the street leading to the car park was filled with huge coaches and carelessly parked cars - all had been carrying people eager to play bingo in the bingo hall in cricklewood. my driving instructor was annoyed we were spending so much time navigating through the gaggle of people streaming onto our path. "they're all gambling, innit", he said, "just like the national lottery." ah ha yes, my friend, i thought. but you're muslim so gambling is a forbidden activity for you.


who wouldn't be happy to find themselves with a bit of extra dosh? i know that in korea the national lottery has driven people to queuing around the block to buy tickets, ignoring the iraq crisis, all activity grinding to a halt when they announce the winning numbers - such is their anticipation of the jackpot.


all this for the 1 in 13,983,816 chance that you would get all six numbers. the u.k.'s own national lottery website reminds you that 'The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 54. It's worth remembering, the exact value of prizes depends on how many tickets are sold and how many people match the same quantity of numbers as you. For example, if two or more people match the six numbers drawn, then the jackpot is split between them.'


but still we dream on......it's wishful thinking, of course, but we can fantasise. i remember asking my mum, the first time the national lottery jackpot went over £10million what she would do with the money. she nearly had a heart attack, the poor dear - she thought that i'd won it!


- "if i had a million pounds..." wishlist -
i would travel as much as is humanly possible...i am definitely a romantic when it comes to travelling...

what would you do?