Have we met? - my coincidental week

A busy week in the material world, I cannot tell you Blogger, how much information, how many events and how many new people flew through my material experience this week. But, take it from me, there have been a lot. In fact, there have been so many, I just know I have probably forgotten some of the seemingly unimportant coincidences which have happened to me. 

All Week: People Giving Way

I have been taking this for granted again, remiss of me. A reminder that the person sitting behind the steering wheel has been prompted by their Guardian Angel to stay sitting in their car for a few moments longer as I go about my business. There are many, many times when people don't give way, cars just fly by, without giving it a thought as to the pedestrians they are driving past. People who have often been walking in the cold, for hours, essential miles to travel, whether it is to collect their children from school,or taking trips to the chemist for medication for sick relatives, or just carrying their shopping home. I never used to really pay attention to people 'giving way', but I have made it a 'thing'. I send love to the person who has stopped and who has paid attention to my walking plight. Although, walking is good for me and I do enjoy a brisk stroll, I need to exercise every day, sometimes, especially when it is raining, or as we have enjoyed more recently, sleeting or snowing, the walking does feel like a bit of a chore. On my travels this week, which hasn't involved any more walking than usual, I have noticed a few cars giving way for me. For this I am grateful.

Monday: Coincidental Words: Keep Smiling

I do have a history of losing umbrellas, and finding them. Sometimes when least expected, like the time I was walking along in gale force winds, rain stinging my face and an umbrella blew to my feet, literally on my path which I naturally picked up and used as a shield against the wind, it helped a bit. I did send a little sympathetic thought to whoever must have lost their umbrella, but that didn't stop me thanking the Universe/Spirit for bringing me the brolly when I needed it. 

Well, this Monday morning I trotted along my local High Street, which isn't quite a High Street, more a Lower Middle Street where a mobility shop has popped up, with brollies in a bucket outside, solid brollies for a quid. I have recently lost my best brolly, although I have managed to hang onto it for a good couple of years, somehow I have managed to lose it, I can only imagine it has been given, by the Universe/Spirit, to someone who needed it more than I did. Seizing the opportunity to replenish my Brolly Stock, I nipped in and picked up a new, black, boring but sturdy, umbrella. I had a joke and a laugh with the guy in the shop 'Keep Smiling' he said to me.  I did smile, it was my Dad's favourite saying and my Mum signs her letters off with Keep Smiling. Fabulous. another little reminder there is more going on in the world than meets the eye.

Tuesday: Coincidental Name and Place

Well, first task on the first day of a different job, receiving an email from someone called Tasmin, about a property in Ditton Court Road. My name is Tamasin, guess where I live?

Wednesday: Paul Young

I know there is going to be some drama when I hear this name. Don't ask me why, this is just one of those weird anomolies in life. Where did I hear this name this week? Well, it was on the radio, a quiz show, the caller knew the name of the song he was being played, but he couldn't recall the name of the artist. I enjoyed the 'Wherever I lay my Hat' tune again.

A Wrong Number

I notice this because it is fun. The landline hardly ever rings, unless of course it is someone trying to sell something. So I was quite surprised to pick the phone up to hear a man's voice 'I don't suppose this is the Portugese restaurant?' I confirmed for him that he is right, this isn't the restaurant, but I can book him a table for 8? We both laugh, a pleasant, makes a change, exchange on the telephone.

Thursday: Coincidental People

I trotted along to a drama group on Tuesday evening, with a new found friend I am at college with (on a counselling Diploma). I had a lovely time, I sat in a circle and read from a script, written by a young guy called Daniel, another name which often features on my path, I sat next to a man called Darren.We were both reading parts of this script. 

It was about a guy called Rob (there's a surprise) who threatened to shoot himself, amongst a lot of other drama about a girl who didn't want him and I was the person who had to calm him down and try and talk him out of it. Talk about drama mirroring life, or is that vice versa? Whichever. I did have a brother called Rob, and he did actually kill himself. 

As I read the words, I found myself being able to deal with the scenario. I have moved on from my grief. I have actually dealt with the painful feelings. There was a time, not so long ago, when I wouldn't have even been able to read a script like this without feeling upset and some level of distress. I also knew that Daniel had been prompted to write this script, using the name Rob, and I was meant to be in that place at that time to be able to test my strength of emotional well being. I have been shown by spirit that I am in a stronger, healthier place and I have moved on. 

Fast forward to Thursday and I was walking through Southend, headed towards a public loo to change into my waterproof boots. I noticed a man walking towards me who looked familiar, we both recognised the connection at the same time. It was Darren again, he was surprised as I was. 160,000 people in this town, and yet our paths crossed in the same week we have met. This is the sort of synchronicity which if you put it into a play or a film, people would find it too unlikely to actually be able to happen.

Saturday: Being Asked for Directions

My Spiritual nature is kicking back in. I am in touch with my Self. There can be no doubt. Being asked for directions, for me, is confirmation that spirit are in touch, putting me in the right place, at the right time, to be able to be of assistance to someone who doesn't know the way. It has happened again. 

There I was, having just stepped out of the opticians in my new varifocals. Practising, if you will,blogger, practising at walking in my new glasses. Looking down I can't see very far, but if I look up I can see the whites of the eyes of pilots flying overhead. So, I was literally just having a little walkabout, in a street which I wouldn't normally be drawn to, nor would it be part of my regular routine walk. 

A woman walking towards me said

'Can you help me?'

'I can' I say. 

I don't bother with the usually British game of saying stupid things like 'I don't know, can I?' or 'I might'. I know not to play games, especially with people who have the strength to ask for help. I smile at her and I know that I can help her. I can. This is why I help people. Because I can. There is no agenda, there is nothing being asked in return. I just help.

'Do you know where the train station is?' She asks in faltering English, but she has a determined nature about her. I say I am headed that way, I will show her, rather than try and explain in English, which she may not wholly understand how she needs to spot the opening for an alleyway, up some stairs, cross a bridge and back on to herself, 200 yards up the road, etc. So I walk her to the stairs and do some arm waving and pointing. I think she got it.

In the meantime I know to find the Other Link. The coincidence between us,or the purpose of her journey. So as we walk, I ask her where she is going in London?  She doesn't know the words in English, she cannot remember the names of where she is going.  Bit like me, I thought, yes, sums it up nicely. I don't really know where I am going.

Sunday: The Butterfly

I am really enjoying my renewed connection with the Law of Attraction beliefs. I do believe the Law of Attraction is really another way of measuring our faith in Spirit/The Universe. I have been playing with the Universe this week, so I have been expecting the unknown. I was still surprised though, to see a butterfly appear, February 8th, to be exact, not butterfly season, but there it was, in the park, waiting patiently for me to take a photo. I thank the Universe and look forward to coming attractions.

Sunday: Being Mistaken for Someone Else

I went shopping in Sainsburys. I was meant to ask for cashback but when I got to the till, the operator diverted my attention. 

'Have I served you already today?'

me: 'Ummm, No'

Till Operator with Stunned Face: 'I served you earlier today?'

me: 'No' with an imperceptible shake of the head I try and explain that this is definitely my first trip to Sainsburys today. 'Maybe it is my glasses, same glasses?'

