*** 2019 *** Climbing the Gamcare Mountain

I echo Adam’s comments fully, get to the end of March and (Hopefully!) the £2 spin limit at the bookies will kick into play.

Speaking from experience, there shouldn’t be that same pull towards them, knowing that.

Well done for reaching double figures mate. You’ve set yourself a good platform now to kick on and achieve something special.

Keep going Stephen.

Thank you Dan & Adam for visiting my diary. I appreciate your support.

Hello Diary ... I am pleased to report that I have no desire to gamble but having felt that way before, I do not read too much into it.

The end of the month will be a testing period and hopefully I will behave sensibly. If I spend my income wisely than I can have a jolly old time.

When I look out of my window on the morning of Thursday 31st January, will I see opportunity, adventure and happy days waiting for me? Or will I just see hordes of grinning gambling demons?

Only time will tell ...stephen

PS. Could it be that grinning gambling demons don't actually exist but are merely a figment of my imagination? Or better still, just a metaphorical representation of the gambling urges that frighten me?

The only thing I know with absolute certainty is that none of us will get out of this alive, so I think the time has come for me to try and make some sense of it all.

Stephen, what kinda things are you going to spend your income on if you don’t gamble? Maybe you should think about how much you’re looking forward to them 🙂 good luck

Thank you Lisa. Your post got my brain working and I have had a good think about my recovery.

1/ There is no reason for me to win money gambling. My pension is sufficient for me to live in reasonable style and comfort. On the other hand, losing money creates hardship for me and puts frowns on the faces of my friends and family.

2/ The reason I gamble is partly due to the release of chemicals which make my brain dance around. The other reason is that I don't really know what I want to do with my life and have been too lazy to find out.

3/ I obviously need to behave with more courage, integrity and discipline so that I may travel onwards to wherever destiny leads me. Whatever direction my life takes from now on, I aim to keep going forward with a renewed sense of purpose...stephen

Hi Stephen thank you for continuing to post though provoking and helpful words. It really is good to know we're not alone on our GF journey. January seems to stretch on forever so I am also looking forward to the 31st and am planning a GF future, take care S 🙂

Many thanks for posting on my diary Sharon. That really brightened up my day.

You are so far up the gamcare mountain that I now need binoculars to follow your progress. It is truly heartwarming to see you forging ahead with hope in your heart and a smile on your face.

I know that you have experienced plenty of remorse and regret plus you have shed many tears but you have stayed strong and overcome all the obstacles that stood in your way.

You are indeed a shining light on what can sometimes seem like a dark and unforgiving road. It is now 678 days since you set off on your gamble free adventure and during that time you have shown courage, integrity and compassion to your fellow travellers.

Keep blazing that trail Sharon...stephen x

stephan, I did notice your "other" photo, it was so funny . Thanks for hosting such an active thread with your diary of experienes and your wonderful replies to others comments. namaste'. ( how was the movie 'glass'? I'll have to look that up). Be well, odaat, tara2

Yayyy day 13... Nearly a fortnight. Keep going ever so proud of you Stephen.
Good night.
Bella xx

Self Sufficient Stephen wrote:

The gamble free train keeps rolling along so let's keep on smiling and singing a song

There's no call for tickets to journey on here - just don't have a bet and there's nothing to fear

We're all heading off to a wonderland land where slots, fobts and raffles they are all banned ...stephen

Yayyy now here's a idea. 365 days of gamble free poetry. I'd buy a book you are author to.

Love that poem.
Goodnight
Bella xx

Hi Stephen

Great wise words on my diary, a tempting place is Vegas, I would say I am still at the ‘At Risk’ category.

Glad you are carrying on with your gamble free life, isn’t it great, no stress about having to go out and gambling or money worries.

Nearly 2 weeks gamble free is no easy feet, well done and keep going, you are winning it.

Shaun

Thank you for my poem, really enjoyed reading it and it’s true it’s just the bingo halls I gotta avoid like the plague now thanks to Gamstop I’m less worried about the online stuff. Congrats on reaching 13 days - you’re only 9 days behind me and it’s great to watch your journey alongside my own . Still not got to the cinema yet but fingers crossed I’ll get there before the showing ends !

Best wishes

Clare

Thank you Stephen, your gracious words mean alot to me! Am feeling very Januaryish so this made my day. Take care and here's to many more GF days Sx

Hey stephen, congrats on your 2 weeks tomorrow 🙂

Many thanks to Tara, Bella, Shaun, Clare, Sharon and Lisa. I am appreciative and also very humbled that you took the time and effort to post on my diary. The support of my gamcare friends means a great deal to me.

My lady friend has next week off work so we're planning to visit the cinema this Sunday (Mary Queen Of Scots). Going for a meal followed by a play on Thursday and than Saturday will see us at the theatre for a musical (Saturday Night Fever) which I am really looking forward to because the film was brilliant.

I am being sensible and have transferred some money into my friends account which she has agreed to look after for me. My works pension goes in the bank next thursday so I am just living in the hope that I can refrain from gambling with it...stephen x

Wow sounds like you've got a cracking week lined up... Don't forget to enjoy it and focus on the good times ;o)

Keep going! Enjoy the fruits of your labour :o)