Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Hi Duncs,

So little dotty has been batting those beautiful eyes at blue and hovis eh....

Im getting woody a massive big bone for xmas i saw a dog opening one last night on youve been framed so funny !

Enjoy tonight you always give 100% so tonight would be no different.

Wrap up walm its brass monkeys out there and snow is on the way.

Take care

Blondie

Morning diary.

Had a nice sleep in this morning,as late home last night,function all went well,should see some good repeat buisness next year, I for sure know today I took the right job this time, as it will give me the homelife/work balance I desire, today I am not in until later so get to enjoy the morning with my Sarah,looking at flat caps online,in view to finding one in the sales in the new year,so my battered stetson baker boy can be reserved for high days and holidays,amazing how since they became a little fashionable the price went up circa 40%!!!!

So today I will just window shop!!

Disscussed the forthcoming staff night out in january,as we are to busy pre xmas to hold one. It has already been arranged pre to my starting the job and the night starts with bowling and moves to a casino, so I wont be attending as having never been to a casino I wont be starting any time soon, so I suggested a dinner out at another date for myself,the boss and his partner,which should suit all,to be honest I dont think he thought I would attend and out of courtesy made the offer, to end the evening will take place on 18/01/2013, 5 days before my posting a year gamble free, and that day I am reserving for my Sarah, we will wine and dine and quietly celabrate the laying of the foundations of this our life,one made by making a choice to better it No Bet today.

Those odds NO CHANCE.!!

Enjoy your weekend Gamcarers I know I will from the stoves!! (Workers unite Rach!! Lol)

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Ahoy from the engine room my friend...keeping the cogs of industry turning..lol...

After those changes early on that were not quite right you got the right job in the end and i hope they blummin well know who they have employed..xx.

Wow!...nearly a year...and now look at ya?..going all Guy Ritchie on us with the old flat cap....next it will be trouser clips and braces and I think maybe you have also been checking out pigeons-R-US on line??? ...lol

Countdown to your 23rd Dec celebration..(baby youre a fiiiiirework)..tra la la .

Hugs and eyebats from Dots xx

R and D xx

Duncs,

You brought a tear to my eye with your last post!

Nuff said!

Sue xx

P.S. Flat cap.........Would you like some check slippers like Flagg?

Evening diary

Been a long day,home late from work last night and back in at5 5am this morning for a busy morning and lunch,home now for a roast and some good company,then a treat the rest of the herd can enjoy the x factor final and i have the observer and it's food monthly magazine to take off to bed,of course with my hot water bottles lol.

Tomorrow a late start so will catch up with you all in the morning.

45days on my countdown to 1 year gamble free.

And regarding my liking of the flat cap, it stems from watching the shawshank redemption,and the hat that the honourable Morgan freeman wears was the one for me.

The old fashioned baker boy hat.a fitting tribute to the greatest film ever made.

No bet today,not even a consideration.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Hi Duncan,

Again, thanks for your kind words- you really make sense. Although I don't know you well, I do know you've got "your heid screwed on" and I've noted several comments you're made in diaries.

I particularly like your "half full attitude".

Keep strong

Irene

x

Morning Dunc.

Hope this finds you well.

Maybe we're all looking for a little redemption?

Counting down ......

gazza

Evening diary

43 days until my year gamble free,thanks for your wonderful comments yes my glass is half full.

My boss asked yesterday why i'm so happy and upbeat.

Simply because i really have seen the worst a fella can see.my life was on a crash course, i stopped the crash and for 322 days have embarked upon turning it around.

With my support here,through ga and the belief of my amazing wife and wonderful family i can see another way.

Yes i am one bet from destruction. But today that bet is a day further away.to live life full speed,to enjoy it wholesale warts and all is where i feel comfortable.

Abstain and maintain.(thanks smiler )

We can all better our tomorrow by laughing at todays odds.

There simply not worth it!!!!

Be proud and the folks around us will be too.

Duncs stepping forward never bAck

Hello Duncs... not sure ive posted to you before. Its hard to follow everyones diary.. but from what i can see your doing fantastically well and also a great support to others.

