[Margaret Pilkington]

A few years ago I went out to visit my sister in Brisbane.
During my stay we decided to take a trip on the City Cat...along the Brisbane River.
We were on the top deck enjoying the scenery. I cannot help eavesdropping and I heard the obviously Lancastrian accent, and turned around to see a middle aged chap talking to another guy on the boat........I asked him if he would take pictures of my sister, her daughter and I together.
This was a good ice breaker. I then remarked that his accent sounded like he lived in, or around Accrington. The chap was stunned. He lived up by the hospital and was out in Brisbane for some Rugby international.....he worked for, what was then, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.
We passed a few minutes in conversation before we arrived at our disembarking point.
I didn't give the chap another thought.
Then about 4 years later I was in Aldi in accrington. In front of me was a chap with a green re-usable bag....I remarked that I bet he got that in Australia...he said that he had, and that while he was there it was strange to meet a young woman(I liked that bit) from Accrington on the City Cat....Yes, I said...that was me!
The spooky thing was I was wearing the same top and skirt......how's that for a coincidence?