Hope

Hey SA,

Very well done for finding the balance in your daily life.

I find these coming winter months really stressful, but it's normal...less sun - more clouds lol

keep doing what you doing, it obviously works:)

impressive g free time...keep it up!!!!

Sandra x

Day325 gambling free and thanks both 🙂

Another day nearly done. No gambling issues. Work continues. Am feeling on a level. I leave it at that today. Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

Hi S.A

Well done on reaching 325 consecutive non-gambling days, that really is fantastic and not far now to the year.

I've dropped in to start following your progress and you seem to be on top of things like I was and hopefully still am, apart from my slip yesterday. (I'm fine :-))

Keep up the good work

Hi S.A

Thanks for your quick post at this time, I am trying to take as much positives as I can from my achievement but as you said, take on a little more awareness at the same time.

United we do indeed stand and we are all here for one another. I appreciate you sharing your feelings on this very complicated matter. I will from now on get back to being calm and composed Andy, instead of the reckless, volatile state I was in yesterday. Oh well! Live and Learn or just live with the consequences if I can't completely learn, although I am still learning all of the time who I am and how I deal with this problem.

Cheers and keep up the great work my friend!

Good morning early bird SA:-)

Thank you very kindly for your post and yep i do agree...i like to count! Hopefully get higher than 133 lol 🙂

Oh i have good sense of humour when i'm tired:-)

Anyway, you doing rather well my friend..i am so happy for you..nearly a year, and that's the achievement worth celebrating!! I might even come round and clean your flat for you lol

Work work work...sometimes we seem to live for work...really tough situation i had yesterday, but my stress levels was over the top and i knew i was gonna blow...it wasn't as bad, but think few ppl got scared lol...first time in ages i lost my cool....

It's just not fair...there are 3 of us..and trust me, plenty of work for all to fill 13 hours in...but guess who do it all while my collegues just sips coffe and smokes all night...yep, all good hard working Sandra.Enough is enough..

Oh dear...rambling here again lol...sorry SA didn't mean to invade ur diary:-)

Anyway, good things with you. I hope you have a good day and just wonder if you planning to go for a run today....It's FREEZING outside lol...but i suppose have to be done:-) same goes to me:-)

Take care

Sandra x

Hi SA,

I noticed that someone mentioned they thought SA reminded them of South Africa...for me I always think of Brains SA, which is a brand of beer down here in South Wales. Wouldn't mind some of that, but would of course prefer a full pint as opposed to a glass that is either half full or half empty! 😉

Self esteem is one of the things that gambling takes its toll upon, and its good to see that you've been feeling a little better about yourself during the last few days. It's an upward spiral, keep trying mate.

All the best

Ryan

Morning S.A

Many thanks for your post on my page a few days back.

I've read through some of your diary-it has been an eventful time for you.

I wish you well.

Stay strong,

Best wishes,

gazza

Hiya SA still going strong i see. Great stuff mate, keep it up. Have a good weekend.

Hi SA

You are doing so well matey 🙂

Like you, keeping away from gambling is my priority to allow me to achieve more in other aspects of my life.....its a slow process though eh?

Hey, maybe you should let us on here do your "ad"? I'm sure many of us find your honesty and insight inspiring. You always offer support when its needed and you seem to have a knack of knowing when that is which in itself is a fab trait. Your arithmetic and counting skills are fab too 🙂

Take care

Irene

x

Day 327 gambling free... and bless you all, its always nice to come home to some uplifting comments, many thanks and rest assured I shall get back to you all soon enough.

I felt like a right old moan about work, but the moment has passed, so I will leave it for this time.

Ive got home to find a note from mate saying he's got no money to do anything ( cos of gambling) but I can still go round with fish n chips on Saturday and play chess if I want to. Now here's the thing I was going to suggest to mate to go for a few drinks and some live music but of course i'd have to pay for it all.

The above paragraph is excellent medicine as to why I cannot gamble. Cos I really don't want to be that person anymore. I am undecided what I will do but the point is this. I have options and possibilities, whereas my mate has none. he is dependant upon what I decide I want to do on Saturday night as to whether he has anything to do or not.

I am in recovery. Thanks for listening.... S.A 🙂

Your post there almost reads like one of mine SA as in both cases your compromised....your social opportunities cut down by staying in traded off against overcompensating financially so you have company to go out.

Maybe the next stage of recovery ....new mates? Xxx

R and D. Xx

Hey SA,

Thank you for your post, and very nice to hear that he(cat) might not be back and found new home..:( (joking darling) 🙂

Good stuff on your recovery i have to say..and for your friend, is it possible to have a honest chat with him? Maybe he would come back to senses? Unless he didn't reach rock bottom yet, and thinking he is almighty Hulk...

Yes, you have some rest from running...i went out today, all dressed up lol...come back soaking because got too hot lol..Didn't realize i can get that sweaty haha

Take care and keep posting, i loooove reading your posts;-)

Day at a time

Sandra x

Day 328 begins...

Thanks Sandra and Rach, am ready for my morning run when the 118 118 twins show up. They have both bought garmins as they were jealous of me having one, so now we are the garmin trio.

Must admit I am feeling good today after a few days rest. Whether that will translate into a good run performance I don't know...we shall see... and time will tell. Laters!.. S.A 🙂

P.s My mate has reached many rock bottoms Sandra n Rach just as I have. Its cyclical to the extent that the phrase "rock bottom" has become pretty meaningless in my book. There is only one true rock bottom and none of us want to go there. My mate is on the down part of the cycle and I am on the up, but it could just as easily be the other way around. I will keep my mate at arms length for now but I won't abandon him altogether, cos I have some understanding and empathy for him but also recognise that its down to him to find his way back up or not as the case may be. That was a long P.s 😉

Have a good run SA ...give those Garmin s a workout.!!

On you pal, yeah I was kind of joking about getting new pals but no harm in seeking out other company on his down cycles. Arms length sounds good.

Also agree on the rockbottom ...your right, there is only 1 , the things confused for it are still attempts to control. As my sponsor used to say " Are you in enough pain yet.?

The day when the pain on remaining doing what your doing is greater than the pain of change and loss.

Xxx

Day 328 continues.... thanks Rach.

I had a good run.. 9.54 miles in 1 hour 23 mins and 18 seconds. I should get under 2 hours for the half marathon next week. Mates still streets ahead of me but its good to run with faster people. Keeps me on my toes.

Absolutely Rach re the pain thing. Ive also had people say the following to me

"I can see that you have had enough for now!"

... and the "for now!" is significant, because as the pain passes and I start to forget, then the gambling head starts knocking on the door once more and so the cycle begins again. keeping in touch with what brought me to this place in the first place is important.

Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