"She Drives Me Crazy" - Fine Young Cannibals, 1989

Having lived in Manhattan for just over seven years, I used to have some very unusual encounters with strangers while walking around the New York streets.

I had one this morning, here in Oxford, which was right up there in the same category.

I was taking my usual walk from the park and ride bus into the office, just after 7:30am. Along the route - and very near my office - is the main county courthouse.

Today's blog-post title was playing on my iPod. Looking back, perhaps it was an omen.

As I approached the front of the courthouse, walking the other direction was a middle-aged woman. I initially noticed nothing unusual about her. But as she got closer, she smiled at me and motioned in such a way as to indicate that she wanted to ask me a question. So I popped out one of my in-ear headphones, preparing for a request for directions or something similar.

To my surprise, though, here's what she said to me - in a very friendly, enthusiastic tone...

"Someone told me that three angels, the Queen, and a chimpanzee were all seen in the Botanic Garden yesterday."

And before I even had time to react, she finished, with another big smile, by saying...

"Habeas Corpus!"

Then she kept walking. And I could hardly believe what had just happened.

Yes indeed. It was right up there with the weird and wonderful world of Manhattan!

Janet