[Margaret Pilkington]

Way back in the dim and distant past my maternal grandmother used to sit and choose her horses….there was nothing scientific about it….she would bet on a grey horse whatever the odds…..would choose a horse because the third letter in its name was an R……she would bet on a horse because of the jockeys colours……and would never ever ever bet on a horse that was being ridden by Lester Piggott…..and she used to encourage me to have a flutter too.

She won as many times as she lost…..and she had a lot of enjoyment in listening to the races on the radio….this was funny to watch because she would jump up and down in the seat of her chair…..causing me much hilarity.

I had pairs of sandals, dresses and sweets bought out of her winnings.
So I loved her having a flutter.

These days the doom mongers are only too happy to remind us what is damaging about our pleasures.
They must be a sad and unhappy lot.