I, Punter

Welcome to I, Punter, in which the author muses on life (time permitting!) and recommends a weekly bet. Photo by Oberon Copeland @veryinformed.com Last Thursday I took my nonagenarian (Google it) mother to do her shopping in Bulwell, which according to Wikipedia is a market town in Nottingham.  Like many towns, Bulwell these days is a shadow of its former self thanks to internet shopping and two big supermarkets that have effectively killed off local trade, including most of the market.  It is a reminder that nothing is forever, as the people who settled Bulwell in 800 AD would attest to if they could see it now.  Ironically they would think it was amazing.  Where was I?  Oh yes, I was taking my nonagenarian (Google it) mother to do her shopping and on the drive to Tesco (I am aware I am part of the problem) my car stereo, if that’s what it is still called, started streaming the podcast I had been listening to earlier on my phone.  It was The Rest Is Footba...

Welcome to I, Punter, in which the author muses on life (time permitting!) and recommends a weekly bet. Photo by Matt Hudson on Unsplash Hobbies are expensive. Take cycling (you can for me).  First you have the cost of the bike...then all that lycra and a helmet…and of course the loss of earnings once a BMW driver has barged you into a ditch.  Lego’s just as bad.  You buy a starter set for £20 and before you know it you’re forking out £735 for a Star Wars Millennium Falcon.  When you think about it, unless your hobby is throwing good money after bad, having a pastime can be an unexpectedly costly business.     Having a bet is my hobby. Many people would view this a potentially expensive pastime and judged on my last couple of tips they might think themselves right.  January was a particularly bad betting month for yours truly, and out of the thirty-eight bets I placed only four of them returned a profit!  Whilst this may sound bad, and ...