Thursday 17 January 2013

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                                                                                   



11 comments:

  1. I'd pay off my house. After that, I'd probably do the same things i like to do now, but more often: write, go to ball games, concerts, road trips. Pick up the trumpet again. Maybe take some classes. To me, winning the lottery would represent time more than money, as I'd have time to do all the things I want to do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dana

      I'm so sorry it's taken me ages to respond. I thought I'd got this set to notify me of comments, but clearly I was having a serious Blonde Moment!

      I think these are ultimate aims -- and I totally applaud them (hmm, with the possible exception of the trumpet :)) but what would be the very FIRST thing you went out and bought ...?

      Delete
  2. Great question, Zoë! I'd pay off the NY house so my brother would be fixed, give money to my other brother and to my folks, then open the arts co-op in London at the old Battersea power station that I have always dreamed of creating: a theatre, a movie house, art studios, recording studios and writing rooms. I'd start with friends, but set up a board to review applications to bring in new people who could use a 'room of their own' to work on a project.

    If you're going to dream, dream big. :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, sounds excellent! Battersea Power Station is such a wonderful iconic building. I saw the Red Bull X-Fighters tour there a few years ago, just amazing -- apart from the drunken yobs in the crowd, that is ... :))

      Delete
  3. Neat question. I've never won anything, but I have sold business things and been paid occasional big bonuses. What did I do with the dosh? Put it into savings (financial and 'classic' investments) and started another business...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Frank. Sounds very sensible. But if money really was no object, what blow-out object or experience would you go for?

      Delete
  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice article, But i didn't get most important thing here. please post some important info. I want to read that.

    red pepper iphone case

    ReplyDelete