DГ©sormais......

Yo,

Hope you got through the day ok. That you are being kind to you ,.

Hugs

Shiny xxx

Thanks Shiny.

Your support is most welcome. I am feeling much better today.

I've managed to put 2 gamble-free days together, which is progress compared to the blur of the last few months.

Keep strong

Ade

Hey Ade,

Thank you for your kind words and pleased to read you have navigated through today safely. Small steps forward, that's all we can do...

Another day tomorrow and I'm sure you will be making that right choice to better yours and your loved ones future.
Never on your own dear soldier, hand in hand we will keep marching on.

Take care and be kind to yourself

Sandra x

Hey,

No worries there my friend, you know that someone is always about on these pages no matter what hour of the day or night. We are all looking out for each other, community here is superb 🙂

Yes i had a good run, thank you. So good to get back on track it's unbelievable! Spend around 2 months isolated and completely shut myself down...but...the sun is rising again and i will make sure I'm there to greet it every morning 🙂

Here is for another good g free day dear soldier, we will get there..day at a time.

S x

Thanks again Sandra.

Feeling positive and I know that the weekend will be a battle as always. Sports betting is my thing and I will be sticking to this diary like glue over the weekend. One day at a time, and even an hour at a time for me.

Sport is saturated with gambling advertisement which draws us (me) vunerable compulsive types in time and time again. The marketing and sheer scale of gambling advertising for me is a killer. It's what got me hooked again really. I feel sorry for the young teenagers of today who have such easy access to this habit which is made to look fun, yet the reality can be devastating.

Enough of my moaning for now, it's all therapy I guess. But it's late and no time to be getting on my high horse!

Keep strong all

Ade

Hi Ade - really interesting reading your story. Try to embrace your weekend ahead by getting some plans in the diary. I used to have a regimented routine of going for a Saturday morning bet but have replaced this with the weekly food shop with my 2 year old son! I've built a new routine to help me avoid any temptation and it's working so far, plus I get that 121 time with my boy which is really therapeutic. I often used to convince myself that life without gambling was boring. I'm reminding myself that this is far from the truth. Remember there was a time in all of our lives when we weren't addicted to this evil. It could feel like many many years ago, but it's true for every single one of us. We are that person still that didn't gamble, we just need to find ourselves again.

I read something once that I completely blocked out of my mind that is now very relevant. For every day you don't have a bet, you are a winner. They are the losers. Today I am a winner, and I plan on winning tomorrow.

Stay strong!

Yo,

Lol, never expected that. Elvis , was your Bob the builder outfit in the cleaners lol

Stay strong today matey, if we could only bottle the desperation that brought us to this site, open it have a quick sniff and dispell the urges when they pounce. Get through one weekend , and the foundation is set for the next .

Shiny xx

Thanks Rob and Shiny for the supportive posts.

Shiny, more funky 70's than Elvis actually. Those jump suits sure are snug mind you!!

Anyway, good day yesterday and a good start to today too. Taken youngest daughter to gymnastics, cleared my garden of leaves and now about to do some diy in the garage. Keeping busy is vital for me on a Saturday. Listening to Frank Skinner instesd of the usual Sports stations on the radio.

Off to Ireland tomorrow for a family funeral. My Auntie, who was 84 has departed this life, and left my uncle on his own after 40 odd years of marriage. They had no children as they married quite late in life.

Puts things into perspective.

Keep strong all

Ade

Hello Ade... good to see you back, not many of us go back to 2008 and beyond and are still about. Nice piccie by the way.

I know what you mean about gambling advertising having an effect. I gambled online for the first time a few weeks ago and now am inundated with freebies that are just too good to be true... ie they are just a con to suck one in.

Anyway this time matey we can both knock the gambling into touch for good.

Regards... S.A

Thanks for the support SA.

Yeah 2008 eh. If only I could have maintained focus back then and beat this S***e back then, eh.

Still, the journey continues for us both. And I'm not going to dwell on what's gone before. Looking to the future is what matters now... Onwards and upwards....

Keep strong all.

Ade

Well done just take it easy no rush one day at a time. Sounds easy but as you well know extremly hard to keep up.

Michael

Thanks for the support Michael.

Feeling good today. Four days into my recovery and am in a good positive frame of mind.

Been busy today, avoided the whole Soccer Saturday scenario and it's actually the first Saturday for weeks that I have not gambled on something.

I have broken the cycle. I wanted to break the cycle, therefore I did. It is something that I have avoided over recent times. I have not wanted to stop. I just became the old automated trance-like idiot that buried his head in the sand. Travelling from bookies to bookies in search of a sad 'thrill' during or after work. I had no real appreciation of the value of my hard earned money. Choosing to go and gamble rather than head home to my family. It's sad typing it out, but I am so much better than that. Horses, dogs, Virtual S***e, football, repeat, repeat, repeat. Blindly betting on the most obscure names, colours, odds, anything really to just feel some kind of chance of a win or two. It may not be big stakes, but it's just the whole repetative cycle off it, rather than doing something worthwhile and satisfying. I drifted back to old sad, sad habits.

Today I have been back on the old DIY front (Shiny will be pleased to know!). Cleared out the garage, re-sealed the bath seal - something I should have done weeks ago.

I've even compiled a list of jobs to do before Christmas. Very sad I know! But if it builds my strength in recovery by busying myself away from gambling it can only be good.

Paint skirting boards in Kitchen, Fill and paint cracks in ceiling, Fit draught excluder, Finish garage guttering, Bracket on kitchen waste pipe, Fit gutter protectors, Dig up Wisteria, Fit new stock c**k under sink, Fix leaking Radiator in hall, Glue damaged laminate flooring, Gloss bedroom doors, Paint the kids playroom, etc, etc, etc.....!!!! ;0)

Keeping strong

Ade

Yo,

Well that lot should keep you going through the footy season. Good on ya .

First day of the foundation weekend , half way there mate .

Stay strong

Shiny xx

Hi Ade,

That's a spirit dear friend! ! Really good to see you back to your old self and keeping busy.

Breaking the cycle puts foundations on recovery path. You are doing it and i couldn't be more happier for you.

No rush, this is not a race, day at a time will see you safely navigating through life.

Take care and stay safe

Sandra x

Thanks for the supportive posts ladies.

End of a good day in recovery.

Keep strong all

Ade