Till Op: 'Same glasses, same hair, same face'

me: 'Oh. There is someone who looks like me?'

Till Op: 'Just like you, and she is around here'

me: 'I will look out for her! I probably won't recognise her' 

We shared a laugh. I went about my daily business feeling less unique, less special, but also, perhaps extraordinary in that I have, yet again, been mistaken for someone else.

So, blogger, my week has been filled with coincidence,synchronicity,memorable events,both expected and unexpected. I feel very grateful to be aware of these events in my world, knowing that Spirit is nudging me life along, guiding and helping, knowing that none of us are alone in our life experience, all we have to do is notice when Spirit is trying to get our attention or ask something from us.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Being asked for directions and a chicken called Daisy

It is the little things which keep me going blogger. You know, the little patterns in my life which I have given meaning to and they show up when I need them the most. 

The things like...being asked for directions, being called the wrong name, having a wrong number dialled on my phone, those little things which remind me of spiritual matters. Well, this has been a challenging week insofar as there has been a big gaping hole where my career/studies ought to be and I have been walking in circles. 

So, I was pleased to have a wrong number on my phone. A little reminder I haven't been forgotten by the Universe. Walking to work on a Saturday afternoon, feeling uncertain as to whether I would be on the refund counter and how I would get on at work when a man stumbled towards me, he was wearing a karate outfit on one of the hottest days ever recorded in September, he asked me for directions. He wanted to know where a road was at least two miles away, did I know it? Yes, I did, I offered him directions and the interaction lifted my spirits. 

I didn't manage the next stage of the interaction. I have promised myself to always enter into conversation with anyone asking me for directions, you know, so we can uncover any further link between us or between their reason for visiting a place I know well. But, as I say, I was on my way to work and my thoughts and feelings weren't in the best place to be thinking of coincidental matters. So, I gave him directions and went on my way. I headed to work, I had a challenging afternoon and one of the big bosses came down for a day visit. Everyone at work was on their best behaviour. Turns out, the big boss recognised me as someone he has seen at Westcliff Casino!  Bearing in mind I haven't been down there for over a year, I was really amazed that he would remember me. It also made my afternoon a little easier.

Scroll forward a few days and I find myself sitting in the Spiritualist Church, on the Wednesday afternoon. Yes, I got a message, the medium gave me the name Mary, and a painting. I explained that I had been in this month's edition of Spirit and Destiny, having been given the honour of a free psychic artist experience, Patrick Gamble had painted a picture of my mum's Gran, I believe, who was called Mary, I always get her confused with my Gran, and my Dad also had a Gran called Mary. The reason I get confused with these women in spirit is because I didn't have a lot of information about them as I was growing up, I just know that there are two women in spirit who are both called Mary, one is my mum's gran and the other could be my dad's mum or his gran, I am not sure. I am sure about the painting though and I enjoyed the message from the medium. I also had a conversation with a woman in church about her recent loss, it reminded me of the Counselling class I used to be part of. I studied Basic Counselling,Intermediate Counselling and Foundation Counselling. Yes, maybe this is a path I should continue?  I committed to finding out about the course. It would take another two years, it is a long journey to step out onto, but, really, after a degree with the Open University which took years, what is another two years? I have committed to being a lifelong learner, so what is there to lose?  I made the necessary enquiries and found myself sitting in Basildon College reception, waiting for the course leader to return from lunch.

Naturally I struck up conversation with another woman, also waiting. I wondered if we were waiting for the same person? No, she said she was waiting for Robert. I told her she had reminded me of my brother Robert, in Spirit, we both acknowledged the coincidence, which for me, obviously, holds personal meaning. 

Off I went, to interview for the course, followed by an enrolment with a team of admin people in Basildon, ten miles from  my home town of Southend, where the course is actually held. The young lady who took my form exclaimed 'You live in my road'. Yes, ten miles from home, I found myself having the admin for my counselling course carried out by one of my neighbours. Turns out, the young lady lives in the house with the chickens, three doors down the road from where I live. I usually stop and chat with her mum about Daisy the chicken and I always say hello when we pass in the street. It really is such a small world, but the coincidence was one of those times which just confirms for me that I am in the right place at the right time. 

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

p.s. I have met two people called Jane this week. Two new people in my world and they are both called Jane.

Coincidental people

Coincidence makes the world go round. Well, it helps my little world go round. It is the small things which keep me going. I share these little things with you, dear blog reader, in an attempt to keep a record of the events. So many little events and coincidences happen, they are easily dismissed and forgotten. This little blog serves as a reminder of the daily events which keep me going.

This has been quite a big week for me, starting a new job, working in a retail shop and also taking steps towards becoming a teacher of English to speakers of a language other than English. Trust me on this blogger, it isn't easy.

I spoke to a woman on the phone about the retail job, she invited me for interview. I interviewed with someone else, I got the job. The first woman I spoke to was the person who organised my induction dates and had me installed at work. I have never met her in person, I was just grateful for the opportunity. The very same week I found myself queueing at the College for information about a course I need to qualify myself for the teaching. Standing behind a woman dressed in black, a uniform if you will, as she turned I noticed she still had her identity badge from work on her blouse. Yes, of course, the name rang a bell and I introduced myself.  

The woman I have been speaking to on the phone for the past couple of weeks about working in a retail shop had materialised in front of me at college. 

Some people are meant to cross our paths, and I have a feeling this particularly lady is one of those. Or is it, that I am meant to be crossing her path? 

So, that was one thing. Then on my first Sunday at work, in the mens' fitting rooms, a young lady asked me if I knew if we sold three quarter length trousers for men. You know, summery clothing. I had to confirm for her that no, we have moved into the autumn range now but the conversation did lead to her telling me how she was off to Thailand with her boyfriend for six months, they have both just qualified as English as a Foreign Language teachers. Lovely. I enjoyed the coincidence.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Do you know of a Grammar School around here?

I was thinking to myself this morning, and you can trust me when I tell you this dear reader, 'I haven't been asked for directions lately'. 

What have I been doing lately?  Well, I have been looking into learning to teach English as a Foreign Language. I haven't had a lot of success. I am not exactly being faced with doors flinging themselves open. In fact, my efforts at digging around for information haven't really come up with any gold nuggets, not even so much as a Hansel and Gretel crumb actually.

So, I was pleased when a lady who didn't have a brilliant grasp on the English language stopped me in my tracks to ask for directions.  There I was, stomping along in the sun, although the clouds were gathering, it was lovely and warm and we have been promised by the weathermen that summer has arrived. Stomping, my friends, in time to Abba on my ipod.  

She waved me down. This foreigner in a strange land. The London Road. The busiest road of all for traffic and people busy going somewhere else. 

'Errr'  She had to think about what she needed to say.

I took my ipod out 'Alright there?' I asked cheerfully, and quite friendly, I thought.

'Do you know of a Grammar School around here?' she said

Do I know of a Grammar School. Well, if you count the seven years that my son spent attending the one at the bottom of the road, then, yes, I know of a Grammar School.  I pointed her in the direction she needed to go and confirmed it was a left, followed by a trip down one further road.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.  

