Dilemma

Hey Russ,

great of you to post on my diary, I really appreciate the thought,

I will try and make a better effort to post a bit more often, take care buddy

dan

Thanks for the posts. Well it's been over a week since my last post. In that time we have lost another long time poster in Gettingthere. I've had no gambling thoughts at all but I'm still happy to log on here and take my 'thought medicine'.

I love this time of year, the late evenings, the leaves and flowers starting to blossom and the lambs being born. I've been going for long runs in the sun across the ***. There is so much more to life than gambling. The secret is to replace that habit with something much more for filling. Everybody is different but for me I've replaced it with spending more time with my family, running, reading and writing on here and lastly having a positive frame of mind. Long may it continue. Russ

Russ,

Your last post is simple but has hit the nail on the head. I think that is what recovery is about and we all have our journey to get to where we are thinking thoughts like that.

Replacing deceit and lies with honesty. Enjoying recovery and what recovery brings rather than having to feel like it is a battle 24x7.

Keep up the great work and most of all keep enjoying the new life that recovery has brought you and your family.

Brian

Hi Russ.

Nice post mate.

Your strategy for betting on the Masters was not unlike mine! I can't say i ever had much success punting on the golf so like you say it will be more fun watching without a bet. I'll be cheeing on the Brits and hopefully it will be exciting heading into Amen Corner on the Sunday evening.

I ordered myself another new putter before mate! I've developed an addiction to buying golf gear now that i am no longer giving my cash away to the bookies. At least i get something to show for it though!

I hope you stick around mate as it is getting a bit lonely on here at the moment!

All the best pal.

Hi Russ. No it was OK to post that on my diary . I know ANL and he is a decent bloke. I certainly know he would do nothing to knowingly hurt anyone. I am sorry that you had that experience. It is awful.

Hope you don`t mind me saying this ( or indeed ANL ) but I think his comments are about how people come to the point where they can take no more. ANL is angry, I am angry . Thrown on the rubbish heap after 40 years of working my guts out. Many, many people are under enormous stress.

It is a hard slog in this country and people are cracking, my doctor agrees with that.

Years of rip offs, false promises and now unemployment for a lot of people. I can deeply understand the anger. Today my dignity was stolen just to make a few more bob to the man. No consideration, no sorry you are ill, no thanks for building up a load of customers, just you are ill, out on your ear. Oh by the way, we will benefit from all those new folk you have got us.

So Russ, please don`t take ANLs post the wrong way . He is gamble free for 5 years. The guy is self employed with little or no work coming in. 2 kids and worried out of his mind.

I lost my job today, I am 62 . What chance have I got of doing anything?

Hi Russ.. its good to hear that your enjoying your ggambling free life. I know what you mean about the arrival of spring and being in and enjoying nature. Like you running helps me enormously. Am off work today and had a 1 hour 30 minute run along the canals and enjoyed every second of it.

Am still in a level of shock about my gambling the other day but i will recover and its posts like your last one that inspire me to kick gambling into touch once and for all.. one day at a time. Thanks for your support.. S.A 🙂

Hi Russ

Sorry it is a bit late, but very well done for making it past the one year mark! Top effort.

I was thinking about you on that Friday and am so pleased that you made it.

Sounds like you are well otherwise.... Keep up the good work

Regards

T+G

Thanks for the posts. I had a huge gambling dream last night. I was playing a fruit machine....a pound a play. I knew this machine like the back of my hand. I had shadows watching me...just waiting for their chance to get on whilst I went for change. I fed the change machine whilst leaning across keeping one hand onto the fruity. The dream ended abruptly as my dad walked in and caught me in mid flow. I just find it strange that even after a year I can dream of something so real. It's a big week this week. This weekend used to be my favourite gambling week of the year....the masters and the grand national. I still feel aggrieved with myself that I have spoilt it for myself.....I can't have a few small wagers on the grand national like every other normal member of the public. The benefits of a bet free life far outweigh feeling like an outcast on grand national day. Russ

Hi Russ,

"The benefits of a bet free life far outweigh feeling like an outcast on grand national day"

Absolutely, what ever it takes.

I'm in the process of catching up around the site and see that you have past a year clean... Well done Russ. You and your family have already gained so much since you let gambling leave your lives, I can tell from your diary. Take no risks with your recovery and you will all continue to go from strength to strength.

Take care

Jackie

Hi Russ

I have to admit i have the same attitude as you.We cant have a bet on the national not even a few quid as a fun bet.But come on Russ could we really pick the winner.We were never any good at picking winners anyway.Nobody comes on here because they win too much lol.

No m8 not for you ,not for me and lets enjoy it for the spectacle it is.

Oh and i hope you are right about City getting champions league football next season m8.

Stay strong Jeff.

Thanks for the post Russ.

I expect that i will take that trip to Haydock mate. I expect that there will be some 'free bet tokens' on offer and i think i will take your advice and let one of the lads spend it on the condition that the winnings go to charity. I do not mind telling people that i used to have a few issues with gambling and therefore i now do not bother with it. I'd rather have the shame of being an ex-gambler than the shame of continuing to do my nuts in on a regular basis.

How is the golf pal? I hope you have not forgotten our challenge? It was my first qualifying comp of the year last Sunday and i shot 74 to bring my handicap down to 4.5. A good knock on Saturday and i will be off 4. You are going to have to pull your finger out mate!

I hope you enjoy the Masters. I have a sneaky feeling that we will see a Brit up there challenging on the last day. I think Rose will go well and then his bottle will go on the final afternoon.

Well done on your continued abstinence from gambling mate. Inspiring stuff.

Thanks for the post. I've found today difficult. I was included on a massive group email with by golf mates....they were all discussing their bets for the Masters. I then turn on the radio to listen to Richard Bacon and the five live team at Aintree.....and hearing about them putting bets on! I then get out of my car to get some food for tonight (I'm away from home in Newcastle) and I walk past 4 bookies. Oh well, I'm safely tucked away now. I do miss all of that banter but it will pass by Sunday. On another matter my boss tells me yesterday that I'm to host a table at York races in July....it's the same meeting I went to last year. The trials of an ex compulsive gambler. Russ

Russ,

Well done on that last post. It is good to be reminded that we are human and that we will be tempted. You're spot on... it will pass, it always does. The York races thing sounds a tricky one, but same as with everything else, it doesn't mean you have to bet.

I've no idea how many times I have been asked to enter fantasy golf competitions, bets on the Masters or bets on my own golfing 'ability' this week. I used be at the head of it all last year, so it's only normal that I'm asked into them.... they were probably waiting for me to organise stuff the past few weeks. Told them I'm off betting since the New Year. That seems to be well accepted and respected. Under their breath they're probably going "oohhh... I wonder what's up" but better that than them finding me in the gutter.

Well done again Russ.

Brian

not easy russ,like brian says better writing down those urges as opposed to acting on them 😉 youve got time to think about york but you managed it last year and can do so again this..look on it as an honour mate being asked to host in the 1st place..thats got to be a positive friend 😉

Hi Russ.. thanks for your support. Good luck with the half-marathon youve signed up for. Ive signed up for another, that is as long as my back pain goes away. Its come out of nowhere today and is the reason i type here in the middle of the night.

Anyway as far as gambling goes.. you seem strong and focussed and you will cope with the gambling banter etc without gambling yourself. And like wp says.. being asked to host is an honour for sure. Regards.. S.A 🙂