Fate or coincidence? Who knows? Conversations with strangers on this walk have turned up multiple connections. I was the Airbnb guest of a woman who attended the same high school; another was born in the same city (Dar-es-Salaam) and same year (1960). Another Airbnb host was a woman whose job is to help develop the route for the England coast path. There are maybe 200 people doing this, and maybe 25-50 crazy people walking the whole coast path, so I'll leave the statisticians to figure out the chances...

But the most extraordinary twist of fate was to walk with someone I’d never met who attended the same university (Aberystwyth) as my late wife. Although they didn't know each other directly, her best friend at university was the sister of my wife's best friend from when she was a young girl. This really felt like a sign!

These flukes of fate came from connecting and listening to peoples’ stories. Many of the most important events in our professional and personal lives happen the same way.

#3500toendit