Diary 2

Thanks for the responses and good counsel. Zulu - I'm really looking forward to seeing my friend tomorrow + it's only a mile to the hospital!

Hey Phil I hope you are well. Apologies if you didn't like what I said in chat last night. I wasn't intending to offend. I just think honesty is the best policy and I have doubted that you work as a journalist for a fair while. This is based on your forum posts and what you post in chat.

Best of luck with your recovery, and once again sorry if I caused any offense. Good luck buddy!

Would you like me to send you a copy of my pay slip for the publishing company I work for? I'm more than happy to exchange email addresses through Gamcare's admin but obviously I would have to cross out personal details such as my address and national insurance number.

youtube.com/watch?v=usGObvP42GM

Hi Phil,

Just listened to the George Harrison song you linked in your post above - "All things must pass", a very Buddist philosophy. I hope you're in a similiarly serene frame of mind.

All the best, Mixer

Sometimes I believe music can be so helpful in recovery. My favourite band of all time is The Beatles although I missed Beatlemania!

My favourite songs and albums from a solo Beatle are from George Harrison who bless him died very young - a man who was kind, funny, knew his flaws and wrote some great songs.

If you like - check out and listen to "If you believe" on youtube. A song about honesty, love, self-reflection and moving on - love the lyrics and the guitar.

Best wishes, Phil

Mixer my friend the song was "wah wah" - my bad if I posted a bad link! Hope to see you at 9.

Hi Phil,

Certainly agree about your love of the Beatles; I'm often asking 'Alexa' to play my favourite tracks. George Harrison was my mum's favourite Beatle, incidentally (like you, it was a bit before my time!). He did some catchy stuff with the Wilberry's too didn't he ... "End of the Line's" a toe tapper!

I'll listen to "if you Believe" on Youtube now. I am sure it will set me up for chat in 10 minutes and put me in a mellow frame of mind. See you on chat soon hopefully! All the best, Mixer

Still here Phil thanks, just not active in posting. Gamcare helped me, as did you and others, lots of positives, however, for me lots of negatives as well. I've smashed through the 200 days now and i'll keep smashing. Life has certainly improved and without people like yourself and Julie 35, i wouldn't be where i am now!

Great to hear from you! So glad you are doing well. Best wishes, Phil

Really good chat again tonight although I had to leave a little early - different approaches and opinions but the same goal! Feel really positive despite issues in my personal life so thank you forum friends. Best wishes, Phil.

What I've been thinking about earlier and having a chat with a friend with a different poison of choice was stopping is one thing but maintaining recovery is another issue.

Clearly when it comes to alcohol or drugs the addiction can be more apparent were as with gambling addiction it can be less obvious.

My friend hasn't had a drink for 7 years and is comfortable in his own skin to go in a pub and have juice/lemonade etc. He's a cool guy and was totally inoffensive to me and others when he was heavily drinking but made a decision and stuck with it.

Now and again he'll be honest and say he does "feel" like a drink but he dismisses those thoughts very quickly. He's a happy guy and so supportive and something of a mentor.

Hope I'll be like him at some point.

Hey Phil .

I think it help's us addict's to help other addict's To be honest ( whatever their Poison ) , You know the old saying " Takes one to know one " maybe that's it as we know all the feeling's , the dodges , the lies and that smell of " Bull sheet " in the air when another addict's not giving us the full story ?.

I've taken a lot from speaking with people on here over the last couple of years and it's all in there locked away for reference anytime I'm in doubt about something .

If I'm honest I still get moments where I could go and have an afternoon in the bookies or a day at the races but I also know that's just never going to be an option for me again , however strong I feel or how much time away I have from gambling , but that's the choice I make , I'm happier now than I have been in many years and that's all about acceptance me old mucker :))

Stay well Phil and Be the person you want to be :))

Thank you as alway for your post(s) Alan. The reason why I like SMART (cheers Zulu!) is that you meet people with different issues but SO much common ground. I can talk about the gambling and the tranquillisers and the people seem to know where I'm coming from. I like it - never thought I would open me gob but I did and have! Cheers my friend.

Glad SMART is going well for you. I looked into it but GA works better for me.