It has been so long since I have been asked for Directions I forgot to make conversation as to her reasons for wanting the destination. I also should have told her my son went there, to make the connection for her more meaningful. But, I am still learning Blogger. Plus I was in an Abba induced world of my own.  

I promise to try and make the next request for directions more meaningful for the person doing the asking.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Some people are meant to cross our paths.

Over the years I have often thought about joining a Circle. You know, a psychic development circle.  There have been various reasons why I have never actually got as far as joining one. The timing has often been the main reason. I was offered the opportunity of joining a circle a week before I was due to move house. That didn't suit.  I was offered a circle opening on the night that I was attending evening classes. That didn't suit.  It has always been there at the back of my mind. When my son was small I was offered an opening in a Circle and it didn't suit because I didn't have any childcare. One church wouldn't accept me into their Circle because they didn't know me.  So, over the years I would say there have been numerous Circles that have 'nearly been'.  I didn't actually make it into any of them.  

This year, I have finished my degree with the Open University (another huge commitment that has taken up years of my life) and I have been elbowing my way back into the world of work. I am on my third part-time job in a row and I know that once I get the hang of my weekly routine, I will have more time on my hands than I haven't had for many years. So, now would be a good time to find a Circle.

A week before getting my latest job I was walking home after a Wednesday visit to see a particular Medium, the Irish lady called Rita who is taken along to the church by one of her four sons. Strolling along, I got chatting with Iris, a lady who also goes to the Church. I mentioned that I keep being told from the Pulpit, the Rostrum, up on the Stage, whatever you want to call it, that I am going to be sitting in a Circle. I always reply to the medium  

'No, not that I know of'.

 Iris told me that Rita's son, Peter, is looking for people to join his Circle on a Thursday, he goes to a Church in Southend.  So, off I trotted, the Sunday before starting work to the Southend Church.  I was given the telephone number of Sandy Walford, not Peter.  I just had a feeling that I should be asking to join the Circle on the Monday and not the Thursday.

I waited to call Sandy, I thought I will wait until after the Bank Holiday Monday, because no-one likes being disturbed at home on a Bank Holiday do they?  No, I will wait until the calls are cheaper on the Saturday and ring her then. If I remember.  Anyway, the days came and went, Wednesday was spent travelling to Birmingham for an overnight stay in a hotel ready for an early morning start at a Training Academy on Thursday and Friday. I started my new job on the Saturday morning, I met my new work colleagues, a lady who hadn't been present during my interview was there.  She is my new Assistant Manager, we got chatting and at the end of my first day she asked me if I am religious. 

'Are you religious?' she said.  

I told her that 'no, I wouldn't say I was religious, but I am spiritual and I do go to church'.  

It turns out that my new Assistant Manager has recently given up her place in a psychic circle and she has stopped going because she hasn't got time. 

'oh' I said. 'That's funny, because I have just found a space in a circle'.  

We looked at each other. 

'Sandy Walford from the church in Southend?' I said

'Are you sure?' she said

'Yes, I am absolutely positive'. Yes, of course, it was the same circle.  Not only that, but Lisa is due to become the daughter-in-law of Rita, by marrying her eldest son. So, I find myself replacing a person I have never met, only to meet them in a different setting.  

It truly is a small world. 

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Angels on my path

It feels like a while since I have blogged about a sequence of coincidences.  You know, the sort of coincidences that I feel are meaningful and worthy of blogging about.  Of course, all coincidences are worth a mention.  Even the little ones that are just so obscure as to not really count, you know, like the lady at Church who went down to Devon for an Easter break, turns out she went to Brixham, which is where my mum lives.  Lovely little coincidences like that serve to remind me that we are all connected.  But no, the sort of coincidence I am talking about are the ones where they just pile up, as if they have been waiting to drop themselves at your feet all in one go.

Well, I had one of those little pile-ups yesterday.  It was Saturday and the weather was forecast for Sun.  There is only one place to be in Southend when the Sun is shining and that is down the seafront.  Although, by the time I left home it was a bit chilly, it wasn't even warm enough for sandals, never mind about beachwear.  Having just secured myself another part-time job, I needed to go shop hunting for a new blouse.  First day at a new job and training with complete strangers, feels like the first day of school and there is nothing like showing up in new clothes to boost your confidence.

So, having resigned myself to a beach free day, I strode along the seafront anyway.  Mentally calculating the calories and checking off a few more ounces.  I have recently been reading a book about Angels, a lovely book, offering personal experiences of Angelic encounters and spirit matters Gifts from Angels (by Chrissie Astell).  One of the phrases in this pleasing little book stuck in my mind 'messenger of God', yes, Angels, communicators of spirit.  As I was enjoying the sea air and the general buzz along the seafront, the smell of freshly cooking doughnuts and the squeal of the ever hopeful seagulls, I was walking and contemplating how spirit communicate with us, the ways they make themselves known to us using urban signs and daily events when I noticed a van parked in front of me.  The sign on the van was of a lovely winged horse. 'Pegasus'.  They had made the wings extra prominent. 'How lovely' I thought to myself.  Yes, I would trust a removal firm who used the emblem of Pegasus.  

On reaching my destination, having made the 2.2. mile walk to Southend and hiked up steps to get back to the main town I found myself in the centre of a young couple who were debating where they needed to go.  I looked at him, to her, I gave them my best questioning expression 

'Looking for somewhere?'

'Yes, the .......hotel' the young lady said.  I had never heard of it.  'It's in Church Road' she clarified. 

I do love being asked for directions and although I had never heard of the hotel they were looking for I enjoyed the idea that they were looking for Church Road.  Calling up the google map, I confirmed where they were in relation to their hotel and packed them off in the right direction.  Lovely.

Reaching my destination and meandering around TK Maxx,  having a slight detour from the blouse section, I found myself standing in front of an Angel Candle.  Yes, it smelt angelic and gave me another little lift for the day. I hadn't intended to wander around the home goods area, I had just been drawn over there. It was probably the smell of the candles that drew me in!

Finishing my shopping and with clouds darkening overhead, I decided it was time to head for home. Being asked for directions to Church Road, the Pegasus Sign and the Angelic candle were such pleasing additions to my shopping expedition, I wasn't expecting anything else to happen on the way home.  But, I was wrong.

As I was passing a really popular Pizza parlour I noticed their daily special 'Angelic Pizza' (only 600 calories), I was only too pleased to take a picture to share with my blog. As I put my phone away a lady walked up to me tapping me on the arm

 'Hello' she said.  

She was wearing giant sunglasses that covered most of her recognisable features, ie her eyes, eyebrows and cheekbones. I had to admit I didn't recognise her, I asked her to remove her shades. I knew her immediately once she showed her face.  An old co-student from Counselling College. We had gone to evening classes once a week for the best part of a year.  We had a chat and a catch up, she suggested linking up on facebook, I agreed and gave her my phone number.  As she tapped my number into her phone she had to admit she couldn't remember my name.  We shared a laugh and I confessed I didn't know hers. 

'Angela' she said 'it means Angel - messenger of God'.

What a great day. 

