2014 Challenge

Hi guys I'm checking in today day 25 (I think) sitting here in absolute pain but thankfully it's down to my visit to the dentist today and not a visit to the bookies lol. Happy I got through last week. It was surprisingly easier than I expected it to be. I did miss having a punt on the national but that's life need to replace them events with new 1s. I used the money I would of gambled for paying me into a gaa game on Sunday which seen my county be promoted so was much better feeling than betting it on a horse.

Got an email in from FAI this morning about renewing my season ticket for the aviva and I'm not worrying about where I'm going to get the money from which is massive change from previous years

Evening everyone!!

Another fairly quiet Tuesday on the Forum!! Some great check ins already though this week that are calming my nerves a bit. I must admit, with the thread being the quietest it's ever been on a Sunday, I'd love to see really early check ins this week......I am worried that last Saturday and the peer pressure of family, friends, work etc. May have seen us lose a soldier or two? 🙁

It is great however to see a couple of new members coming on already this week........and while I'm certainly not laughing at the circumstances, I did allow myself a wee giggle at the fact it was almost a Hollywood couple.........welcome Brad and Angela!! I've left a specific ask of each of you on the front page of the thread.

Some brilliantly positive check ins this week - thanks for these guys - they always cheer me up to see my comrades doing so well.......really encouraging.

I have not gambled in 121 days and no longer am I...........

Swimming through sick lullabies........or choking on your alibis..........I have paid my price.........Destiny is calling me...........my eyes are eager and open......

'Cause I'm Mr Brightside

Hi there gang,

Checking in on the end of day 9. Still going strong.

Kept myself ridiculously busy at the weekend so the National was not a issue on Saturday at all.

As for Sunday - Just a brilliant day - Was at a cup finally supporting my team and ended up winning it, pure Ecstasy... Gambling was the furthest thing from my mind, even watching the game had no intention or want to gamble on it (Was to nervous for anything like that)...

Brilliant weekend...

And the last few days have been no bother either

- Monday i had the craziest of hangovers with no urges (with no urges to even get out of bed tbh, hah)

- Today i just submerged myself in my work! So all in all, still feeling really good and determined!

Keep strong everyone and lets get this flaw in our character out of each of us for good!

Drew

Hi challengers checking in day 67 and will be 71 on Sunday. Brill post mr b. Hello and welcome to new soldiers. Keeping strong hitthefanx

Morning all!!

It's Wednesday, half way there!! Woop woop!!

Almost 50% through the week and less than 50% checked in........although confidence is rising!!

Great post Drew and thanks HTF!!

Have a great "hump" day as we call it in the west of Scotland - no naughty connotations there.....it's just about getting over the hump of the week, or the half way point!!

Stay strong team - we are winning, we are winners......in life!!

Mr B!

Checking in on Day 11,gamble free and happy!

Had a great wkd,kept busy,the odd expected urge,but having taken away the ability to gamble,(got rid of debit card),giving up this time has been relatively smooth the past 11 days,slowly clawing myself out of a hole,but happy doing it.

Keep strong everyone and keep away from that first bet,thats the one that does the damage!

Checking in on day 50!

Thinking more about gambling today but I think that is because I have made it to 50 days and not because I want to gamble.

Keep strong everyone.

LG

Hey, Mr B,

Pse can you repost your email address for the possible meet up? I could really do with that in the near future! Don't mind where in the country it is...will be there! this site needs a search facility...

Lou

Hey Lou - I've popped my email address under my sign off on the very front page of the challenge thread (the one I update with who has checked in) in case you need it in the future.......but it's.......

[email protected]

Sounds like you could do with a chat? No plans for a meet up in the immediate future....,,,but not to say that one couldn't be arranged!!

Happy 50th Luckygirl.........many many congratulations on the milestone - feels good huh?

Robby - milestone for you as well mate - keep going - every day being free is a day worth celebrating.

For all you non check ins.........I am getting nervous again........don't know why...........hope the feeling in my stomach is just that I need a good f**t (sorry mum) and not that pit of impending doom........although.......I have confidence in my team and my fellow soldiers (get out the gas masks!!!)

Mr B

hi just checking in, had had a slip after 15 days last gamble was saturday 5th april 2014 (grand national day, although i didnt bet on the national!). Recovery strong, now 4 clear days without a bet day 5 today & seeing a stop smoking counsellor today. So very much hope to check in again this time next week with 11 clear days. Hopefully will start being smokefree around then as well. Have funds in my bank account so could gamble online, but I choose not to (wise choice).

checking in again day 28

gamble free so far

not easy troops but proud to be serving along side you

WELL DONE

Triangle

Checking in on day 19...stress levels through the roof very close to getting found out if I get through the next few days without the OH discovering the debts it will be a relief and quite honestly this shock n stress may be the key to keeping me on the straight and narrow. Absolutely terrified right now 🙁

Hi

I'm in !!

Well done keep up the hard work

I'm only on my 5th day however every day away is a triumph

Lets stay strong

Cheers

Afternoon everyone!!

Triangle - proud to be fighting with you too mate and even prouder of your progress!! Superb!!

Davey - not good on the slip mate, I think I caught it last weekend but maybe added an extra day in. Maybe think about how finances are managed and if you could trust someone with them that would give you a barrier.

Shorty - one of the best things that happened to me was my loved ones finding out the financial mess I was in. I'm not advocating that I think it would be a good thing if the other half found out.....unless you chose to tell them up front, but if they did find out then you'd get the support you need to overcome this. My fear is that you "get away with it" for another month and that then leads to thoughts of "I'll continue to get away with it, so it's ok to gamble". A bit of a ramble but I think you know what I mean!!

Just a shout out to a few quiet soldiers - bornagain, Linda, BBS, Mike, Jules, Craig, Del, Scambling, redeemed.......all the old school who I've not seen for a few days.......hope you're all ok?

I'm having another shockingly rubbish week at work - the consultants are in to tell me how I increase productivity - kinda lost the plot with them today. I'm not change averse, but equally I struggle with someone who doesn't know my business telling me how to do certain things. (Sorry I know I'm ranting, but need to get this off my chest!!) So here I am in a room with 4 of them asking me to completely change my performance meeting every morning......so I listen to their proposal and point out some things I see as benefits......but also some huge flaws......like the fact it would take about half an hour longer a day for all my team leaders to prepare for it.......just to then give me the update that I get already but in a different format. So having criticised me for going on the defensive, I call out that they have taken a bit of a defensive stance. Wow, well you would have thought that I'd just told them that I'd slept with their wise or something - oooft. Having listened to the barrage about behaviours and attitudes being the key to unlocking better performance and transferring the old for the new and that I need to be the demonstrated leader for this..........I then calmly put my hands in the table and told them that I agreed and I liked their almost football-esque analogy, I then gave them one of my own.......if I have a supposedly sub-standard central midfielder and I transfer out the old to bring in the new.........then I wouldn't expect to spend a million pounds bringing in someone who is worse than the player I already have.......kinda feels like that's what I'm potentially going to do with this project. Good day gentlemen. Career over probably, but boy did it feel good......and I'm a hero with my team......funnily enough my boss wants to see me tomorrow - lol!! Sorry for the rant, feels good for it though!!

Mr B - over and out for today - stay strong team - I may need your support every more very soon 🙂

Checking in on day 124 gambling free.

Sorry for my absence in the last 3 days, however you can read what i've been up to on my diary if your interested 🙂

Just search for: A Croupiers Diary

Or find it in the recovery diaries section.

Hope your all well, gotta run 😀

Scambling