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THE WAY I SEE IT... Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist
‘It sounds ridiculous saying I feel sorry for Richard and Debbie Nuttall, the couple who won £61 million on the EuroMillions lottery, but I do.
It sounds even more ridiculous to say “I’m glad it’s not me” but I mean it. That’s not the reason I don’t do the lottery, though – I stay away because I think it’s a mug’s game and a voluntary tax.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not jealous! In fact, I’m really pleased for them, especially as initially they thought they’d won just £2.60. I sincerely hope they enjoy every penny.
It’s just that there are too many tales of woe from “lucky” jackpot winners and it’s not surprising so many admit the huge windfall ruined their lives.
Because money can cause so many problems, especially for those who’ve never had it. Relationships fracture, there are fall-outs with family and friends because it does change you and everything overnight and other people can’t help treating you differently. And at first, it’s great to be able to have everything you want, to be able to just buy it without thinking about it but like most rich people, you must run out of things to want and then you become blasé and unappreciative.
They always say, ‘oh I’ll carry on working’ but how many do? Previous winner Mark Gardiner says, “the only way to stay sane is to keep your job” – which he did, and he’s still working as a glazier 35 years later. But why would you? I’ve always maintained if I did win, I wouldn’t tell a soul. It baffled me that anyone would go public, p