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

A day full of coincidental names

A day off from work!  Woo hoo.  It is a lovely feeling to have free time. A whole day to really, truly appreciate.  Despite the rain (and the fact I have left my umbrella at work, in a charity shop, where it is in danger of being sold by the time I get back) I had a little walk into town.  Not purely by choice, I did have a few chores to complete.  I also love to block my ears up with my ipod as I walk along, a nice march to music helps takes my mind off the distance I have to walk.  But not today.  No, I didn't feel like listening to music today. I opened my ears for a change.  I decided to take in the whole experience, not just the sights, the smells, the weather, the feel of wind on my face and the warmer temperature, but the sounds as well.  The whole package.

My first stop turned out to be the library.  In spite of the fact that I have no need to go into the library AT ALL.  I have a list of books currently waiting to be read, a borrowed book waiting to go back to a friend and some books 'recommended but not essential to the course' for the Open University and some charity shop finds that simply must be read.  So, really, I have absolutely no genuine reason to be side-tracking into Southend library.  But that is where I found myself.  Guided by spirit, I am sure.  I know better than to ignore nudges from the Universe. In I went.  A little poster for a competition to win tickets to the Thirty Nine Steps.  Oh yes. I don't mind if I do.  As I was standing at the counter, completing a competition entry form, another customer was explaining to the straight-faced librarian..

 'it is complicated you see, I don't know which one you haven't got...' 

the librarian had no interest in entering into conversation with the customer, who was clearly out of his depth on the self-service touch screen menu...I smile encouragingly at the man wringing his woolly hat in his hands.  Yes, it is obviously too warm for a woolly hat, this man is clearly in need of some form of life helper.  The librarian is not really doing a very good job of disguising his boredom/exasperation and he says 

'what is your name?' with the World War II tone of a German Officer.  

The customer says 'Blake'.  

Yes, his name is Blake.  My old name.  The name of my, now deceased, Dad.  Aw.  I am not even surprised.  But when you really think about that, what are the chances of me being there at the same time as this man who is having to say his name to the librarian?  

Off I went, but not before ordering a copy of a book I want to read 'The Shack', which they haven't got, so I ordered a copy. It was only because I needed to order a copy that I noticed the name of the author 'William Paul Young'.  Paul Young, the singer, who sang 'wherever I lay my hat, that's my home' I met in December, coming out of Greggs the Bakers, after a string of Hat coincidences.  Okay, so maybe that is clutching at straws...but still.

A stroll down the High Street led me into The Works book shop. A stand with a lot of books by a woman called Nora.  Interesting. I thought. Picking up a book with a picture of Las Vegas on the front. Bright lights, Big City.  Ooh.  The cover read 'a woman wins big at the casino...' the story is about what happens to her after that, the baddie of the story is called 'McGregor'.  My name.  The name of the man my Mum married.  I turned the book back over, Nora Roberts.  Lovely.  The name Robert has almost cropped up again.  I enjoyed the near coincidence. It reminded me of the day before, at work in the charity shop, during a particularly challenging experience of unpacking new goods, pricing and putting stickers on not easily identifiable pernickety bits and pieces, a volunteer brought her brother into the shop.  'Here's Bobby' she said.  'Robert' he corrected her.  I smiled, inwardly reminded that spirit are always around me, helping me through my day.  My brother in spirit, Robert, has brought through messages telling my Mum that he is now known as Bob.  

I really enjoyed my journey through town today, I loved seeing a pair of magpies as I walked through the part and finally, last but not least, a robin flew on my path.  

Feeling very fortunate with my little coincidental world.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Hats off to you x

Hats have entered my world.  Yes, hats.  It began with an idea floating in the back of my mind, the middle of October.  Yes, it is hat wearing weather, maybe it was the change of weather that led me to start considering wearing a hat.  

I do have a full black Russian style furry number which gets dusted off on days when there is six inches of snow on the ground.  I do.  I also have a purple crocheted beret that never goes out of the house but I will happily wear indoors.  It makes me feel like a tea cosy.  

But this week, I had a little tweet about the possibilities of wearing a hat and joining the eccentric old woman's club of hatwearers who don't give a damn what people think of them.  

I then had an unexpected trip into Southend Radio Station, invited in, to make-over their male radio presenter.  A lovely surprise for me, my whole life I have hankered to work in radio. I love radio.  I have achieved another goal. No matter how small, or insignificant it may seem to people listening. I was there.  I made it to the pinnacle of my media career.  A small role in local radio. A one-off.  For one morning only, I went in and plastered make up all over their early morning presenter.  My taxi driver who arrived at 7.40am, the crack of dawn in my world, was wearing a hat.  It was a great hat.  It gave him character. That, and the missing toothy grin.

I went in, did my performance, spent a couple of hours with the early morning team and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Later that day, after changing out of my Avon Rep clothes into my co-op Uniform, I found  myself serving a young lady in a hat.  Interesting hat. I thought.  Wait...she looks familiar.  I couldn't quite place her. Her face looked familiar. Must be someone I serve all the time.  Then she opened her mouth and spoke to me.  The young lady actress who was in Waterloo Road!  I was serving Chelsee Healey.  I loved her hat.  Fabulous.

I take these brushes with fame and famous people as rewards from the Universe for trying.  You know, like in the Sims computer game, the characters have to be motivated by reward. I feel as though I have motivated myself and going to work and carrying on with no reward in sight, has been rewarded!  Lovely.  What a great day.  Two interesting events on one day.  

A day off from the co-op saw me visiting my Avon customers, delivering goods, collecting money, working.  I noticed a poster on my route which was advertising a jazz night.  They had used a hat to denote the jazz night.  Great.  The next charity shop I stood in, searching for wool to knit a patchwork blanket, I found myself in front of an old record 'at the drop of a hat'.  I took a photo.  I hadn't heard the song or heard of the people on the record. A few days later, I recalled the record and had a little look into it on You Tube.  The Album was there, with pictures of the record inside the sleeve.  The word ANGEL was written on the record.  Lovely.  These little coincidences give me a lift as I am reminded that we all have Guardian Angels and they are no more than a breath away. All we have to do is ask for a sign and once we have learnt to recognise the signs and know where to look, we learn that they are all around us, all the time.

So, off I went, on my travels, about my daily business.  Getting ready to go and work in the co-op on a Sunday morning I was listening to Southend Radio, and the d.j. said 'if you want to win tickets to the theatre, now is the time to call...' I ran across the living room, lifted the receiver of my landline, dislodging the dust off the hardly used buttons and typed in the number.  Southend Radio answered my call and I won two tickets to see The Full Monty.  The tag line for the play is 'hold on to your hats..'.  Ha ha.  I love this set of coincidences that have brought me to a night out at the theatre!  

Thank you to Spirit for rewarding my love of coincidences with a free night out.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin  x

The Signpost of coincidence

Strolling around a Cemetery. How you do.  Well, how I do, occasionally.  You know, when the mood takes me and I feel like I need to take a walk in wind and rain swept Essex.  Off I trot, who knows where my steps will take me.  Searching for a breath of fresh air, looking for solace, spending time in nature is a form of therapy.  A strengthening of spiritual will.  Well, I felt a need for spiritual strength this week.  A new commitment loomed.  The commitment of heading back into the world of work.  Being in a set place, at a set time.  A whole new ball game for me.

