Better to Ramble than Gamble.

Hi there KTF, fantastic about your mass exclusion - impressive and empowering. 168 day also impressive! Keep up the good work xx

Thanks KTF, I thought I'd better, I suppose I did look like someone who came out of the shadows (or long grass) to do a bit of stirring. I'm not. I'm just a wilful old bird who has a tendency to say what's on her mind regardless of the consequences, but I'm learning. Anyway, thanks for the welcome, I have seen your name and posts pop up regularly, you're a good support on here and held in high regard. I haven't read your diary in full but I will tomorrow, I hope I won't need the hankies! I can see from annies post above that you're on 168 days though, brilliant!

Twinklyr

Hey Martin , thanks my friend and I really appreciate all the kind words over the last 6 months , best wishes on your 6 months of abstaining in 9 days time , as always it's a pleasure to walk alongside you my friend , your a credit to yourself and to GA a great supporter on the forum and a gentleman ! Talk to you again sometime soon ! Alan x

Day 172.

Thanks for the comments guys a special mention to my mate Alan sorry to read he feels that it's his time to take a break for here. I'm sure he will be ok out there on his own so to speak but others on here will miss his input and even his awful jokes.

What a difference a bit of sunshine makes up early all jobs done by 9, re watched a few episodes of TWD with my son. Went for a walk around the park finished off with a cheeky ice cream. Dropped him off came home and caught up with my nephew who had been on Australia for 18 months, he gave me a bollocking for being a k**b while he was away.

Sat in the garden now having a beer and chatting with my mum.

I've noticed a few things over the last week, when I go to GA on a Tuesday I pass 7 bookies all of which I'm excluded from but I always look in to see the poor souls giving there money away. It was only when I got to the last one that I realised I had not looked in the previous 6. A similar thing happened yesterday when I went to the pub for the afternoon not once did the flashing light of the fruity catch my eye normally they get a passing glance when i nip to the toilet or I hear the coins being paid out I glance over but not yesterday. This has to be a bit of progress.

KTF

Well done Martin on 172 days, and you are soo right, what a difference a bit of sun makes, we immediately see things in a positive light :)))

Those bookie shops are exactly how you see them now, cheap, shabby and above all self destructing

Keep doing what you are doing and keep going my friend.

Suzanne xxx

hi im in the same boat but my wife has not found out yet i cant tell her as im worried she will leave me and take the kids i hate this gambling addiction its so hard adverts on tv everynight everytime i see them i feel sick as i remember what i might lose because of this stay strong dude

Hi oldham congrats on 173 days gf not long until you hit the 200 mark. I totally get about the bookies as when i go to ga on a monday i walk past loads and see all the poor deluded souls in there. Just glad im not one of them. Think im going to stay at reg meeting tonight for an hour see what its like , bit scary but i think it will do me good. Tc xxx

Day 174

Cheers Merc and Em.

For the lady God knows how many years u would be off this week or at least taking a late lunch.

I going to miss that Cheltenham roar when the first race starts in an hour or so. What I won't miss is the sinking feeling when something cones out of the pack going like a train and beats mine on the line £50 down oh well in sure the bookies have an offer on money back if you lose the first race. On to the next another £50 on and the money I got back after all it's free. Who are they kidding. The 2nd bet wins like a good un. I'm in the zone unstoppable it my day lets up the stakes after all I'm playing with there money another coule of loss's. Get to the last race Mullins has to win it he always does which one to pick he'd have about 7 in it. You guessed it pick the wrong one or probally a the wrong coulpe on my case.

Back home at the normal time from work can't give the game away that I've been off just to gamble. Spend the night planning where I can get it vack chasing on some football in a far flung land. Get some tokens for tomorrow either by winning or another oats au loan or the like. 4 days of ground hog day.

Not this year I'm proud to say I will be winning everyday by not betting.

KTF everyone it's only another race meeting after all.

It's sure is just another race ktm
It's just another Cheltenham. ..
It's just another week for the bookies to earn there millions
It's just another week when many more gamblers will be feeling sick..angry..scared...hatefull to themself and everybody else
Just another week when many gamblers have to face up to there addiction
Just another week when many more spouses will have there lives thrown into turmoil by addiction
ITS ANOTHER CHELTENHAM THAT KTF WILL BE A WINNER....AND THAT'S A DEAD CERT .. FIRST PLACE TO YOU SIR....YOU DESERVE IT XX

In answer to your question it was the GA regional Oldham

It's been a tough day today. Don't get me wrong I've come absolutely nowhere near having a gamble. I couldn't of done if I wanted. The triangle was smashed apart as always. Money-had none on me. Location- I have SE from all place around me. Time-I was working did not book it off like normal

It's been the Cheltenham thing I know I said earlier it just another race but it's lots of races of the best quality.

For years I've not really bet on horses. I was more inplay sports. I only really bet on the national and Cheltenham week.

Cheltenham felt like Chistmas week for the old gambler me. I'd be offer work, I'd start planning for it for weeks before even abstaining from other forms of gambling so I had money for it. That's partly why I say it's like Chrosts week is plann to have a good time it was a social thing getting to together with gambling acquaintances a few beers nipping in and out if the bookies, a great atmosphere. It wasn't about the money again like Christmas it was going to be expensive I'd planned for that. The money was to be spent on having a good time you might win you might lose. Like you might get the present you wanted or not.

(While writing this I realise that it his is not what I enjoy about Christmas it about my family.)

I feel a little in the minority on here today it's more old school gambling not like my normal gambling or the FOBT's or slots.

What I'm trying to say is I thought it would be a bigger issue for people on here. I thought more would be struggling with it like I have. I've seen a few posts so I'm not saying it's not bothering anybody but just not as many as I thought.

I so want to rewrite this post as its a bit of a jumble but that's how I feel today.

Early night and regroup for tomorrow.

KTF

I can relate to this Oldham albeit Cheltenham wasn't my thing, nags weren't my thing. More concerning is champs league football or tennis tournaments. I'm just avoiding avoiding avoiding. I watch different stuff. I read up about my son. I love learning and I try to learn more about the world that exists outside gambling. You're doing great and you won't mess up. It's just habit creeping into your mind.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.. As the day creeped on I found myself more interested in the results: Cheltenham was big news on many sports websites so I think compulsive nosiness crept in.

From memory, I think last year was like this too and I became less interested as the meeting went on.

Jft

Day 175

Cheers guys your posts helped me get through this morning.

The rest of the day has been a bit of a struggle just missing the experience of Cheltenham never once did I regret the money I lost there and on several occasions came out on top. It didn't matter either way.

I didn't think it would effect me like this can't wait for Saturday to come never thought I would be wishing for my main gambling day to come so I didn't think about gambling.

Went on chat tonight which was needed.

Off to watch the last 3 episodes of House of Cards.

The triangle will remain smashed apart so they will be no gambling by me.

KTF I am

Hi, Martin,

I really don't get the betting thing, sorry, but before my husband's gambling was exposed, some of our best days out together were at race meetings, we went to C once or twice. His main poison is on line sports betting but now arcades at the seaside and the occasional race meeting in a posh hat can't happen again for any of us, I'm still edgy about card games, which he never played for money. Shame...but not tragic, we're still all better off with him being gf.

Glad things are going well for you, stay safe.

CW