I've toyed with the idea of exotic holidays, fancy cars, even plastic surgery but these all seem so superficial. Those who know of my win are suggesting an investment property.

I have a home already, a comfortable place that I'm happy with and won by a very strategically handled divorce. Because of this, and because I know how much it winds up the ex to see me in it, I am loathe to let it go just because I've come into a little more money.

I've been looking around for a while now, with this idea in mind. There are quite a few properties on the market where I live in the South of England that are in dire need of renovation and I'm quite coming round to the idea of a little project to get my teeth into.

However, I do have a job that I enjoy and I don't want to leave. I had considered working on my investment property in my spare time but don't much fancy giving every weekend and holiday over to stripping, sanding, painting and general hard slog for a house I'm not going to live in.

The other problem I'm encountering is that, given the long working hours I already indulge in, by the time I get round to putting in offers for houses they have already been snapped up. Apparently, this is an up and coming area and with a new university being built in the vicinity, the buy to let property market is really taking off.

After a little research, I found a company that could help me. I have emailed them a brief of the type of investment property I am looking for, the budget I have set and the condition I am willing to accept it in.

They then took over, found my property and quickly secured a deal so that I didn't miss out. I am so excited at this point. Acquiring a house in a divorce was satisfying in a vindictive type of way. Acquiring a house that will be of my own doing actually feels more satisfying.

The company have many services on offer from acquiring the house, brokering a deal, surveying and reporting, arranging and overseeing building works, interior design and even finding tenants and managing the lease.

I have decided not to avail myself of all their services as I don't think I would gain the same satisfaction. They have acquired the house and surveyed the works that need doing as this isn't my field of expertise and in a buy to let property this must be carried out in accordance with certain legal criteria.

I get to do the pretty bit. I get to decide on the interior design, the colours used, the materials used and the furniture that will be put in place. Of course, I won't have the time to do the work myself but when I see the finished article I know it will be from all my own decisions.

The investment property management company I have employed have sourced an interior decorator with a good reputation and six months after my win I am the proud owner of one of the smartest buy to let properties in the area with the ability to command a rather decent rent.

It turns out my investment property was not let to the new influx of students in the area but rather to a city worker and his family. While he was away working all week they did a good job in looking after my property and the management was minimal.

When the family decided on a move to the city themselves, my management company were able to quickly secure more reliable tenants and this has brought me a very respectable second income. The only problem now is that I have the bug and have commissioned the team to find my next investment property.