Hello Guru Challengers. How is this week , this 7 days gf different then any other 7 day period? Yes, it's been 7 days. I think that I don't have to answer that question of how this time is different. The answer is always going to be in the moment to moment choices that I make. Here it is Monday again. Just another monday. Nothing extraordinary. Glad to be here. tara2
A quick update, everyone ... I'm going to do the Rollcall next Sunday; this is because, as well as working full-time at a particularly busy end-of-financial-year time, I've been distracted by an aggressive identity fraud attempt which needs serious proaction and reaction from me. I'll tell you all about it soon - this could happen to anyone.
Please accept my apologies; I'm seriously time-constrained but the good news is - I'm not gambling!
It would have been heartbreaking for any savings earned through not gambling to be stolen but I've averted it just - and I say just - in time. Whilst I'd have got them back,the onus would have been on me to demonstrate that I had secured my accounts, not fallen for phishing attempts, secured my passwords etc. - all very stressful for investigations that would have taken months.
Thank you for your understanding re, the delayed Rollcall. Sometimes things happen and when they do, we must be strong. We are much stronger, and on the ball, when we don't gamble.
Keep strong everyone; I'll reply to every response on this thread in the next couple of days.
Mixer
Had an attempt this morning fr M a betting company I forgot I had an account with to give me some free Cheltenham spendo. Logged in and self excluded.
Checking in, 125 days
Checking in on day 96 .... havent even watched Cheltenham or checked the results just concentrating on getting through each day gamble free.
Don't burn the candle at both ends Mixer.
Your health and well being are what's most important so take good care of yourself.
Stephen last bet 28th February. On a mission to stay gamble free.
Evening all. I’ve fell for it so many times before Ineffable I’m pro active to it now. The worse case I’ve had trying to close an account down was National Lottery believe it or not. I reported them to my MP who referred it to the gambling commission. The cheeky t***s didn’t want to see any ID to open account and spend loads of unaffordable cash on scratchers but when I tried to self exclude they wanted all sorts of ID checks. Crazy world.
Well it’s been a successful gamble free Cheltenham week and I’m looking forward very much to 100 days on Easter Sunday.
Have a great weekend everyone especially Mixer you deserve a break!!!!
🙂
Sorry to hear of your troubles Mixer. Must be awful. Hope you get it all sorted . I’m checking in on 23days still gamble free.
Checking in 232 gf days
Hope all is well mixer x
Tara2, checking in on saturday the 17th. glad to still be interested in this guru challenge. Great that you were aware enough mixer, to deal with the fraud attempts. Hello everyone. Spring is in the air with lots of rain.
Greetings Mixer and the merry band of Guru Challengers.
Hope everyone is at peace with themselves.
We are not necessarily bad people, just compulsive gamblers who are trying to rediscover their lives.
My name is Stephen, a compulsive gambler in recovery, on a mission to live a gamble free life. 18 days since my last bet.
67 years of age so I still have some time. I really don't want to get to the pearly gates asking where the betting shop is !!!
** GURU CHALLENGE - Latest WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***
It's Sunday, 17th March 2018
Good afternoon! After my ‘hiatus’ I’m back after a tricky week last week. Not because of gambling, but because of a particularly determined identity theft attack which, as you can imagine, wasn’t fantastic. I still haven’t got to the bottom of precisely how I was hacked, but let’s just say I’ve had to change my passwords on all of my accounts and I’m thanking my lucky stars I didn’t lose any money. It was very close, a mixture of luck and timing prevented what would have been an especially stressful time, where the banks would be leaning very heavily on me to prove that I hadn’t lapsed on my security precautions; the onus would haave been on me. It’s not an experience I would wish on anyone.
But … it could have been worse and without gambling meant I wasn’t distracted and could fully focus on what I needed to do. Which was a lot of phone calls, e-mails and the rest of it. I’ll be writing a post about this so that if this should ever happen to you, you’ll know what to do. I’ll also talk about precautions you can make, too.
But we’re here about controlling our gambling, I’ll never lose sight of that. This is the most serious business of all. How are we doing, everyone… are we ….
WE WELCOME
Tara2 – It’s great to have you with us, Tara, and a very warm welcome to the challenge. As you’ll have read, we keep it real, approaching this in any way that might help and encourage us to become gambling free, day by day. I’ve been reading your later messages and how similar we all are however we’ve been gambling. We start off small, lose, go on tilt and before we know it, we totally lose it – our money and self-respect. But we can do something about this; and that’s block every gambling avenue, block like crazy. Welcome aboard Tara, really great to have you with us!
ROLLCALL OF HONOUR
2018 – Congratulations on one month without gambling, 2018, well, 32 days to be exact! You’ve hit STRIVER status and it’s a very important milestone. Always one day at a time, keep at it, and we all wish you the very best, with you all the way.
Our GURUs
Phil72 – 768 days GF – ROCKING! - May I wish you a very retrospective happy birthday for last week, Phil! And let’s hope the chatroom’s back soon, it’ll be great to chew the cud with you once again.
Degenerate – 355 – ROCKING! – I watched the racing with a few work colleagues on Friday, but luckily racing’s not my thing so didn’t gamble. One of my colleagues made a big profit, but he can control his gambling. Fact is, as we know, some of us can control it, some of us can’t. We’re in the latter category. It’s a shame, but that’s the way it is. Well done for resisting.
Our ELDERs
Sars27 – 289 – ROCKING! – Great to hear you’re on the right road and posting from time-to-time; it’s always great to read your uplifting posts, Sars!
Rubybaby – 232 - ROCKING! – Thank you for checking in Rubybaby and things are fine with me, after a stressful week or so. Stresses that would have been much worse with the ‘fog’ of gambling compounding the situation. It’s horrible to learn that your e-mail account has been compromised but worse things can happen. I hope life’s treating you well, Ruby!
