18TH JAN 2013 - Time to let go.

Hey Feb,

Glad to hear you using all the advantages life got to offer. Keep up great work and stay strong and positive as you was uptil now.

Have a great rest of the day

Sandra x

Hey LF

Hope the weekend was as great as expected!

Thanks for everything you do to help.....

Take care

Irene

x

Thanks all for your lovely comments.

Feb.xx

WEEK 25. DAY 169.

Another day, another dollar as they say. Glad to get home and relax from work.

For some reason, my K9 does not allow me to go on to the B&Q site or British Gas site??? I mentioned this to my sis this morning (who has put a secret password on K9 for me). She asked me If I wanted to take it off my laptop. I had two thoughts to this - I felt quite proud that she has seen how well I am doing and obviously trusts in my words to her - I was a little scared though this wasn't in thinking that I may gamble again, more I think just to do with added protection. I am excluded from all major online betting sites anyway for the maximum period. Still, gave me something to think about and I did tell her that I have given myself a year of not doing things, eg, lottery.

I am going to do the lottery once per month after my year is up in a controlled manner but not any other gambling. I feel I have gained so much of my self control back to be able to do this.

I may consider having Bet Filter put on to my laptop now I have some spare cash each month. Hopefully, this won't block these sites as well as gambling sites!!

That's enough folks. Take care all and stay cool in this heat!!

Feb. Scorching but sunny on "The Bright Side of the Road".

Hi LF

yeah I found that with K9 too- it excluded me from the most random of sites which seemingly had no gambling connection! I use bet filter- but I think that would also exclude you from the lottery.

Good to hear that you are feeling in control and enjoying life- hope you had a lovely w/end. Have a good week

Stuxx

Thanks Stu for your advice and support.

Feb.

Hi Feb,

Day 170 today is it, that's brilliant, I am just trying to hold it all together before doing something stupid.

Thanks for your kind words as always. Sorry I have been rubbish doing the same, I've just had a lot to deal with and hope my energy to support others returns soon.

Take care x

Hi Lady Feb,

Just popping in to say hi and well done on your continued progress.

Recovery is bespoke as you know and remember YOU are in control now not gambling, follow your gut instinct and do what is right for you.

The monkey will always be on our back i beleive it never goes but the gamble free days mounting up continue to give us perspective and power to keep doing the right thing at the right time.

Take care

Blondie xx

Your doing very well and it's your recovery you need to be honest with yourself and if you feel that it's a risk taking the filter off then leave it on (or if you can change filters and hopefully they'll allow access to normal sites). But if you feel that you now have the confidence and self control to live without the filter go for it your doing great. Just be honest with yourself and do what's best for you. You know yourself and what you need to recover from this horrible addiction.

Hello Feb,

Glad to hear you keep racking those days up, it must feel great to b free for such a long time - keep them coming...i believe i will get there one day aswell, for now just day at the time:-)

I hope work is not too hard and you having a good day.

P.s. If you feel you are ready and strong enough to take blocker off, just go for it, it is always gonna be near by, incase you get urges so you can put it bk on.

Keep strong and carry on

Sandra x

WEEK 25. DAY 172.

Thank you lovely people for your kind comments.

How warm is it?!! Phew!! I'm more of a spring/autumn kind of a person. Not complaining too much though.

Nothing much to say really. Still enjoying not gambling and having money in my bank account and no overdraft!

Been thinking about what my sister said and some other diary readers about removing K9. I am going to stick with the plan of getting as much help/putting in as many barriers for the first 12 months as possible and review everything after this. I may remove K9 and have Betfilter put on - K9 can be a pain at times but it has been good and was a great barrier at the beginning when I had no money to purchase any gambling blocks!!

My self control is improving in strength and I am pleased about this as it was always a strength of mine before gambling took a hold.

I think I just might have found a new method of gaining extra money instead of trying to win extra money - *******!!! The times I have thrown really good stuff away..... Six months back when things were really chronic, I took 3 kilos of clothes to a clothes bank. An Eastern European girl was manning the shop and told me after weighing all my items that she would give me £3.00!!!! I was gobsmacked. I had trudged all the way there on the bus but there was no way I was going to let her have my items for that amount. I had heard that they buy them and then put items on *******. I thought I would do it myself. I got £96.00 alone for a Football T-Shirt!!! - Result I say. Just put an item on now and guess what I will be doing this weekend??

Take care all and stay cool.

Feb - All hot and bothered on "The Bright Side of the Road".

FEB!

Just wanted to drop in and offered my continued support. Always appreciate your comments on my diary.

I remember vividly your arrival on the forum - since I was relatively new, and keeping track on all the new members. Sounds like you're making great progress - which is really heart-warming to see.

re. improving self-control / removing the filters etc. I think it's really important to find that balance between independence and complacency... It's a discussion my fiancee and I have frequently: I receive some money into my account / she suggests I transfer it all to her / I have a moan about wanting to feel adult again, and how degrading it is to be in this position (bizarre really - she's the sensible one, and she's seen me blow tens of thousands at a time).

My point here is it's important to strike a balance. Yes, I am taking back some control on that front - but I'm also minimizing risk... limiting the damage I could cause if (god forbid) I slipped again. Gamblocking software might seem extreme - but we are still just 6/7 months into our recoveries, and there is still a long road ahead.

You're doing great though

Keep it up!

D123

Hey Feb

Auctioning is a great way to raise cash I think- I did it before (well, actually persuaded my sis to do it on my behalf!!)

Glad to read things are still going good- hopefully we can catch up at weekend.

Take care

Irene

x

Thanks D and Q.I

Catch up soon.

WEEK 25. DAY 173.

Early dart home which has been really nice for a change (before the mayhem starts again next week)!! Not going to think about that again now until Monday morning.

Quietish weekend for me (for a change). It will do me good I think. Might have a root round to see what else I can sell on *******!! All good so far.

Take care all and stay cool over the weekend.

Feb - Taking it easy on "The Bright Side of the Road".