Tip for postcode lottery players: live in Heemskerk and you will probably win a large cash prize in no time. During the last New Year’s draw it was the turn of the Kerklaan and last week the residents of the Chopinlaan won prizes. For Nick and Paula, Gaston and his larger-than-life check came at a very good time.
“Make sure you’re at home, your prize won’t fit through the letterbox.” That was in an email from the postcode lottery,” says Nick. “Then you’re still in suspense for a while: you get all sorts of things into your head when you get such a message… But you try to keep your expectations a bit low: soon it will be such a silly price as a calendar or a insect book or do I know it all.”
The price still exceeded expectations. Nick: “Then I saw Gaston walking down the street. I swung the door open myself and said ‘good afternoon’ to him. Then it turned out to be 50,000 euros, which is a nice boost.”
It is a wonderful extra in a turbulent time for the couple: “That money came at a very welcome moment,” says Nick. “We are getting married in August and a baby is coming in October, a girl. That is all very special.”
Moreover, Nick tells it all on the phone from his holiday address in Portugal: “We went on Friday. The holiday was already over, but now we can take it a little longer than we thought last week!”, he says with a generous smile.
Another boost: the painter’s work van had actually had to be properly fitted out by a carpenter since the start of his company two years ago: “An acquaintance is doing that for me now, while we’re gone. I’ve seen photos , It looks good.”
Luck seems to be running out for the couple this summer. “But you know what’s best of all?” Nick asks rhetorically on the phone. “I’ve only been a member since December…. then I thought: ‘a prize with old and new, that would be something’. It took a little longer, but I paid 210 euros in lottery tickets up to this draw!”
So stop now at the peak?: “No dude, we’re going to keep going, you never know what’s possible!”