In January I noted that I had a surprise reunion with a friend from my undergraduate days. I mused about how many other former friends and colleagues might have crossed my path without either of us realising. We finally had a chance to sit down for a longer catch up over coffee today and it turned out that had already happened with this particular friend.

I mentioned how I was presently singing with the University Choir and she responded that she had joined them for a period fairly recently. After a little more enquiry, it was clear that the concert she performed in was one I had attended. We had both been blissfully unaware. While we weren’t expecting to bump into each other in January, that was in an office with just a couple of my colleagues. It is clearly much easier to get lost in a crowd!

Of course, what would have been embarrassing was if it transpired that she had been singing with the choir last term and taken part in the same Christmas concert Jane and I had been in, although even that is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility. We probably miss much more than we ever notice, which is why there is so much to notice when we slow down and pay attention!