Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Sarah it's a pleasure to have you on this forum. You are a truly amazing and understanding woman who gave Duncan the chance to live again and be the man, husband and father that he so wanted to be. From your support he has clearly drawn strength and got his life back.

I have only been in contact with Duncan since November but his support for me and so many others has been unwavering. Time and again, day after day he has taken the time to come on here and tell us about his life, his family and his recovery. I read his entire diary about a month ago.

Duncan you have done something to be proud of. You bought love and honesty back to your house. A house that you so very nearly lost. What an incredible journey you have taken in the last year. It's obvious to say you need to carry on doing all the right things but I will say it anyway. We all need reminding. Continue to show your strengths. You have them in abundance.

Thank you for your honesty on your thread and mine. You have been a great source for help and advice. I look forward to celebrating more great days of abstaining with you in the future. Just for now take a bow sir. You earned it. As for you Sarah you may have just reached sainthood within the Gamcare family. Have a great week. Maybe celebrate with one of Duncans new curries.

G

Hi duncs/sarah

Inspirational posts, thanks for sharing.

'well done' seems inadequate- what an achievement! Enjoy this milestone day.

'Happy birthday'!

Irene

x

hey Sarah...

great post there and one proud lady...family ..in fact...

What a journey and a year its been and now life is totally unrecognisable to the stressfull one it was...

Fanastic team work and also a lve for your husband that shines through and is definately a two way street as many on here already think they know you just as much as Mr D as you are always in his thoughts and he loves you dearly.

You got your husband back ! ...plus a convoy of new cyber friends too..!!!.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today and being the biggest part of Duncs miracle...

R and D xx

Hi Duncan, Hi Sarah 🙂

Duncan, congratulations on a year gamble free, you have worked soooo hard 2 get here, ur diary is full of ur honest journey.. ups and downs and it's been gr8 2 follow!

U also support so many others here and ur words have given me a boost and kept me strong lots of times. So thank u from the bottom of my heart. I am so glad u did not take ur life.. U have a family and Sarah that adore u and that is priceless!

I can tell from ur posts how determined u r 2 never give gambling another second of ur time! I believe in u Duncan.. U have given me so much hope and I am proud of u and I hope u r sooo proud of urself 🙂

2day I hope u celebrate ur yr gamble free, with ur family and that u do not stop smiling cus wot u have achieved is brilliant.. U r a true inspiration 🙂

Enjoy ur day and congratulations Duncan 🙂

Sarah, ur post made me smile... It must have taken sooo much courage and strength not 2 walk away and 2 stay strong, but it's clear u have been a huge part in Duncan's journey... I hope u r proud of urself 🙂

From Duncan's posts it is clear 2 see how much he adores his family. U r a gr8 lady and I enjoyed reading the part about ur home being full of laughter and smiles now.. I wanted to say thank u 2 u 4 ur post this morn it shows wot can be achieved and it also gives me sooo much hope. I wanna say that u all deserve nothing but happiness and I hope the laughter and smiles continue and I know they will. Take care Sarah xx

Congratulations and enjoy ur special day xx

Good Morning Fine Sir,

A massive massive congratulations and well done from me. A huge achievement and one that should be celebrated both here and at home. Many at GA say year 1 is the hardest but consistency can help us massively and you are as consistent as anyone in recovery.

Lovely to read the message from your wife and your recovery is proof that ultimately we are good people. This addiction is powerful and leads us to a path of destruction. Rock bottom forced us to turn our life around but through strength, determination, and massive support you have turned it around.

No stopping here though my friend this is just the beginning or as you say so well yourself the Foundation. Maintain the progress my good friend we are behind you every step of the way and continually inspired by your 365 consecutive victorious days.

Flagg

Hi Sarah & Duncs,

So wonderful to read your post. What can i say duncs, you did snap back victory from the jaws of defeat. Today you should all stand tall and proud and celebrate what you have achieved together.

Duncs your resolve and determination to beat this one day at a time has been nothing short of inspiring, I came to this site 8 months ago and have read your diary every day since then, I wanted what you had, I wanted to beat the demon and you lead the way, The light of your diary and what recovery has brought to you and your family shone a light for me, a light of hope.

I hope that i to can one day post a year gamble free. I hope that all new comers will read your diary and see that this can be done. I hope and I wish you and your beautiful family nothing but love, life and happiness for the future.

