Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Hi Duncs,

And I choose to fire along side of you, agree with what you have written.

Just want to wish you and Sarah and family, a happy and safe Xmas, and thank you for your support, that has helped me get to 240 days of being gamble free.

Have a good worry free one my friend and stay safe.

Suzanne xxx

Morning diary

Happy christmas to one and all

I lay typing whilst the rest of the house sleeps,hopefully all dreaming of the amazing day ahead.

Why??

because this house is full of love,no matter what lays under the tree,the material side of the festive season is for me pained into insignificance by the huge feeling of love that has been bestowed onto the Mac household. We all work hard to understand one another,to help when it is needed,to lend a hand before it is asked,to have a family that held on when there seemed to be nothing to hold onto,to have lived through some truly dark days and to see the light and life return is a gift money simply cannot buy.

I staked all I had on the chance to profit financially,to get something without effort all the time I gambled.

I know how close I got to losing the thing that money cannot replace through that futile act.

Today I will remember that,today I rejoice in the fact I am a winner,because life takes effort,courage and today I embrace it with all I have.

Merry christmas to each and every one of you,my wish is that you all feel blessed too.

Why?? because you are all worth so much more than the act of a bet and it's devastating effects.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

Well said Duncan, I hope you've had a great Christmas, and considering you were up at 4.30 am I imagine you'll be trying to catch up on your sleep at some point! Were you on basting duty? Everything that recover offers is something that gambling would take away in a heartbeat, so enjoy it and I hope that the children and Sarah had a great day too!

Ryan

Hi Duncs,

Hope you and all your golf balls are having a great day.

Keep strong my friend

Ade

Duncs hope things are going well and you and the family had a nice xmas

Hey mr Duncan 🙂

Hope this finds you well. I am sooo proud of you and wishing you and yours more peace, happiness and freedom coming year. You are all so worth it.

Hugs dear soldier

Sandra xxxxx

Morning diary

Thanks for all your kind words of support, I have had a very pleasant festive season, time spent with some truly wonderful folk.

I have been battling illness for the past five days, terrible flu like symptoms, seems this one got around the flu vaccination! ! Lol

Still it has not stopped my work, it can't, too busy to let it!!

I am off to work shortly, a civil partnership to cater first then a full on dressed buffet later, but with a good wind I will be home in goo time to enjoy my families company, lol probably be in bed as the new year dawns as working tomorrow to give all the other kitchen staff a well earned day off.

This year has seen a great deal of change in my recovery, I am learning to control my mind in ways that bring huge benefits, I am much more at peace with myself, my self control and belief in my recovery grow each day.

I see through my first calendar year gamble free today, exercising the demon of my shortfalls which led to the failure in completing the task last year. I am gutted flagg and his gamble free thread fell from the pages of the forum but as one door closed another opened in mr Brightside's thread on the overcoming problem gambling section.

So another tick on my list, time to set some new goals as I am fully aware recovery is ceaseless, it never has an ending, it just grows each day I make the right choice.

Gambling has no place in my life, it is unacceptable for me to place a single penny on the random event I hold no control over the outcome of, because I am fully aware that it would not stop at that first punt, quickly I would return to living pipe dreams and endure the carnage that accompanies it to boot.

Recovery offers something different, a life without steep highs followed by even greater lows, recovery offers my mind freedom, it is no longer tied to a rock, a rock that would have drowned my ability to follow dreams, make them real.

So the burden of gambling debt lessens with it comes responsibility, something I am fortunate to share with my beloved wife sarah, my rock, my true love, my soulmate, my reason for the drive I have.

So goals for the year, well we venture on holiday abroad in may, so a steady diet for me and I am going to learn to swim!!

Our Joe turns 21 in march, something to celebrate, he brings a great deal to my life, I know this year we will be able to gift back to celebrate.

Lastly I will finish my sleeve tattoos, for one reason or another it didn't happen as intended on my birthday, but it will happen this year.

All these things are products of recovery, self earned gifts, no longer thrown to the whim of a spinning wheel.

Happy New year to all of you

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back.

No bet today

No bet since 31 / 10 / 2013.

Morning Duncs,

Another very insightful post - the best line for me being 'recovery is ceasless'. I didn't truly understand this at first - I naively thought that after a certain number of days I would be 'cured'. As we both know it doesn't work like that. Stopping gambling in the short-term can be relatively easy, ongoing recovery is the hardest part.

Thank you for all your words of encouragment this year, all the best.

Paul

Thanks for your support and invaluable advice on my dark days, I hope 2015 will be a brilliant year for us both, I'm confident it will be. Your diary posts are inspiring and very useful for anyone who is having a bad day coping with their urges. Hope you and your family have a very happy new year.

Phil

Hi Duncs,

Just want to wish you Sarah and family a very happy new year, you certainly deserve it.

Take care

Suzanne xx

A very Happy New Year to you and all your golf balls my friend.

All the best

Ade

HI Duncs, when i came to the forum 40 days ago i was possibly at the lowest point in my gambling addled life. then your post appeared on my diary, i must have read that a dozen times that night, that personal post aimed just at me was the biggest boost a loser like myself could receive. I'm not ashamed to admit to being that, THEN, but not now, the difference between then and now both mentally and physically is immense, and for that i will always be in debt to you. you're a legend. and I wish you your wife and family a happy, healthy 2015....... onwards and upwards... Ginger

duncanmac,

You remain an inspiration, even in your absence 🙂

Congratulations on a full year & thank you for the reminder to all of us to remain strong & not get caught out by complacency!

Look after you (& your family) as you breeze through 2015 gamble free - ODAAT

enjoy your new year Duncs and thanks for the ongoing support...tri

My Dear friend Duncanmac.

Happy New Year 2015 and god bless you and your family.

Dark Place /