2014 Challenge

Hi all interesting update mr b

Hitthefan checkin day 155 on Sunday

Answers

Life 9

Family 10

Gambling 1

Financial 3

Mr b need a big ask away from Friday 4/07/14 not back till 26/07/14 travelling not sure about internet access on my adventure wish to remain in challenge could you check in for me if not I will rejoin when back in uk. Last shift tomorrow enjoy the sunshine everyone and keep marching hitthefanx

Evening everyone,

We're reaching the half way point in the week and there's 19 of us checked in at base camp. With a strong middle and end as we head towards the Saturday night deadline, we could well be the closest we've ever been to the significant milestone of a 50 person strong army.

I'll get a quick bit of "housekeeping" done - HTF - thanks for letting me know about the holiday - have a fabulous time and know that I'll be checking in for you in your absence!! Congratulations to you as well for achieving 150 days today!!

Wolfgang - congratulations to you as well mate - exactly a quarter of a year under you belt as of today!! Lou will be proud, as are the rest of your fellow team mates!! Hope you had a brilliant day with the family on Sunday. Let us know!

Nikki (GamAddict) - thanks for the repost! You will be formally added to the team on Sunday!! Post as often as you like Mrs - the more the merrier.

Ok........so onto the answers so far for the week. There's 14 of the 19 who have checked in so far have answered the questions from Sunday's update. It is certainly serving as a reminder that this is one heck of a tough journey that everyone is on. I'll turn it all upside down and inside out over the next few days to see if any themes emerge.

There has been a couple of things that have come out though that need to be called out straight away..........

richy - I'm really concerned by your post and where you are at just now. Glad to hear that you seem to be getting support on a daily basis at the moment, but please reach out to this group with any asks you may have for support, encouragement, kind words etc.....that's the whole purpose of having a team behind you and the true value of this thread. Please continue to speak to people - there's another post on the "Overcoming Problem Gambling" page that was started by Molehole - have a look at it if you've not done so already.

There are some other "scores" that may surprise other team members - if nothing else, this is a great self-appraisal exercise......and for the rest of the team, a great opportunity to get a temperature check on where other members of the group currently are......across a range of considerations.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the group checking in and providing their answers.

Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine.........and the shocks of Wimbledon continuing!

Mr Brightside

I'm not to sure how this thread works but it seems like a great support group which I very well need.

Day 1 almost compleat 🙂

I will follow along... Best wishes to everyone x

Hi soldiers,

Checking in on day 92

Had a lovely Sunday with my sister Ruth and my Brither in Law Dietmar:) was just to short and the 2.5 hours drive each way from Venlo Netherlands to Bckeburg Germany took just to much of the day but it was still absolute worth it.

Negative point at the moment is that my future Mother in Law Nancy became very ill over the past 2 weeks and I'm feeling a bit sorry and guilty that I'm not in England to support Lou, because I know how hard it is for her and her own health situation is making it not easier.

Thank god I'm going home on the 11/7/14 and took a week of from then to spend a bit time supporting Lou and the family.

Gambling is not on my mind feeling very strong on this way what's a really good thing.

Like always Mr B. Amazing Update thank you for this.

And now the question form lol

Family : 8

Life : 8

Gambling: 2

Finances: 3

You all have a good and gamble free week

Love and respect

Wolfgang

Hi Mr B.

Thank you yes it was a great day I've enjoyed every minute of it and hope to meet them sooner than after a 7 years break again.

Family is one of the most important things in life and I love all my family to bits 🙂

Best wishes to you

Wolfgang

Hi Wolfgang - Great to read that you are doing so well, keeping busy and far away from the bad old days of gambling. Sorry about Lou's mother - hope things improve there.

Tschuss!

Joanna

Checking in on my day 16. Today is a lovely bright day xxx Well wishes to all 😀

Bless you Joanna - I'm thinking you must be suffering from hay fever too? 😉 Lol!

Mr B

PS Wolfgang - great post about the weekend and I echo Joanna's sentiments around Lou's mum - please tell her we're asking for her.

Family 9

Life 7

Gambling 3

Finances 5

Checking in on day 102...allowing myself to think about making some serious plans for the future...a move out of the UK could be on the cards...the debts will mostly be gone this time 2 years, then spend a year saving heavily so this time 3 years if I stay on the straight and narrow I could be debt free, 20k in the bank and off to start up a new life in a new country miles from here. Will it happen? I don't know is the honest answer, who knows what can happen in 3 years. All I know is my OH would go in a heartbeat and lately I have been thinking there's not much worth staying here for.

SOS-SOS-SOS-SOS-SOS-SOS.......

Mr B or anyone else reading this: could you please have a gander at RG01's post on the New Members forum and my replies. Ryan is 20 and in need of some good advice - I have tried, but I think a man's viewpoint might help. I despair.....

Many thanks.

Joanna

hi all, just checking in. Testing time at work but leaving the online gaming alone

Hey folks,

Really quick post for now......

1. Thanks to those who have checked in today and for the answers!!

2. Onlineplayer - can I ask you to confirm that it's not just online gaming that you're leaving alone? I'm clear on your 2015 plans, but that's a couple of times you've called out specifically online gaming and just need to satisfy my curiosity that all other gambling forms are arrested too? Thanks!

3. Joanna - I've read the posts and reread them.....yours and his. Lots I could say, but not really anything I or anyone else could say that you haven't already! You invest so much of your time on this forum gifting others great advice and feedback that they can choose to use or disregard. You can counsel but you can't act - that is a reader responsibility, not a writer's. You've offered a piece of toilet roll, but he wants you to wipe his backside I'm afraid. I'd suggest the amazin investment you make is repositioned to someone who is going to take and use it because they want to make the change and be accountable for their outcomes. Credit to you for going back in for seconds.......you've got waaay more patience than me 😉

Mr B

Hey everyone. .things are ok now..confessed my relapse to partner, wasnt bad as I thought and im grateful as it could have been worse...a few days gamble free and im really looking forward to joining the team..gl to all of us x

Checking in day 33 I think it is! I have no desire to gamble again and the thoughts are getting less. I realise the mistakes I made when I gambled and the hurt I caused myself.

It's been a crazy journey but I really am feeling the rewards now.

Two job interviews lined up over next two weeks and handing in my notice at a company that I feel due to the way they have treated me led me when in the full grip of this addiction to continue to gamble.

Amazing how much better you can put your time to use when not gambling and the natural emotions you gain back that were lost to gambling

Hope everyone is going strong!

Hi Mr B and fellow soldiers.

Checking in on day 9 - over a week, so pleased.

My numbers are

Life 2

Family 8

Gambling 4

Financial 4

Life number is not looking good so I will have to seriously get back to activities which gave me pleasure before the gambling took hold of me.

Joanna - re SOS - I am a patient person but decided not to respond to the post as I couldn't think of anything helpful or indeed positive to say. Words failed me ... for once.

Keep up the good work everyone.

Elfie