Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Hey Duncs ....

Fantastic post and thank you for the shout out...I think you hit the nail on the head there...you started to get better when you believed you were worth it ....

I have always recognised a fighting spirit in you Duncs and a determined energy...don't ever loose touch with that spark ,you are living example of a person who has harnessed that spirit and energy and now have refocussed it on living ....

That immense amount of energy which I also have myself can be constructive or destructive if its not channelled properly....

It's like a baseball bat...in itself it's neutral but it can be used to whack someone over the head or be used to have a fantastic game of baseball,...

Keep playing the game of a great life my friend....you are worth it !!!!

R and d xx

Evening diary

today i choose not to have a punt, instead i had another days living a life were i enjoyed myself. Walked my dogs a few miles up and down dale. I love to watch them search out the rabbit holes and running free, happy and as its said, mans best friend. Then i worked hard in prep for tomorrow. A day when the bookings diary is full to bursting.

My wish is to have a happy dining room, i will do it with a contented smile.

Because today i made the choice not to give in to my brain formulating a way to get something for nothing.

As today i know that only brings destruction.

Happy mothers day to all you Mums out there, you give your love unconditionally. Me i take it with both hands and give it straight back at you.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Duncs ... Hope you have a happy dining room this Mothers Day

My best present this Mothers Day was a gamble free son for 60 days 🙂

Duncs I love reading your posts, you are so positive and always make me smile, keep up the good work. Enjoy a glass or two tonight I am us you will have earnt it

Jaq x

just read threw my diary from the beginning. Thank you for your words of encouragement at the beginning of my recovery i no i didn,t respond to them but i appreciated them.

cheers

Evening diary

what a day. Over 250 punters and by and large they were happy. One said they could have got a better chocolate mousse in the coop, lol it was a chocolate trifle we served so no doubt they could have. No accounting for taste lol.

No bet today but better spent my time and got to enjoy a dirty burger and the view over my city on the way home.

Catch up on my gamcare family tomorrow.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Afternoon diary.

Well i battered an urge this afternoon to have a punt. I had a meeting with a chef i used to work with, a promise of extra cash to be earnt. The meeting was to no avail. Just a few beers and a good catch up. The jobs he has are not worth any extra commitments from me. This with the Cheltenham meeting this week set a demon in my brain a fire.

Ten years ago i was one horse from 180k five out of six picked in a jackpot bet, so thoughts will always formulate around this meeting.

But i beat them with the stick i took in hand thirteen months ago and can see the way to win is today choose those three words.

No bet today

today i became a winner again because i made the choice to better my tomorrow.

No bet today

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Duncs - so true mate.

You're a winner today by ignoring that urge - just as you have been every day for the past 13 months.

keep up the good work. An example to all on here

D123

Well done on batting that urge, never understood the horses so Cheltenham not s problem for me, I'm 100 days free today and look up to you mate and your inspiration

Best to you mate

Hi Duncs... Yes I have a friend who won a bunch of money at Cheltenham a decade or so ago.. packed in his job to become a proffessional gambler (do they really exist?) and yes youve guessed it lost the lot had to back to work, stole from work, got caught, got a criminal record.

I met him in rehab. he then left re-hab didn't gamble for a bit, but the memoeries of his big wins never left him and he got drawn back in.... or rather he drew himself back in.

A few months ago I got a call from him. Could i help him out, he was in serious rent arrears, court date pending. I wasn't in a position to help and of course i wouldn't of anyway, knowing what i know. Anyway he got himself out of the whole he'd dug for himself by becoming a work aholic... and so his cycle of problem gambling continues....

Forget the big wins or the "nearly big wins" cos at the end of the day they are only short term loans that you repay with hefty interest.

I never had any big wins, well you wouldn't on the slot machines that i played on but the same principle applies to me. Any win is just a loan to allow me to continue to gamble.. eventually it goes, it always goes.

The only win is not to play.

Thanks for your support as always... S.A 🙂

Evening diary

Thanks fellas for your kind words and SA my friend, me i am made up i got off that ride!!!

I said before my life whilst at it was like riding a train towards a cliff, everything i owned, cared for all riding with me all running away on a road to total destruction.

On the 23/01/2012 i got off the train and rode another.

A recovery train. A place were pipe dreams are not needed as there is a life for me outside gambling.

Today a little tired, the glow of a few beers inside i let myself see that train again, it beckoned me tried to tempt me back.

Me i did actually laugh at myself.

Why??

I told myself this.

How do you make a compulsive gambler a millionaire??

Start him a billionaire.

My resolve is strong and today i did not run like before, i stood and was counted.

For that i feel very proud.

And my life is richer than any jackpot and one bet from throwing it all back on that train.

Today i choose life, a gamble free one.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Hey Duncs..

I love that billionaire joke..

Keep on that recovery train ...choooo chooo ...all aboard...

R and d xx

Really appreciate your last post as just shows how vigilant we need to be as it sneaks in underneath and can find a chink in the armour when we least expect it. Brilliant that you have the strength and insight to see in time.

Also loving the billionaire one, must remember that.

xxx

Hi Dunc

Hope this finds you well.

What's a "Dirty burger" ?

gazza

Morning diary.

Well my advice today is self dentistry is not a good idea.

I am layed up with a bigger problem than the one i started with. Today I am enjoying the discomfort of poisoning myself and Will end up costing myself a fortune.

I had to go visit the dentists this morning, have to re visit this afternoon and that's just to deal with the infection.

So big lesson learnt.

Funny there is a common theme isn't there!!!

Take all the help on offer lol.

I feel so rough today I am off work, so lets hope the antibiotics kick in and i Will see this through until i fixed it.

No more thoughts of gambling i Will learn from that experience this week too.

Hope you are all well and gazza for your information.

A dirty burger is from our local van, its 3quarter pounders with cheese, 3eggs and onions!! Lol you want to be very hungry to eat one.

No bet today no time for it.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Hi Duncs

Always take the time to read your posts - you are one of the positive people on here who help me to remain this way.

Enjoyed the joke too.

Sorry to hear about your self inflicted toothache!! Hope you are soon feeling the benefits of the antibiotics.

Take care as you continue "stepping forwards".

Feb.