Several years ago I was buying a house, but just as we were about to exchange contracts, the woman selling the house withdrew the sale, costing me several hundred pounds in survey fees and requiring me to beg my landlord to ignore my notice to vacate a rented property. I was told that the vendor only withdrew the sale to get back at her ex, who jointly owned the house. A couple of months later, a neighbour told me that this woman's car had been stolen from the front of the house. Was that karma? I promise you that the fact I was working with young offenders at the time was pure coincidence, but I am not proud of the smug feeling I that came over me at receiving this news. Come to think of it, I still smile about it.