I'm not one who gambles. I'm all clueless when it comes to playing cards, or even mah jong. And the recent debate on the casino bores me. To me, it has all the excitement of a morgue.
But there are people who are just lucky when it comes to gambling. My aunt is one such lucky lady. But alas, she also owes people, some of them loan sharks, a lot of money. Whatever she won, she used it to clear her mounting debt. It's a vicious cycle. What's the joy of winning then?
My colleague MJM is another. He's always wining 4D, but unlike my aunt, MJM is rich and not in debt (as far as I know). Though short and round in stature, MJM has a towkay look - you know, the kinda of look that tells you he would rather pay his purchases with cold hard cash rather than using a credit card.
Okay, maybe the statement in para 1 is not entirely true. If gaming (a term used by the gahmen in their psychological game) is considered gambling, than maybe I have a vice to confess - 4D. But then again, I'm a small-time player. Honestly, my luck has never been good when it comes to lottery. I've never won TOTO or the Big Sweep. As for 4D, I hardly struck, and if I did, it's mostly consolation prizes ranging from $10-$20 because I normally placed a stake of only $2 on iBet. Many many moons ago, when I first joined the work force, I did strike $500, and subsequently, $75 dollars. But Lady Luck simply refused to smile after that. I continued placing bets for a year or two, and when it yielded nothing more than false hopes, I simply stopped playing altogether. I was resigned to the fate of having to work my butt off in the office to earn my "wealth". Such is my fate, like Boxer in Animal Form, the horse who was ever loyal and worked till he was sent to the abattoir by the conceited piggies. Hard life.
But since I took delivery of my car in February, I have started buying my car number. Usually, I'd place a bet of a couple of dollars on iBet, and another couple of dollars on the actual number. Lady Luck hasn't been too unkind. I've struck a couple of times, winning from $10-$20, enough to buy colleagues a cuppa. I told myself it was just for the fun of it. My sentiment in buying 4D has always been this - 有买有希望，没买没希望. Of course, one has to be very careful not to get carried away, and end up splurging all their money on 4D/TOTO or getting into debt or borrowing money from loan sharks, like my aunt did.
Yesterday, being Christmas Eve, I was at my mum house celebrating Christmas with my siblings. We had pot luck, and the spread on the table was simple but delicious. I bought the famous fish ball from Tiong Bahru and fried bee hoon. My siblings bought chicken, both the fried and the BBQ kind, pizzas, hor fan, among others. We had none of the usual Christmas stuff like Turkey or log cake because none of us really fancy them. It was a joyous occasion, everyone was in a festive and happy mood, especially the kids who juz couldn't wait to open their presents, all placed under a beautiful Christmas tree put up by my brother.
Then, while digging into a piece of fried chicken, my mum asked if I had bought 4D. My aunt has called to say that my car number came out 3rd prize in yesterday 4D draw. Of course I did, I told my mum. I got a windfall of about $1500. Not much really but hey, it's not very often that I strike, okay? So I told my family that everything is on the house!
It's an unexpected Christmas present!
Category: Musings
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5 comments:
Unlike some people, you surely aren't one who believes that God will provide. But why buy so little? (I don't mean the fishballs and the beehoon but the 4D. LOL.)
Oh.. than you're wrong Victor. I believe that God will provide, too. In this instance, maybe God's way of providing is through 4D leh? Of course, a man will always find justification for doing the things that he does. But my conscience is clear. 4D to me is juz play thing. I don't depend on it for a livelihood. Truth is, I CAN'T depend on it. That's why I only buy little. But pse, man of greed! Be satisfied for what you have!
From the govt point of view, buying 4D from an official source even can qualify you as a good citizen, contributing to the economy. If you buy from an illegal source, you better look over your shoulders. You are now probably a criminal.
Zen, didn't I say my conscience is clear? What illegal source? Don't sabo me leh. ;)
But yes, 4D helps in generating the economy. And Singapore Pool is also a great contributor of money to charity.
Chris - When the notorious Al Capone was shot by the police, in his last breath claimed that he was actually a good man, misunderstood,and truly possessed a good heart. Get the message.
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