Must admit you make me smile when you talk of me as the "honourable S.A"... makes me feel important like am sitting in the house of lords or something lol 😉 ... I would add though, that there is nothing honourable about the state of my flat at the moment! lol 🙂

Keep up the good work. As you say.."stepping forward,never back".. warm regards... S.A 🙂

Evening diary

humbling day today to read big bessie had been back at it , a big well done for the honesty in your return,this amongst many other things that recovery has given you, i look forward to reading your continued recovery.

And humbled in a nice way to have received a post from the honourable Sa,a person who gives a great deal of great advice and humility to our forum.also great to see Gt/Nt post.

Had A busy day off,took blue to the vet for his second injection,and a health check. He has gained just over a kilo in the two weeks we have had him and the vet said he is like a different dog.and we should be proud as his progress is great.

Cooked a roast had A great chat with my ma,looking forward to sharing xmas with them immensely, the first xmas of many that won't revolve around the gamble,sneaking off to the bookies as often as i can.

My plans simple,i have three days off to celebrate for the most part what has been a great year.all bar the first 23days of it i have managed to build some great defences,start to immense some of the wrongs my addiction caused and learn to abstain and maintain.

The united front of gamcare and it's marvelous patrons i too hope will enjoy much the same.

No bet today,no time for it.

Duncs stepping forward never back

Hi Duncan

Thanks for my post! Dog jackets- so much choice!!! Thanks for the Muddypaws site (have you looked at Petplanet?) Congrats on the new additions to your family 🙂 As you know,its so rewarding rehoming dogs- mine's also a rescue and been with us for around 10 years. From your last post, it sounds like you're doing a grand job there as well as reaping the rewards of abstinence.

What a fantastic end to the year for us!

Irene

x

HI Duncs,

Blue is flourishing by the sounds of it and its so deserved.

Counting down myself to christmas and im looking forward to it, some quality time with the people we love the most in the world, no worries or thoughts of gambling, no self loathing of all the lies we told and time we stole.

Sounds like the perfect christmas to me and well deserved and worked for.

Give blue and hovis a pat and a treat from me they have landed on there feet there lol.

Take care

Blondie

hey Duncs;

hope your enjoying your three days off and are in your own kitchen rustling up some delicious dishes to tempt thee pallate...and also leaving some for Blue and Hovis...

Gave Dots chucky egg mashed with butter and some brown rice...lol she loves that better than chicken and thats sayin something...

Been watching that Hugh Fearnly thing where his mother judges the dishes...lol..keep feeling its more like a cathartic experience for him as he tries to win the approval of his mum...he he he xx

Morning diary.

Had a long day at work sat down on the couch and promptly fell a kip surrounded by my two four legged hot water bottles!! Just woke up and logged on for a catch up,truly devastated to read charlotte went back at it,even more worried she is calling time on the forum, i do hope the morning or a subsequent one helps her back to the path of recovery as i have been humbled and inspired many times by her courage to fight this addiction.

The compulsion to gamble, proves itself a truly horrific addiction which without doubt never leaves us always lurking just under the surface.me today i feel i understand it's power,i will live with my blocks in place,enabling me to enjoy recovery without temptation,without the addiction casting it's bait in good times as well as bad.today i learn that it will in the good times egg you on 'come on treat yourself,look how well you did,your luck is in"

Well monsuier addiction you can stick your good luck were the sun don't shine!!me fella i can see i don't need your luck !!!look what life dishes up gamble free!!! Better than any win you ever gave me!!

I can win because i did stop!!!

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Tomso is testimony to that 300 gamble free days well done my friend well done

You know what your post there made me think...

Its like we all reward and treat ourselves often in the wrong way and then make that association as "feeling good or better"

If we feel good and in control we start rewarding ourselves with food,booze,buying stuff or the odd flutter as we feel in control ....but its those things that can lead us on the path to destruction too as we turn to them to find comfort when we also feel bad and out of control...

I guess it means we need to get our collective creative heads on and find ways to reward ourselves and comfort ourselves other than what we normally do...in most cases in moderation but as we know its a very fine line.

Changing behaviours is so difficult as it means also changing the environment and surrounding inflluences around us which is a lot harder.

hugs and wuffs

R and D xx