2014 Challenge

Hi everyone,

Just a quickie to let you know the numbers are done and I'm just writing the update now - will be on as soon as possible!!

Mr Brightside

Good afternoon soldiers!

Well here we are marching into the last full week of the 3rd quarter of the year - it’s really bizarre to know that very soon we will have single digits of weeks before the end of the year and that we will celebrate Christmas and the New Year before we know it.

It’s been a big week for Scotland and the UK. Having been up most of the night on Thursday into Friday watching what was going on, it was a hollow feeling finally getting up and witnessing a country even more divided than the day before. I think the division will run deep up here for quite a while and hope that the commitments made from the Government come through. It was the first time in my adult life that the way I voted actually came through! Being told that I was unpatriotic, a coward, short sighted and a shame to Scotland wasn’t nice. Hopefully it will settle down soon. It’s another big week for Scotland this coming week, but of course for Europe and the US as Gleneagles hosts the 2014 Ryder Cup. The timing for the country is good - it has the opportunity to bring us together again. The risk of the competition isn’t lost on me though for a number of our team - big event, heightened advertising, great excitement……..and the “opportunity” to win some money. We all know what the outcome will be……..and I’m not talking about who will win the tournament, but the outcome if you do choose to gamble - it’ll end badly……it always does. Enjoy the golf for what it is without the worry of whether he will or won’t make that putt.

Things are beginning to calm down for me - I’ve been off work from Thursday this week and won’t be back until a week on Tuesday. Definitely opportunities to be posting more and hopefully rally a group who are feeling a bit as if the rails have come off in the last few weeks. We are on the home straight of 2014 troops and we will close the chapter on this part of the journey…….but open a new chapter in 2015……..the journey will never end, but it will get easier. Of that I have no doubt.

In the update this week there will be the regular features of headlines, roll of honour, new and returning members, milestones and a reminder of the volumes refresh that we’ve been running with for the last fortnight.

Headlines for this Week…….

It’s been a really tough week for the group with 11 soldiers not making it back to base safely for check in. With a group of 38 stepping into the week, 11 never made it back but 3 soldiers have returned and we officially welcome 1 new soldier to the group. There’s the potential for a few more to join us - read on for details. It’s a low retention rate of 72% for the week, but I don’t think this has been helped by the extended check in from the week before last - we are back on track and check in is returned to the normal Sunday - Saturday at midnight. 31 of us march into the new week and will search for our missing colleagues - here’s hoping we bring a number of them back safely and the group swells in numbers to closer to 40 - I’d still love for us to have a week of more than 50 check ins! Our 11 soldiers who haven’t managed to check in are collectively carrying 3.9 years between them - some big name missings, so that’s put a dent in our current group numbers. It means we have been collectively stopped for 10.7 years and we all have an average of 126 days clean.

New and Returning Members

It’s great to see Dot83, Chirst21 and fitzy returning to base camp. Dot and Chirst - dust yourself down folks and put the barriers in place that don’t allow you to gamble. Read back on your posts and the posts of others here to get the belief that you can do this. Dot, there’s a lot to lose for you - way more than money.

Good to see you checking in fitzy and that you’re still on track! Being a member of the Century Club is a huge thing on this Challenge and congratulations on hitting this major milestone. When I’m counting up the members of the Century Club and listing the milestones, I only ever count the soldiers who are checked in for the week.

Welcome officially to mba - apologies to you soldier, I think you are right that you’d made the requisite posts last week but I just missed them. It’s great that you are marching with us - there’s an opportunity for you be a member of the Century Club by the time the clock strikes 12 on the 31st December - what a way to set yourself up for the New Year!

There’s another 4 soldiers who could potentially join us in the coming week. All that AndyJ, birdyst, Cb16 or Pedro8 need to do is to place another post on the challenge thread confirming that they understand the commitment required to become part of the team and they want to be part of the Challenge. Over to you guys, but would be brilliant if you were up for it - there’s safety in numbers and some amazing people on this challenge that will help you on your way.

