2014 Challenge

Good afternoon from a very cloudy Kos!!!

So there's been a couple of days of hazy humidity that culminated last night in the most amazing thunder and rain storm. I've never seen an electrical storm quite like it........in fact it was systematic.......it was hydromatic..........it was ultramatic........why, it was Greece Lightening!!! (Joanna - I think you might have actually laughed out loud at that!! :-))

So in the subject of Joanna, she's sent me through a fantastic spotlight for this week - just an incredible read - many many thanks Jo - Phil, will send it on to you shortly for Sunday!!

Great to see a lot of activity on the thread in the last couple of days and I literally punched the air seeing Linda as Wolfgang checking in (Along with Adam P earlier in the week) it just doesn't seem right now looking at a roll of honour on a Sunday that doesn't include you guys!!

So here's a stat.......right now, with 36 hours until check in deadline, we have 30 soldiers back at base camp safe and well.......but get this......if every current week soldier checks in AND the potential soldiers we are waiting to repost confirming they want to march with us........we will have a record going into next week of 47 in the team!!! Oooooft!!

So I've updated the front page and left updated messages for the new soldiers - welcome guys, great to have you with us!

Leigh - hope you are now on Day 3, with Day 5 being forecast for Sunday. Your check in day is your number of consecutive clean days - dust down and keep going girl!!

A lot of chat about the Froch fight on the thread - I have wrestled with how healthy it is having such chat over the last couple of days........but I think this thread needs to be one where people can come and download their thoughts and get the subsequent support or challenge or provocation as far as what is right or wrong. The conclusions it seems that have been drawn are that one bet would suck you back in, so what's the point? I cannot win because I cannot stop. Let's not kid ourselves either......deep down we know what we are and one taste of it would put us right back to square one. In fact......we talk about this being an addiction........if a recovering heroin addict decided just to have one cook 60 days after their last one, you know, just one, nothing more than that, just because you can handle it now, only one sure........what do you think the likely outcome would be?

Mr B checking in in Day 170 something!! I need bornagain to keep me right!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Checking day 33 (I think) all is good,recieved an interesting email and have posted about it,if you want to read it and contribute then the link is:

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/index.php?tid=304679

Checking in day 3,

Thank you Mr B for the support

Leigh

quick check in 291 days GF, another hectic week i plan a catch up tomorrow on whats been happening...... Apologies Bornagain and MrB

Just got in from the pub after work had a massive barny with the mrs and feel like going down the bookies and s**nk*ng a few hundred quid!!!!!

This is the real route of my problem I'm not 100% happy at the moment

I need some advice ASAP before I make the move to ***********

Before I make the move to the bookies

Hi Mike - Hope you are still with us. If you are, just think how you would be feeling in the wee small hours after a trip to the bookies. Fight the urges and recognise that they are fleeting moments in the grand scheme of things.

Also - you can be sure that the negative feelings produced by a lapse would lead to more arguments and beating yourself up too.

Try reading your first posts on the site to remind yourself of how bad you felt at the beginning of your journey and I'm sure you will be heartened to think how far you've come.

Best wishes,

Joanna

Hi Joanna

I am still with you all I'm sitting in the bedroom on my own and the arguing is still going on

I really appreciate what you have said and your words are so true if I did go and spend a few hundred In the bookies I'd still have this argument looming over me and 200 debt so it would be a double wammy!!

Thanks for the advice

A very sad mike18

Thanks mr b & Phil its good to be back and fighting fit!- I do have to confess a little though- As you know my biggest demon was the bingo hall - well mainly the slots there. I would go through hundreds on those machines in between the bingo. In fact at one point I would lose every penny I could get my hands on (sometimes 600+) before the flamin bingo even started and then I would just sit there for hours sweating and feeling sick but praying that I would win something back. And not even to take home but so I could go and play again! nuts right! Anyway last week a friend from my old job got in contact and asked if we could head to bingo for old times sake as that is what we did a lot together! So I debated it with myself and decided that sure going once as a special occasion wouldnt hurt! Yea I thought that! Anyway, I drove up parked outside, watched my friend go in. Then 10 mins later when I knew she would be sat waiting, I went in and asked them to exclude me for the longest time possible. I swear it was hard to do (self excluding from online is easy which i did many months ago). I filled in a form- they took my picture and told me they would reissue the ban in 5 years as I requested. I left as soon as that was over and came home and explained to my friend I couldnt make it because my OH was called out to work.

So anyway, I know I hit a weak spot by even considering going but I got there in the end. And let me tell you, 14 years off going 2 3 times a week or more- to know that I cannot go back has taken that pressure off that was hanging over me since stopping in december.

Anyway sorry for banging on but needed to tell you guys. It was you that I was thinking of most in the car outside so for that I will always be grateful x x x have a great weekend and Mike I hope you stay strong and get through this bad patch x

Mike tough it out mate, I've been so close so many times lately, but a trip down the bookies won't make us feel any better or solve our problems. We are all here for you as a group and if you need to talk you can talk to me.

Linda, what an amazing story, I'm proud of being in this group with you. Well done!

Hello hardtimes

What a great post!! you showed true strength to turn up at the place and then self exclude that is so hard to do and you have proved to yourself that you can do it I think your amazing for showing that strength!! and you can always do other stuff with your friend rather than bingo!

I'm still at home I haven't hit the bookies but I'm still not happy still arguing with the mrs 😡😩

Thanks Born again

If it wasnt for all of you I'd be gambling all my money away right now and waking up with 2 problems rather that the 1 problem that my mrs is a sychopath lol

Well done Mike - proud of you. Hope you have a peaceful night! Tomorrow is another day....

Linda - what a marvel you are! Well done - I could picture the scene in that car park.

I hope you can sleep a bit easier tonight.

Best wishes to you both.

Hi Mr B

Hope you're enjoying holiday. Checking in day 41 - to be honest in the last week I've not really thought much about online slots but do know that I can't be complacent as urges always lurking in the background. Keep being strong everyone, one small step at a time. Great posts last week and update.

Mo

thanks guys! Mike- well done on not giving in last night- I think the reason we think about gambling when we are at our lowest is that is when that gambling demon knows we are most vulnerable and tries its best to break us. Each time we fight back we not only get stronger but we take back some of that self esteem that has been robbed off us by gambling for so many years xx

Linda