Better to Ramble than Gamble.

Alays nice to read an update from you Oldham and great to hear life is going well.

Always great to have a read of your post s pal ive updated mine just a little one see you tuesday

I’ve not had a bet today or since my last post.

All’s going well can’t recall the last time I had a thought about having a bet. Sometimes I feel a little bit of a fraud on here and at the GA rooms because gambling does not cross my mind. People ask me why I still bother going to GA week in week out, the answers simples it’s working. When I first came here they was a saying “Nothing changes if nothing changes” so I made the changes, retained my brain, so now I flip that saying round doing what I’m doing is working so why change it after all “nothing changes id nothing changes”.

I’ve actual been enjoying reading the forum in recent weeks, I only dip in and out read a few updates comment if I feel I can offer something different, just pick a couple of threads from the newbies or diaries and the f&f always take me back to how much destruction I would cause if I succumbed to just that 1^st bet, it would never be one. I was at GA the other week when someone came back after 4 years away and 12 years of abstinence only to stop at a set of traffic lights see an advert in a bookies window and place a bet to then proceed to go into autopilot and be back gambling for a few week before getting his behind back to a meeting. Just shows you can never become complacent as good as I feel today and maybe further than some from my last bet all of us are as just a day away from the next.

Works going so well since I stopped gambling, I used to be set at my desk try to win money to get better things when all I need to do was stop and do my job, since I’ve stopped gambling which I was doing all day at work and actual started doing my job I’m earning about 30% more a month. I should be quid’s in but I’m enjoying life to much, diffidently drinking too much I’m not one to drink at home (I only have my Tuesday beer after GA) but I’m going out regular, I think I enjoy the company, maybe I need to look into an alternative hobby lol. I’ve given up smoking about 3 months now, id stopped the visit to the shed for a cheeky cig if you know what I mean a while ago.

My lads doing great so proud of him he’s going to make something of himself not the tallest but he’s towering over me know and all his teachers are fighting over his to take their subjects for A -Levels but he’s got his career plan already in place so he know what he will being. We was due to go away in July but we’ve changed that to Oct and are going on a bit of roundtrip round eastern Europe, really looking forward to it.

I leave it there another quick update turns into a ramble but we all know that better than a gamble.

KTF

Oldhamktf wrote:

I’ve not had a bet today or since my last post.

All’s going well can’t recall the last time I had a thought about having a bet. Sometimes I feel a little bit of a fraud on here and at the GA rooms because gambling does not cross my mind. People ask me why I still bother going to GA week in week out, the answers simples it’s working. When I first came here they was a saying “Nothing changes if nothing changes” so I made the changes, retained my brain, so now I flip that saying round doing what I’m doing is working so why change it after all “nothing changes id nothing changes”.

I’ve actual been enjoying reading the forum in recent weeks, I only dip in and out read a few updates comment if I feel I can offer something different, just pick a couple of threads from the newbies or diaries and the f&f always take me back to how much destruction I would cause if I succumbed to just that 1^st bet, it would never be one. I was at GA the other week when someone came back after 4 years away and 12 years of abstinence only to stop at a set of traffic lights see an advert in a bookies window and place a bet to then proceed to go into autopilot and be back gambling for a few week before getting his behind back to a meeting. Just shows you can never become complacent as good as I feel today and maybe further than some from my last bet all of us are as just a day away from the next.

Works going so well since I stopped gambling, I used to be set at my desk try to win money to get better things when all I need to do was stop and do my job, since I’ve stopped gambling which I was doing all day at work and actual started doing my job I’m earning about 30% more a month. I should be quid’s in but I’m enjoying life to much, diffidently drinking too much I’m not one to drink at home (I only have my Tuesday beer after GA) but I’m going out regular, I think I enjoy the company, maybe I need to look into an alternative hobby lol. I’ve given up smoking about 3 months now, id stopped the visit to the shed for a cheeky cig if you know what I mean a while ago.

My lads doing great so proud of him he’s going to make something of himself not the tallest but he’s towering over me know and all his teachers are fighting over his to take their subjects for A -Levels but he’s got his career plan already in place so he know what he will being. We was due to go away in July but we’ve changed that to Oct and are going on a bit of roundtrip round eastern Europe, really looking forward to it.

I leave it there another quick update turns into a ramble but we all know that better than a gamble.

KTF

Wow what a fantastic read, just the difference in your most recent post and your initial one. Many congratulations once again on your achievement. I’m currently sat in work reading these stories but hey at least it’s better than sat at my desk with skybet open with a sheet of appear half over it so no-one saw what ie was doing (they prob did tbf)

I can especially relate to the football part of it, listening to people at work saying they were 1 goal away from £5k or whatever. Hopefully by me not talking about betting anymore they’ll know I’m out of it, will just go make a drink or make a fake call if it comes up.

I have read your post from beginning to end and all I can say is what an inspiration you are. I am at the very beginning of my journey to become gamble free and believe now more than ever, after reading your story, that I can do this. Maybe one day I will pluck up the courage to go to GA, with Oldham being my local one. Not sure how I feel about this yet as I find it very daunting as a female. I know you do not post as much as you did but I will keep looking out for your updates. Well done on coming so far, you really have given me the hope that I can start living again and overcome this horrible, horrible addiction.