Milestones to be celebrated…….

There have been a number of milestones celebrated in the last week:-

Del79 broke through the 400 day mark on his incredible journey - over 13 months clean Del and still leading the way!

Happy Days has reached the 40 week mark and is now over 9 months on the road with us. Fantastic going Mike - it’ll be a very different Christmas this year!

Lady Baggins made headlines on the 18th September and completely stole the show with her double Century. Major complaints to the BBC that the people in Scotland could not find out the progress with the referendum due to the extensive reporting on the amazing milestone! Congrats on the 200 days Baggins!

delboygolf and Shorty8 both reached a huge milestone this week and are now officially clean for over half a year - another one of my favourite milestones so far. Great going guys - and delboy, you are still the most reliable “check in-er” of the group!

Pinky333 has just notched up the quarter of a year and is now on the road to joining the Century Club - will be mentioned again next week in the milestones!!

ccw95 hit the half century during the week in reaching 50 days! It doesn’t take long ccw to feel as if the real change has been made in your life and you begin to realise how much better life is without gambling!

There are milestones coming up this week too - here they are……..

Lady Baggins (30 weeks), lostafortune (200 days), help2604 (20 weeks), Pinky333 (Century Club!!), Elfie17 (quarter of a year), Markieb10 (10 weeks), GamAddict (half a Century!).

Really well done to everyone when the day comes - incredible achievements……..between the 7 of you, you have been collectively stopped for nearly 2.5 years!! You guys are a really strong milestone team!

The Roll of Honour……..

Here’s the 31 soldiers and their number of clean days marching with heads held high into the new week:-

Name Clean Days

bornagain 14

Happy Days 283

lostafortune 198

Mr Brightside 287

Del79 405

rst102togo 6

Hitthefan 232

Baggins 203

triangle 192

NoCrisis 24

delboygolf 185

Gladsdad 169

Pinky333 97

Wolfgang 173

help2604 138

Shorty8 183

Chirst21 2

Daz71 126

John64 114

D70 120

Mileend 42

Fitzy 119

Wolf57 108

Elfie17 90

GamAddict 47

SuzyLemon 101

markieb10 69

mjc1974 117

ccw95 52

Dot83 2

mba 11

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

10217 Days = 0.51085 million GBP in our pockets………………..0 GBP in the bookies!!!

So that’s the update for this week everyone, but before I sign off for this week, a couple of words and shout outs…….

We’ve maybe lost a bit of momentum in the last few weeks and I take a bit of responsibility for that due to my absence and lack of posts. We all need to take responsibility for the outcomes of the group though……..those of you who are posting week in week out are totally fulfilling your commitment and I can’t thank you enough for keeping my “job” easy. There’s a few who do a bit of hokey kokey with the team - it’s great when you are here and you really galvanise the team with your check ins. Could you set an alarm on your phone as a reminder - it only takes 2 minutes to check in and there’s no need to write war and peace! Then there’s those who haven’t been with us for a while for whatever reason. If you’re reading this and struggling on the journey……or doing superbly well, then get back on these pages and let us know how you are doing - always welcome!

Ringerbell - hope the trip to Finland was everything you’d hoped it would be - I’m not sure if I was meant to be checking you in this week, apologies if I was. You’ll hopefully drop us a note this week and tell us about your trip……..and how brilliant it was!

Don’t forget that next week I will report the results of the “Volume” survey. There’s quite a bit of feedback on the survey so far, but I could still do with more to give the richness that it has the potential to provide. If you’ve not already done so then please consider your answers and post them when checking in.

Finally and just on the subject of next week’s update - I am working at the Ryder Cup this week so the Sunday update next week will come at some point…….I’m just not sure when. I will definitely be writing more on the challenge this week……..my ask is that all of you will too!

Have a wonderful, gamble free week troops!

Mr Brightside

Checking In day 101.

Hi Mr B,

I would love to get your thoughts on hypnotherapy combined with CBT.

