day 1...I swear on my own life I will succeed this time

Hi mba,

Just read all your recovery diary from start to finish and can relate so much to your story.

You are doing fantastically well and I just wanted to drop in and offer you my support.

Reading your stories of time spent with your family when you were younger brings back so many memories for me too. Family is so important to all of us, and this recovery journey can make us realise that fact more than ever.

Keep doing what you are doing my friend and you, your wife and girls will benefit so much from a better you. Very much in the same way that you gained such great times with your Nan...

If you get a chance to, take a look at the story of the golf balls and the Mayonaise story that I posted on my diary. It may help you to maintain your focus through Christmas, I know it helped Duncs a lot....

Keep that strength my friend.

All the best

Ade

P.s: The irony of your post last month about Fleur at 33/1 on the X-Factor is not lost on me.........we're far better off without gambling........here's to the future.....

thanks mba

keep enjoying your recovery and christmas

crazy what things you can beat on fleur for x factor lol

and how did she do? 2nd

gambling eh!!

tri

Thanks friends.

I have read the golf ball story before. .very true.

And yes fleur was 2nd which I'm glad of. Its always good to be wrong when you have a hunch. It further solidifies the reasons we dont bet.

Mba

64 days without a bet.

My wife has noticed how with me not betting my focus is on everything else. Usually Im not really bothered who we see at Xmas and for how long. I also was never really bothered what I did whilst off work. Was happy just to sit around.
Now I need to be doing something productive and I'm always thinking what we can do as a family and trying to make sure our Christmas will be a fab one with all the family involved.

Other things I am noticing are that people who are comfortable with money are soooo tight. Holding back every penny they can even when its things they should be spending out on.
I have nothing in thousands of debt yet I don't hold back. I buy what I need for myself the wife and the girls.
No one apart from my dad knows the extent of our debt and when someone is saying how they don't want to spend money here and there to save a few quid when it's something they should be spending out on its quite upsetting. Same goes for people overspending and getting the best of the best just because they can. Or worse still saying they won't lend money as they enjoy looking at their balance on their bank.
Then yesterday as always my Dad helped us out. He gave us £2k to help my debt. Myself and my wife were so touched as we have been struggling for the last few weeks and for someone to help means so much. It's always my dad that helps. He understands money isn't everything at all.

So, that will now be my last payday loan paid off and will have to work out the best place to put the other 1.5k to save on Interest as that is what I'm trying to keep down at the moment.

Anyway off to get ready and to the bank.

Mba

Morning pal,great to see you are still going strong,I'm now into day 4 so when I see people like yourself it gives me great inspiration,keep it up pal!

Thanks blue in the red

I'm one of a huge number of people that will agree it is a wave of emotions trying to quit. It can go from easy to urges and near misses then gets easier.

Just don't give in mate.

Mba

Hi Mba,

Well done on being able to pay that last PD loan off, tread waters carefully my friend, because when we have money, it can be a different ball game,

I know you are in a good place at this time, and you deserve to be, but do not underestimate the power of this addiction, it will come running now you have spare cash,

Just take care and keep making that right and only choice my friend, abstaining and maintaining one day at a time,

Well done again again and very proud of you, Mba,

Suzanne xx

Thanks Suzanne it means alot that you care and i value your advice.
My payday loans are paid but I still owe thousands on bank loans and credit cards so I wouldn't call it spare cash but I understand exactly what you mean. They are paid monthly so no more huge chunks have to be paid out anymore.

I agree its not been plain sailing and it won't be easy all the time. I've promised my wife and dad and I won't let them down.

Mba

try and enjoy christmas mba

thanks for your support this year

tri

Thanks tri,

Having a fab Xmas day hope all my gamcare friends are too x

Hi mba,

Delighted to see you enjoy your Christmas Day! Imagine how great you will feel this time next year still gamble-free. It will be worth the effort.

Take care,

Suzy

c**P not being able to have a small bet on the football. I must admit its only the fact that i promised my dad and wife i wouldn't bet and he gave me all that money that I won't.

Proves telling people will help as it's what's stopped me

well done mba

hope you enjoy new years

tri

My daughter is going in to have 4 teeth removed and another 4 capped in an hours time.
I am so worried for her...its been such a roller coaster of a year I pray I'm worrying over nothing.

mba wrote: c**P not being able to have a small bet on the football. I must admit its only the fact that i promised my dad and wife i wouldn't bet and he gave me all that money that I won't. Proves telling people will help as it's what's stopped me

I miss this too,but you only have to look at yesterday's results to know that it's money down the drain,hope your daughter's ok pal!