I have made my son do it.  So why shouldn't I do it? He has been to school, every day, pretty much, for the last seven years into the same building, and before that junior school and infant school. During that time I have worked part-time. In various places, Estate Agents, mainly.  Not a job where any two days are the same. No constriction of staying within the same four walls, a fairly mobile job.  My own other part-time role, selling Avon, involves being mobile, selling to who I want, when I want.  The benefits of being self-employed allows a freedom which many employees can only dream of.  Obviously, there are downsides to not really knowing when the next pay day will arrive. If it will arrive.  But on the whole, being an Avon Representative, alongside learning and being a part-time Student, has allowed me as much or as little time as I have wanted to surrender.

The very idea that I have got a job (which is great) brings new stresses of being in a set place, at a set time, being answerable to people who I know nothing about.  Well, it is this that brought me to the Cemetery, being as close as I can get to nature. Feeling the rain against my skin, remembering that life is only temporary and looking at the gravestones of all those people who have gone before.  I always read the gravestones, and I am always struck by how many people are called similar names.  The names that run in my family. Names like Thomas and Frederick, William, Mary, the graveyard is full of gravestones with these sorts of names on them.  

I wander through the gravestones, enjoying the statues of Angels and absorbing the atmosphere, really bringing to life for me the families that have been left behind, the energy and effort that has gone in to arranging the wording on these headstones, the organisation of all the funerals, the burials, the family get togethers and the rituals to mark each person's passing.  There is a lot of grief associated with every graveyard.  I know that some names are so common that you are bound to come across them in your everyday world. Of course.  As the non-believers say 'it is just a coincidence'.  But, for me, it doesn't feel like a coincidence.  

When the man knocks at my door every three weeks, bringing me a delivery of Avon, and he signs the form to say he has taken receipt of my returns, it doesn't feel like a coincidence that he signs his name 'Tom'.  So, when I began work for my new employers, the co-operative food store and I was sitting in the induction, it was no surprise to me that someone didn't show up.  There was an empty chair.  It also didn't feel like a coincidence to me when the woman running the induction course explained that someone else was meant to be joining us, but he was now going to be attending on a different day.  His name?  'Tom'.  Naturally, of course it was.  For me, a little bit of comfort that I am being prompted by spirit to take these steps into work.  Even if it is not my first choice of job, or no matter how I may feel about committing myself for the next twenty one years, it is something that I have to do.  So I have.  

According to people who believe we rustle up the Universe to do our bidding, they would argue that because I notice these coincidences, I am creating them to happen.  When you consider all the things that have to happen for a woman running an induction course to even choose to tell the rest of the group the name of the missing person, really, in itself quite an unusual thing to do, to mention the name of the person who isn't there.  But this is what happened.  I am pretty sure that no amount of conjuring up, wishful thinking, or co-creating could have brought that experience to me.  I am pretty sure these events/coincidences happen as a signpost for us, when we are paying attention, that we are on the right path. 

Being in the right place at the right time.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Graduation...being in the right seat at the right time

Graduation Day with my teenager.  No, not his Graduation, my Graduation. Bachelor of Science Open (Open)... An Open Degree with the Open University. A choice of subjects that I felt I could handle. Social Sciences (for two years); Creative Writing (because I couldn't face three years of Social Sciences); Psychology (because I had three years of Counselling background and a good grounding in psychological theories); followed by a final Level Three Course in Children's Literature (because...how hard could it be?)... Quite hard as it turns out.  Still, I finished the course. I clung to the reins of a horse that had no idea where it was going. I jumped hurdles, swerved obstacles and completed the course. Overtaken by fellow horse riders on many occasion, until I saw the home straight. If I had known how hard this particular set of challenges were going to be, I probably wouldn't have taken it on. A perfect example of ignorance being blissful. Yes, the annual excitement of beginning a new course. The anticipation of enjoying a new learning experience. Tempered with the challenge of producing pieces of work every six weeks (roughly), of a standard high enough to be considered worthy of a good mark by the Open University tutors.  Well, I did that. For five years. Whilst my teenager was gaining A*and A grades in his GCSEs, I was studying social science, when he began his AS levels I was messing about with Creative Writing, his A Level exam year saw me travel to London to sit an exam in Psychology.  Seeing my teenager achieve his goal of getting to a University of his choice by attaining A* and A grades was one of the most satisfying years on this little educational journey. Seeing my son head off to Southampton to study Maths with Economics left me learning all about Children's Literature. A giant 'Charlie' shaped hole in my world was filled with an Open University degree course.  The year came and went, Charlie passed his first year of Uni with flying colours and I received an invitation to my own Graduation. Off we went, my teenager and I to London, 2012, a good year for London, the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics, the Para Olympics, my Graduation.....we arrived in good time, I registered my arrival, collected my Certificate and two tickets to the ceremony. One for moi, one for Charlie.  Now, I have done my best to educate myself, I have. No-one could accuse me of trying to remain ignorant. But there are some things which are learnt through experience and breeding, you know, like opening doors for people or how to queue. Some things are 'picked up' along the way. Things like the difference between 'Circle' or 'Stalls'.  Yes, you guessed it, I took the 'circle' ticket and gave Charlie the 'stalls' ticket.  Charlie took my handbag for safekeeping and we both headed to our respective seats. Twenty minutes early.It was just me, sitting in the Gods in full gown regalia, until a few more people came in, none of whom were wearing  Graduation Gowns. But, this is normal for the Open University, not everyone goes to the expense of hiring a gown. It wasn't until I started wondering about my route to the stage that it dawned on me. I was sitting in the wrong seat!  I rushed out of the Auditorium like a cricket with a fly to catch...or whatever it is they eat...in time to get a text from Charlie ...'meet me outside...'...yes, he had sat with the Graduates, disguised by virtue of his youth and smart suit, not all the OU Graduates were wearing gowns!   It was a true Del Boy moment, which I am pretty sure I enjoyed more than my teenager! When I finally found my seat I was happy to note that amongst a hundred graduates, seated according to subject and then Alphabetically, I found myself in seat M46.  M for McGregor, my surname and 46 being the age I turned a couple of weeks ago.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.


Tamasin F. McGregor BSc Open (Open)

A Government Work Programme and a New Pen

The job search continues.  Over two hundred jobs applied for now.  Two hundred and twenty to be precise.  Alongside being a Self-Employed Sales Rep. (n an attempt to make myself more appealing to any would-be employer), I am still filling in application forms.

This week my out of work path has led me up different steps.  Steps in the direction of a Government Work Programme.  I had my first meeting with my new Adviser.  So, now I will be keeping a record of all my job hunting on the piece of paper the job centre sign every two weeks and I will be filling the same information onto a separate form for the Ingeus team.  This is not their fault, this is government bureaucracy. This is how it works.  It is not enough for the Ingeus team to check you are looking for work, the job centre need to do that as well. Okay then.  

So now I am trekking to the job centre every fortnight, and inbetween heading to the Government Work Programme on a weekly basis.  Which is fine.  You never know, they may have some secrets up their sleeve which will lead me to paid employment. You know, cash coming in. Money to pay the bills.  Now that would be lovely.  