Thanks in advance,

Suzy

Checking in after 1 day gamblibg free. Here we go on this merry go round again....

Enjoyed reading this weeks update, if Europe win next week I think we can let you off for a day 😉 I have heard so many of the gamblers in work moaning today because the football results have meant they've all lost. Its so unpredictable, as is the golf, so best just to have a few beers and enjoy it. The only predictable thing is that that first bet will lead to us losing far more money than we can afford to lose. Next Saturday I will be tested as I will be heavily under the influence of drink and with people who gamble, but I am going to stay strong. Fortunately some of the lads don't gamble and I will be staying in the pub with them and avoiding football coupon talk!

Hi all, checking in at day 6 (my first update on the post).

I have been truly overwhelmed by the amazing support everyone has willingly provided me and other users with through this time of despair and recovery and I really thank you all for that. When my back was against the wall, you guys are here for me and honestly means the world to me.

Gladly, I haven't placed a bet. I have had strong urges this week but gladly accepted these and found alternative activities to fill the time. I was back visiting my family this weekend so thoroughly enjoyed that. Think next week will be tough but I have a daily reporting system in place amongst other barriers such as K9 in place to ensure that I stay away from this monster.

Really willing to offer others support if needs be and offer my hand if anyone needs somebody to talk to through this. We're a team, and WILL win.

Happy to accept this challenge and all kitted up with my war gear to go into battle with each and every one of you guys. Hope you all had a great week and carry this forward into the next.

Stay strong and prosper 🙂 Thanks,

Andy

hello soldiers

thanks for the update Mr B

checking in this week with my gambling noise loudly banging but i'm working hard to make sure my life noise stays positive and proud

tri

morning all. I'm checking in on day 118. been a weird week this week with hospital appointments and feeling rough. still stayed strong and haven't gambled. family and friends being very supportive as always.

still aiming to be debt free by end of October which is also my 40th. not going to put the pressure on though as money a lot lower due to not working and being on ssp. being off sick long term and lack of money has always been one of my triggers, but thankfully I haven't had any urges.

best wishes for the future everyone and stay strong.

Checking in on day 98

Very pleased and proud to be nearing the 100 day mark and getting into triple figures 🙂

Hope all are well x

sorry forget to say the amount of days 193

on my check in

1 day more but that's one day i get back with those i love.

tri

Hi mr B sorry for missing check in. Was a big week here at hone with do egalitarian playing in the all Ireland football final unfortunately they lost 🙁

My recovery is going good even the urges have started to disappear and I don't miss gambling which is great. Enjoy the Ryder cup at the weekend is 1 event I want to attend sometime would been nice this year as mcginley has connections to county donegal

Ringerbell checking in 193 days

Checking in 12 days bet free

Hi Mr B And all the troops

Been missing but still gamble free

Spent the last week on holyday with my wife and can assured you the best one so far since I Stopped gambling

julio

morning all. I know that I checked in yesterday but woke up this morning feeling quite low. (knowing my triggers as being low, being on long term sick and short of money) I thought I would come on to the site and read through the positive messages etc.

feeling a bit better now and still determined to beat the gambling. currently on week 17 119 days!!

my husband and I have booked a family holiday for may next year. whilst we are away we will be celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary and also my 1 year gamble free anniversary.

what do others do to celebrate milestones?

day out with one of my sisters for 50 days

we've been out the 4 of us(me hubby and 2 kids) for a meal to celebrate 10 weeks.

day out with sister and her family along with mine to celebrate 13 weeks 1/4 of a year

day out with friend as kids back at school to celebrate 100 days.

I'm one of the lucky ones who has a very supportive hubby, mum and dad 4 sisters and partners children nieces and nephews and some amazing friends.

stay strong everyone and best wishes for the future.

Hi

I celebrate to myself as no one knows about my gambling issue. Just hitting certain milestones keeps me marching forwards.. Next one 200 days 🙂

Glads dad checking safe n sound

Hi to all newbies and well done to those celebrating personal goals.