Hope

Day 468 gambling free comes to a close.

Thanks Ryan and Laz... and yes the chord has been cut. The envelope containing the letter informing them I won't be coming back has been sent today. A chapter in my working life is closing and I am happy about that.

A good day today, not just because of the above but the fact that am living a normal life without gambling in it. I went for a run and a cycle to tesco and had lunch in the cafe and helped my mate out with stuff and did some cleaning of my flat and adjusted successfully the brakes on my bike and so it goes on. Just ordinary stuff but that's fine by me.

Spending hours on end glued to a machine was soul destroying in the extreme. I don't do that anymore. Thanks for listening... S.A

P.s Resting pulse is often a little lower than that Laz. My heart pumps efficiently that's for sure.

SA

fella I wold just like to congratulate you on the way you have dealt with all the recent events in your life.

You have taken the right help from the right folk and the outcome is the decisions you have made are your own, for that I believe you will reap the rewards.

Too boot my friend if you were to be tested on your resolve to continue living without the escapism of gambling in it and that to you have done with I believe the education you have worked so hard on.

You should be very proud, because you deserve to, keep making the right choices SA, most of all keep enjoying the outcome.

Keep on running!!!

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Day 469 or 67 weeks without a single penny gambled on any form of gambling.

Thank you Duncs

Keep on running I have... a very enjoyable 10 miler this morning. I like it when its cloudy and a bit breezy.

No thoughts of gambling.. why would I have?

Thanks for listening... S.A

Hi Ya S.A,

I guess you could say that I am living vicariously through Dunc's flying whippets and you as I imagine you all running beneath the silver clouds and feeling the wind on your faces. The thought of me flouncing down the road in my present condition would be quite a sight. Lol. Thanks for popping in S.A and so glad to hear that you are back out running. -joanxxx

Hey SA,

Whoop whoop!! What a great achievement, keep it up my friend. It warms my heart to see you in such a uplifting spirits!! More than happy for you 🙂

Impressive 10 miles my friend, even if I had running nose and coughed like hell yesterday, I sure put my trainers on and got out there lol!! Felt better after, even cold cleared lol...magic in running lol

Stay good and keep making the right choice!!

Enjoy ur day dear soldier :-))))

S x

470 days without a penny gambled on any form of gambling

Thanks Sandra and Judy 🙂

Another very early start today. One hours hard cycling and then 7 hours work and one hours hard cycling back. No run this evening that's for sure.

Am feeling good though. These tablets are surely helping me, that and not gambling for a decent length of time. I will enjoy the positive feelings while they last.

Thanks for listening... S.A 🙂

well done on the 470 days of not gambling ive managed 67 days today, I used to gamble on roulette, in the betting shops or online.

ive got blocked from all gambling websites and im self excluded from betting shops.

470 days is a heck of an achievement, hope there's plenty more to come. Based on the amount of cycling you do, I expect you're planning to celebrate 500 days with an extra large pot of chamois butter? 😉

Well done for cutting those ties to a place that was dragging you down, and to start pedalling in a positive direction again. Keep it up, you're an inspiration, and I'm glad that your mood is also on the right track.

Ryan

Day 473 gambling free and thank you both.

Not sure what to say. Time to start job search for anything but learning disabilities. Ive been working in a special school for children, picking up shifts. Some of the kids are great and the dedication of some of the staff is just awesome... total respect to them.

For me though its just a bit of money to keep me ticking over and in reality am not allowed to do a lot because of all the rules and regulations related to working with children. The cycling is becoming exhausting. I did a late then an early. Got home after 10 pm sweating buckets and then up at 5 a.m to do it all again... which I did but its not sustainable. I managed to say no to a shift today... I got to look after myself.. I can't be saying yes just to please the nice sounding voice on the end of the phone.

Ive had a few thoughts of buying a lottery ticket, something which I haven't done for years. In my dream world I imagine winning a bunch of money and being able to jack work in. The dream world of the compulsive gambler.

Thanks for listening folks... S.A

Morning S.A

Many thanks for your post.

I fully take on board your words of caution. Like yourself, if I did gamble again, i would go for it hell- for -leather and would binge. The thing that keeps me in check is that I couldn't put my partner and kids through it again. Over the last 2 years, I've tried to regain some self respect and have done so, but there is still some way to go. I think and reflect on this everyday.

Continued best wishes,

Gazza

Hey SA,

Keep breathing and believing. Change is not easy, it requires strength and determination. But you my friend really got it all in you. Anything is possible, only you can make it happen.

Here with you all the way 🙂

Great stuff on g free time, keep it up and be proud

Take care

Sandra x

SA

fella I am glad to read you are looking after number 1!!! I sometimes find myself saying yes to things to please other folk, when inside my brain is screaming NO, it is good to take charge of your own well being, for it will surely help in the big picture.

Regards the lotto ticket, you know my stance for my own recovery is a zero tolerance towards all forms of gambling, your post raised a smile, because that is my addictions first port of call, stood in the local shop, it always taps away, go on it's only a couple of quid, you never know!!

Well I do know, for me this in my mind would become acceptance, gambling would be an active part of my life once more, the pattern would manifest, more tickets, scatchcards, fruit machine in the train station( leaving an hour before the train to do so) then the bookies with an oh well f**k it attitude.

As you say my friend the mind of this compulsive gambler and those pipe dreams.

It truly is about making the right choice for the individual.

Thanks for sharing yours, it is great medicine

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Hi SA

Always look after number one first.

good to see you staying strong kid.

most dreams dont come true m8.

but we all need them.stay strong and make sure them dreams dont turn into nightmares all the best Jeff.

Day 475 with not a penny gambled in that time. Thank you everyone for your supportive comments.

I went for a really punishing run this morning... 11 miles with lots of hill work towards the end. Over did it really so I might have a bit of a sleep this afternoon.

I ended up working quite a lot last week, if you can call it that... in reality its much hanging around simply being a presence.. but hey ho its earning money and we all need money to function. I don't need that much money just to get by as I don't run a car and I don't have children.. but the flip side of this is that it is easy to get lazy and continue to just kind of exist and not push forward to learn new things and try different sorts of work. Motivating myself to step out of my comfort zone is not easy. Gambling is very easy.. but I don't do that anymore.

No break through in my life but am nonetheless living life on life's terms day by day.

Thanks for listening... S.A

Day 476 or 68 weeks gambling free. I still feel the need to count. I see the pitfalls in counting but somehow it keeps me anchored and accountable. I need to be accountable to something. I am accountable to my diary. Recovery is bespoke as people say.

Am not having a very productive weekend, washing up left to fester and no job search done but I think its the way It needed to be. Am ever so tired (making excuses) and oddly I seem to have gone a bit deaf in one ear the last few days.

Today I go to a friends for Sunday lunch.. so that will be nice.

No gambling thoughts. Thoughts of buying a lottery ticket have melted away. Thanks for listening... S.A