It Could Be … What? by Zoë Sharp

In times of economic difficulty—OK, make that the screaming dive of recession—people often think of the lottery as a possible answer to all their prayers and problems. Your view of such form of gambling might be similar to George Orwell’s in his classic novel of a dystopian future, 1984. (Well, it was written in 1949.) Orwell described a state-run lottery which was designed to keep the minds of the Proles occupied with something other than the reality of their situation.

But nevertheless, even if you don’t regularly play the lottery, the topic of what you’d do if you suddenly came into a substantial amount of money is one that’s often discussed.

So, what would you do with your newly acquired millions? Buy a Bentley? A big house with a helicopter pad on the back lawn and a billiard table in the basement? Learn to drive, fly or even play billiards?

The reality of it may surprise you. What follows is a list of the top twenty first items purchased after a lottery win in the UK:

1. Washing machine
2. Sofa
3. iPad
4. Handbag
5. Sports clothes
6. Footwear (shoes / trainers)
7. Games console (Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and XBox)
8. Vacuum cleaner
9. Make-up
10. High street fashion clothing
11. TV (average size 42in)
12. Jewellery
13. Laptop
14. Fridge / freezer
15. Holiday (Spain, Egypt and Canary Islands)
16. Garden furniture
17. Kitchen utensils
18. Carpet
19. Sound system
20. Luggage

Not exactly earth-shattering, are they? But it shows, I think the caution with which people approach their financial situation these days.

And perhaps what might be more interesting would be the top twenty SECOND items purchased …

So, after you’ve looked after your family and friends, and made your donations to charity, what would YOU do with a lottery win?

And finally, on a slight note of BSP, last week saw the US publication of DIE EASY: Charlie Fox book ten. I hope a copy might find its way onto your wish-list. The nice thing is you don’t even need to have won the lottery to buy a copy!

“Zoë Sharp is one of the sharpest, coolest, and most intriguing writers I know. She delivers dramatic, action-packed novels with characters we really care about. And once again, in DIE EASY, Zoë Sharp is at the top of her game.”—New York Times best-seller, Harlan Coben

There are several Words of the Week this week. All alternative meanings to medical terms:

Artery — the study of paintings

Barium — what doctors do when patients die

Cauterise — made eye-contact with her

Enema — not a friend

Morbid — a higher offer

Tumour — more than one

Varicose — nearby                                                                                   

Zoë Sharp