Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Hi Duncan

I really like your "stepping forward" mantra. I think of it quite a bit and it gives me a lift. Nice work and keep stepping forward even if sometimes they are only small steps. Have a good one!

morning diary. I'm hot today! Lol (thankyou mr b murray) on way back to work for another day of sun sun and a kitchen full of laughter. Amazing what a fivers worth of ice creams full of delicious e numbers does to a bunch of over heated men lol, i know what would have happen whilst at it i would not for sure have had a fiver spare i would have done that and some and then just been wound up like a spring all day blaming the weather on my demise. Today i love this weather we get a different type of atmosphere from the customers they seem to slow down and not rush things, for me a lot like a good recovery from this decease, take it slow,enjoy the good moments they come more often each day and will help when the great british weather returns to form. I know the sun will shine across the forum today so slap on your factor NO BET TODAY lotion and one and all enjoy the sun along side our recoveries lets enjoy! We are all on the right path stepping forward one day at a time. Life is gamble free the best forecast for one and all. Duncs striding forward FAB in hand! ! Never back.

Hi Dunc,

I find i stop by your diary most days to give me a little boost to start the day and im never dissapointed, i love the, Slap on your factor NO BET TODAY, lol.

Thanks dunc for inspiriing me towards another gamble free day

Blondie day 31

Hi Duncan,

Nice post, made me smile!

U r doing gr8, hope u r enjoying the sunshine 🙂

Stay strong and keep going 🙂

DMac,

Nice one. I like it.

I try hard to share the same thought process as you and have tried this for some time now. Think positively and positive things will happen for you. I agree, each day that passes I notice small things that I would never have noticed previously. There are so many benefits to be had from not gambling. Before, I walked around in a daze whereas now my eyes are wide open and my chin is up high. The small things are easier to notice this way.

Tomso.

thanks duncs....your such a kind person and am in awe of you positivity on tis site and for all of us...

Back to pendulum again and maudlin .....just a lot on my mind and exhausted still...mind wont switch off ...

night night and wuffs from us xx

good afternoon diary. I am sat out melting at the back door of my kitchen lol! Smilin cornetto in hand! Just ran through a busy lunch now onto prep for tonight got a v.v.v.i.P in tonight the wife and her friends for dinner, so needless to say the train will be full steam ahead! ! So nice to have a buzz about the good things, things that have meaning. Folks i dont have all the answers i wish i did, i found myself daydreaming about there being a switch somewhere i could flick and we all would release our compulsion and all could live bet free and happily ever after, but i know we have the next best thing! This forum. Well re charged now back to melt further and keep an eye on my pastry chef who i know had some valrhona out to play with! Hope you and yours are all enjoying the sun gamble free! Duncs no bet today. Stepping forward never back.

Hi Duncs

It is so great to see how much your life has turned around and how happy you seem 🙂

I reckon the wife and friends had the best meal ever and I also reckon Duncs was feeling pretty d**n good about being able to do that for your dear wife

I love reading your posts they give me hope

Thanks

Keep strong

Lucy

evening diary. No bet today been at work for 15 straight hrs and have not stopped for more than 10 minutes but following on from a great night last night my wife and friends had a great meal and my boss had a good chat with them post meal and he gave me a big discount to enable me to pay for it all, something which nobody was expecting so they were all made up, another reminder that gamble free i will have the funds to do this and it felt great. I have been strangly craving a cigarette for three days now, it was 15 weeks on friday since i smoked and have stocked up on wrigles lol and know it wont beat me i like gambling am a better person without it. I am on bus home now and will enjoy a quick snuggle with my beloved before a 7 start again in the morning looking for another record busy day. Hope one and all are enjoying the sun i saw it out the window lol! Duncs stepping forward never back.

The sun is not all its made out to be .

Good to see you so upbeat .... enjoy your cuddle snd your forthcoming busy day.. still not sharing a recipe or two though?

Best wishes

jon

Morning,

Was just thinking about that discount. Now obviously I am a bit bias but would I be wrong in thinking that since you have started at that restaurant the place has gone from strength to strength. Taking are up customers keep returning.

Maybe it was the bosses way of giving you a pat on the back, a bit of recognition for the time effort and commitment you have put in, to making this success for him.

Good for you , and rightly deserved.

Saw your post about the ice cream the other day, just wanted to say next time you're in the driving seat mines a 99

Thanks

Dusty xxxxx

morning diary. Amazing what a straight 6 hrs sleep does to a man and his soul, up and at em second batch of duffs in the oven and even squeezed a walk across the field with my dog for a game of fetch, no doubt he is back in the land of nod dreaming of pigs ears lol! Dusty you are right i am for sure getting back for what i am putting in and today we after the first dozen customers will break the owners best ever week and he has owned it for 4 years. I know i am earning honestly through hard work and will continue to do so as the feeling is great. This week i will also address the work home balance and start to get some time back to enjoy the fruits of my labour. Smoking not a chance, blocks in place. And most important of all is today i will not bet and tomorrow will of course be a brighter day. Duncs stepping forward never back. (and as for recipes i will give you my mantra respect your ingredients, buy the best you can afford and always cook from within your heart. At the pass i often say to my chefs would you eat that there answer yes! My answer SERVICE! and another happy customer.):-).

Morning Diary.

Well popped by this my third home!!! LOL for an hour or so this morning to top up on a portion of "Resolve" and got a bucket full thank you all so much for the contributions you all give to this forum it can only help us all in our recoveries.I am off to work shortly for my weekly de-brief and the fact that the last 7 days trading was the highest the buisiness had taken ever I hope will mean it will be a good one. The urge to smoke has certainly past now and i am proud i was able to grab that stick i have and beat it back. As for gambling I cant remember the last time I had the desire but will not be fooled it letting my guard down.The blocks are there and will remain. This week I am going to work at giving time back to me and mine. Most of all my eldest Son who has finished college now bar his exams and has written a poem "tophat" for me ( I will post it shortly) I will be getting this inked upon my torso and this for me will serve as a reminder of my "gambling life" and the REAL LIFE i now have!!

All thanks to my family,GA and the wonderfull family I have here, I doff my cap to one and all.

Duncs compulsive gambler NO BET TODAY.

Stepping forward never back.

Morning,

Thinking of you this morning, as the Gamecare poster boy. This is what can be achieved once you put you heart and soul in to it.

In the last 17 weeks have only known you to be down once. You have this infectios quality about you that spurs the rest of the gamcare family on.

You post from your heart , in your own unique way, which always uplifts the reader.

Can not wait to see your poem , bit concerned about how long it is, is there space for it, but having never had a tattoo ( no shock there) bet it bloody well hurts.

Particularly then working in a hot kitchen .

I will be paying particular attention to the next series of master chef, watching out for culinary flare, tattos , but the biggest give away would be the chap brandishing a big stick, batting away all those urges to gamble or smoke.

Have a good week , getting ever closer to the twenties.

Dusty xxxxxx

afternoon diary.Well here is my poem written by my son Joe of which I will shortly be having tattoed as a reminder of what gambling made me pretend to be and what I really am inside.

"Top hat"

Here's the world in my top hat,

keep it by your side,

it is something that defines me,

a hat to remember me by.

Keep it hanging on your stand,

until the day I die,

then start searching Englands fields,

for where my flat caps fallen by.

Duncs stepping forward never back

(just an everyday bloke who let gambling turn his life into a show for a while.)