Andy's Story

hey Andy welcome to London from a fellow Londoner, make sure you stay out of those casinos in the west end, leicester square (it's pronounced lester!) is looking like a mini las vegas these days! tc

Andy - Congratulations on your new job and the girl next door - but especially one year gamble free - you ahve given me so much hope,my son is day 5 gamble free. I read your post with great interest ans my son has been let down by girlfriends, but has met a girl very recently so fingers crossed for you both!

Take care Andy and keep psoting here you will give hope to so many people

Hi All ! Things good in London. Dating a lovely girl and job is going well too. I got a block on my laptop and downgraded my smartphone to a basic talk and text model. I am taking no chances, Gambling is everywhere in the UK !

Talk soon

Andy

Just checking in ! Things going ok and I am aware of my addiction everyday and think about it first thing every morning. Once i keep the misery if caused me fresh in my head, It seems to help me get through the day !

Gambled last week £100 lost, but managed to pull the brakes and stop. I have to be so careful.

Hi Andy

I read your 1st post today man it was powerful. Im 4 days of gambling and this country is a nightmare . everywhere you go you can gamble. Stay strong bud and i hope everything goes well. I cannot give advice as im a virgin to this no gambling but stay strong and all will be good

Just Checking in ! Have not posted in 4 months but have been reading posts regularly. Things going very well since I gambled at the end of Feb. I just put it behind me and did not dwell too much or beat myself up over it, I think I learned from it and have been on my guard since.

James P is right, time is your friend as it has gotten so much easier in the last four months and I don't really think of gambling that often anymore. I am in a lovely relationship with a gorgeous girl with a gentle heart of gold.

Had I been gambling I would have blown it months ago with lies, moods secrecy etc. I make good money and love to spoil her with little treats, weekends away etc and she looks after me so well and takes care of my mind so I could tell her anything so she knows all about my gambling ways.

The freedom I have to live normally is wonderful if you give it time. I am always on my guard but its not an obsession anymore. Just thought I would pop in and update. There can be a lovely life after gambling if you give it time. Regards Andy

Well ! Hi all, I am now in Dublin after being transferred from London. Ireland is so different to England and they are so close on the map. Life is still good but my girlfriend would not move with me so I made my second big leap alone..again. I still think of gambling as I was watching the tennis and thought Andy Murray would win, but it passed and my life is all the better for not gambling.

Example... I was browsing the net and came across an Icebreaker ship that breaks the ice for shipping and keeps the shipping lanes clear for cargo ships in Antartica. Then I saw they have 6 cabins for passengers to go along for the ride.

It was $3800 for 14 days full board ripping through ice. There and then I booked it and leave next October. I could never have done that Gambling !

Life is lovely on this side !

Andy

Hi Andy, I am Dublin based myself I do find the Uk and Ireland similar in ways and different in others. But Dublin is a nice place to be good luck with your trip and well done on staying clear of gambling.

Michael

Hi Andy, well done for staying off the gambling.

I have been so motivated reading this and seeing how your life has changed for the better. I have only been bet free for 25 days but I can't wait to get to next year and also be able to treat myself to a really nice holiday.

This is proof that there is a way out if you keep your guard up despite the constant adverts and temptations.

Keep up the good work and enjoy Dublin and your well deserved holiday.

Hello from Dublin. Things still good since my move here from London. I have changed jobs again and now work with Google here in their European HQ. Its a vast place with over 2000 people all doing their google thing !

I still don't gamble and what I have noticed is the Irish Government are totally against FOBT'S and they don't exist here.

The guys in the next office are working on a once off subscription browser that plants a cookie in your pc and blocks Gambling, P**n, etc or whatever you want to block and should be available next few months at a cost of 5 or 10 bucks.

The Gambling Industry are up in arms over this but they can do nothing to stop the big money Google are throwing at this.

This software will track you, so if you buy a new phone and decide to gamble, you can, but if you ever decide to check your email, the software will nail your phone too for any of the sites you opted out of when you bought the browser for your home/work pc.

Anyway things are good and the months are racking up. If I gambled I would lose this cool job within months or weeks.

I would lose my nice apt because I did not pay the rent.

Gambling brought me to my knees in floods of tears and I never want to go back there, so look ahead and never back. I am now going out to consume several pints of Guinness and then the ''wobbley'' walk back home with the fish and chips smothered with vinegar !

Simple things made possible by not Gambling.

You can do it !

Hi Andy

Congratulations on still being strong. I was really interested to read you're working for google now and really interested to hear google is making a browser that will block gambling sites etc.....think of the positive effect this would have if it was installed on all tablets, pcs, phones!! So many folk would then not go down the online gambling route.....hope for the future for the younger generation.

Mo

Hello All ! Still In Dublin, Still Gamble free Thank God ! Finally bought a house in Dublin so I guess I am staying here.

Have a lovely girlfriend and none of this would have been possible had I continued gambling. I never thought I would kick the obsession I had for gambling but time is your friend, The longer you abstain the easier it gets. I still read the diaries a few times a week because I never want to forget how bad things were back then...and could be again if I let it. Thanks for reading and I wish you all the best, Andy

Hi all, Still fighting the good fight, Still with the folk in Google Dublin. My Icebreaker trip was amazing, no phone or internet coverage for 10 days which was lovely so I started to write a book and only finished it last week. My finished and a publishers finished is probably miles apart but we will see.

It's not about gambling but a well respected man in a lovely suburban area with a lovely close family but he likes to kill people ! Anyway, Going for a well earned pint or 5 !

Talk Soon

Andy

Hi Andy. I am totally new to this site and this is my first post of any kind.I have read all your posts and I so hope to follow in your footsteps,an inspirational read.I am only 21 days now without gambling (it's been so hard fighting the demon) and I know I have a very very long road ahead of me.As I write this I am laying next to my 4 year old son before bed time and I know for sure that if I don't rid myself of my gambling I will not see many more nights like this.My partner has tried to help me in the past to give up but I just lie lie lie and I know I have made her life unbearable at times.I know she deserves better,basically if I gamble once more I'm going to lose my family for sure(that's if it's not too late already) I'm 44 and so ashamed that I have not dealt with this problem before(gambled since being 17)but your honest and graphic story has inspired me to continue on this long long road to recovery! Im so so determined to crack this!! Thank you again for your story I'm sure im not the only "mug" to gain from it,all the best and keep up the good work!! Steve (Essex)