Ground zero

Day 93: no gambling today.

Hi P

Sure beats gambling when we go out and enjoy ourselves and see different things other than gambling screens. It opens our minds in recovery and makes us realise there is more. Take care

I have developed a nasty cold: blocked nose, cough and sore throat. Really cannot be bothered to go to work tomorrow. I wish it would snow heavily all night so that I can stay in bed all day. Furthermore, the cold, frozen, snowy weather means no horse racing, which is excellent news as it means I have no temptation to gamble. Long may it continue!

Day 94: no gambling today.

I woke up at 4am this morning and cannot get back to sleep. My cold has worsened so I am now drinking Lemsip, reading diaries and trying to stay warm. This coming week is important as I will be reaching the 100 Day barrier on Saturday. I cannot afford to return to Day 1 ever again. I will be on my guard all week although am hopeful that the freezing weather will be on my side in terms of causing the abandonment of as much horse racing as possible. I kept being reminded of horse racing over the weekend as it kept being mentioned on the news in relation to the weather problems. Looking ahead, I know the famous Cheltenham Festival is looming in mid-March; I need to be especially careful then as I always enjoyed betting on the Festival. Still, my wife is due to give birth around that time so my thoughts should be elsewhere. I cannot afford any slips because finances are going to be tight with a baby on the way. I just about have my debts under control at the moment, but any slip would destroy my already-frail financial stability.

Well, if you're ever going to slip it can't be before Saturday. I'm sure you won't!

Good morning to you.

This week has not started well at all. Apart from the fact that I have a cold, my wife went to the doctor this morning for one of her antenatal appointments and got told her blood pressure was significantly higher than at her last appointment and that, coupled with traces of protein in her urine, was an indicator of pre-eclampsia. This is not good news for her or the baby, especially if the condition worsens. She has cancelled all of her forthcoming work, meaning a loss of around £1,000. She has been told to rest as much as possible between now and the birth in order to try to reduce her blood pressure. We should know more tomorrow morning after she has had another check-up with the doctor. I am keeping my fingers crossed that her blood pressure does not increase any further. Gambling thoughts could not be further from my mind at the moment.

Day 95: no gambling today.

I hope your wife is OK.

thanks for the message!

Day 96: no gambling today.

My wife attended the doctor this morning and found out that her blood pressure is still high but slightly lower than it was on Monday. She is considered Medium Risk. The doctor said the increase in blood pressure is probably work related and that she must stay at home and rest for the coming weeks. That leaves me as the soul bread-winner for the foreseeable future, which is not ideal because my finances are particularly frail at the moment. On another note, I had to sit through a long, non-family funeral in a cold, Roman Catholic church at lunchtime. I had to get a taxi there beforehand and a taxi back to work afterwards so have spent too much money today on a means of transport that I cannot really afford. Still, I should not be cynical as it was important that I attended the service. Gambling is off the menu at the moment but, seeing as my fix was horse racing, the cold weather is helping me towards Day 100 by freezing the race courses, thus making them unraceable!

Day 97: no gambling today.

Sorry to hear about your wife, but hopefully things will be all right with lots of rest. You seem to be having a very complicated time of it at the moment, even without the complication of the gambling debt...

BTW, bought a pram, baby bouncer and a high chair that maks into a table and chair for a total of £80 yesterday, at a second-hand shop nearby. Cleaned 'em up and they look like new. Having a hippy for a wife has its advantages! (She's all into re-using, and prefers secondhand, lucky me)

Day 98: no gambling today.

Day 99: no gambling today.