ClaireB wrote:

I have read your post from beginning to end and all I can say is what an inspiration you are. I am at the very beginning of my journey to become gamble free and believe now more than ever, after reading your story, that I can do this. Maybe one day I will pluck up the courage to go to GA, with Oldham being my local one. Not sure how I feel about this yet as I find it very daunting as a female. I know you do not post as much as you did but I will keep looking out for your updates. Well done on coming so far, you really have given me the hope that I can start living again and overcome this horrible, horrible addiction.

Hi Claire

As a fellow female CG I went to my first group last week and I can assure you I was made to feel very welcome. It was daunting walking in there but you’ll be glad you did at the end x

One of the guys started tonight GA meeting with this poem, it’s one I absolutely love so thought I’d share here.

I am an addiction
i start in small subtle ways promising many things
I promise you enjoyment and pleasure beyond your wildest dreams
I deliver guilt and despair more horrible than your worst nightmare
I promise you power and courage
I give you feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness
I will force you to live in fear always
I promise you relief and escape from all your daily problems
I create for you greater problems than you ever imagined
I promise you many friends
I only allow isolation
I promise happiness
I create much sorrow
I will steal from you your dignity, your familes, your friends, your children, your homes, your dreams, your spirit and your life
For love freedom and happiness are impossible to find in my presence
So never underestimate me
I am devious and manipulating
I have no preference as to who i pick as my victim, rich or poor, young or old, black, white, yellow or red
I have killed men, women and children- I have no conscience
So if you have met me, always beware if you think you can beat me, that i will be gone from your life and all will go well again
Never forget i will always be there, waiting in the dark shadows just around the corner
I am very patient and i will laugh in your face if i can lure you into my evil world of hell on earth once again
I AM ADDICTION

Hi Oldham, a blast from the past here I used to be adampoker, I remember spending many nights on the chat room with u, I saw ur name pop up and saw ur almost on a century now and have stopped smoking. Well done mate jolly good seeing that ur doing soo well. I gave up smoking a year and a half ago and have only spent twentypounds on gambling since December last year. All the best mate enjoy ur trip with ur son u deserve it. Adam

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Wow! Nearly 1000 days! That makes me feel so small. What an effort! I was there with you at day dot. Sadly I'm on day dot.

I’ve not had a bet today or since my last post.

Spent some time yesterday searching my diary of a post which o found in day 222, it was great to have a reread showed me just how far I’ve come and great to SE posts from other people how helped me through it all

Anyhow that post on day 222 I was looking for it because I was watching soccer aid and remembered how I watched one of these games and had to turn it off because Ray Winstone was managing England and I’d started to blame him for his associations with a betting firm. I decide I was ready to forgive the **** and watch the game and he wasn’t involved I was a little gutted but the thought was there Ray.

KTF

Hi KTF do you think if he knew the people on here he wouldn't do it? All the kids that don't know their fathers? Partners having nightmares, houses repossessed? No me neither, I liked him as an actor but now I think he'll do anything for money. We went to the cinema instead much better use of our time which wouldn't have happened a year ago. We are accepting the things we cannot change.

He’s not the only one Carol Voderman she’s another preying on the vulnerable they must no what damage the companies they advertise do but as you say accept the things we cannot change.

Oldhamktf wrote:

I’ve not had a bet today or since my last post.

Spent some time yesterday searching my diary of a post which o found in day 222, it was great to have a reread showed me just how far I’ve come and great to SE posts from other people how helped me through it all

Anyhow that post on day 222 I was looking for it because I was watching soccer aid and remembered how I watched one of these games and had to turn it off because Ray Winstone was managing England and I’d started to blame him for his associations with a betting firm. I decide I was ready to forgive the **** and watch the game and he wasn’t involved I was a little gutted but the thought was there Ray.

KTF

Hopefully the celebs advertising gambling will be a thing of the past in a few years. I know I sound bitter but it winds me up, had to unfollow Michael Owen on twitter as 99% of his tweets were promoting betting sites. Sad, all the money he earned in his career yet he’s getting paid by them.

I felt the same about Babs windsor and j.a.c.k.P.o.t.j.o. y
Now....any adverts I see makes me think of all the poor people who are getting sucked in....as we speak. ...I remember when I got the call to say I was now a VIP player.....what a bleedy joke. ..I was an addict....
I'm sure one day....it will be stopped...the same as f*g/drink advertising...but can't see it anytime soon...
Was wondering the other day mart....have you now up graded your primanari work trousers. ..
I was in there shopping....and thought of you ....x

I've not had a bet today or since me last post.

I remember that chat well Foxy Loxxie I think I’m on Asda Living if that an upgrade I’m not sure, where not going to what there celebs do and does it really make a difference who the face of the adverts are, great to see you doing well chick we’ll have to have a proper catch up soon.

Well I’m sat in work till 6 world cup on the screens around the office so ca enjoy the game, batted off a few sweepstakers today, winner of the tournament, time of first England Goal, leading goal scorer. 2 off them didn’t hang around when I said I’m a CG and don’t gamble, one thought it was ok to encourage me to have a go after all it’s only a quid, tried to politely decline but in the end had to tell him why would I risk 2 ½ years gamble free not to mention all the other things gambling cost me I think he regretted asking me in the end, I don’t think he will be back again.

Could hear a few lads getting giddy when Saudi Arabia got a couple of early corners and a couple of first half goals they seem to have quietened down now, seem to be shouting for cards after every tackle so I imagine they need a few bookings. I’m sat here enjoy the game keeping myself to myself in the past id have had a few bets on the game like I’m an expert Russian and Saudi Arabian football. Enjoying the game its better than expected looking forward to rest of my first gamble free World Cup

KTF