Who hasn’t daydreamed about hitting the lottery, bidding farewell to life’s little inconveniences, and sailing off into the sunset? For most of us, it remains a daydream, but for James Clarkson, a 20-year-old lad from England, it became a stunning reality.

James, working as a training gas engineer in the charmingly quaint Carlisle, Cumbria, found himself waking up to a life he never anticipated. Just this year, in the ever-so-exciting 2025, he snagged the lotto jackpot on January 4th with the kind of blind-luck only movies typically depict.

With a simple but extraordinary lottery play of 16, 19, 22, 24, 27, and 35 chosen at random, James casually walked away with a staggering £7,533,329. And to add a sprinkle of déjà vu, he’d already pocketed £120 on a Christmas Day lotto draw, also through some whimsically random number picking.

James’s family was, of course, ecstatic, probably already dreaming of beaches and bungalows. But what about his girlfriend, you ask? Let’s say, skepticism gets the best of some people. When he called her to share the life-altering news, her response was… let’s just say she literally slept on it.

So there he was, at his girlfriend’s place, trying to let it all sink in. Rather than bursting into a rendition of “We’re in the Money,” she rolled back into slumber-land. Can we blame her? It was pre-dawn hours, after all.

Enter James’s father, the first fully alert recipient of the good news. In doubt, but with a racing heart, James dashed home to double-check his fortunes.

Recollecting his surreal morning, he said, “I was at my girlfriend’s house and got up early to check on the snowfall when I saw a message saying I’d won on the National Lottery app.” He added, in what must have been a gleeful daze, “I opened it straight away but couldn’t see anything to begin with. Then I scrolled down and saw I’d matched all six main Lotto numbers to hit the jackpot and that my prize amount was £7,533,329! I just didn’t believe it! I thought I was dreaming!”

As soon as National Lottery lines opened, a bright-eyed James claimed his treasure trove. What followed was a day full of emotional highs, connecting with family, and splurging a little on friendship and familial bonds – all topped off with a grand feast and champagne at his grandparents’ abode.

Interestingly, while many in his position might scribble a resignation letter, James maintained a firm footing in reality. “I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won. It was a bit grim but that’s reality. I’m not going to stop working, I’m too young. I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there. I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldn’t let me not work anyway!” he shared, with a sensible head on his young shoulders.

With new-found wealth, one must indulge a little, right? James plans exciting trips – starting with Cape Verde – and splurging on designer items. Ah, the allure of a sleek new car also calls to him, begging for an antidote to the drudgery of a cold work van. When asked, he confessed, “I’m not really a fan of shopping, it’s not my idea of fun but a new car, that would be massive! If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you’d understand.”

A die-hard Manchester City fan, James intends to secure season tickets for his family – playing out his dreams one match at a time. Ultimately, sharing his fortune, not hoarding it, seems to be his preferred play. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, it’s what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed. We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isn’t just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit.”

So, dear readers, while James takes his phenomenal experience one day at a time, the rest of us might continue with our daydreams and occasional lottery tickets. Besides, who knows? Today may just be our lucky day!