Jackpot!

What would you do if you hit it big in the lottery? No, not that big. Really big. How big? Try $260 million big! That's the prize Colin and Christine Weir collected last week in the EuroMillions game, Europe's version of PowerBall or MegaMillions. That windfall puts the Weirs just behind the Beckhams [David and Victoria; you've probably heard of them] on a standard list of the UK's richest citizens.

Colin and Christine live in a small town in Scotland, have two children (both in their 20's), and until now have lived rather normal lives [until now being the key words]. How rich are Europe's richest lottery winners? Well, they'll earn just over $8 million a year just in interest (about $16 a minute)! And, unlike US lotteries, winnings in the UK are tax-free! It's all theirs.

So far the Weirs have modest plans for the jackpot (new cars for themselves and the kids, homes for their children, travel to China and Australia). Colin Weir says they don't plan to rush into anything, preferring "a gradual change, with choices to be made". Talk about choices...

So what would you do if you hit it big, in the lottery or some other way? What would you buy? Where would you travel to? How would you celebrate your good fortune (The Weirs sat up all night talking about the future, enjoying a rare glass of white wine)? It makes you think...