Going to keep this thread now!

Feeling quite chirpy today! I won't gamble though. Sometimes the good mood days leave me tempted too.

Glad to read you are feeling chirpy today Freda.

This morning I woke up feeling happy but my wife says that it is the last time she lets a dwarf sleep with us!!!

Have a great day

Stumper x

Oh dear Stumper....best stick to the day job eh? 😉

Feeling great compared to this time last week. Whatever depression was hanging over me has seemed to lift, and am feeling my old self again. Things have improved at work, and I'm gaining in confidence the further I get from my last bet.

I have been able to spend more time with my lovely hubby this week - and have been sticking to my budget very well, so should be able to pay the parents back a bit this month.

Cheeky Freda--feeling your old self--ha ha

Seriously well done on getting back to a more positive mood and even better staying away from the gambling demons.

Stumper x

Hi Freda and thanks for your support over recent days.. its been just awesome. I surprise myself at just how quickly i am bouncing back.

Great to hear that your feeling strong in recovery and work is becoming a positive again.

Thanks again.. S.A 🙂

Friday night at last!

I've been using cash only for the last few weeks. Hubby gives me my allowance (!) every Saturday, and everything I need for the week comes out of that. If I blow it all in an arcade on the Saturday afternoon, theres no more till the next Saturday.

I really like it. It was my idea completely, hubby isn't controlling at all. After my last slip just before new year, we sat down and I explained to him that I really need boundaries to get on well in recovery. Certainly for the early days at least. The first week I was hopeless and skint after a few days, but for the past 2 weeks I have had at least £10 left by the end of the week.

We work it so I have the same in my pocket every week. So if I have a tenner left, I get a tenner less on the Saturday.

It has been 25 days since my last bet. I'm starting to feel I can do this again.

Sounds like a good plan Freda. Really a good idea. All the best with it.

Sounds like you have a very supportive husband. Having a supportive family at times like these are a godsend aren't they.

Hopefully this will lead to you being more confident with controlling your own finances one day.

And that day WILL come!

Have a good weekend.

GT

Hi Freda,

sounds like a really good scheme youve got going there,makes great sense. Well done girl 🙂

PS hope your feeling a little less flat,think I ama bit the end of Jan is insight thank goodness. Have a good weekend with hubby,

love

W xx

Thanks Graham, Getting there and W

It is working, and I feel good about it 🙂

After tomorrow, provided I don't gamble, I will be 4 weeks bet-free. I'm not getting huge cravings thankfully, its just the small things like walking to the beach as we did today and knowing I can't go in the amusements. If I had gone in today, I quite possibly would have stuck to a couple of quid like I intended. BUT I know from past experience that would have only been TODAY - the next time would have come around quickly, as that area of my brain sprang back to life. Before I knew it, I'd be blowing all my money in a binge. Its just not worth it.

Yeah, I was disappointed I couldn't go in for a few minutes, but I still had a great time regardless.

Hi Freda.. great stuff on your gambling free time ... and your support in my difficult times is spot on.. so cheers for that. Check out my diary for the latest chaos and craziness of my life.. a life that feels like living on the edge just now. I will get through it.

I know what you mean about the odd couple of quid leading to more. Once we do have a little (or a big) gamble it makes it so much easier to do it again and again.. with the usual predictable results happen EVENTUALLY.. but usuaully sooner!

Anyway hope your having a good day.. S.A 🙂

P.s just red your thoughts latest thoughts in my diary.. thanks. I will give the work thing a few days before signing off for sure. This time i am on Jsa rather than Incapacity.. but they may still be able to do the job trial thing for me.

Funny the Dracula with one shoe story 🙂

Hopefully you have reached the 4 week mark today which is a fantastic achievemnet for you. Well done Freda.

All the best

Stumper

A marathon? After 5.27 miles as my longest run?! I think not just yet! Yes, I have done 6 marathons but the last one was nearly two years ago and I know that you will need to get at least 3 or 4 15+ mile runs in training before you can even consider taking to the start line!

Congratulations on reaching the 4 week mark. Your presence on these diaries is well appreciated by all of us thanks to all of your wonderful comments and support and I hope that this is helping YOU too.

Have a lovely evening.

GT

Hi Freda.

Thanks so much for posting on my diary.

I am really enjoying the 'chat' sessions at present and i often leave with a warm glow like the Ready Brek man. I think you are right that sometimes it is great to just be in the company of people that you know understand.

I think my migraines are induced my tension. I'll take the tension of a hard day in work over a hard afternoon in the bookies every time though!

4 weeks gamble-free for both of us Freda. I think we should give ourselves a pat on the back and a reminder to not get complacent.

Keep up the great work!

I have felt a bit lonely and lost today.

I am glad with how I dealt with it though. I texted a friend to arrange the cinema next week, and went to a support centre tonight to chat with some acquaintances.

I have been comfort eating which I don't like very much, because I always have poor confidence about my figure. However, as long as I don't do it everyday its not the end of the world.

Tomorrow is day 30 for me.