The alarm clock next to Don and Linda Ingram's bed is about to go on a permanent vacation, after the Ontario lottery winners picked up a cheque for $50 million on Thursday.
The couple, who have worked as cooks at the Wally's World restaurant in Oshawa, Ont. for 15 years, said they won't have much use for the clock after they retire as millionaires.
The Ingrams won the Lotto Max jackpot of $50 million last Friday, launching a week-long tornado of publicity, celebrating and unexpected visitors dropping by their Oshawa apartment.
That is another thing the Ingrams say they will be doing away with – their apartment. After 30 years of marriage, they will be moving to larger accommodations.
"A nice big home. No more apartments," Don, 53, told reporters on Thursday while standing next to his visibly-shaking wife.
"Shocked, overwhelmed, overjoyed. Happy," Linda, 59, added as the couple received their payout. She said that her children and grandchildren would never have money troubles again.
The couple learned of their good fortune last week after staying home sick from work. Linda, who buys her ticket every week from the same convenience store, said she broke down when her ticket came up a winner.
"We were both off sick from work. I had my first couple cups of coffee and went to the store where I bought the ticket. I checked the ticket and – boom. It came up a big winner and I freaked," she said, breaking into laughter.
She said she rushed home to tell her husband the good news, busting into the bedroom and shouting the news until he got out of bed.
"What a way to get woken up," Don said with a smile.
Don said he plans to work at Wally's World for a couple more weeks, before hanging up his apron and going on a much-deserved vacation.
After that, he says, he won't have much use for that old alarm clock.
