You win some, you lose some!
@Sandra1952 (6047)
Spain
September 16, 2012 9:50am CST
I found out the truth of that saying today - with knobs on! There's a big car boot sale that's held about two miles from here every Sunday. I've been on the buying side and the selling side, but today we were buying - it's still way too hot to stand at a stall for about 4 hours.
Tony came with me, and my neighbour Joan. We bought a few bits - including a new small fish tank for 15 Euro (£12, $20), and a glass topped coffee table for 5 Euro (£4, $6.50). They have a cash raffle every week - it's just 1 Euro per ticket, and there are 4 or 5 prizes, the highest being 100 Euro (£80, $130). Joan and I buy two tickets each week, intending to share the winnings. Up to now, there haven't been any, although we had a near miss a couple of weeks ago when the 20 Euro prize went to the person behind me in the queue - I missed it by one number! This week, though, we got the big one - 100 Euro!
We were still smiling when we got home - until we took the fish tank out of the car. It had breathing holes along the two long sides - it was for small reptiles or spiders - not fish! Tony had noticed the first set of holes near the top, but he thought he could fill the tank to just below the holes. Good plan, but the holes on the other side were only a few inches from the bottom. 
So, we won and we lost, although the gains outweighed the losses - the coffee table is great. When I start selling again, I'll get my money back on it - and I'll make sure I label if 'reptile tank,' just in case there's another idiot like Tony on the loose. 
Have you ever had a 'win some, lose some' day? And did the gains win over the losses?
So, we won and we lost, although the gains outweighed the losses - the coffee table is great. When I start selling again, I'll get my money back on it - and I'll make sure I label if 'reptile tank,' just in case there's another idiot like Tony on the loose.
Have you ever had a 'win some, lose some' day? And did the gains win over the losses?1 person likes this
10 responses
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
20 Sep 12
It was a few months ago when I went to a casino with some friends. I rarely go, and when I go, I put a limit on myself to spend $20 only. I was in front of a slot machine and was around $11 left on my credits when I won $80! I was feeling lucky so I played on until it got down to $60. I then stopped figuring that I'm still up $40.
Just as I left the machine, a man jumped into my seat and started playing the machine. Me on the other hand went to the restaurant and got myself a burger (from my winnings
)! My friends soon came over, and it was time to go. As I passed the machine were I was playing, I saw the guy was still there. And I was just in time to see him win $800!
I couldn't shake off the feeling that if I played down to my original $20, I could have won the $800. Not that big, but could have been worth a lot more burgers!
)! My friends soon came over, and it was time to go. As I passed the machine were I was playing, I saw the guy was still there. And I was just in time to see him win $800!
I couldn't shake off the feeling that if I played down to my original $20, I could have won the $800. Not that big, but could have been worth a lot more burgers!@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
20 Sep 12
Well done, Bounce. And as for winning the $800 - well, it may not have happened, because if it was one of those machines where you can hold some of the reels, or nudge them down, your choices may not have pulled up the big money. Another thing to consider is he may have put in a lot of money to get that out. It takes a while to buy and eat a burger.
Some years ago, we managed a holiday park, and my daughter used to hang around the games rooms, because she could tell when the machines were about to drop. It wasn't big money, but she managed to do it so often she made a regular amount of pocket money.
I've never been much of a one for slot machines, but when we used to empty those machines and I saw how much profit we made each week, I realised there's only ever one winner. I haven't played one in twenty years. I'm not much of a gambler anyway, because I always expect to lose, and rather than thinking 'how much am I going to win,' it's more like 'how much can I afford to lose?'
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
18 Sep 12
Well you had a great day at the boot sale! As for the aquarium, it may not be suitable for fish, but you could make a nice terrarium in it. I can't believe you purchased a whole coffee table with glass top for $6.50!
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
21 Sep 12
I still can't believe you got it for so little money! I doubt I could buy a table for less than $20 and definitely not with a glass top. I really need to get out and look for a book case.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
20 Sep 12
Yes, if we can't resell it when we do a boot sale ourselves, we will make a terrarium from it. The coffee table is brilliant - it cleaned up beautifully, and it matches everything else in the room - including the other coffee table. It's a big room, and if we have visitors, it's handy to have an extra table for drinks and snacks. We're really pleased with that.
