On the lead up to Christmas I've had a thought of something I want to do.
Now, 2014 really has been an emotional year with so many happy and sad memories.
My happy memories are my daughter and niece being christened, a temporary job promotion and of course the best day of my life getting married.
My sad memories are my Dad breaking his hip and my Nan passing.
My Nan was like a mum to me from the age of 12 and I was always so close to her and have so many happy memories.
What I am going to do up until xmas is share a happy memory of me and my Nan on my diary.
It may not be gambling related but its something I really want to do and will keep me smiling.
Mba
Happy memory time...
This memory is about Christmas eve. I always made an effort to go and see my Nan on Christmas Eve in the late Afternoon/early evening.
My nan would always make us both a cup of tea and we'd usually have a biscuit or two too.
I remember one year about 15 years ago i went round there to wrap Holly's (my wife) Christmas presents and my Auntie and Uncle were there. My Auntie showed me how to wrap them perfectly as I've always been poor at wrapping presents.
I continued to go to my nans to wrap Holly's presents on Christmas eve for a few years and my Nan loved me being there as I loved to be there too.
Mba
Hi Mba,
What a lovely Memory to write down, I look forward to reading more.
Have a good gambling free day.
Suzanne xx
Thanks NT,
Do you mean I could recreate the memory by going to someone else's house on Christmas eve?
Mba
Happy Memory No2.
When I was very young I would go to my nan & Grandads house on a Saturday while my parents were at work.
I have many memories of the things we did and fun we had.
I remember every Autumn we would go for a walk up copnor road and look for conkers. It was such a buzz when you found one.We came home with cacarrier bags full sometimes.
My grandad used to use a wheel brace to drill a hole into some of them and put a string through then we would play 'conkers'.
The game is when you have two people with a conker each on a piece of string and take turns in hitting the other persons conker until one completely breaks up.
Mba
I missed yesterday's memory so I will post two happy memories today.
Happy memory No3.
During the few months leading up to my wedding, myself and Holly kept my nan involved in everything we were doing Regarding the wedding.
She was so excited about our big day and obviously wanted to look her best.
Holly saw a beautiful dress at a reasonable discounted price and showed my Nan a picture of it. She instantly loved the dress so we decided to buy it for her, afterall she deserved to be treated.
About 2 months before our wedding it arrived and she tried it on. What a perfect fit. She was so happy and was so looking forward to wearing her special dress on our big day.
Sadly 2 weeks before our wedding she passed.
My dad mentioned that he was going to look through her clothes to pick a dress she would be laid to rest in. I suggested she wore the wedding dress because of how much she loved it and that she would be in it whilst we got married. We all agreed and I'm so' happy with the decision.
She may not have wore her special dress to our wedding but she wore it whilst we got married and that meant so much to me and holly and also to my nan I'm sure.
Mba
Happy memory No4
On the subject of my wedding I will remember another from my special day.
As I said, we kept my nan involved in the build up to our wedding. As she wasn't there in person we did all we could to involve her Memory.
I made a display on a special table for her. A candle, Lantern, a' special book, her favour, a photo and a framed speech which I was going to say to her.
I mentioned her in my speech, we' had wedding photos taken on her front wall and in the park opposite her house where I grew up. I picked a marigold from her garden and pinned it to my suit and during our final dance of the night I shed a tear whilst dancing with my new wife and the photo of my nan.
She couldn't have been involved more on my wedding day and It's such a beautiful memory that I will treasure forever.
Mba
Happy memory No5
Most Saturdays i used to go round my nans and making ginger nuts. We used to make two double batches of them. We always had a cup of tea or two whilst making them and id enjoy a break whilst checking the football scores on teletext.
Mba
60 days without a bet. Im very happy with that.
However, I'm so short of money at the moment. Still robbing pete to pay Paul and working all the hours I can. So frustrating but there are more positives in my life away from money and gambling so thats where my thoughts are going.
Not wrote any memories about my nan but always thinking of them. Jelly and ice cream and watching baywatch on a Saturday late afternoon was always fun. Also just remember how she would never relax when we were all round hers. Always asking us if we wanted more food or drinks. She couldn't do enough for anyone.
Mba
Hi mba,
60 days is great going, you should be proud of your progress.
Hope you have an enjoyable (and gamble-free!) Christmas.
o*g mba, you have just described more or less to a T what I am planning for my Wedding, only all the family members will be bringing someone (or a dog) that can't be with us in person! Add that to your 1st date being my sister's birthday, (her kids will be bringing her) & I was already feeling compelled to post but then I read about your Nan not relaxing & knew I had to! My Nan drives us all mad constantly trying to feed anyone within hearing distance "Go on have a nice bit of cheese!" Our Saturday's were spaghetti bolognaise & chips (I mean who has chips & pasta) followed by the Dukes of Hazzard & the A Team! These memories are ones I love, who made me the person I am, my gambling ones are ones that make me strong enough to never be the person I let myself become!
You may be short of money @ the moment but you would have been an awful lot shorter had you not chosen no all those days ago! 60 days - Awesome 🙂
Keep going strong - ODAAT
Hi Mba
60 days of abstaining and maintaining, great going, your Nan would be very proud and chuffed to read your lovely memories. ( expect she is looking down somewhere) watching over you.
Have a great gamble free weekend Xmas is so near now.
Take care
Suzanne xx
ODAAT, your post sent shivers down my spine. It's always a nice feeling when people can relate to each others posts.
I have been together with my wife since we were teeenagers and got married after around 16 years together and living together for 8 years and with children. So many people say it doesn't change you and it doesn't feel any different but I certainly feel different.
The roller coaster of emotions on that day from watching my wife walk down the aisle, tears at numerous times over my nan not being there and the speech, first dance it all has changed me.
When you get married, involve passed loved ones as much as you can im so glad I did.
I feel blessed with what I have and I don't need gambling to be happy I have all I need.
Mba
Happy memory No8.
I bought my nan a teddy bear one xmas and it was always sat in her front room on a chair. She would always go up to 'him' and tap him on the head saying he was her marky bear. When she went to bed at night she would tap him on the head saying goodnight markybear.
I now have markybear, well my daughters do. 🙂
ODAAT - Congratulations on 140 days my friend.
Suzanne and Paulll thanks for your posts, lets all enjoy a gamble free Christmas.
Mba
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