Avoid betting straitjackets but beware the lure of favourites in the wake of a winning wager

“Don't bet your shirt to win a tie!” chuckled a wise old sage to me the other day. The WOS was trying to dissuade me from having a bet at odds-on. A golden rule of many punters is to only invest at odds-against.

I am not a fan of being tied down like this. Even in the sense of kinky bedroom antics, that is not my cup of tea. I like to be free, versatile, adaptable, and able to treat every price on its merits. Whenever my wife goes away for a weekend, leaving me with the kids, we have a “throw the rulebook out the window” ceremony. Random books are thrown from windows and passing neighbours have to duck for cover. Rulebooks, generally, in my opinion, are overrated.

Of course, this guidance may come at a cost – my children may both be in Young Offenders Institutions by their mid-teens if they fail to abide by any rules – but I make it clear to them that I am not referring to the laws of the land. A civilised society relies on the rule of law, but cherish your freedoms on that foundation.