Diary 2

Yeah I think if you do it via the shop that's about right although the amount may differ firm to firm , still possible the one your concerned about isn't on the list of chosen ones ?

It wasn't on the list I was given yesterday but soon will be.

Very strange going into a shop. No temptation whatsoever as I had all my measures in place. I just wanted to get out of there asap after I had got my information. Before anyone asks my mobile phone won't let me ring number for some reason which was why I went reluctantly into the shop. If I'd been at home I would have used the land line but I happened to be in the city centre. I'm just glad I found out and.....one day at a time life is getting better. All the best, Phil.

I do all my SE through the helpline. All details are on this thread http://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/self-excluding-bookies-over-phone

I just assume it's been done never tried to sneak in to find out in my mind it's done and I'll happily believe if I step foot inside someone will spot me all in the mindset

The point is I thought I was self-excluded from that shop and I found out I wasn't. I didn't particularly want to go in there not because of temptation but because of how far I've come but I felt I had to for my own piece of mind find out what the score was and it felt urgent. So now I know and I will on my next visit to the city centre pop in with a photo. This is very important to me. I didn't even look at the screens - the commentary was just background waffle. I know people will have different views about going into a shop - and are welcome to share them - but a) I wasn't aware of al the other options and b) the irony is the shop was next to a bus stop I had to use.

I get your point you should be excluded and it's extremely poor you are not. I don't care how anyone does to. Personally I think going in to your main shops to SE is important and very empowering when you do it. I've used the SE phone number to SE from other shops that aren't my main Access ones and have done exactly 100 now and only needed the one photo if I did them all it by going in it would cost me a fortune in photos lol.

I had a load of passport photos taken for self-exclusion purposes and I can't find them anywhere!

Dear people watching the Liverpool match in the pub I was in yesterday: None of you would have bet on 6-1 so shut up!

Phew. Nice to get that off my chest!

Significant or not I'm not sure but I was just looking at my self-exclusion form from shops and I was thinking why is the only option a year? Why not 5? Why not 10? Life self-exclusion? Is it because they hope after a year you'll have missed their shops and you'll go back in?

My wife's birthday today and was able to afford a couple of nice presents.We are going to see a band my friend plays in tonight. So all is ok...one day at a time.

Hi Phil , Saw your post to Oldham and have bumped up his thread on the subject on the Overcoming problem gambling page .

Scroll down and there's also some links from admin :))

Hi Phil I see Alan has pointed you on the right direction but here's the number just in case 0800 294 2060. Takes about 20 mins and you just need to send a quick email with some ID they can only do for 12 months but it's easy to renew once the 12 months are up. It is national thing just tell the bookies you want to exclude from and they will do it. The person I had reluctantly searched for some by postcode area just add as many as you know.

Thanks a lot. I'm still living this life one day at a time and things are getting better financially - but more importantly mental health and relationships are improving.

I want to retierate things I've realised over the last months or so - not because I am any kind of expert but because I want to help fellow newcomers to this different way of living. To start with the money is GONE - it is never coming back and if you've started using this forum you realise - in my view - you have a problem. I 100 per cent believe we are all different personalities but I (just me) believe I had to make a 100 per cent commitment not to gamble - be it horses, virtual races, machines, online, scratch cards etc. That commitment for me involves self-exclusion, taking it one day at a time, learning humility and listening and learning from others far wiser than me, realising there is far more to this problem than wanting to win money - is there an issue in your life that gambling distracted you from? Also - how much fun did you have? If you used shops, did you genuinely make any friends? I know people who do one bet a week - usually something to do with football on the weekend and that's it. Unfortunately (Or fortunately!) as I have discovered that's not me but I am embracing this new way of life and thinking whole heartedly. None of this post is intended to be preachy - just want to say one day at a time life without gambling gets better and better. All the best, Phil.

It's not preachy Phil, you don't need to keep apologising for being proud of what you are doing.