Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Happy new year Mr Mac, I know 2013 is going to be an amazing year for you, not far from your target and what a brilliant achievement that will be, one that you so so have earnt, worked so hard for and deserve. Im so looking forward to Sarahs post when you hit that year target.

Hope thoses tests come back with some results soon.

Take care duncs

Blondie

Hi Duncan,

Thank u 4 ur post on my diary, it means a lot 🙂

U r doing brilliant and ur positivity continues 2 shine thru, I can't wait 2 congratulate u on ur yr gamble free... U have worked so hard and from ur diary I know that u appreciate all the important things in life now and that makes me smile 🙂

I hope u get the results back soon from the dr and that u r feeling better!

Have a gr8 nite 🙂

Hi Duncan

Good to read you have been doing jobs around the house and generally enjoying being free of those chains. You keep doing what you are doing, I don't have to give you any advice I can't give any, I don't know what the formula I mate but you do.

Enjoy your weekend pal

Duncan mate how do I go about blocking my computer from gaming sites is there some free download material I can use and have you got a link? Sorry to ask, you always have advice 🙂

Evening diary.

Andy.fella there is no formula to abstinence, no medicine to make to stop the urges. I have them sat in my brain, the monkey sits on my shoulder, sometimes invades my dreams, telling me things Will be different this time, you Will win,you learnt it. I have them i believe they Will always exist.

But with continued abstinence, blocks in place to put time between me and that first devastating punt i can with each day see life is for me worth living every minute of when i am gamble free.

I have time to enjoy,i don't lie,i smile alot;i work hard but not too hard as to tip the balance between home life and work, i don't have to chase my losses.through abstinence i don't have any.

12 days from the gamble free year.

A time in which i have worked hard to better myself in everything i do.

We have a choice, every day we can be better educated to make it through the day befores choice.

No bet today.

I did win because i did stop.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Morning diary.

Well it has no stop rained here since 10 last night.

I hope that this cold snap doesn't arrive as predicted as getting to work Will require a taboggon!!!

Off to work shortly,just sharing a snuggle with my Sarah.

No better way to start a day.;)!!

Gutted that Tomso went back at it, with honesty i thought he had gambling licked!! But i see today again that our resolve has a lifetimes battle once again i Will stand at full guard.

I read andy's post over and over last night upon his thread.

He states he is aware of the triangle, but keeps it open and Will do until he wants to give up.

For me this conjures up a vision of a fella with his head in a lions mouth,a lion that did not eat too well!!!

At first i spent hrs formulating how to get round the blocks.

They are only as strong as we make them, but through abstinence i started to see what the fella at my ga said on my second meeting. I am sure he has said it many times,he has been attending for over twenty years and today through hard graft is a self made millionaire.

His words. "all we are asking you to do is not have a bet"

Simple, but apt.

My ga room did not and does not pull any punches and for me this tough love approach really does work.for me yes.

So blocks in place my full guard on and my resolve topped up i Will set off to cater a golden wedding at work.

That is something amazing.

Duncs stepping forward never back

hey Duncs

Looking forward to Sarahs post too...the unsung hero of GC..!!..but im biased being from the other side...

Seriously though I admire how you always give Sarah full credit for her part in your recovery...team Mcfamily effort and one that has no doubt bound your family closer together...

I think she should start her own diary...lol x

You reminded me of how I miss meetings...i love the straight talkers...wish we could have that in Coda..but i guess thats my role in there and some folk find my shares too much as its a very gentle recovery programme.

In the old liverpool AA 12 step they used to fling chairs around..lol..but i kind of like that as its real and what you find is that the people who "loose it" often go on to be the most sorted out further down the line as they have dealt with a lot of extremes and can speak from proper experience and are authentic and not just reciting parrot fashion.

I think you'd love it up here and you would be welcomed with open arms...its often like the cast of Shameless in meetings but you meet some real diamonds ..some of the folks in AA were also what they call double or triple .."winners"..meaning they were also in GA and NA aswell,...that used to make me smile.

I used to have a real laugh with people outside when they were having a smoke as when i came through the door to go in i'd always say "Aye up its God's chosen few"..lol

having humour in recovery can also be blessing...laughing bhudda and all that x

r and d xx

Hey Duncs, another amazing post from an amazing man!! I also wanted to thank you for your post on mine the other day. I needed the reminder. -joanxx

Hi Duncs,

Agree..another great post from you.

Golden wedding...how lovely. That will be you and your beautiful "sarah" in years to come.

Hope the currys going ok? Have you perfected yet?

Loved a line of yours on another diary (think it was Rach's) bout the dogs curled up on your feet...me...I got a hot water bottle!!!!!!

Working on my dating profile tomorrow and will post some for gamcare approval!!!

Sarah is welcome to comment!

Sue x

Hi Duncs

Great posts from you - keep on it and keep winning every day.

Dave

Duncs if I may call you that , thanks for the post mate , have not had a chance to read your diary fully but seems to me the your beating this ,

I will make time to read and take inspiration from it

Keep up the fantastic work and enjoy the rest of your weekend

Evening Gamcarers.

Well came on to read a few diaries. I take great heart from what i read .

Andy found some massive resolve .

Along with many others who share there stories which all show great determined spirit.

Thanks for sharing.

Today i find my resolve topped up to the brim

my glass overflowing.

For that i thankyou all.

You have showed me why recovery is the solution.

I wish this continues with all my heart.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

To absent friends i hope you too find similar resolve wherever you can,take it with both hands.

Thanks for your post mate. I wish I was in your shoes right now you are doing so well mate keep it up.that last slip has knocked me for 6 but I have picked myself up dusted myself down so now its time to get back on the gamble free bus! Take care mate.

Scottyboy

Evening diary

day 356 without a bet.

No sneaking off to spend the family pot chasing pipe dreams. No more lying about were the money went.no more loans hidden, no more phone calls to my ma begging for a bail out. No more phoning in sick or being late due to one more spin!!!!

My life today means more than all that!!

What did gambling give to me??

All of the above.

Today i worked hard, made a fantastic liver parfait and a chocolate brownie that i am surprised any customers got as the staff kept pilfering it!!! Lol.

The talk at work naturally is mostly about the forthcoming staff night out.the talk today was about how fantastic the casino is,they spent a fortune refurbishing it,me i was laughing to myself . The boss said why?? What's so funny??

My answer, funny how the world is struggling,we all have to work hard and budgets and payrises sparse at best.

But low and behold the casino is on the spend.

Wonder why??

Still it won't affect me,as they won't be seeing my hard learnt. I Will gift the kitchen staff Saturday morning off to recover.

Me i have my night out planned a week Wednesday,me and my wonderful family Will enjoy a nights celebration. A year of our life back. A year of living.

This i know is available for life, as i say next week i simply lay the foundations.

Each day just for today i Will subscribe. No bet today.

9 days till the cement dries on my foundation.

Duncs stepping forward never back

Hi Duncan,

Another g8 post 2 read 🙂

U have worked so hard on this journey and I can't wait 2 congratulate u on ur yr gamble free.... Ur family have got u back and that really is priceless 🙂

I am so proud of u 🙂

Have a gr8 nite 🙂