Bingo winners!

Cherle treated all her family

Our house was certainly a busy one. When my Cavalier King Charles spaniel Lucy gave birth in 2010, I had my hands full. With seven pups to run around after, there was no rest. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to give some away to friends or family?’ my husband Tony, 60, asked. ‘No way,’ I replied.

I’d fallen in love with each and every one of them. ‘They’re my babies,’ I said. In between walks, playing fetch and feeding my furry brood, the only time I got to myself was when they were asleep.

To enjoy some ‘me time’, I found something fun to do that was quiet and wouldn’t wake my sleeping pooches… Pick Me Up! Bingo.

I’d seen a few ads for it and thought it looked fun, and I wasn’t disappointed. There were so many games to try. I loved the slot game Double Bubble and Sapphire, a 90-ball bingo game. Over the years, I won a little cash here and there. But mainly I played for fun and to pass the time while I looked after the dogs. And I made so many friends in the chat rooms. As the pups got older, I continued to play bingo every now and then and, this February, I bought a few tickets for Sapphire.

I hadn’t played in a while. Tony was watching TV and the dogs were all asleep after a belly full of dinner.

Time to put my feet up.

I let the games play out, then I had a few games of Double Bubble.

It was only a few minutes later that I remembered my bingo tickets. Wonder if I’ve won anything, I thought, checking the games,

I played for fun, made friends in the chat rooms

and there, on my screen, was a message – Winner.

When I looked at my balance I realised I’d won £3,333! ‘Tony!’ I cried. ‘I’ve won!’ He looked at my computer screen and shook his head. ‘Yeah, right!’ he laughed. I was in shock, kept checking I hadn’t made a mistake.

‘Sure you weren’t playing a demo game?’ Tony asked. ‘Positive,’ I replied.

He still didn’t believe me. It wasn’t until a giant cheque arrived in the post a few days on that the penny finally dropped.

‘You actually won!’ Tony laughed. ‘Amazing!’

We were both so thrilled. We’d been thinking of giving our garden a makeover, so we splashed out £1,000 to transform it. A new patio, flowers, trees…

It looked really smashing when it was finished.

We gave our kids – aged 36, 35 and 25 – and nine grandchildren a bit of cash each, too. Then I split the rest between myself and Tony.

‘Treat yourself to something nice,’ I told him.

He was really chuffed. I spent mine on a few bits and pieces for the house and family meals out.

I thoroughly enjoyed spending my win and sharing it with my family, too.

And our pampered pooches didn’t go without, either.

I spoilt them with new toys and treats. It’s a luxury dog’s life for them, that’s for sure.

And it’s all thanks to Pick Me Up! Bingo.