I’ve responded to this prompt before, but I will again because it’s good to imagine. And things in my life have changed since then which will be reflected in what I would now do.
The first thing I would do if I won the lottery would be go and buy a house in the place I want to live. Nothing flashy, nothing extreme. Just a comfortable home that is completely ours. Then, I would give some money to the friend who has been housing us for the past 5 months without any quibble. I would sort our passports, enrol my son into an online school, and book the trip I want to take retracing St Michael’s Sword from Ireland to Israel via Kerry, Cornwall, Normandy, Piedmont, Gargano, Symi, and finally, Haifa. And via Carcassonne to see where the Cathars were persecuted. I would do this over a period of 2 months by car, boat and plane while I wait for the house purchase to be concluded and the furniture I order to be made and delivered. And I would write about our adventures as we go.
When we returned, I would buy a couple of cars for us and evaluate whether we continue with online schooling or find a school that fits his needs and requirements and get that arranged in time for the new school year. I would invest in the business I am starting with my friend and business partner, and in my own writing and blogging. Engaging with financial advisers, I would invest the principal sum so that I received a passive income, and I would clear all my debts and select a few charities that I would like to have an ongoing relationship with.
Before we went away, I am sure we would want to throw a party for those people who have stuck by us steadfastly in what has been an incredibly trying few years. In fact, that list is relatively small (those who haven’t judged, gossiped or treated us like social pariahs) so I might rent a nice house somewhere complete with staff and have us all spoiled rotten for a long weekend.
This Friday’s Euromillions jackpot is £106m. Ask. Believe. Receive.
Louisa Simpson 