2014 Challenge

Checking in with no thoughts of gambling.

It's amazing how much other worthwhile things instantly replace the sludge of gambling when you stop.

My life right now is so busy and non stop I haven't got time for looking at a coupon or form or anything, even if I wanted to.

Hope everyone else is managing to replace gambling with other worthwhile activities and destroying the "Time" element that gambling breeds and feeds off.

Keep strong gang,

Drew

o*g it must be something in the air...

I'm sorry to read that we have had a few reported slips this week

I myself have had a really difficult few weeks and had my closest near miss today

I felt so taken over by that "need to" feeling..it wrapped itself around me, it got into me and just wouldn't let go... I really didn't think I had the strength to fight it....BUT I just kept thinking " look how far you have come" (keeping that focus on getting to 6 mths abstaining) Also how I would be letting myself and YOU people down - I'm happy that I kept strong although I was sickened by my near failing... I would have been totally gutted.

I know if it wasn't for you guys,the comments and the challenge, I would be deep in that s...t hole

(Always be on your guard - fight the battles - WIN the wars)

Thanks - A VERY battered Glads Dad

Checking in on day 16 - still bet free

Quick check in on a tough day. Had a few thoughts about football bets today but fought them off. Hope the groups still going strong and all have got through a testing day!

Day 147....life doesn't get much busier than this not one gambling thought has crossed my mind I haven't even had that boring moment when I've thought 'ahhh just 20 won't hurt'...it will hurt n if a thought like that ever enters my head again I know I have 5 million other things I could be doing xx

Checking in on day 164

Bad week at work but still a happy man

Julio

Evening everyone,

Sorry I've been so quiet this week - since Thursday I've been dealing with a situation at home that's required everything I've got. It'll need my ongoing full focus as well so I'm going to ask everyone to help me out a bit for the next couple of weeks by keeping things going, reading a bit more on the challenge and encouraging everyone as their milestones are hit. I'll still manage the updates on a Sunday, but during the week you'll not see a great deal from me.

No issues with gambling although a few thoughts today - came and went, so no worries on that front. It's amazing how your mind works when your back is against wall. My commitment to my family, my friends, those who depend on me and everyone on this challenge is unwavering.

Update will be on in the morning.

Mr B

Checking in on day 150 c'mon! Chuffed to bits!

I'm chuffed to bits for you too Delboygolf 🙂 Well done. Mama B x

I'm very chuffed for you too DBG!

There's going to be a short delay with the update today folks.........my daughter is desperate for some pancakes and there's no way I'm going to deprive her of those with everything else we have going on right now........priorities!

I'll target midday at the latest.

Mr B

If shes anything like my 13 year old daughter then who am i to get in the way of a girl and pancakes! Lol.

Morning everyone,

So we often hear the old cliche about life being a roller coaster…………and if I’m honest, it’s always been a phrase that’s annoyed me when I’ve heard it. OK, it’s a decent enough metaphor, but so overused at times………and sometimes for the most trivial of matters. However………I think for a lot of us, there’s no better metaphor as we journey through our recovery…….

……there’s the start where we strap ourselves in and make things as safe as possible. There’s the massive uphill climb at the start where the excitement and the anticipation builds. We reach the top and for a moment time just stops as you look what’s in front of you and you think, “aw cr**, is this what I’m going to have to go through……….what have I done?” as the realisation of your actions and choices really hits home……..and then it begins………

………freewheeling into the first trough, possibly feeling a bit sick, regretting that you got yourself into this position in the first place………..but then beginning to enjoy it and an overwhelming sense of achievement comes over you. But it’s not over yet……..the twists and turns begin to cast doubt in your mind……….the sudden drops put your heart in your mouth………..and as temptation jumps onto your track as you head through a loop the loop, you know that the only thing truly saving you from falling as your life is turned upside down is the safety device that you put around yourself at the start of the journey………..

