Just been betting on Oscars down the bookmakers

Not great odds on the Oscars at my local Bookies here in London.

But I bet £20 anyway.

I did four accumulators, at £5 each.

Accumulators mean that I only get paid if I get all my options correct. However, because I'm accumulating, I get much better offs.

For example, I bet £5 on:

Best Director CLINT EASTWOOD (evens) AND Best Picture AVIATOR (1/2) AND Best Actress HILARY SWANK (1/4)

Not great odds but because I'm accumulating, if all these things come true, my £5 on this bet will bring me back pretty much the whole £20 I bet altogether. So I am making this one my cushion.

The other three bets were: £5 on:

Best Picture AVIATOR (1/2) AND Best Actress HILARY SWANK (1/4) AND Best Supp Act CATE BLANCHETT (2/5)

which would bring me about £15 I think, not much, but it could come true AS WELL as the above one.

My slightly riskier ones were:

£5 on:

Best Picture: MILLION DOLLAR BABY (7/4) AND Best Actress HILARY SWANK (1/4) AND Best Supp Act CATE BLANCHETT (2/5)

which would bring me almost £30 I think (a bit confused)

But my most risky is:

Best supporting actor CLIVE OWEN 11/2 AND Best supporting actress CATE BLANCHETT 2/5

This is a risky one but because Clive Owen is not the favourite, it made the odds better. Could have a nice night out on the tiles if that accumulator works!

Over here in the UK the Oscars start at 1 in the morning. I like to buy a few bottles of wine and a few packets of cigarettes, and watch it until about 6 in the morning. I've booked off next day (a Monday) as last year I went straight in. You may think that's a bit mad, but because there's money on it, it's much more interesting!! :-)

Unfortunately, if Cate Blanchett doesn't win, then three of my four bets are void. And hers is one of the first categories to be read out, if not the first! But at least I have my cushion of Eastwood/Aviator/Swank to fall back on, and furthermore, these are the last ones to come out, so my interest will be kept alive until 6 in the morning, hoping to win back the £15 I've already lost on Cate Blanchett.

Have any of you guys made bets this year?

And what do you think of my chances??

PS in case you're wondering, I placed no bets on Jamie *** because he was a whopping 1/14 ON. Basically, that means you bet £14 to get £1 back. That's outrageously shite odds.

TRISTÁN