DAY 1 - minute 1

Oh I'll be there next Jan Phil, you can count on it!

Linda

Hey Linda,

Very well done on ur continued abstinence and be proud. You are really strong and determined person and it's lovely to see such a positivity coming out from you. You help a lot of souls here while dealing wiv your own recovery. Tiny steps forward, no looking back, every day you abstain you are winning the fight.

keep it up and enjoy your day

Be proud, and keep reaping the benefits recovery gifts you every single day.

All the best

Take care

Sandra x

Hi Linda,

I just wanted to say well done in this past week, even though this has been a difficult time you have remained strong and determined.

Take care and keep strong

LG

Hey hey Linda hope you're doing well. Hope Cheltenham week wasn't too testing for you! Big countdown now to your century. Hope your weekends going well. All the best Phil x

Thanks everyone for your comments and support. Yes it was a tough week but I got through it and icing on the cake was Ireland winning the rugby yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed that!

Day 96!

Linda x

Have a good st Patricks day. Linda your a star approaching 100 wow.

I have problems accessing site all the time. Not broadband issue . Library have free internet where I live and I have used it and they run kids reading clubs I used to take my boys and study in library . Great time for them. Maybe your local library has same facility if you get stuck great on a rainy day activity. Just thinking of you hitthefanx

Well done on the big 100 Linda absolutely made up for you 🙂 you've done so well, keep it up!

Hi all

Still no laptop so can't post much but can read a lot x

Still going day 107

Linda

P.s thanks to all of you that posted on my diary x

Hi Linda, hope your well. Hope you get your laptop up and running soon. How's the diet going? mine is variable on a daily basis depending on how hungry I am. Exercising more though again that's weather dependant lol hope yours is going better. Well done on your continuing abstinence.

Take care for now x

Hi band

The diet was going well until about a month ago and back eating rubbish again, no exercise either but will get back into it after Easter. I lost about a stone and have one more to go before September so have a bit of time yet lol x

Well done on the 107 days Linda, sounds like the abstinence is easier than the diet!

Thanks captain

Yes anything is easier than the diet lol. I am fairly active and don't eat huge portions so am not really overweight but I want to lose about another stone just to look my best for wedding and then after that, well I'm not too fussed lol.

Spent all day driving to old trafford and back. 11 hours all together but it was worth it to see my 7 year olds face when we got there. His dad is Everton but I am man United so we have been watching to see which way he will go. Today clinched it for me lol.

Another great day that could never have been achieved if I wad still flat out gambling!

Linda- day 109 x

Hey girl - just me......

I wanted to bring your diary back to the top of the recovery pages........for a couple of reasons........

1) to remind you about the amazing day you had last Saturday as posted above

2) there aren't many people in my life out with my family that I feel I have a real bond with.........but for over 3 months now I have felt a real kindred spirit with a group of people on this site..........you, in particular, are one of them

3) I want other people to read this post and to know that you have 'decided' to gamble this weekend.....and while it's totally your call and I respect that.......I want people to tell you how big an impact you have had in their recovery........in the same way as you have with mine.........please read back your diary Linda and see how far you have come.

4) you say in your post on the challenge....

I am gonna have a bet this weekend. - your call.

I am sorry that I will let everyone down - screw everyone else Linda, this is about you and how you feel about you.........will you feel as if you have let yourself down if you gamble?

but I cannot help it I feel I am on my own and nothing will change that - the way you feel is the way you feel.........but you are NOT on your own, fact. There are people on here that care deeply about you......and it's you that's caused that. I worry about you saying this, please speak to someone.

I am and will always be the average one that nobody cares about and that's ok - sorry, but that's bull Linda - see above.....the way I feel, the way others feel..........and the way your son felt and the way you felt watching him. If you are the average one Linda, then that makes a lot of us on this site well well well below average.

but I need to live my own life now. - again, that is your call.........but does that have to be a life that includes gambling........and I guess I'd argue that a life with gambling isn't your own life ???

I don't know what's happened in the last few days, but know, without doubt, that there are many many people on this site wanting nothing but the best for you...........why? You did ask that question in your head, I know you did............because you are super mum, you are Wonder Woman, because you are an amazing, compassionate and loving person.......and one who, for totally selfish reasons I want to meet, because you make my world a better place for having you in it.

We see people come and go on this site every day - it's a sad reality of our addiction..........but please think hard about your current intentions Linda. It is your call, always will be........but please don't do something you may regret.

You have my email address Linda, email me with your number if you want to download.

Please please please, beyond anything else, look after yourself.

Mr Brightside

Hi Linda, just read your post on the forum and I don't suppose I can offer much more in the way of advice that you've already been given but I just want you to know that whatever choice you make we shall all be here for you regardless.

Remember the reasons you joined this site initially, remember how liberated you felt not gambling and how much more time you spent with your family, remember how it made you feel when all the money was gone -if anything go and have a read through your diary before making the decision to place that bet. Julie's right your are worth so much more, its just not worth it.

Take care x

Linda

I will simply refer you to pages 13 and 14 of your recovery diary and ask you to read them again before you take the plunge so to speak.

The bottom line is those pages had a profound effect on my own recovery at the time, instilled in my mantra further why a punt in any form in my own life is totally unacceptable.

I admire your honesty in your post on the overcoming gambling thread, if it was a cry for help, you can see the amazing response that members of the forum have given, that speaks volumes about you as a person.

Bottom line is if you want to have a punt it won't effect my life, I am not here to judge,recovery is bespoke,life is about the choices we make, we as individuals have to live by them.

I dont know if the upcoming 'race' has influenced your decision,just my sideways thinking.

But if it has I would like to leave you with this.

my father instilled in my brain from a very young age that the national was not a proper race,that form went out of the window and it was a race for housewives!! therefore not worth a punt!!!

Now my father is still an active compulsive gambler,with irony it is a shame his wisdom did instill the whole truth in my own life,that all forms of gambling were not worth a punt!!!

I hope you don't make a choice that will effect your life in a negative way, your contributions to this forum have been testament to the good person you are, for that I hope life rewards you.

Regards Duncan