Dream trip prize that cost a packet

LEAVING a supermarket, my wife Phoebe picked up a free magazine. As we drove home, she opened a ‘million pound prize’ envelope from inside the publication and started to read it.

‘Oh,’ she exclaimed. ‘i have three clocks in a line here, and i think i qualify for a prize. i’ll ring them straight away to claim my million pounds — haha!’ (Where would we be without mobile phones?)

We continued our journey home, and while i drove, Phoebe listened and listened to the garrulous recorded voice message explaining at length the rules and regulations.

Out of the corner of my eye, i saw a change of facial expression — from dead-pan intent listening to a sudden broad smile. she then, Victor meldrew-like, exclaimed: ‘i don’t believe it! i think i’ve won a week in Tenerife!’ We basked in blissful wonderment for a short time, and when reality kicked in, said we would look at it thoroughly when we returned home before announcing our good fortune to the world.

There is a saying that goes ‘if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is’.

Yes, you’ve guessed. When we read it further, we discovered that we had to pay for travel and transfers and insurance, and feed ourselves because it was self-catering apartment accommodation on offer.

After a few moments of discussion we decided to forgo this ‘generous’ prize offer, and have a holiday in, maybe, scotland.

no doubt the mobile phone bill will shortly remind us of this memorable occasion.