Ground zero

Very interesting. What do you mean by defaults? Have you walked away from a debt?

Have you talked to Experian? I would make sure that checking it that often will not in itself have a negative affect on your score.r

To clarify, I have not yet defaulted on any debts. However, that is how Experian presents the information - it is just a generic phrase on everyone's credit report. You can check your credit report as often as you like. It does not affect your credit score. I would recommend checking yours if you have not done so already.

Day 83: no gambling today.

Day 84: no gambling today.

Just had a long, cosy bath during which my wife read me all the information about child-birth: contractions, labour, pain-relief options, complications, what I need to take to the hospital etc. The whole thing is quite worrying and neither of us are looking forward to the birth itself, although I am sure once the baby is out it will be wonderful. It just seems to be a long, painful slog to get there. My wife is enormous yet still has eight weeks to go. She is quite a small woman and I just cannot visualise how the baby can, firstly, fit inside her and, secondly, fit coming out of her. All this baby talk has pushed any gambling thoughts a long way away. However, my guard is constantly in place and I am not going to become complacent. I am still taking one day at a time. Onwards and upwards!

Hi Pelle,

I have two kids and im quite small when things get going just go with the flow and try not to panic,yes its bloody painful but this is what we are built for.I was scared when i had my first one but i promise you it will be fine and your right it will be wonderful when its all over.Get to the hospital in good time and demand pain relief her not you :0)

Well done on staying away from gambling i dont post much on your diary but i always read it.

Stay Strong.

E x

Lovely weather today. However, I took the tube to work as am dressed up in a suit and tie (I prefer not to cycle in smart clothes). Usually I wear casual clothes to work, but today is the company's formal annual reception to thank everyone (internal and external workers) for their help over the past year. It involves lots of standing around and talking about work, but at least there is free food and drinks so I intend to make the most of it. During these times of austerity, I need to make the most of as much free stuff as I can get my hands on.

Day 85: no gambling today.

Downwards and outwards is more appropriate

I have just spent a small fortune on a push chair, footmuff and car seat for my future baby. Mamas and Papas had to ring up to authorise the payment at the till even though it was much less than I used to deposit at B**5. Made me wonder why the thousands of pounds I ploughed into gambling were never questioned by my bank. Did NatWest not consider it odd that I used to make multiple deposits over £1k on an average Saturday afternoon? They clearly did not, but why are they now fussing about a few hundred pounds on a transaction at Mamas and Papas? Just goes to show that the banks could not care less about its customers blowing thousands of pounds on a gambling binge.

Depends which side of the fence you're on. I remember being furious with said NW, who HAD stopped a payment to an online casino because they weren't sure what was going on. At the time I was in credit, and with my gambling head on I remember saying to them on the phone (after my card was declined) something along the lines of 'you have no right to stop payments when it is my money...'. I certainly lived to regret that when I lost £3k in an hour (all in £300 and £500 increments), which, added to my pervious binge, sent me £6k overdrawn.

Day 86: no gambling today.

Hey, my bank even queried it when I paid lots of 59p to iTunes when I bought apps. And did they ever query those huge gambling amounts?

Never!

Just 14 days until your magical three figures!

GT

Day 87: no gambling today.