IF you were “in it to win it” then doubtless you had another disappointing weekend and started the new week yesterday just like all the others. At work.

I like to pretend that I don’t take part in the National Lottery, though this is based on being somewhat economical with the truth.

What I actually mean is that I don’t personally buy the tickets. I am part of a syndicate in the office and one of my colleagues does the dirty work and actually gets them.

We’ve only ever won the occasional tenner but people rarely leave this hopeful little group for fear of being the only one left in the newsroom if the numbers come up as they did last week for the couple in Wales and the workers in Liverpool. When reporters questioned Mr Les Scadding over the vastness of his incomprehensible treasure chest he replied: “Just think that you’re the person who has won £45m and then tell me you think it’s too much.” I don’t follow the logic there, especially when you bring yourself back to reality after all the hype. United Nations officials recently put the number of hungry at 1.02 billion, or roughly one out of every six people on the planet. Money alone will not solve the problem and reduce the 24,000 hunger-related deaths around the globe each and every day. But it helps. So think about that question again and see whether you agree with Mr Scadding.

I know I don’t.