Fancy Meeting You Here!

by jd 26.05.12 22:47

Fancy meeting you here!

Walking up a mountain path on a remote Greek island, I bumped into a Greek guy I knew from my local pub - we both happened to be visiting the same place. “Well, fancy meeting you here!”, we said. No doubt many have had the same experience, but Praia da Luz was full of such strange coincidences. Take Jane Tanner and Russell O’Brien; they bumped into Charlotte and James Gorrod; their neighbours and acquaintances from Exeter. Charlotte does not have appear to have mentioned that she owned an apartment in the resort and that they would be going on holiday there. I wonder if they said FMYH!?

Nicole Cox and Emma Berry; partners, respectively, of Raj Balu and Neil Berry had never met before the holiday, but discovered they had both worked for the same company.
Well, fancy that!

Then there was Philip Norman Allen, an officer from Thames Valley Police - on secondment to the Criminal Investigation Support Dept.- whose family happened to be staying with the Eveleighs at their Salsalito guest house, shortly after Madeleine’s disappearance. Salsalito would later be searched by the PJ. Would you credit it? Philip had some interesting conversations with Robert Murat. He later explained to the PJ that his superiors knew he was staying in PDL. He had met Robert Murat previously, to discuss the purchase of an apartment. However, the holiday apartment he had bought three years ago at the Vila Baia wasn’t yet ready for him to stay in. This property was part of the Oceanico Group’s portfolio, which just happened to be the same group who owned the Estrela da Luz, where strangely enough, the Smith family had an apartment.

The Smiths came from Drogheda, County Louth, where Gerry Fagan, owner of the Ocean Club also came from. I wonder if they ever bumped into each other and said “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” Drogheda - “Well, how’s that for a coincidence!”

I wonder how many other FMYH moments were there in April/May 2007 in PDL...

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by **PeterMac** 26.05.12 22:57

Second hand story, ---
my brother, on his way back from 18 months working as a Dr. in Papua New Guinea stayed for a couple of weeks in Hong Kong and went up to Shanghai for a three day visit. Had a coffee in a shop, went to the loo and met an old vague acquaintance from his University days coming out, who said "What are you doing here ?"
Brother replied "Well, going for a pee, actually".
When brother came out the old acquaintance had vanished.
Brother has no recollection of his name, and forty years on the "MYSTERY" continues.

Two more totally mystified people in the world.
Each believing the other is probably insane.

by monkey mind 27.05.12 12:07

How about an imaginary member of this forum apartment hunting in PDL in 2008 and bumping into say, Clement Freud. The conversation might go along these lines.....

“Clement old boy!! Fancy meeting you here!! Oh you’ve got a place here! Nice. Who’d you buy that through may I ask? Looking for one myself you see. Hey, isn’t your son and PR impresario Matthew married to Elizabeth Murdoch? You must have the inside track right? Small world eh? So why’s Newsgroup International seemingly bending over backwards to help the McCanns? Quite the seeming mystery that one. How is Rupert by the way? Does he take an interest in The Olive Press? Any chance of that chicken risotto recipe? I hear tell it’s bloody marvellous! Thanks for the drink. Ciao.”

Later on the same day our visitor from the forum might enter a local bar and be enjoying a family size pina colada with umbrellas and cherries when he notices another familiar face. The imaginary conversation may have gone like this....

“Ed old chap!! Fancy meeting you here!! Oh you’ve got a place here! Nice. I just saw Clemmie, he has too. He knows the McCanns as well. Small world. How’s that long time boss of yours big BK? Say, you’re on the Maddie fund aren’t you? Must have a bit of the inside track eh? So why’s big BK been running around like a bull in a china shop poking his nose into all sorts of official police business? Quite the seeming mystery that one. He’s one seriously rich and seriously busy man right? I mean I can understand him having more money than he sensibly knows what to do with, but his time Ed? Surely he must have more important things to do with his time eh Ed? Must have right Ed? Or am I wrong Ed? Where’s the priority Ed? Gis a clue. Out of interest, do you know Bob Murat? Or should I say did you know him before you and Brian visited him last November? He has a place here too. Nice. Small world. Sells them actually. Even nicer. Who’d you buy yours through Ed? I’m looking for a place myself, did I mention that? Thanks for te drink. Catch you later.....”

by **tigger** 27.05.12 12:57

Now the camera does a fade out .... focus back in - where? when? You can't leave us hanging on by our fingernails - I think it's fast forward to a conference room in the UK - present are yes

and

and

.....

by Nina 27.05.12 13:25

tigger wrote:Now the camera does a fade out .... focus back in - where? when? You can't leave us hanging on by our fingernails - I think it's fast forward to a conference room in the UK - present are and and .....

You are a tease Tigger, I am still puzzling with the 5 the 2 the 3 the 1 and here you go giving me three yes

to put a name to, laughat

.

by friedtomatoes 27.05.12 13:33

Nina wrote:
tigger wrote:Now the camera does a fade out .... focus back in - where? when? You can't leave us hanging on by our fingernails - I think it's fast forward to a conference room in the UK - present are and and .....

You are a tease Tigger, I am still puzzling with the 5 the 2 the 3 the 1 and here you go giving me three to put a name to, .

LOL

In general I dont think links and connections prove very much, its normal. I met a woman through family holidays who worked at the same company as me and I didnt know her. Of course no crime was committed on my hols connecting either of us to anyone else there, some coincidences are just that. Small world saying suffices most of the time better than conspiracies involving dozens imho

by Hummingbird 27.05.12 15:58

I think the problem here is that the 'story' became so big everyone wanted their little bit in the play. I knew him from 25 years ago.......

They used to live next door to my best friends cleaner...............
I went to school with her mother............
I think I used to shop at the same supermarket as them.............

Admittedly there are an awful lot of people who seem to know someone who was in PDL with a 'connection' to the McCanns or their tapas friends but surely there cannot be that many people involved here? I still think to have a good crime story, you need lots of 'twists and turns' lots of 'possible this and that' and then of course you get lots of theories that throw you off the original scent. That is exactly what team MCCann have done here with their lawyers and the time they have had up to now to keep throwing out new little tidbits!

by jd 27.05.12 16:08

Links and connections in this scam are essential. There is a massive coverup on a scale never seen before and its the connections and links that will provide real reason to what it is and why. This was no normal family holiday thats for sure!

by monkey mind 27.05.12 20:34

jd wrote:Links and connections in this scam are essential. There is a massive coverup on a scale never seen before and its the connections and links that will provide real reason to what it is and why. This was no normal family holiday thats for sure!

Three parts to that statement JD.
When the early morning mist burns off and the dust motes become invisible, well then I sincerely suspect that those three elements will be proven absolutely true. Indeed.