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
Well, yes there are those days that i feel like i have won quite a deal because of successful presentations, or of successful job related tasks i have completed.. but then it would be a lost scenario when i would be disappointed over something or someone! =(
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
17 Sep 12
Hello, Chiyosan. Isn't that just what life is all about, though? Good things and bad things, successes and failures always alongside each other, even if they don't always occur on the same day. That's what makes life so unpredictable and wonderful, and it's why I chose the 'Life' interest as the location for this discussion.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
16 Sep 12
You reminded me of an incident where I thought I had a good bargain for some hard cover used books I bought while in Australia. There they have Sunday sales every Sunday which I used to frequent. Each time I go there I ended up buying few good books which I thought were pricey back home. When I went back I was speechless when I was asked to pay A$800 for excess weight. At that moment I felt like dumping all the books in the airport bins but I was ashamed to do it as they were many passengers queing behind me and too embarrass to tell the counter lady of my intention to throw away the books. Luckily I still have some cash left and paid the amount but with a heavy heart. I may have gained some useful knowledge
From the books but left me with a big hole in my pocket.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
16 Sep 12
Oh, Zandi, I really feel for you! I'd have been just the same in your position - I can't resist buying books, even though I already have a houseful. I guess you definitely won and lost with that one!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Sep 12
What a fabulous day you had. I honestly cannot think of a win some lose some incidents in my life - but there must have been so many. Nowadays it has been lose some all the way since last February. So very hard and the problems are multiplying. Just something to live through and it is all out of my control really. However, I am going home next week so this is my last week in London until next summer probably
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
18 Sep 12
You must be due for some good luck now then, Cynthiann. At least you manage to keep cheerful through it all.
Were you in London for the Olympics? I saw it on the TV here, and the atmosphere seemed fantastic, from what I could see.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
17 Sep 12
I suppose I could relate this to situations in general. As for me I always look at the better side of anything and so it is always a win win situation for me! You will be amazed how I pull out things in situations where others would feel sorry for me, like the time I had that road accident. I wrote an article on that and called it 'Happy Moments"
You will be amazed how I pull out things in situations where others would feel sorry for me, like the time I had that road accident. I wrote an article on that and called it 'Happy Moments"
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
17 Sep 12
Hello, Allknowing. It's the only way to deal with things sometimes. Writing about bad things helps you to confront them and process them, and if what you write can help others in the same situation, then something good has come out of the bad.
I wondered which interest to put this in, and I settled on 'Life,' because, as everyone here is saying, this sort of thing happens all the time. Life is just like that.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
17 Sep 12
I have so many situations in my life Sandra. We in India cannot do without domestic help and I have had as many as 3. It so happened that at one time I was left with none. Being used to only giving directions I was left high and dry. And this situation lasted for several months. I took advantage of this and got active around the house. Today I am able to even entertain house guests single handed. I am back to normal now but I have decided to continue to be busy in the kitchen as I have begun to like it!
This topic rightly fits into the 'life' interest!
This topic rightly fits into the 'life' interest!
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
16 Sep 12
Most of the time I feel like a winner. I do not have any room for major purchases at this time, but I am happy with what I have. Congrats on winning the 100 Euro drawing. Most of my purchases are for fabric and other craft type items.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
16 Sep 12
Hello, GG. Yes, craft items are always good to buy at car boot sales. People either give up their hobbies and sell their stocks, or traders buy up bankrupt stock. We saw lots of card making stuff today, so when my friend comes to visit, we'll take her there - she makes all her own cards.
I'm really peased with the win - we're going out for a meal and drinks with friends on Thursday, and that will more than cover our share, so it's a free night out!
@jugsjugs (12967)
•
16 Sep 12
Well done on the win.Look at it another way, with your winnings you are still quids in with your winnings,lol.
I am a person that tend to try to spend as little money as I can, so any thing that looks good always gets looked at twice, as I hate getting things to find out that they are no good to me.
I am sure there will be someone that would like the tank and you never know you may get someone to buy it off you for more money.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
16 Sep 12
That's the plan, Jugsjugs - I'll start a bit higher, and hope to get my money back. And we'll certainly take a better look next time. Usually, I check things over, but I was looking at something else - I just heard the price, thought it sounded good, and passed over the cash. Big mistake!
@aminul842700 (861)
• Dhaka, Bangladesh
16 Sep 12
Hello friend, Very right. If you want to gain something, then you have to leave something. Have a very nice day.
@Angelpink (4034)
• Philippines
16 Sep 12
Life is having two sides ! Not all the time we can have what we wanted . Sometimes it is a NO NO and sometimes things are given in the flatter only.