My adviser is called Miss Crabb.  She is born under the sign of Cancer.  I like that. She doesn't.  It is not a married name and it is not a name she would choose to be married to.  So I guess if her Mr Right had been called Crabb she would have changed his name!  Ha ha.  I enjoyed the coincidence at least.  I also admired her gel pen, which she let me have.  There you go, have a pen, you can keep that.  Lovely.

A trip to the Government Work Programme has bought me the joy of synchronicity and a lovely new pen.  I will carry on filling in forms and know that one of these fine days a job will appear with my name written all over it.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin  x

p.s Did I mention the hairdresser who turned down the offer to buy Avon's new Blackberry and Vanilla Bubble Bath?  Walking home, carrying the bubble bath,  I bumped into the postwoman who had no qualms whatsoever in snapping up a bargain.  I handed over the bubble bath, she handed over the cash.  Now that is what I call being in the right place at the right time.

Missing the boat to be in the Right Place at the Right Time

Finding myself in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Is there such a thing? Maybe there is, such as being on the wrong end of a parking ticket, or in a car accident.  Yes, of course, there are things which we experience when we would rather not.  But this is not what I want to talk about here.

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can sometimes lead to an extraordinary experience.  A reward of synchronicity, the likes of which can only be engineered by Spirit. And of course, a feeling of being in exactly the right place at the right time.

If only we can keep in the zone. You know, the spiritual zone, the awareness of being alive, grateful for all the events that transpire. Even the ones which feel like they shouldn’t be happening.

Today I had arranged to go to a boot sale.  My friend born under the zodiac sign of Cancer the Crab wanted to de-clutter and raise some cash at the same time. What better way than to do a boot sale? I lent her my pasting table and offered my assistance.  Boot sales are always easier with more than one person, getting away from the table can be problematic if you are on your own. Toilet breaks or buying a cup of tea means finding someone else to mind the stall.

So, we arranged for her to leave her house at 7am, aiming to be with me by 7.30am, although at that time in the morning there probably would have been clear roads, so she should have been with me by 7.15am.  I went to bed early the night before, I set my alarm clock for 6am, I woke on time, got ready with plenty of time to spare only for my friend to delay the start time, after the start time had come and gone! 

I could have had an extra hour in bed.  Oh my gosh!  I am used to this, dealing with unexpected change of arrangements.  It has taken years of life experience to get to the point where I can ignore the negative reaction to being let down at the last minute.   I take it on board, as they say, I carry on, knowing that I am meant to be doing a boot sale today.  So, with further time taken to fill up with petrol we don’t make it to the boot sale in time for a pitch. No room at the Inn.  I am not surprised. We may have just had a pitch if we had got there when we had planned.  So, we are turned away at the gate. Heading off in search of Plan B. Another boot sale, that we have heard about from someone on facebook, held at my son’s old High School. 

We set up our pitch and have to swallow the fact that this little boot sale is like being at a Pub Quiz compared to the other boot sale being like University Challenge.  It just doesn’t compare, not for location or sheer volume of foot traffic and visitors to the site.

I am not overly bothered, the boot sale was for my friend to offload her old clutter, I have a few bits of Avon, some shoes and some DVDs/Computer Games.  We may not have sold loads of stuff, but we did sell something to pretty much everyone who stopped at our stall.

The price for us being in the wrong place at the wrong time was financial, the material detriment that meant lack of funds at the end of the morning.  The reward for going with the flow and not kicking up a fuss or throwing the towel in, was to experience a spiritual synchronicity that I am certain was meant to happen to bring upliftment and hope to a grieving mother.

The synchronicity that happened, showed up at the end of the ‘shift’.  The boot sale was nearing to a close, other stalls had packed up and given up the ghost.  There were so few people there that the organisers didn’t even bother to ask for the pitch fee.  Wow. It must have been bad. The usual pitch fee would have been £6.00 if they had remembered to advertise it. There was talk of a reduced fee of £4.00, in hushed tones as a rebellion rumbled quietly amongst the traders. 

So, there we were, around Noon, it has been six hours for me, looking at a pasting table full of stock that isn’t moving and with hardly any people walking past. The anti-customer factors have really stacked up against us. Firstly, it is one of the hottest days of the year, unseasonably hot. Hot enough for a last throes BBQ, which doubtless many people would be out and about doing.  Secondly, the boot sale hasn’t been advertised. Thirdly, it is being held on the same day as one of the most popular boot sales in the area. Fourthly, the location is not on any beaten track where people would find themselves strolling by accident. There is no swerve from the seafront, or people getting on or off trains. No. To come to this boot sale you have to be determined to get there or related to someone who attends the school.

The final customer shows up, she has a little chat about some cereal containers. She mentions that she is a host for foreign exchange students.  Not one to miss a beat when it comes to interesting conversation, I strike up a conversation with her about her role in the exchange programme.  The talk went from whether she has to speak a foreign language to be a host (no, she doesn’t), to me explaining about how I met a man from Switzerland last week who is staying in a residential home in Devon.  

Yes, she has been to Devon, she has a motorhome and travels all over the place. It gives her freedom to do what she wants. Although she won't be travelling anywhere much abroad next year because she is planning on doing a Diploma at Southend College.  

‘oh, Diploma?’ I enquire ‘which subject?’

‘counselling’ she says

Naturally, I tell her that I have done the first three years of counselling training and then I went on to do a degree with the Open University and I am graduating on Friday. 

The lady explains her reasons for wanting to do a Counselling Diploma, she wants to volunteer with CRUSE, bereavement counsellors.  They were really helpful when her son died.  She had a son, who died at the age of 30. 

‘what happened?’ I ask

‘heart failure’ she says, clearly in pain over the loss of her son.

 

I stand and listen as the stalls around us are packing up, the story of how her son died, what happened after he died, the lack of help she had from the British Consulate and the Doctor in the foreign country where he died.  The conversation continued, I am aware that I am listening with an educated ear. I know I am waiting for something but I don’t know what it is.

The lady mentions her grand-daughter who was offered an alternative date for her eleven plus exam, she was due to sit it less than two weeks after her Mum’s brother died. The family were all still in the grip of grief and the School offered her the chance to postpone and sit the exam in January.  But no, her granddaughter insisted on doing the test with all her friends. On the day of the eleven plus she wrote her name on the entrance paper and her date of birth, only she mistakenly wrote the date of birth of her Uncle!  Her recently deceased Uncle, because their birthdays were close together in date, but obviously different by about twenty years.

There it is. The mention of a date, without mentioning the date.

‘When was his birthday?’ I ask

‘6^th July’ she says

I look at my Cancer born friend.  She has perked up her ears...

’I was born on 6^th July’ she says

What are the chances?  For me, being a lover of synchronicity I really enjoy when numbers collide, I know that this interaction was meant to happen, from the time my friend was trying, unsuccessfully to pull herself round this morning, to the event which caused her to choose not to get petrol at an earlier stage during the week (of which I am sure there must have been many opportunities).  No, all these delays were meant to happen in order for us to meet this lady.

I started talking to the lady about my belief in synchronicity and what it means, how I would take that coincidence as a sign that her son is safely in the arms of spirit and how he could well be around her. 

