A football-mad father who scooped £1 million on the Lottery didn't tell his family they were rich for hours so he could watch the match in peace.
Paul McDonald checked his emails and found out he had scooped the seven-figure sum last Sunday.
But he kept the incredible news to himself for a while so he could take it all in while he enjoyed the game.
After he spent his afternoon putting up Christmas decorations, he discovered he had won the jackpot after checking his email - and to celebrate, he made himself a cup of tea.
Instead of rushing to tell his partner and two daughters, the 48-year-old distribution worker simply switched off his computer, put the kettle on and sat down to watch the match.
It was only after it sunk in that he decided to track down his family at the pantomime, in which his five-year-old daughter was performing to tell them the news.
He said: "It was a bit of a shock, I didn't think it was real. I just logged out of the computer and sat down to watch the football.
"I think it was my way of dealing with the surprise, but a slurp of tea and a bit of football kick-started me again.
"I then logged back into the account about 30 times, each time expecting it to disappear but always seeing the same winning amount.
"Eventually, I took a screengrab and dashed off to catch the second half of the panto."
He said he had promised his daughter he would decorate the family home in Bexhill, East Sussex, in time to catch her part, which came towards the end of the pantomime.
He said: "It's crazy - one minute you're battling with extension leads and focused on putting up the Christmas lights, hoping to make it to the second half of the local Christmas panto to see your youngest's performance, the next you're a millionaire.
"I've worked all my life, I'm proud to be a grafter from a family of grafters, so to suddenly discover on a Sunday evening that I've won more money than most people earn in a lifetime is taking some time for the analytical side of my brain to absorb.
"The other part of my brain, the dreamer and adventurous side, is all over the win."
Mr McDonald said he does not plan to give up his job but intends to spend the money on family trips.
He said: "This win will mean we can enjoy little sparkles every now and then. Whether it's a luxury ski holiday to Aspen, Christmas trips to Lapland, meals out with family and friends, or weekends away just for us, breaking out from daily life and making memories is going to be utterly life-changing."
He went on: "My youngest doesn't quite understand the value of money but my eldest, who is 16, was a bit overwhelmed, there were a few tears.
"She gave me some advice that I could cut down on my working hours, which possibly I might do but I'm not planning to give up work yet."
He added: "It will make life a lot easier. Money doesn't buy happiness but it does make life a lot easier, it gives us options and gives the children security and will give me more time to spend with friends and family."
Mr McDonald bought his £1,063,516 winning ticket for the Must Be Won draw on Saturday, December 11 on the National Lottery website, and the lucky numbers were 6, 13, 14, 15, 31, 33 with bonus ball 38.
