Hope

Thanks for your post on my diary and congrats on maintaining abstinence. Yes, I know all about work stress and working with people who don't much care. It only adds to the stress. You seem to be handling it alright. Good on ya!

Hi S.A,

You are so right about stressful work, which does affect our lives a lot. After all we spend half of our lives there. Job you don't like really don't help on a way, but as i see, you managing to juggle work and personal life quite well. For that be proud!

You are going long way, and every day you can only get stronger:)

All the best and keep it up

Thank you for your continued support

Sandra x

Thanks all 🙂

Day 275.. another stressful day but also positive in a way. I had the most challenging client and I walked him down to the post box and then I had a f*** it head and said.. ya fancy walking all the way to town and buy some video's (old fashioned videos is his obsession) and he says yeah.. which he was always going to say.

Anyhow this chap would kick a 2 year old in the head (potentially) if he was upset enuff but with me he tends to be good when out.. so take a risk I did.. and he was fine. I felt elated after, cos this was a first, its never been done before.. like climbing Everest before it was climbed.

I dunno why I took the risk really but I did, partly it was because I was getting P***** off with some of the idle staff we have at the moment and I just wanted to go off and do my own thing. I can't do the hanging around centre doing nothing, which is what it was like today as boss wasn't in.

Anyhow no gambling problems. Will have a run in a bit to help de-stress. Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

Hey SA

You did it and no one got hurt ...a calculated risk as I'm sure with your experience you could talk the most challenging of clients round ....

Probably did the pair of you good pushing the envelope a bit and making the most of the weather .

My pal has a Down syndrome bro....49 but mental age about 4 ...boy ..how far has he come? after just going to the centre ..now he's out playing snooker, having a pint ,was best man and did a speech at the wedding , days out and Tenerife twice a year!!, plus he lives in shared house with 3 other students and 2 live in rota carers .....got his independance and is much much happier ....

Still can't get him off " Shakin Stevens "and "On the buses" videos! Xx

Good for you ! Sherpa SA Bonnington ..

R and D xx

Day 276 gamble free.

Thanks Rach. Talking of Sherpa's i'd love to go up Everest. makes me think that if I hadn't gambled for my life time so far or squandered my money in other ways, i'd probably of had enough money to go on one of those organised trips up to Everest base camp.

Anyway today has been fairly good. Not too stressful and moments of fun and laughter.. just moments mind 😉 Two days work until 3 days off... yippee! Not much else to say today so I twill stop todays ramblings. Thanks for listening.... S.A 🙂

3 days off. It's alright for some! Everest - knowing you you'd bloody run up it lol. Glad you are well and things are going nicely.

S.A,

thank you for you message...i come back...stronger in those few hours..Yea life is mean...i just have so much place for all of you in my heart...i will keep going and posting...support you my new found friends...we all can do it...no looking back

All the best

Sandra x

Day 277 and thanks both 😉

Another pretty stressful work day, but again it was manageable. I have no urge to gamble after work, no urge to get drunk, no urge to disappear into unhealthy internet pursuits, no urge to gorge myself on fatty food and no urge to sit in a semi-vegetative state staring at the ceiling.

In a bit I will go for a nice walk to the shops to buy something nice for tea. I live an ordinary simple life and that's ok. Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

That's more than ok. The highs and lows of gambling aren't more exciting there more draining and just plain horrible. I can't take that no more. I'm happy being a bit boring and keeping things nice and steady. Have a good day and a nice bank holiday weekend.

Hey S.A

Just popping by to say hi and wish you to have lovely bank holiday weekend. Healthy one indeed:-)

Take care and keep going strong

Sandra x

Day 279.. thanks Dave and Sandra 🙂

Nice not to be at work today, its been a long week. Slowly switching off from it all and feeling ok. Nothing much else to say today. No gambling thoughts. Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

Thanks for the post SA and I agree with your addition. Well done on the 279 days and good to hear from and read about someone elsewho also has a boring simple life! Especially after reading about so many whose lives seem to be wonderful with abstinence...

Thanks for your imput Captain.

Day 280 (40 weeks) without a bet of any kind. Ive been here before and then relapsed but am not going to relapse this time. It doesn't matter how bored or frustrated with life I may get, gambling would just mean I'd be bored and frustrated AND have no money. So no gambling it is, a day at a time.

No run today. Forcing myself to rest before next weeks marathon. I went gym yesterday and did 5 miles (8km) in 39 and a bit mins, so I know I am in reasonable shape. Not sure what am going to do today. Plenty I could do in the flat (clean! Nvq work!) but I don't want to stop in. I like being out and about.

That's me folks, 40 pure gamble free weeks in the bag (again!). Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

SA

fella looking over the fence as they say i have a different outlook on your life.

fella you do a job you care about, that video story made me break out a huge smile, the snow made me smile along with many other things. your frustration at work is born out of the other staff not sharing the same commitment to there jobs, alot like the chefs i have to work with who just dish it up, they did not taste the sauce, no seasoning on the meat and to them it's just a job. like you i can't change them but we share the ability to do what's right.

then you commit to your running, to which makes you care for yourself, many folk wouldn't run for the bus!! they would stand around for the next one!! i think i am right in saying you would more than likely run along side it!!

You write with passion here and always non judgmental something i learn a great deal from.

you have some great friends whom you gift your time.

I guess the grass maybe greener over the fence, gambling always taunted me with that, sometimes it would even give me up leg up to have a look, soon it would enjoy watching the fall.

I have followed your diary from the day i arrived here and have enjoyed every minute, from the quiche and food binge to the marathon that beat you, to which you did not give up on you have just learnt another lesson.

I look at life today through a half full glass, it is better than the half empty one my gambling life gave.

for 40 weeks you have gifted yourself something only you can choose. for that is a better life.

from the top of the fence it looks good to me.

keep enjoying it and the days will surely improve.

from the words that 'smiler' wrote the first day i came a broken man.

Be kind to yourself.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Morning- afternoon S.A:-)

Great stuff on 40 weeks aswell as training for your marathon! It can only get better. Have a relaxing Sunday

Sandra x