You have supported me un-conditionally for the past 8 months and I could never put into words what that means.

Thank you just isnt enough but i will say it anyway. Thank you duncs for everything, thank you duncs for never giving up.

Sarah you are the rock in duncs life , you are an amazing women who has supported the man you love, The light won for today and the evil of gambling is banished back to the dark.

Keep shining that light of hope for all to see.

Enjoy your day of celebration and wear that pin with pride .

Take care

Love blondie x

Hi Duncs,

Relatively new to the recovery diaries section of this site, but already have appreciated your words of support.

Just wanted to wish massive congratulations on your having hit the 365-day mark. A cracking achievement, and great example to all who use the forum.

Keep looking forwards,

D123

Morning Dunc

Many,many congratulations on making it to 1 year.

You have been diligent and unrelenting in your quest to remain gamble free.

Many thanks for your continued support-you posted on my page when i started up my diary on the 5th of March and have done so ever since-many thanks.

Sarah,

What a wonderful post. Reminded me of when i too hit rock bottom and then had to face up to tell my partner of the horrific fall-out from this terrible addiction. Like you did with Dunc,she stood by me...thank goodness, I honestly don't know if i would be typing this today if she hadn't.

Congratulations once again to you both,

gazza

Morning diary.

Day 365 no bet.

Wow what a way to wake up, to a post from the person who counts most in my life. The person who got so badly affected by my compulsive gambling addiction. The person who i had spent to many years lying to, deceiving to lay at the feet of my addiction. Well 365 days ago it stopped I arrested the punt, i stopped chasing a pipe dream and started living. Today I celebrate my years abstinence by cooking a few curries to share with my family, a day where my choice to abstain taking my life back counts the same as the other 364 days, a day in which i take a step further away from my addiction.

The only shame today is my mum lives to far away to be present at supper, as she and her ed have been so supporting and compassionate in my recovery. Rest assured they will be present in spirit. Along with each one of you, my gamcare family.

I will pick up my year pin next week from GA as the fella there who showed me there was a way to live without a punt, will be present to award it to me. Something I Won't be relinquishing any time soon.

I hope that my absent friends from here and GA are well and to have found there lights guide.

I have learnt so very much about myself this last year, my new job gives me the balance i crave, we rescued two wonderful dogs, my children all have blossomed into fantastic young adults and Rather than being blinded by my addiction I have been witness to it all.

My advice to anyone who reads who wants to live gamble free. Give it your all, all that energy you gave to gambling, give it to recovery. As my dear friend Lucy says " believe"

Give time to your emotions, I used to judge everyone through the eyes of addiction, worthless unless they could fund the next bet.

Well today i don't judge, i try hard to listen, learn and ultimately become a better person.

We can all better our lives from both sides of the fence.

There are to many names to thank you all, but my Sarah covered a good few. To you i Thankyou one and all.

I carry a poem in my wallet instead of bankcards, that poem my mum gave to me early in my recovery.when the urges come i read that poem . "if" by Mr.r.kipling.

Just for today i better my tomorrow by making a choice No Bet today.

Abstain and maintain.

I did win because I did stop.

Stepping forward never back.

My name is Duncan Mcquilken i am a compulsive gambler No Bet for 1 year today.

Have a wonderful, wonderful life you deserve it.

xxx

Congratulations Duncs! One year is a huge accomplishment! -joanxx

To Lord and Lady Mac,

You have been an inspiration to everyone on here, You have blossomed with your new lifes. It made me so very proud of both of you.

Enjoy your celebrations tonight.

I kinda almost hear the laughter and maybe a few tears BUT this time the tears will be happy ones!

CHEERS

Womble xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brilliant news, just... brilliant!

Love to you both, onwards and upwards.

NT

xx

Congrats on a whole year punt free mate enjoy the celebrations with your family

I read Sarah's post last night and it brought tears to my eyes (sobs in fact). I wanted to post my congratulations to you both last night but thought it more appropriate to wait until others who have been with you on your journey did so first.

What a truly inspirational post and what a fantastic achievement by you Duncan.

Only a gambler or someone effected by a gamblers actions would appreciate what a magnificent achievement this is.

I have only been back posting on my own new diary for a few days and haven't been involved in your journey, but I am genuinely delighted for you both.

Have a wonderful evening together with your family and very best wishes for the future

LA