think everyone in the Two Brewers was sick to death, of the pair of us explaining how we had met up again after all these years.

[Salad_Burnet]

I stayed in a hotel on Worthing seafront about two years ago. When the hotel man asked me where I was from I said 'Croydon'. He said, 'Oh, my wife's from Croydon'.

I was staggered. It was like something out of a Harold Pinter play.

[Hedgehog]

Just drove 50 miles to give my wife's car a run out.

Got to where we were going and got out the car to take a look at the sea as there are currently unusually high waves.

We just was commenting how there was nobody about, when who comes around the corner, but probably the only friends we have here.

I've not spoken to the guy for about 2 years until Saturday when we had a long chin wag... then low and behold we bump into each other today.

I've said before... never cheat on your significant other, because if you go somewhere with them you are bound to bump into someone you know however far you go from home!

[orp pisshead1]

Originally Posted by Nelson Muntz

You are Ray Winstone and I claim my £5.

Or a young Side’o

[bubbs11]

When the date for the FA Cup semi final in 1990 against Liverpool was made my older brother had a real dilemma. He’d booked a few days away to Paris with his girlfriend and another couple. The ferry was due to leave the evening of the game. He just couldn’t miss the game, so as it was an early kick off he worked out, all being well, that he could go and still make the ferry, much to his girlfriend’s anger.

Anyway, the spine tingling events of the game ensued, and anyone who was at the game will tell you that even though you were stood next to people you didn’t know, by the end you had become closely acquainted. There was this one guy just behind us, a big bear of a man, who throughout the game we shared the joys, tears and unbelievable emotions with. At the final whistle, me and my brother hugged this ‘stranger’ like a long lost brother - tears of joy streaming down our faces.

Anyway, my brother made the mad dash from the station to get down to Dover in time to meet his girlfriend and just made it in time. Sat having a drink with her on the ferry bar, exhausted but bursting with joy and a little gutted that he had no one to talk through that afternoon’s unbelievable miracle. He was suddenly interrupted by this French lady who came over to their table. ‘Excuse me, I’m very sorry to trouble you’ she nervously said, ‘but my boyfriend over there seems to think he was at a football match with you today’. My brother looked over and just couldn’t believe his eyes - there was that hulking bear of a Palace fan who just hours earlier shared the most amazing experience of our lives together. Another hugging session ensued! The guy was too shy to go over himself as he just couldn’t believe it was the same person at the game. Went on about it so long that his girlfriend decided to find out once and for all. And my brother and him talked about the game until they got to France, whilst his girlfriend sat there shaking her head wondering how unlucky she was.

[Martin H]

In the early 2000’s we did the Florida parks family trip thing, Disney etc while staying in Kissimmee. It was a surprise and my son (12 or 13) didn’t know we were going until the summer holidays had started. So, as you do, we were working our way around the parks and spent a day at Universal. We were leaving and as I remember it there is a wide bridge just outside the entrance that we had to cross. The whole place was heaving and we were shuffling our way across it and bumped into our son’s best mate from school. Their family were also on a ‘surprise holiday’ and neither family knew the other would be there. It’s freaky enough that we were both over there at the same time but with holidays/destination it’s understandable it could happen but I am just gobsmacked not only that we would be both on that bridge at that exact same time but that we even spotted each other as it was just a mass of people and we didn’t expect to know anyone. Many of you will have been I suspect and will understand my surprise. Definitely weird.

The other one was travelling back from 911 when I could eventually get on a plane I discovered the person sitting next to was the next door neighbour of my boss’ PA. Again it’s freaky enough to be sitting next to each other but even more so that we actually discovered that as tbh I try not to get into conversation on long flights as the thought of chatting for the whole flight isn’t a good one

[Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by bubbs11

When the date for the FA Cup semi final in 1990 against Liverpool was made my older brother had a real dilemma. He’d booked a few days away to Paris with his girlfriend and another couple. The ferry was due to leave the evening of the game. He just couldn’t miss the game, so as it was an early kick off he worked out, all being well, that he could go and still make the ferry, much to his girlfriend’s anger.

Anyway, the spine tingling events of the game ensued, and anyone who was at the game will tell you that even though you were stood next to people you didn’t know, by the end you had become closely acquainted. There was this one guy just behind us, a big bear of a man, who throughout the game we shared the joys, tears and unbelievable emotions with. At the final whistle, me and my brother hugged this ‘stranger’ like a long lost brother - tears of joy streaming down our faces.

Anyway, my brother made the mad dash from the station to get down to Dover in time to meet his girlfriend and just made it in time. Sat having a drink with her on the ferry bar, exhausted but bursting with joy and a little gutted that he had no one to talk through that afternoon’s unbelievable miracle. He was suddenly interrupted by this French lady who came over to their table. ‘Excuse me, I’m very sorry to trouble you’ she nervously said, ‘but my boyfriend over there seems to think he was at a football match with you today’. My brother looked over and just couldn’t believe his eyes - there was that hulking bear of a Palace fan who just hours earlier shared the most amazing experience of our lives together. Another hugging session ensued! The guy was too shy to go over himself as he just couldn’t believe it was the same person at the game. Went on about it so long that his girlfriend decided to find out once and for all. And my brother and him talked about the game until they got to France, whilst his girlfriend sat there shaking her head wondering how unlucky she was.

A classic example. Bizarre isn't it.

I bet the extra time didn't help in getting to Dover in time.

[PeatlingPalace]

1996 I started a job in Rugby (the town known as Drugby not the sport). Bloke there into the same stuff as me but didnt socialise.
1998 ended up in a pub with him talking divorces, music etc and a great friendship started. Ended up as my best man in 2003
After the wedding he stayed at our house. On the walls I have various tickets, Palace, music and stuff
He spotted a Rainbow at Michael Sobell sports centre ticket from 1983 and was there the same night
I would post a photo but no idea how to upload.
Just been to check and its next to the ZDS final ticket!

[Worksop Palace]

Originally Posted by Martin H

In the early 2000’s we did the Florida parks family trip thing, Disney etc while staying in Kissimmee. It was a surprise and my son (12 or 13) didn’t know we were going until the summer holidays had started. So, as you do, we were working our way around the parks and spent a day at Universal. We were leaving and as I remember it there is a wide bridge just outside the entrance that we had to cross. The whole place was heaving and we were shuffling our way across it and bumped into our son’s best mate from school. Their family were also on a ‘surprise holiday’ and neither family knew the other would be there. It’s freaky enough that we were both over there at the same time but with holidays/destination it’s understandable it could happen but I am just gobsmacked not only that we would be both on that bridge at that exact same time but that we even spotted each other as it was just a mass of people and we didn’t expect to know anyone. Many of you will have been I suspect and will understand my surprise. Definitely weird.

The other one was travelling back from 911 when I could eventually get on a plane I discovered the person sitting next to was the next door neighbour of my boss’ PA. Again it’s freaky enough to be sitting next to each other but even more so that we actually discovered that as tbh I try not to get into conversation on long flights as the thought of chatting for the whole flight isn’t a good one

That’s just Bizarre Nick

Perfect Palace Minute sketch me thinks ....