Hope

Hey SA and way to go man!!! You sound in a great place, full of confidence and belief. Keep it up and well done on your continued journey.

Day at a time

All the best and be proud

S x

Hi SA,

Simply taking on the interview and getting through it is a good achievement, I always think I've done terribly in interviews and am often surprised at the results. Whether they offer it to you or not, it sounds like you're not too concerned either way.

You are bang on about gambling taking the edge off stress, it has done for me many times....but the alternate part of that particular wheel going round is that once it spins, it comes back with debt and despair and even more stress.

Keep making the right choice,

Ryan

o*g...................You won't believe this....BUT

Was just looking through the music thread, listening to a few and inbetween putting the radio on. Well, came to one of your songs.

Something inside so strong.....Guess what song came on the radio....Freeked me out and I listened to the words ...and sobbed!

What a song!!!!

Womble....with big clumsy hands! xx

Awesome to see your self-awareness growing all the time, and growing more confident in making the right decisions for you. It's hard, but worth it. I know most people won't understand why you would prefer to work agency, but so what? They aren't walking in your shoes.

I recently performed so well applying for a promotion at work, that I was all but told that the interview was just a formality. Thing was, as soon as I heard this I felt real dread and panic. I wasn't ready. It would have been double the pay I'm currently on, for one extra hour of work a week. I withdrew without even taking the interview. Most people won't understand, but I know I did the right thing for me. Sorry to ramble on about myself, but it's just to explain that I've been through similar recently, and really do understand.

Take care,

f x

Thank you all. Your thoughts much appreciated 🙂

Well its 600 days without a bet of any kind. My second longest stint gambling free. To someone who doesn't gamble am sure it doesn't mean very much, but to me its an achievement to be proud of. I use to gamble every day in one form or another and now I don't gamble at all... so well done to me!

Life ain't easy though. I still feel like am going through the same old patterns of behaviour that in the past led to gambling, except now I choose not to gamble.

I didn't get the job I applied for, which was fine. I didn't really want it anyway and only applied cos all the other agency workers were applying. To be honest its something of a relief. If I'd of been offered it I might have accepted and regretted it not to far down the road. Am already knackered and getting burnt out after one term being full time agency. I think am beginning to burn my bridges a little with this place perhaps because of some of the stuff I said in the interview (or maybe not). However the class teacher still wants me back in the autumn term. What do I want though, that's the important thing??? My work journey continues.. answers on a postcard.

Am still cycling and running like a loon. I did a race last Saturday, a detour up a hill and then I had a fall... covered in mud and grazes. Drunkenness after and good food. A great day.

One of the things about not gambling for a decent length of time is that I have more money (even when earning a low wage) and when you have more money.. you have more options. When I gamble I have no money and then I have no options... and that feels like ////!.

Thanks for listening folks... S.A 🙂

Hi SA,

600 Days.......How do you feel ? I know how I would feel. P**f your chest out, flex them muscles and tell gambling where to go eh!

Considering all the cr** youy have had to deal with at work (from someone who really knows!)

you have set a fantastic example to people who use this site.....And remember just because peope don't post doesn't mean they dont read.

Womble x

Hey SA

Echoing Womble here. Great achievement and keep it up. Be proud and allow yourself some lovely treats...you are surely worth them

Take care and all the best

S x

SA

fella simply I SALUTE you

My dear friend a huge well done.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

Hi SA

To go 600. Days without a bet. Says it all.

Think of how much you have saved if you only bet a tenner. a day that would.6000 and that in the real world is a lot of money

Very well done

Suzanne xx

Day 602 gambling free... and thanks for your support all 🙂

My word did I suffer yesterday. Not from a gambling hangover but from an excessively long run in the warm sunshine hangover... 17.5 miles to be precise. I felt completely unwell and knackered depressed in the afternoon.. no surprise really. Anyway today is a new day and I have recovered sufficiently to feel alive once more.

I have 8 weeks to the marathon. I am too fat. Ive just looked sideways at myself in the mirror... the belly fat has to reduce. They say you can eat what you like when you do loads of exercise.. well ya can't and I am a living example of that. Its like yesterday I had these quiches in the fridge.. feeds 3 it said on the box. I ate both with a tin of Heinz beans on the top... not good, not good at all.

Anyway that was yesterday and today I have started afresh. I am taking a leaf out of one of the kids diets at work. He is diabetic, so has a carefully managed diet. He has non-carbohydrate snacks and each morning he has slices of pepper and mushroom and cucumber. So here I am now eating slices or red pepper and in my case slices of apple (cos I really don't like mushrooms and I haven't got any cucumber) and in all honesty raw pepper with apple is actually quite nice. Its a start! 🙂

Thanks for listening folks.. S.A

Hey SA

And am still smiling from reading your last entry lol. Yep, all that running and exercising. ..and you what???..DIET!!! lol lol.i know exactly where ur coming from. I didn't go for a run for a week now and guess what I think that fat on the sides is growing by the day lol. I think I will do marathon first thing I get on that road 🙂

Spend all day in a driving seat on Thursday, and god I couldn't be a driver lol. Was chewing on that sandwich at one point and just felt it is soo wrong and all that is just storing in my body lol. Nah, I think it is time for my 7miles distance to work being spend on a push bike instead going forward this lovely rainy summer lol

Sorry, rambling here lol..not much about gambling, well we both know where that can go - to hell and beyond! !

Keep up good work and speak later

Take care

S x

"It's a start!" Yes it is. Balanced thinking = not beating yourself up! Nice one.

You don't need to be perfect with stuff like this (diet), just try your best. Consistent effort will always pay off with anything. Accept there will be set backs along the way, and don't dwell on 'em!

Imagine if we let setbacks get us down and make us give up when we were learning to walk!!!! or talk!!! Kids know how to do stuff right, we just forget sometimes.

Over the moon for your 600+ days mate.

Take care,

f x

Hi mate

Thanks as always for popping into my diary, great day count on the non gambling front.

Hope all is well in your world, just wanted to pop in and say hi.

Need to have a proper read up on your diary.

Anyways I will do soon, you take care and thanks again.

ands

Hi SA

Thanks for your supportive words

I still feel a bit stressed tonight as though I have done something wrong but I know I haven't

Your right tiredness workng too hard are all triggers for stress which can lead to you know what but I have rose above the situation and I know I will feel different tomorrow

You are dong so well because as we go through this journey we are hit every now and then with life problems which brings stress and to keep abstaining through the ups and downs of life shows strength and determination and courage of which you have proved you have all of these qualities because of where you are now

Suzanne xx

Hi SA,

Thanks for the comments on my diary. Yep 17 years is one heck of a haul, I work in adult services I was keyworker to our most "challenging" client......boy did I know it.

I won't go into too much detail but lets say he thinks i'm his property (and girlfriend) Management just let it continue despite my requests to take me away from him, it was totally unhealthy, but because it made their life easier they let it continue!!!!!

No I am not going to cary on with them, no vacancies near by and to be honest I don't really want to carry on with them after what I have been through. I am going to SCOPE a new job.....lol

Keep up the good work!

Sue xx