Dilemma

Thanks for the post Russ, support always appreciated. Great to hear you are so close to the final mate, all the best with the game this evening,

Hope you have a gamble free day

Blues

Good luck in the final. I used to play golf when I was in my 20s and loved it and can relate to how excited you are to be playing in a final of a local club competition.

October (45 days to go)

Hi Russ,

Cheers for the post mate.

I hope you won your golf tonight. I went up and hit a few balls before and then played 7 holes. Nice to get out what with the dark nights closing in!

I'm doing fine thanks mate. I'm in a bit of a reflective mood at the moment. I've been gambling solid for more or less 15 years and i just cannot get my head around it! What a waste!

I enjoyed watching England last night. Nice to see Jagielka and Lescott teaming up again. They are definitely a better side without Lampard and that muppet John Terry.

Big game on Saturday mate. I expect Rooney will be in for a tough time. I'd settle for a 3-1 like last season.

Stay strong mate.

Cheers blues, october and my fellow evertonian. Me and my partner lost on the 18th. Feel gutted. To come so close to finals day and not quite get there. Never mind, there's more to life than golf! Onwards and upwards.

Hard lines mate.

There is not more to life than golf though mate. I hit the sweetest 4 iron of my life before and i have been walking on cloud nine ever since!

Always next year.

Hi Russ, feeling gutted on losing on the 18th hai! pretty sure its not so gut wrenching than losing on the G B*****...

Keep strong top marrah!!

And I hit the sweetest 7 iron shot of my life which went in the hole many, many years ago.

But I do agree that there is far more to life than losing on the 18th.

Have a lovely evening.

October (44 days to go)

Thanks to everybody for the posts. I'm sorry that I haven't been posting on the diaries. The likes of October, Dave, Paul, fast life, wp, the hatch man, beezer, Brian, ands + many others are all doing so well. Having been on this site for 6 months I have seen such progress across many diaries. Well done to everybody. Others have been brave and come back to diaries after a slip (that's you curly! I'm pleased to see you back.). I'm going to stop posting for 4/5 days and see how I go. It's not the end, but a step towards it. Take care all. Russ

You can stop posting for 2 days Russ but i want to see you on here on Saturday night for your post match analysis!

Stay strong mate.

sounds like your minds made up...thanks for your encouragement over the last few months mate (i wont forget your vegas trip or race day).socialising CAN be done albeit risky..thanks for sharing mate but DONT let your guard doon theres too many trap doors oot there !!

Russ,

Gutted for you- on the bloody 18th as well. Always next year mate!

You've won something infinitely more valuable and priceless this year anyway - a gamble free life.

I see you're not going to visit so regularly - just don't be a stranger - and keep taking your medicine - albeit less frequently - maybe we'll just have to up your dosage - lol!

All the best

Hatch

Hope to see you soon, mate. I have also thought about not posting so often as I really want to see my countdown go down quicker!

Have a lovely gamble free weekend.

November (73 days to go!)

Well I'm back. Before anybody worries I haven't been gambling! It's been 6 days since I posted or indeed read on the diaries.

I did it as a bit of a test, a reduction in my thought medicine. I have to say that the first few days were like normal, there were no gambling thoughts. The last couple of days have been slightly different. I have had a few 'thoughts', nothing more than this. There was certainly no urge to put a bet on.

The concern is that if left over time...say 6 months or a year....would I go back? I have to say that I don't think I would for a number of reasons.

1. My relationship with my gorgeous wife is on track and I feel that the trust in coming back.

2. My family is at risk if I go back.

3. I've put a few massive mental barriers in place. I went to las Vegas and didn't gamble a dollar....why should I bet now? I've been to a horse racing meeting, I've told a few of my close friends.

4. I know what it takes to stop...NO GAMBLING EVER AGAIN.

5. I'm calmer and more relaxed than I have ever been

6. I'm now a positive person, I have no superstitions (which in my opinion are negative things)

7. Lastly, my golf has improved!!

Now before anybody says it, I've read the 'ford' discussion and understand that 'once a cg always a cg'.

The answer is to continue posting a couple of times a week and keep supporting diaries as and when it's needed.

Thanks for listening

Russ

Russ,

Good to hear all that mate - you do what works for you - like you say, keep posting - you can do it - you've proved that!

All the best

Hatch

Hi Russ,

Cheers for dropping in on my diary.

I really enjoyed reading your last entry on your own diary. You have your head in the right place mate.

Life is obviously better without gambling and that is a lesson i intend to heed.

All the best pal.