Diary of a familiar tale

Day 96 gamble free

4 days until target

Thanks Blondie, Keith, AN and Joan for your kind posts of support, much appreciated.

Just a few days now until three figures appear and I am determined to do it. However it will just be another step gamble free not a final resting spot. After that I really want to push on with my recovery and although I am always on my guard and still have plenty of urges I am much stronger than before.

A.N you are so right about guarding against any premature victories. The 100 days are just a reason to have a little celebration and toast. It is so important for me to progress onwards and upwards.

Hope everyone has a gamble free day and therefore has spent another day with the human race.

Stay safe and strong

Paulds

hi paulds

carl

Hi Paul,

Thanks again for your kind words and quality tune as usual.

I will be around on Friday to give my congratulations on target reached.

It is a battle as you rightly say. I know now that it will always be there, just got to learn to accept that.

Cheers mate, you're a good guy and deserve to see this through.

A.N

Hi Paul,

U r doing brilliant, I hope u celebrate 100 days gamble free... It is a gr8 achievement 🙂

U should be sooo proud of urself 🙂

Have a gr8 nite 🙂

Hi Paul,

Thank u 4 ur post on my diary 🙂

1 more day 2 ur target, u r doing brilliant!

I hope u r gonna celebrate, u deserve it 🙂

Have a gr8 day 🙂

Day 100!

Days until target 0!

New target 122 days (4 months gamble free)

Made it for the first time in 16 years in the UK.

I am going to post a few tunes today, ones that have helped me, ones to party, ones that have given me hope.

Please feel free to do the same.

Day after day of fighting the demon I think we deserve a pat on the back sometimes, so whether you are at day 1, 100 or 1000 I salute you for choosing not to gamble today.

The first tune is an uplifting one, hope you enjoy Belle and Sebastian........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J314yQFRE5w

Now whilst i have that tune playing it is time to say thank you as so many have helped along the way. This is not the end of the journey not the peak, just a little bench along the path where I will stop and admire the view, take a deep sigh which ends with a small contented smile.

Thank you to everyone who has posted on my diary, I feel as if everytime I feel weak or about to stumble, someone appears out of nowhere, stoops down and catches me before I fall. On the two occasions I have fallen they lowered there strong arms to help me up, dusted me down and put a non-judgemental arm around my shoulder. I feel like pepople were nodding without saying anything, a knowing nod that said, I know how you feel but you can do this.

Some are still here, some have disappeared, some are lost to us forever, so thanks in order you first posted on my diary during these first 100 days to.......

Pat,

NT,

DelGirl

Tony,

Freda

Keith

Smiler

Jake 83

Just stop it

Mark 117 RIP

Against nature

Shiny

Lisas

This time

Lucky Mike

Footprints

Blondie00

Charlotte19

Cw2779

judy

Thanks to anyone who writes a diary as i don't post so often now and get greater strength from reading. We CAN do this you know, we ARE stronger than the demon within us. Gambling is an option not a way of life. Today we choose not to gamble and fight on for another day.

Enjoy today and the weekend and as many of you wise heads have often advised put quality over quantity.

Life is ours again

Hey Paul, The big 100! Well done mate. Congratulations, another great tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhkXQ96ZLR0

Hope you like, enjoy your day, celebrate!

Againstnature.

HI Paul,

Massive congratulations 100 DAY NOT OUT !!!.

I know this is about a struggle greater than ours, but it gives me hope as each gamble free day I become stonger and re-join the land of the living.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otuwNwsqHmQ

Have a great day.

Blondie x

Thanks for the tunes, keep them coming.

AN - Rocking out in true AN style, what an atmosphere at that gig.

Blondie - haunting that song isn't it, amazing bare sound from just him and the keyboard.

Here is another one folks, keeping it happy keeping it light just remember don't put the lime in the coconut and drink them both up.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LxC3M-Yngs

Paulds

Yo,

Not quite worked out how to put a tune on,

So will just have to say well done old chap .

Feel free to sing it , any old tune will do the message remains the same

Big hugs

Shiny xxxxxxx

Paulds my man,

Happy 100 again! Classic tune time with a bit of fun too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xZOrWK6d4g

Well done mate hope I can follow in your footsteps 😉 going to try my hardest ever this time av really had my full with the horrible illness!

Followed by a little something throughout the decades. Respect man!

That's it I am busy now but Hooray for a new century!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqJR9yDpClQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INgXzChwipY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l6hpV4NrR0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BzAgCRmarQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgqEWJ8AC9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30w8DyEJ__0

AN that is quite incredible, thanks so much, those are great, some of my favourite bands there especially the Clash. Awesome work my friend!

This next one reminds me of times when I escaped from gambling and joined the real world, mad dancing and the good times.

People often think that this kind of music is escapism from real life but for me it was always the other way around, a chance to rejoin life, a chance to express ourselves, most importantly a chance to smile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlYMZHn-6jA

Paulds

Scottyboy, you can do it and here you will find so many who have gone through similar circumsatnces that will reach out and help.

I haven't got far yet but hope to one day, each day we are only one gamble away from disaster. Try to enjoy your recovery and not beat yourself up too much, you are right it is a terrible illness. We probably can't be cured but we can learn to live with it.

Here is a tune that is quite timeless for me, 16 years gambling took so much away but everytime I listen to this tune it gives me a little bit of hope, I don't know why but I guess Leonard Cohen just does that to you.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDj5T8-H2R8