A WTF moment.

   A few years back my Eldest and I were in  the waiting room at the hospital outpatients department.  One of my visits for some scan or other, and she was my driver.  We'd logged in and were waiting to be called.

   Every now and then a nurse or doctor with a clipboard would appear through the swinging doors and summon the next patient.

   Our hospitals have long since stopped using Miss or Mrs, and tend to avoid the Ms prefix as well.  It's the same with the men, you just get your name with no prefix.

   "Frances Coe."

   We both jumped as if shot.  That's my female character, as many of you will know.  You don't expect to hear names spawned in your writer's imagination attached to real world people.

   Getting no obvious response the nurse called again, checked with the receptionist.  Daughter and I were bending our necks like a pair of prairie dogs, looking for a short dark haired woman with green eyes.  Well-established characters become part of the family and often get mentioned like friends.

   The toilet door opened and a very tall old man, dressed in a countryman's tweeds, walking with two sticks, came out, moving slowly towards the nurse.  (If I ever want to create an ancient Laird or similar he'd make a good starting template.)

   After he spoke to the nurse and they vanished through the doors my daughter spoke.

   "A Francis rather than a Frances.  What's the odds on him being here at the same time as us?"

   Gyppo