What the? I had just been pulled across a mile or two of marsh and hills to the village-ette on Iona and had no clue as to why. Talk about following your intuition, this was more like running after it. Out of breath and heart a pumping (er…that’s not good) I turned a corner, Gwas one step behind and saw an elderly gentleman and lady pulling along suit cases, having just arrived on the ferry.
I immediately held my hand out to them, ‘allow me to help’ They refused at first but I insisted and finally managed to get their bags off them. I have to laugh as I got the heaviest and Gwas (who is way fitter than I am) got the lighter one. Brilliant! Where are you going I asked, the furthest hotel they answered. Inwardly I both laughed and groaned. As we set off I could feel that this wasn’t doing my poor heart any good. I was just about to ask Gwas to swap bags, when the gentleman (Chuck) said that he needed a breather. Phew! So did I. While we rested I wondered how I was going to make it to the hotel with this amazingly heavy bag. Still, a few minutes later we carried on and then again, just when I was about to quit, a taxi rolled up. The driver popped her head out and said to the couple (Connie and Chuck) that she had been sent to pick them up. Double phew and thank whatever watches over me.
As we waved to the couple Gwas mentioned that I must be in the flow to have gotten back just at the moment to help that couple. Indeed I said, “doubly so” and explained the weighty case experiences.
Many people that I speak to often dismiss such experiences as coincidences (I need a new set of friends) and I would be tempted to do so, if not for the fact that they don’t stop there. Later that evening Gwas and I sauntered off in search of food. We tried place A. Fully booked, place B fully booked, place C (the only remaining place) had availability for coffee and cake so we graciously entered only to find sitting in the lounge? Chuck and Connie. A coincidence of course?
To our good fortune we spent a lovely few hours with that delightful and spiritual couple from the land of Tom Sawyer. Coming away with the certainty that coincidences are rare, synchronicities are often.
Thus concludes my adventures in Iona
Kal Malik