……..can you imagine if that safety device was of our own choosing? You can select the really risky option - a flimsy seat belt that you know in your heart of hearts won’t hold your weight and keep you safe at the riskiest points in the journey…………you can also choose something that is a bit more robust that you know will hold you in while you get thrown around corners but it’s going to take a lot of strength and determination to hold yourself safe in that car - one loss of focus, one second of mis-judgement and your safety device isn’t good enough……you find yourself freefalling (and if you’re at Alton Towers, maybe into Oblivion!). Then there’s the totally risk averse device…..the ones with supposed fail to safe elements all the way through it. If your strength to hold on gives up, there is something else there that keeps you safe in your seat until you gather sufficient energy, confidence and belief in yourself to begin holding on again………..have we all got those devices in place or are any of us in a position that we have willingly taken unnecessary risks or put ourselves in harms way before the journey begins? Are some of us depending on an element of chance to get us through the journey, knowing that at any given time we could freefall to the ground?

Of course, there are other things that could help……..who is in the car with us? Could we depend on them to hold on to us when risk comes before us and we don’t have what it takes to keep our own selves going? Do we have safety in numbers? Do you have the right people around you who would understand why you are scared, or vulnerable, or needing more support than normal?

The other thing that can help is our experience and knowledge of what the ups and downs, the twists and turns plus the things that throw everything upside down actually look like.

There’s been a number of people who have slipped out of their car this week…….and others who have clung on for dear life and just and no more managed to stay safe. There have been one or two that despite being in danger have had the correct safety devices in place that, no matter how much they have tried to harm themselves, have ultimately kept them in the car and on track.

So where are these ramblings taking me? Think about how you set yourself up for your roller coaster journey. What safety devices have you chosen? Will they hold you in no matter how turbulent things get? If you have fallen and find yourself at the start of the journey again, what safety devices will you choose this time that will keep you on track? Picture who you need in the car with you and who have the strength to keep you there……the more the merrier. It’s your car, it’s your safety………..but the journey isn’t one you can’t always predict…….and that’s why your preparation and planning……..plus your experience……… are all critical. Would you get back on the roller coaster with no new safety device in place when you've just fallen of it?

My journey has taken a number of severe twists that there was no way I could have predicted…….especially this week. Thankfully my safety devices are strong - my finances are controlled by someone in the car with me, my exclusion barriers are in place and I have filled the car with people I trust, I cherish and who I know I can depend on……..and that includes a lot of you guys. I need your strength right now to keep me safe and to help me hold on.

Ok then, onto this week’s update and after my opening provocations I am going to keep this to the standard today - headlines, milestones, numbers. I’m not going to revisit the volumes question as I suggested I would - I can’t over commit right now and don’t want to start something I can’t finish. We’ll do that at the end of the month hopefully.

So, here we go………

Headlines for this Week………

We started last week with 36 soldiers of which 34 have checked in - a small number have sustained injuries, but they have still made it back and we’ll fix them up ready to march with us into a new week. Our retention rate for the week was an impressive 94%. There’s been missing soldiers who have checked in again and these “rejoins” have swelled the numbers back up to 39. It would be good for that number to start with a 4 next week! We’ve reached a milestone number as far as money saved is concerned with 0.45m GBP safely in our pockets and not the bookies! Still on track to hit the half million by the end of the month! Superb! There’s 21 members of the Century Club in the team now, the 39 of us have collectively gone exactly 12.5 years of continuous abstinence and each of us carry an average of 117 days into the next week - those are numbers worth protecting!

New and Rejoining Members for this week…….

It’s great to see onlineplayer, Chirst21, John64, stephen2105 and markieb10 all returning to base camp this week. It’s great to know that you are all gamble free since the last time you were checked in……..only ask is that you set an alarm and fulfill that once a week commitment! Superb to have you all back safe and well!

There’s potential for a couple of new soldiers too - Sully2014 and Helen123. There’s a message for both of you on the very first page of the 2014 Challenge thread with the usual asks. Helen123 - a specific message to you - please tap into two members for support who have been where you are now - Elfie17 and baggins would be brilliant to add to a support network for you - they are awesome and will completely understand what you are going through right now.

Milestones Celebrated in the Week

Del79 - our most experienced soldier broke through the most significant milestone ever this week when he celebrated 1 Full Year of abstinence - you are the man Del! An inspiration for us all.

Scambling and Mr Brightside both reached 250 days of recovery!

delboygolf marches past 150 days as at today! Congrats to THE most “check in reliable” member of the group!

ringerbell and Chirst21 both reached 20 weeks this week and are course for the half year around the end of September!

Help2604 and strange became the 20th and 21st members of the Century Club! An amazing milestone guys - really well done!!

Daz71 celebrates exactly a quarter of a year without gambling……..today!!

