"Coincidences"

[accobra]

Hi everyone,
Following on from my last Post I thought it about time I posted a "New Topic and I thought I would
share some of my coinidences of mine with the hope that a few members can do likewise.
My first one happened a few weeks ago where my wife and I went out for a meal with our American
friends from Atlanta ,Georgia Bruce and Betsy. They live in Village here in France called Vouvant
This is a medieval village and a lot of artist,s gravitate to this village and it has Battlements aall around it and is visited by many tourists. About a year ago Bruce informed me had made friends with another Scottish
person also called " Reg" and he was originally from Fife.
The upshot was on the day we went for a meal with Bruce and Betsy we bumped into the other
Scot from "Fife". Now have never really liked by first name and the first thing the Fifer asked me was not
"What part of Scotland do come from " but how did you come by the name "Reg"?
Well my mother had always told me I was named after an old boyfriend of hers who served on HMS Hood.
Imagine my shock when he replied back to say that he was also named after his Grandmothers boyfriend
also on The Hood . This ship was built at John Brown,s Ship Yard and a Torpedo hit the Munitions and the
ship went down in minutes and I believe there was only three survivors.
Ihave had a look at the Casualty List and there was 18 Reginalds on this list . This Reg,s Granny is
still alive so I may get some more info from that end . They say "All the world loves a sailor"

Anyway I hope there are a few more "Coincidences" out there.!!

Best Regards "Reg"

[DannyGill]

Hi Reg+gang,
Talking about coincidences , When I was living/working as a bricklayer in Australia [1974-76] I started on this new building site, it was a new school that was being built and the forename of the Foreman bricklayer was Ernie Gill [my surname]. I was working away building bricks all week and on the Friday this Foreman Ernie came up to me with my wage packet and on it was written D. Gill , so Ernie says hey you have the same surname as me, where do you come from, well I answered I was born in Glasgow although my surname Gill came from my Paternal grandparents who hailed fro County Donegal in Ireland. Well he said blow me down my ancestors hailed from Donegal too , well every day after that at tea-time or lunch/dinner time [smokeo as the call it in Oz] Ernie was asking me questions about Ireland and as I was in Irish Politics for years I could answer most of his questions and we got on like a house on fire, I had a great time on that site but after a while myself and New Zealand girlfriend Trudy decided to leave Sydney and head off down to Melbourne. Well Ernie Gill was sad that I was leaving but wished me well and thanked for giving him the info I gave him on his ancestory, When he gave me my wage packet for the last time on the Friday he told me to open it up and check if the cash amount was correct , he stressed the point to open it up in front of him and instead of being $250 [$50 per day for the 5 days] it was $300 and he looked me in the eye and said "are you happy with your money Danny". Well I said oh yes Ernie I'm very happy and we smiled at each other. So Reg that was a "coinncidence" of the Foreman and me sharing the same Surname and I got a " $50 bonus " for it too ha ha. Speak to you later mate.
Regards.
Danny

[accobra]

Hi, Danny ,Amelia ,Don &Gang
What another coincidence and I have read your book and "Trudy 's name is also
mentioned in that very interesting story. I did not got OZbut my older brother did and he had quite
a few escapades which he wrote to us about .< no e mails in mid sixties> .
I was watching on TV that programme "Who Do You Think You Are" and it was Billy Connolly and imagine
his shock when he found out that his Great Great Grandfather was in the Military out in India a fact that he was not aware of and the Campaign Medal that his Colonial ancester received is a similar one to the one that my Great Great Grandfather and his brother received for helping to put down "The Indian Mutiny at
Lucknow" Iused to pass Fairfields shipyard where I believe the "Big Yin worked and Don I had and Aunt
called Kitty Connolly and my coisin Frank Connolly who is just over 70 lives in Canada so Don is it possible that we are distantly related . When I left the Gorbals I move to Knightswood and Kitty Connolly also lived there .
Amelia you may be have a 13 year start on my but in that time you have a Treasure Chest " of
stories that I never tire of even though fate has spun us around like tumble drier and spat us out in
some weird and wonderful places you just never forget your roots.
Danny finally I dont know what has happened to the climate but over in France we are sitting outside in the garden it is 25 degrees < about 80 in old money> Just off to make another of teaas Imust make the most of it.

Best regards Reg

[accobra]

Hello Don ,
Forgot to say Kitty Connolly's Maiden name was Paton.? That was the connection and my mother and her were
quite friendly and my aunt Kit would often come round to our house for a cigarette and a "good old Blether".

Take care and regards Reg