[Closed] 2019 Challenge

Hi all, this is my first challenge but it is absolutely the perfect thing for me as 2019 will be the year I reach one year gamble free (in March) and I want it to be my first full gamble free year in over 10 years. I am currenlty 282 days clear and I am looking forward to checking in each week to keep me on track. Thank you for organising and running this.

Well I’ve just had my first complete calendar year gambling free, my last actual gamble was a lottery ticket on Jan 30th 2017. I’ve never been as stressed in my life as I have been these last six or seven weeks, too much to tell, currently I’m in the process of clearing my Aunty’s flat, she passed away on Dec 21st, another elderly Aunty passed away ten days before that, the funeral was last week. This Aunts funeral is at the end of this week, I’m her next of kin and executor of her will. I’m in my home town 300 miles from where I live and work.

Ive been here since the middle of November, when my mother took Ill and spent a week in intensive care, since then she spent a week on a general ward before coming home but was taken back into hospital in an emergency ambulance 48 hrs after discharge. On the same day her eldest sister was taken to hospital in an emergency ambulance, that’s who’s flat I’m clearing. My mother is still ill and my brother was medically discharged from his ship, (he’s in the navy), with heart failure...they sent him home in a taxi all the way from Cornwall to Newcastle on the day this Aunty died.

So far I’ve accrued ten weeks of rent arrears, and although my landlord is understanding it’s a real hard situation.

I’ve posted on this site on and off over the years, and just thought I’d have a look tonight and noticed this challange. I never look at myself as being cured of my gambling problem, but live my life without gambling now.

I’ve dealt with most of my Aunty’s estate and am grateful that I am a changed man, she didn’t leave a massive amount of money and the lions share was bequest to charities which have all been paid. It was nice to be trusted with the responsibility and I’m just so pleased I’m a changed man. What’s left is mine and there is enough to square my rent up, even though I envisage being here at least another few weeks until my Mam is properly on the mend.

As well as being really ill losing her two sisters and having my other brother at home on the sick is really taking its toll on her.

We’ve not celebrated Christmas or New Year, it’s been a thoroughly awful time.

I know eventually I will come out from under this black cloud, just like I came out of my 35 or 36 years as a thieving jailbird compulsive gambler. One day at a time.

Best of British with 2019 challenge, that was my check in ! Hopefully they’ll be more cheerful in the weeks and months ahead.

Checking in, 93 days gf!

Checking in 46 days.

Thanks K2.

Cheers Stew

Can I please be part of this please . Just had my first wobble after 3yrs gf . Feel physical sick . Please help my guys all blocks been put back on why is it so easy for online slots to get you hooked lucky only spent £30. Day 1 for almisty

Checking in gf 6 days today going strong

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geordie wrote:

Sorry for offloading on this thread. It’s just that when I read your first post describing the purpose of this thread I mistakenly thought where you said,

No worries Geordie - my mistake, I have ammended my post.

thanks Sam.

Have updated table

Thanks for the update Ken 🙂

Hi, I am changing my date back to august because I have not been to a casino to play slots since then. The scratcher are since jan. 1st and I'll remember that. The casinos were my demise for between 10 and 20 years... I really have no idea how long at this point. The blurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. So I'm changin my date to Sept. 9th 2018... it's real and true. I'm almost 4 month caasino free! tara2

Checking In Day 29

I chose , just today, to honor my vow to stay away from casinos date which is about 4 months ago in early sept. If this is not permitted I'll leaave the challenge and it's not a problem. I am using both daates. ONe for scratchers and one for casino slot play because it is most powerful for my recovery. thx. tara

K2 wrote:

[quote=geordie]

Sorry for offloading on this thread. It’s just that when I read your first post describing the purpose of this thread I mistakenly thought where you said,

No worries Geordie - my mistake, I have ammended my post.

Thanks for that, I’ll get round to starting a proper thread once things settle down for me.