Friend has my bank card.

Thank you for the posts on my diary which are greatly appreciated. It is 36 days since I last gambled and the support of gamcare friends has been a tremendous help.

Back home after my Easter holiday visiting relatives. I had a great time and no gambling though I sat through a football match on telly on which my nephews and one of their sons had placed a bet on their team. I was pleased to see their bets win but cautioned the younger one (18) about the danger of gambling getting out of control.

I am returning bank card to friend when I see her on Sunday and repaying the money she lent me last month. In the meantime I will browse the diaries and attend GA tomorrow night. I don't feel threatened but am constantly aware of the danger which is forever lurking in the background.

Hello Stephen,

Been a while since i posted here. Glad you had a good time with the family. Had a busy week myself and today is my sisters birthday. Im helping my mum move closer (from 30miles away to a 2 minute walk!) on Monday.

Have a good weekend mate.

All the best.

Thank you for posting my diary sjwsjw, as always the support is greatly appreciated. Very impressed with your gamble free progress and also your positive approach to life in general.

Hope everyone had fun celebrating your sisters birthday (that is enjoying life in a good way) and wishing you well as you help your mother to move house on Monday. Your heart is obviously in the right place and I hope you find the happiness which you rightly deserve.

Hello Diary. Everything ship-shape and bristol fashion as I cruise towards 39 days gamble free.

Yesterday I signed up for a funeral plan with the Cooperative. Not fair that others should have to pay for my journey to the other side. Enjoyed a gamblers anonymous meeting last night. Went for a swim today and pottered around, did a bit of shopping.

No urges to gamble. Tomorrow I will repay most of the money I loaned off my friend and give her back my bank card for safe keeping.

I have my thoughts firmly fixed on a gamble free year and I fully intend to live up to it. I will be following in the footsteps of good friends who have blazed a trail and shown that recovery is there for the taking.

Now then Stephen the laureate!
Sat there with your feather in your hat and quill in hand.
I think you summed my day up quite nicely thank you!
The days are ticking by nicely for you. Loving the optimism, I have every faith in you to succeed!
All good wishes x

Thank you Little Miss Meritorious. Your posts are always a pleasure to read. They show you are well informed with good insight. Your gentleness and compassion brings warmth, understanding and humour to the diaries.

Hello Diary. I am feeling on top of the world because I just moseyed in to 40 Days Gamble Free ~ Yihaaaa.

My bank card is back with my friend for safe keeping. I have deposited on my Asda gift card for groceries and I have sufficient cash for a bit of socialising etc. Every weekend I will get sufficient for the following week. It is very sad in a way because I am 67 years old and have to be given pocket money each week. However, the alternative is far sadder than that.

Good news is I am on a mission.

Firmly entrenched on the gamble free highway and forging ahead with my fellow travellers.

Up ahead the gamcare mountain rises up to the sky and I am relishing the climb.

Well done you. i like what your doing whith your bank card sounds a good way keep up the good work

Hi stephen thank you as always for your support it does feel wonderful to just be boring and normal and not be stressed out worrying about money . Dont get me wrong still have my debts but can now afford to pay them as long as i dont gamble . Well done to you 40 days gf keep doing what your doing and dont turn back . Take care Bambi x

Hi Stephen, it's not sad what you're doing with your bank card, it's peace of mind for you with a sprinkle of damage control. Just shows you're doing everything to stay GF, and who care what it takes? I agree with Bamb, everyday normality is great not living on the edge. Super proud of you on 40 days Sx

Well done on reaching 40 days gamble free Stephen, good to see you in a positive frame of mind and up for the fight .... you know the drill and you have set a good foundation for yourself to build a better future, there will be hard times ahead but the added measures you have in place and the support of your gamcare friends will see you in good stead ... keep up the good work you are doing great.

Just dropped by to say thank you for being you.

P.s congrats on the GF days!

P.P.s We got this in the bag 🙂 softly, softly catchee monkey

Thank you for the posts on my diary which are greatly appreciated.

Almost six weeks since my last bet and no great urges to gamble.

Went swimming this afternoon and salsa dancing tonight. Life's a breeze really, being retired means every day is a holiday. I would have been having a right jolly old time were it not for the gambling.

Hello Diary. 44 days since my last bet.

Feeling a bit disgruntled because it is 11 months since I joined the diaries but I was foolish and returned to gambling a few times.

I see I am not alone in having setbacks even after good periods of abstinence but it's stupid. After 50 or a hundred days the hard work is done and there is usually light at the end if the tunnel.

I have been getting thoughts of gambling but fortunately my friend is holding on to my bank card and giving me pocket money. She has been very supportive and I will not betray that trust and friendship.

This afternoon I am visiting a friend in hospital, afterwards I will go for a swim, than tonight I will be heading off to the GA meeting.

Friends on the diaries have battled on with courage and have achieved long periods of abstinence. I try to use that as my inspiration and picture them up ahead showing me the way.

Stephen - on a mission and ready to rock n roll. (Well most of the time anyway).

Hello Diary. Quiet night on my sofa chilling out. A bit annoyed with myself as I just pigged out on sweet stuff, biscuits and cakes sort of ganged up on me so I ate them.

45 days on the gamble free highway. No problems and reasonably content.

Hi Stephen ..... thank for your kind post on my diary, not doubt i would not currenty still be gamble free without the the support of gamcare friends like yourself ... wow 46 days gf today that time has really went in quickly and just goes to show how fast our gf days can rack up when we keep making the right choices, i know like myself you have fell of the wagon a few times in the past but really good to see you do something different this time in giving your friend your bankcard for safe keeping which seems to be working which is great, i believe you have gone around 6 months without a bet in the past so you know you are more than capable of abstaining.There will be hard days ahead but because of past experinces we are better equiped to deal with them and gradually the good days will outnumber the bad ones.Have a good Sunday and i look forward to following your journey .....ps nothing wrong with pigging out on sweet stuff every now and again 🙂

Hello Stephen,

Thanks for posting on my diary, sorry i've not had the chance to reply/supports others the last couple of weeks. Really busy but for good reasons. Lots of change in my life happened/happening. Hope you have a good weekend, well done for giving the card back. Piece of mind is priceless.

All the best.