It was sometime in 1995, I had just discovered Sheffield and was travelling over twice a week to go out clubbing and to see my new girlfriend Jodie. I had met Jodie in the club one night. She was being bothered by this guy who was trying to chat her up, so I stepped in, gave her a wink and started dancing between them until he went away. We got chatting and over the next few weeks we became friends then ended up getting together.

Jodie’s family were so lovely to me, they instantly made me a part of the clan. They let me stay over at weekends and included me into the family activities, the best of which was Sunday dinner. Her Mum was an absolutely fantastic cook and used to produce us a gorgeous banquet that I used to look forward to every week.

At this time I was still living in Boston and working at an engineering company near Peterborough as a production manager. My duties involved;  managing the warehouse, purchasing steel and components, taking orders and producing sales invoices. It was a big commitment travelling to Sheffield twice a week but my heart was there in the shape of Jodie, my friends and the clubbing scene that I loved so much.

It was one Sunday afternoon and we were sat in the living room watching TV and chatting. We could hear a bit of a lively discussion going on in the kitchen but this was quite normal so though nothing of it. I then heard “That bloody Tim” in the middle of it all and I suddenly went cold. We looked at each other in confusion, not sure what was going on.

Jodie’s Mum shouted us in for lunch; we went into the kitchen, sat down and waited. There was a strange atmosphere and I could tell that whatever they were discussing hadn’t yet been resolved. The food was dished out in silence and we started to eat. Jodie then said “I heard you talking about Tim, what’s the problem?” They both broke into a smile and said “Not your Tim love, we were talking about your uncle!” I breathed a sigh of relief. Her Dad then explained that his brother had an engineering company that had gone bust.

It was then that my brain started whirring away. An engineering company….. her surname was Smith…. Gone bust!!!

I then asked her Dad where his brother was based. “Peterborough” he said. I was then certain so I asked “Is his business called “Tim Smith Engineering by any chance?” Her Dad stopped and looked at me. “Yes it is, why do you ask?” I told him that when I am taking orders I put them in the job folder. On the front of the job folder is a stop list of companies that we no longer deal with. At the top in bold letters is “Don’t deal with Tim Smith Engineering – Gone bust.”

I sat there in shock - it proper freaked me out.

Think about it for a minute - what was the chance of this happening?

• I came over to Sheffield from Peterborough for a random night out with friends. I loved it so much that I kept coming over.
• I met Jodie while trying to help her out in the club
• Her uncle is number one on out stop list

Spooky spooky

Have fun

Tim xx