It's 2005. I'm in Australia, technically. I'm on a boat sailing round the Whitsunday islands with 30 other people. We put to sea for 3 days. 3 days of beautiful scenery, deserted beaches, and giant card games below decks. 3 days of diving, sunbathing, and talking. 3 days of whales. 3 days of no shaving, no warm running water, and no phone signal.

I got talking to one of the English women in our group. We soon discovered we'd gone to the same university. But not only that: at the same time. But not only that: we had some friends in common. But not only that: I had been to her house. One of our friends in common was her old housemate, and we'd met there for pre-club drinks. And here we were, in the middle of nowhere, on the opposite side of the planet.