Wolf57 smashed through 10 weeks of recovery during the week! You’re well on your way noooooooooooooooowwwwwww!! 🙂

Elfie17 has now gone past the half century and is marching towards a series of milestones……10 weeks, a quarter of a year……and the Century Club!! Proud of you Elfie!

Milestones in the Coming Week…..

….and once again, there’s lots of them!! Here are the celebrities!!

Tuesday 19th August - Happy Days (Mike!) makes it to 250 days, shorty8 to 150 days and Wolfgang breaks through the 20 week mark! Another Terrific Tuesday for the group and especially for 3 stalwarts of the group - I’m super confident that you will all be marching to 31st December and way beyond!

Wednesday 20th August - Hitthefan reaches the exclusive “Double Century” club as the 200 day mark is hit! Another team member who WILL make it to the end of the year - sure of that!

Thursday 21st August - SuzyLemon and onlineplayer both break into double figures of weeks as they march onto 70 days!! Must be beginning to feel really good?

Friday 22nd August - ToBeOrNot reaches exactly 6 months of recovery………Laura, you may not have been with us for the last while, but we’re still with you. I’ll continue checking in for you until the end of August - please drop me a note with an update! Hope all well - on all fronts!

Saturday 23rd August - another day of triple celebration with Chirst21 hitting 150 days, Glads Dad reaching 20 weeks and D70 hitting the quarter of a year! Amazing milestones guys………and as an aside, a word of thanks to Gladsdad for his superb contribution to this group - really appreciated GD.

Sunday 24th August - bornagain reaches 250 days……..and amazing number Phil! Hopefully you’ll have been chasing haggii, drinking whisky and enjoying the amazing Scottish weather before you need a passport and prove your vaccinations in advance of the one year party!

The Roll of Honour……….

Here is the list of our esteemed team and colleagues marching into the new week……..

Name Days Clean

bornagain 243

Happy Days 248

lostafortune 163

Mr Brightside 252

Del79 370

rst187togo 57

Hitthefan 197

luckygirl 122

Baggins 168

ToBeOrNot 177

triangle 157

Scambling 253

NoCrisis 9

Chirst21 144

ringerbell 157

delboygolf 150

Drew2002 140

Gladsdad 134

Pinky333 62

Strange 100

Wolfgang 138

help2604 103

Shorty8 148

julio 165

Daz71 91

John64 79

D70 85

Mileend 7

Stephen2105 19

Wolf57 73

onlineplayer 66

StoneRoses 19

Elfie17 55

GamAddict 4

SuzyLemon 66

mjc1974 82

markieb10 34

Sparky1981 5 7

ccw95 10 17

Drum roll………total days free of gambling since the Challenge began……….

9007 Days = 0.45035 million GBP in our pockets………………..0 GBP in the bookies!!!

That’s the update for this week then folks and check in is now open for the new week. Please remember that I won’t be around a lot this week, if at all. The big ask is that you guys fill any small space left on the challenge by welcoming newcomers, celebrating milestones and generally supporting each other through.

Have a great gamble week everyone and hopefully I’ll be back and firing on all cylinders by this time next week.

Mr Brightside - checking in early for the new week…….so I don’t have to give myself into trouble!

Morning all

A big cheers to Mr B for quite a brilliant analogy of the 'ups and downs' of this journey - (not at all overly used!!!)

A welcome 'mental cuddle' is all we sometimes need and I look forward to getting mine from the forum on a Sunday morning - it puts me back up there on full alert and defences rebuilt

Thank you

A much more positive Glads dad checking in

Cheers - Have a great week

Morning Mr B and Fellow Soldiers

Absolutely brilliant post Mr B. I had never really thought about the implications of the rollercoaster saying until now and it is very fitting.

Checking in on day 55 and feeling great.

My sisters wedding is now all done and dusted so I am going to start concentrating on bringing my 'Life' Music to a higher level. I used to enjoy so many things before the big G took me so I am now going to look forward to re-visiting those things.

Glads Dad is right, a 'metal cuddle' is a great boost and I have received mine gratefully.

I am well strapped in and proud to ride with you all.

"Sometimes it's Good to get off the Merry-go-Round and get on a Rollercoaster instead."

Elfie x

checking in day 157

thanks mr b

yes my rollercoaster journey has taken many turns and new starts

keep riding and marching soldiers

tri