Turns out the lady goes to the same church as me, but on a Tuesday and a Sunday evening. I go on a Wednesday afternoon and we have never met!

This is the second ‘Steve’ coincidence I have had this week.  Firstly there was the Steve who died in a plane crash, from Devon, and his daughter and her husband explaining to me how they felt seeing his name on a film credit ‘Steve Mark Cooper’...one name after the other as each of the credits came up...was a sign from Spirit and now this Steve, bringing his mum to me and my pal so I could reaffirm her belief in spirit.

I thank my Guardian Angels for allowing us to be in the right place at the right time, even if it seemed like missing the boat and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

The Golden Shepherd dog named Rosie

Life in Westcliff continues.  I haven't been asked for directions for at least a week, but I have received three pens courtesy of Avon. As a Sales Rep consistently hitting my sales targets, I have been rewarded with promotional pens. Lovely.  There is always room for another pen. A reminder to write. A note from spirit to remember why I am here.

Okay then.  What else have a I managed to notice this week?  Well, heading to a healing meeting, a little experience of crystal healing I bumped into a friend who is not just a qualified healer (you know, all the certificates and everything) but she is actually a healing presence. You know the sort of person, one who exudes peace, calm, serenity and who you just know has healing qualities.  Unfortunately, she was busy and didn't have time to stop and join me for the crystal healing experience, but the opportunity was there for her, courtesy of bumping into me and being informed about the meeting. I did my bit.  Maybe when the next one is on I will find out about it earlier and be able to let her know in advance.

This is me, doing my bit.

The Westcliff Spiritualist Church also had their Autumn Fayre. Despite it being the first week in September, temperatures are soaring, it was probably better, hotter, weather this week than during the week of the Summer Fayre.  I went along to offer my services as an Angel Card Reader.  I am happy to sit in Church helping to raise funds to help cover their overheads. But what's this? Wait.  The SNU, the Spiritualists National Union, or something, do not allow Angel Card Readings.  I am astounded, absolutely amazed that an organisation which finds it okay to communicate with the dead (or still living, really) doesn't accept Angel Cards.  

I can tell you blogger, both my eyebrows shot up.  What an eye opener.  I love the Angel Cards, everyone I know enjoys the Angel Cards, they are a source of healing and comfort, a reminder that we are not alone, everyone has a Guardian Angel to call on in times of need.  I am not really sure how an organisation can call themselves spiritual and yet reject an offer to help using Angel Cards.  No. Not for me. I can't tell you how amazed I was at this revelation. Still, I blink my eyes a bit, get over the shock of that piece of news and make a mental note to find a church who enjoys Angel Cards as much as I do.

Walking back from being snubbed by the Church I bumped into a woman walking a young pup.  Four months old she is, beautiful golden fur 'what sort of dog is she?' I ask, because that is what you do when you meet someone with a young dog.  'A Golden Shepherd'.  Oh. Half Golden Retriever, half German Shepherd and her name is Rosie. Lovely.  She was the 13th one of her litter.  I exchange pleasantries, complimenting her lovely nature and as I walk home I am grateful for the interaction.  Yes, the Golden Shepherd, I am reminded of the Shepherd who was shown an Angel.  The name Rosie?  yes, my Dad's sister was called Rose.  13th one? Yes, my Dad was also the 13th one.  

The Spiritualist Church may not accept Angel Card readings, but yet another coincidental meeting reminds me that God works in mysterious ways and when one door closes somewhere a window opens.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Three wise mules

Yes, so, really this isn't a 'stand alone' blog. This follows on from my previous two blogs about my little trip to Devon to visit my Mum and the sort of coincidences and events that cropped up on my path.

One of the longest chain of coincidences happened to me following the Blue Moon at the end of August, my birthday weekend.  I was 46.  A new chapter has begun. I feel as though I have passed a milestone,  completing my degree with the Open University.  Charlie, my son has made it through his first year at Uni, having passed his exams with flying colours and he is now going to experience an independent lifestyle, sharing a house with four other students. They will be having some fun I am sure.

This leaves me free to do what I want, when I want, where I want with whom I want.  The only restriction I have placed on me is a financial restriction.  I am limited by my lack of access to funds.  Which is fine, I am managing, I am getting through it, just about.

But it has been eighteen years since my last holiday abroad, eighteen long years.  Although the appeal of travel abroad never goes away, the ability to jump on a plane and head off to pastures new has eluded me.  So, to be able to travel three hundred miles away for a little stay somewhere other than Westcliff absolutely filled me with pleasure, excitement, gratitude and a great sense of reward.  I felt as if I have been rewarded by Spirit for the dedication, commitment and discipline it has taken to get us to this point.  I have done well.  Just getting here, I have done well.

Not having seen my Mum for a long time, I cannot even remember the last time I went down to Devon to see her, I may have gone down there about 2005, but I could be imagining that. I have definitely been since the year 2000, so it could literally be twelve years since I have been down there.  Purely for financial reasons, lack of resources has prevented me from visiting. So, catching up and having a little chat about what I believe in and how the Universe communicates in all sorts of ways, and how I see this as Spirit helping to guide us on our journey I was talking about my son, Charlie, and how he still has friends in Southend, Ashley and a new housemate, Ben and I spotted three donkeys on the grass at the top of the seafront.  

'let's go and see the donkeys Mum'  I suggested.  'They are a kind of wildlife'. I had a feeling we were meant to be looking at them.  'The donkeys?' my Mum couldn't understand why I would want to go and look at the donkeys. As we walked over a lovely blonde-haired donkey came over and he had the name 'Ashley' written on his noseband.  'Look, Mum, he is called Ashley!'  I exclaimed.  We both laughed, I had literally just been talking about Ashley.  Then the second, dark-haired donkey came over.  He had 'Ben' written on his noseband. 'No way.'  I said 'Ben is dark-haired' and I had just been talking about him.  I just knew the third donkey was going to be called Charlie.  Over it came....'Charlotte' on the headband.  The young girl attempting to guide her around the field was clearly struggling with the stubborn mule.  'what is that donkey's name?' I asked.  'Charlotte'  she said 'but we call her Charlie'. 

Yes, I just knew she was going to say that. 

We did enjoy the coincidence and I know that was a once in a lifetime experience that you just couldn't engineer or make up.  

Thank you to Spirit for allowing me to savour the moment and really fully enjoy the coincidences that kept coming up, time and time again, all weekend.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Forgotten your ipod charger m'dear? no problem

Reaching my recent destination, heading for Devon, the town of Paignton, coming from Westcliff, via Southampton where I stayed overnight at my son's Uni house, I realised that I didn't have my ipod charger.  No big deal, not really, although I do like to have a bit of music to listen to as I am walking around on my travels, when I am in a new area, I like to have my ears free to notice noises, sounds, people talking around me and to me.

Still, I knew there were going to be occasions over the weekend when I would want to listen to some songs so I just mentioned to the girl on the hotel reception that I had forgotten my charger.  As I was having a conversation with her about the chances of someone randomly leaving an ipod charger behind in a hotel, and how unlikely that was, a young man popped his head out from the kitchen.  