Mixer – 219 – ROCKING! As I mentioned, I joined work colleagues watching the racing in a pub. Came close to putting a bet on; a mate has an on-line account. I could’ve borrowed the money. But one of my colleagues knows my problem and wisely prevented me – a precautionary blocker. No-one touched the fruit machine all afternoon; I was never tempted. But I’m not going to put myself in that situation again; it’s just too tempting. Would I have won? It makes no difference because I’d’ve lost it back, and then much more.
4D – 193 – ROCKING! – Thank you for the check-in 4D, you’re doing great. It’s not easy, this, but, day-by-day, it can be done. Apropos your name(4D), the fourth dimension is time, and the fifth is one I’m making up but what do you think – pure determination.
Marson123 – 140 - ROCKING! – I haven’t heard from you for a little while Marson and hope all’s well with you, my friend. Do let us know.
Slotfool - 129 – ROCKING! – By my calculations you’ll be debt-free in around two months and your current rate of progress. Keep going! Roll on mid-May!
Our STRIVERS
Chartom3 (*ELDER status achieved*) – 99 – ROCKING! You are on the cusp, as you say, of a milestone you have reached before and here you are again. It’s great to see, Chartom, and this time you have this little extra bit of experience that could be the bolster that makes all the difference. It’s always one day at a time, as you know. Hope you’re having a great weekend, mate.
NiceNormalFamily - 93 – ROCKING! – Life’s all about balance and, as you write, you’re juggling work, studies and your home/social life. This is where a good scheduler comes in; a schedule that you control so that the reward (your home/social life) becomes all the sweeter once the work/studies are completed at times to suit you. Life is much better when we’re in control and, with gambling off the agenda, your head is much clearer right now.
Godoicul – 79 – ROCKING! – I share your anger. You’ve shut accounts down and you know what you’re like, what I’m like, what we are all like. We sometimes try it on, but once those accounts are shut they should remain shut. Keep putting those blocks in place, Godoicul and delighted you came through the Chelt***** unscathed. It’s not easy; but you did it.
Adam123 - 85 – ROCKING! – Fantastic Adam, it’s always a joy to report on your progress. You really understand the slots are no good and only fodder for the mug punters. You’re spending time to learn about this habit, why we’ve been doing it, so destructively and for so long, and this approach will be of immense help to you, as, day-by-day, you slowly wean yourself away. Keep going Adam!
Ineffable – 64 – ROCKING! – Thank you for the kind words of support. The identity fraud attempt really hit me a bit. I’ve been getting credit cards / pin numbers posted to me all week, despite everything now stopped because the applications were in the pipeline and passed muster. Very disconcerting. I’m delighted you’re on day 77, that’s 11 weeks being gambling free. It’s the only way!
Christer1 – 45 – ROCKING! – I know what you mean about being the King of the Relapse; I’ve been there too, many, many times but we’ve got to keep trying. And you are trying again, getting better at it, each time, and that’s what matters. Blocks is the answer in my opinion; it comes down to that.
NEW & re-RESOLVED MEMBERS
Determined Dan – 28 – ROCKING! – It’s almost surreal when we look at how much we save not gambling. As you’ve written, you’ve saved £300 in 15 days, so around £150 a week. In year, you’ll have saved £7,500. Why not consider putting £600 per month, at the beginning of the month, in a savings account that you can’t touch. ‘Pretend’ you’ve ***** it on gambling. At the end of the year, you’ve got a very tidy sum – a mega ‘jackpot’ indeed and without punting a penny.
2018 – 32 – ROCKING – Yup, it looks like Eastender’s has a gambling storyline. I’ve noticed when soaps go down this road the characters look more pitiful as the plot develops; that’s how we’ve been. But no longer. Life is very tough these days, let’s not put ourselves at an unnecessary disadvantage!
Boxingdayfresh – 25 – ROCKING – You can been absolutely straight and honest and back in there, reinvigorated. Keep going, there’s no reason to stop. We’re all with you.
Stephen the Strong (previously Abstainer) (*ELDER status achieved*) – 18 - ROCKING – Hi Stephen and I’m sorry I’ve not been as active on the forums as I have been; you’ve been flying the flag all right and what a beacon of positivity you continue to be. I doff my cap to you, sir. And I won’t burn the candle, health is so important as you know so well. Thank you for your kind advice, I’m certainly listening.
RESTED
Leeders100 – RESTED – Haven’t heard from you for a while, Leeders, and so will rest you for no, but you are welcome back anytime you want Ok.
Lea samp – RESTED – I’m gonna rest you, my friend, as I haven’t heard from you awhile. You’re welcome back any time!
STATS FOR NERDS: We have one new member and two of us have been rested. That means we currently have 2 GURUs, 6 ELDERs, 6 STRIVERs and 4 NEW/re-RESOLVEDs; a net total (inc. our newbie) of 19.
*** JOKE OF THE WEEK ***
A little bird was flying south for the Winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.
As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.
Morals of the story:
1. Not everyone who sh*ts on you is your enemy.
2. Not everyone who gets you out of s*** is your friend.
3. And when you’re in deep s***, it’s best to keep your mouth shut!
Keep strong and keep smiling everyone!
Mixer
Clocking in for another week and 93 days gambling free. Had some persistent thoughts the other day but managed to resist. I hope everyone is doing well and sound. Take care!
Checking in, 289 GF DAYS ! Thank you mixer for the update ! I’m super focus and not planning to return to any form of gambling ! I bet you 🙂 hahahahaha .
Sars
Thanks for the mention in the rollcall Mixer, really is something i look forward to each week and is a part of my on going recovery, hope everyones keeping well and staying strong.
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