Hope

Hi SA

I empathise with everything you said, ( that seems to be my word of the week)

I have a debt thankfully not a pay day but a loan from my daughter, who said pay if and when no pressure but I don't want to pay her in dribs and drabs I want to pay the whole sum.

This is the double edge sword for us because time is a great healer, but not in a positive way, now with the passing of time we think we're in control have a little flutter maybe even win a little, oh yes SA I'm in the very same position I have now at my disposal almost half of the payment needed for my daughter, what have i got to loose? it's a win win situation for me, I could attempt to win the remainder and if I loose just start again, there's no pressure on me, no company chasing me but I know even if I won that money plus more this very afternoon on the horses I'd be sliding back down that greasy pole which in 80 odd days I've managed to climb a little.

so SA it's no chasing my friend , no more quick fixes.

no gambling since last post you say and that's what we all aim for. no mention of days SA so no mention from me, don't know if you're counting days at the moment me personally I glance at mine from time to time, I've just got this thing about not wanting to wish my life away. I think it's my age...have a good, safe weekend SA...onwards and upwards Ginger.

Hi SA,

Good to hear you're staying strong and keeping on the straight and narrow. Keep beating those urges, we know what awaits for us if we give in.

Have a nice and chilling weekend. Keep winning my friend, you're worth it! 😉

Sx

Still listening and had those self same thoughts last night. At the coast after visiting a friend who has started chemo I was so sad so thought I'll just stop at the amusements as I have a £50.00 limit on my card. Monkey voices telling me I can still get three lots of cashback so total can only be 200.00 at absolute tops. Have I a spare 200, of course I f*****g don't. Managed to drive past the turning onto the motorway and eventually back home but suuuuuch hard work its exhausting.

You know you can get through this week, you have done it before many times and so worth the really hard effort when you read back at the things you bought last year and the pleasure they gave you. Please dont waste all those early mornings cycling to work in the snow and rain by pi**ing them away into a machine, you are worth so much more than that.

xxx

Hi SA Just keep forging ahead, it will pass!

I appreciate the thoughts folks and yes I am worth so much more than feeding my life into a machine.

My resolve has strengthened and I am pleased to report that no gambling since my last entry.

I will get back to you all during the week, but right now I am exhausted after a 13 mile slow run with a hangover. I haven't had one of those for quite a while.

Better to spend £20 on a few pints with a friend than spend £200 on gambling on my own.

Thanks for listening... S.A

Good to hear you back on your feet & planning to keep busy this week 🙂 Better to spend £20 on a few pints with friends than 1p on gambling on your own - it's a mug's game & you are far from that!

Stay strong - ODAAT

A 13-mile run with a hangover? Are you man or machine....it takes me 15 minutes to build the resolve to make myself a coffee and make the three yard walk to the kitchen with a hangover!

However, I'm also going to add my voice to the chorus approving of a few pints over a few spins on the machines, its absolutely right that staying off the gambling is better...even if it does have a hangover. As for half-term, do you have any tasks or projects to do around the house? I can dither about just about anything, but I know when I do have some free time I'd like to do some cleaning and maybe fix a little crack in the plaster.

Anyhow, hope you take the same strengthened resolve through the week, and you go back to work the following week rejuvenated and rested.

All the best

Ryan

Hi SA,

Ohhhhh..i am so jealous of your run! ( no..not hangover lol)..felt a little under weather this weekend so it was strictly no run in a wild for me lol...but ya know what, i am determined to get out and about today or tomorrow cause need that fresh air in these lungs and few "happy" hormones in this body lol.

Have a good and safe day, keep winning by abstaining and maintaining my friend, proud of you!

Ps. Nice pic 😉

S xx

Last night I decided I was going to gamble today. A mad hour of gambling thoughts it was. I imagined winning lots of money. I planned my day of action today and then I didn't sleep much as i wrestled with my thoughts.

This morning I woke up and my gambling thoughts had gone. I had to go to Birmingham to sort some business, involving handing over some money. I did not take my debit card and only the money that i needed. I did my buisness and then went and self-excluded from the two city centre hell holes that ive always gambled in and that was that... job done.

So, there we go, another day passing gamble free.

Thanks for listening... S.A

Hey well done SA, be very proud, you didn't play and lose you abstained and won today.

Suzanne xx

Looks like the wrestling won eh? Great work today, just goes to show how much you want this recovery even if the evil demons don't want to give you up! I hope you are very proud of yourself - it's another of those crazy times for me when I am proud of someone I do not know!

Keep winning - ODAAT

Good job SA,

Identifying the weak points and shutting them down, that's just how to kick this thing. Not having the opportunity is half the challenge, and when you can't place a bet it gives you time for your self-control to return.

Hope half term isn't being too tough on you, I must admit that for me spending time at home is fine, but its easy to get disheartened or bored.

Keep up that guard,

Ryan

Thanks all 🙂

Am feeling a little happier today. You'd think that not gambling and the self-exclusions would have put a smile on my face but strangley I was feeling flat and quite depressed. Maybe it was just my gambling head knowing that it wasn't going to get its fix.

Anyway today am feeling more on a level. Am gearing up for a long run. The last of the nice days before the rains come.

Thanks for listening... S.A

It was sulking SA, keep starving it lol.

Enjoy your run , and have a good gambling free day.

Suzanne xx

Seriously Suzanne, it probably was sulking... that an a bit of tiredness

The child within wanting to play, wanting its fix, regardless of the consequences.

Yesterday I had to become a parent to myself. Put boundaries around the child. No gambling!

Thinking it through, yesterday was real progress.

My history says that I am not good at fighting the urges. I feel the need, I feel the urge and I act upon it. Its very rare for me to make the decision to gamble and then not to gamble.

Progress.... 🙂

Thanks for listening... S.A