'my daughter is staying with me this weekend, she has an ipad that sometimes she brings with her, if she has the charger I will bring it in for you'  (he offered in a thick Devonshire accent).

how kind.  I gave him my card with my mobile phone number on it, the one that says I am available for tarot readings.

I took the opportunity of asking him where the local spiritualist church was and mentally booked myself an hour in church at 7.30pm. Off I went about my daily business.  Later that evening, after I had been to church, had a bit of singing and laughter in a strange meeting hall, there was a little knock on my hotel door.

Holding a charger in one hand and my card in the other, there stood the young man from the kitchen he said 'you do tarot readings?' yes, I confirmed that I do indeed do tarot readings.

He told me the story of how his wife's Dad had died in a plane crash and how his wife had gone to a spiritualist church for a message, but when she didn't get one she was all disheartened.  As he was talking, I was suddenly prompted to tell him it was in the name.  His wife would start seeing his name about, and for her to know it is not a coincidence.  'alright then, I will tell her' he agreed to tell her.  I gave him a Guardian Angel Wishbag by way of thanks for letting me have use of his daughter's charger.  

The next day as I walked through reception, he followed me out 'thanks for that little thing' he said 'my wife loved it'.  She said it felt really warm in her hands when she held it.  Okay then.  I haven't heard that before, but I am glad it made her happy.  Also, he wanted to let me know that there had indeed been a name thing.  

After her Dad died, his wife and her Mum had gone along to the cinema to watch a sentimental movie and her Mum was in floods of tears at the end.  As they sat watching the credits of the film the first three names to come up spelled out his name...Steve Mark Cooper. 

They took this as a sign from her Dad and her Mum's husband that he was alright and it was very comforting to them at the time. 

Yes, spirit works in mysterious ways.  I love this sort of story, now if I had remembered my charger, this little interaction would never have happened.

I share this story with you, blogger, in the hope that if you are ever looking for a sign from a loved one, please remember the importance of the vibration of their name.  It is one of the few things that can only by right or wrong, there is no 'sort of like Steve' it is either Steve or it isn't!

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

A Journey full of lucky touches and coincidental place names

On my travels recently I had some lovely coincidences which lightened my journey.  The path was smooth, no traffic, no trouble, literally, I have not one bad event or negative story that I can drag out of my weekend experience.  I have had the perfect weekend away.  I am certain that I was accompanied by Spirit on my travels.  

At one point there were so many coincidental things, signs, words, place names, that I felt as if I was in the middle of a matrix that had been written just for me.  A little taster for you, as to what happened on my trip to Devon.  I had so many things happen, I probably have enough material for a little ebook!  So, I will split the stories up over a series of blogs.

Travelling to Southampton to stay with my son in his University digs, helped to split the drive up, not having driven for a couple of years, to suddenly do a really long drive, wouldn't have been the easiest experience. A map, a rough idea of where we were going, I thought we were prepared.  But no, wait, a friend called round the day before, as coincidence would have it, who had a sat nav we could borrow.  Lucky touch number one.  Secondly, the tiniest car imaginable that I ordered for hire, wasn't actually available, a sporty upgrade came our way. Lucky touch number two.  Perfect traffic, no congestion, no queuing, Lucky touch number three.  And so the story continued. Safely to Harrison Road in Southampton.  Walking around the area to get a feel for the place I couldn't help but notice the one-stop shop was called Burgess, the pharmacy was called Burgess, the church, the post-office, the main road, Burgess, Burgess was the name of my Gran's second husband.  

Charlie, my son, is living in an area which has his Great Gran's family name written all over it.  

This pleases me, to feel that he is being looked after by spirit and he also is in the right place at the right time.

More, much more later.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x

Losing a hairdressers in Southend

I never get bored with being in the right place at the right time to uncover a coincidence.

Now, some people cannot see coincidence.  I promise you, no matter how amazing the synchronicity, they just think 'nothing special about that you crazy person'.  They think I am soft in the head for placing any meaning onto the events that unfold around me.

I love synchronicity. It reminds me that we are all travelling around, on this crazy planet, ever changing, always moving, and yet, somehow, the little pieces of information and events glue together to bring us coincidence.  I feel sorry for people who can take no pleasure in synchronicity, who see them as random acts of not rightness on the part of the person enjoying the scene.

For it is a scene, all our loved ones in spirit, our Guardian Angels, our higher helpers, and of course God, are sending these little events our way as a reminder that we are not on our own. We are not traipsing through our physical existence of life on earth by ourselves.  

This is how important coincidence is to me. It brings me a reminder of the spiritual aspect of our nature, the whole fundamental purpose of breathing, living, thinking, loving mess of it all. A reminder that life is in fact orchestrated.  There are no mistakes.  Nothing happens by coincidence. There is a greater meaning behind every coincidental meeting, coincidental namesakes, coincidental dates of birth, death and marriages.

This week I learned of the death of a person I have never met, but someone whom I have heard a lot about.  I heard of this news by bumping into someone I didn't expect to meet near the weighing machine in Boots.  The mundane act of testing my BMI led to me being in the right place at the right time to hear news of a death. Oh boy.

But that is not the coincidence I am here to tell you about. No.  As an Avon Representative, I hover all over the place in an attempt to pick up new customers.  Most hairdressers along my route have had an Avon book from me at some stage in the last three months.  Well,  this week I have been trying my luck in Headhunters. In the precinct.  I used to sell Avon to them when I lived the other end of town, in Shoebury, and the same people still work in there, so I left them a brochure.  Walking past Snappy Snaps, on the outside of the shopping precinct (where there are no fewer than three hairdressers in a row all vying for business from passers-by) I hear a man exclaim 'how can you not remember which hairdressers it is?' I turn round to see a woman huffing off back towards the High Street.
'do you need any help?' I ask the tall, skinny man, clearly retired and at the end of his tether following his wife while she looks for a missing hairdressers
'my wife can't remember where the hairdresser is, she has an appointment'
me: 'oh'
him: 'it is next to Wilkos'
me: 'headhunters, it is downstairs in the precinct'
him: 'is it?'
me: 'yes, I know exactly where you need to go, because that is where I am headed'

by this time his wife has hoofed off, in the wrong direction in a huff.  I suggest he phone her.  'we haven't got phones' he gestures to his empty, retired, phone-free pockets.  'oh' I say.  'do you want me to tell them you are on your way?'
'yes please' he says, he tells me her name and rushes off after her.

I go to Headhunters with news for them of their lost customer wandering around upstairs trying to identify them amongst the plethora of hairdressers handing out their leaflets.  I also leave them another Avon book, since they have lost the last one.  But, I have not just strolled in there asking for Avon or selling them Avon, no, I have helped them with a lost customer and been part of their little world for five minutes.  This is probably of more use to me that it was to them, although, maybe the man and his wife would have given up looking for them if it hadn't been for my intervention.  

I don't know.  I doubt that I will ever know.  But I do know that being in the right place at the right time to offer directions to people in the middle of a 'beside themselves' situation, puts me in tune with a helpful universe.  I suspect spirit had a laugh at the whole scenario, but I am grateful for the reminder that there is more going on in the world than can be seen with the eye.

Lots of love and light to everyone who needs it.

Tamasin x