My first diary!

Good evening Mr Flagg

Once again, thanks for your continued support and encouragement.

I hope the 1st day back at work wasn't too traumatic!

Your input to this site and support to others here is incredible- you always seem to know the right things to say, despite fighting your own battle 🙂

Take care

Irene

x

Hello,

Day 270 - Very close now to my next minor target of 274 days. I set this back on day 183 (6 months) as it will mark three quarters of the year without a gamble. Unlike last time I have not done a big countdown to this milestone as I found the days really slowed down a little too much in the run up to 6 months. So, I just carried on without giving it much thought and because of that it has flown by.

So often we say each to their own in recovery and for me the numbers have worked since day 1. I have mentioned my little Barcelona pot many times and each gamble free day this grows by £1. I say this because little things like that can really help.

Anyway enough of my ramblings, no bet today!!!

Day 270 - 4 days to go!

I take pride in being the owner of the 1000th post on your diary!

Your support on here has been fantastic and I am really looking forward to seeing through the whole of 2013 totally gamble-free. I have a huge amount of desire to see my name still on that list on New Years Eve 2013 and when it is, my recovery from thirty years of gambling will really be setting pace.

It is with hope that you will feel the same as me. Small targets really are the way forward in these quests of ours to become gamble and debt free.

No bet days are lovely, normal days!

NT

Well Flagg,

Knowing how you like numbers bet you are gutted that NT beat you to it!

Gave me a smile though...thankyou.

Am looking at beating you to the next milestone!

Sue x

Morning,

Day 271 - Well the forum still isn't quite the place it should be right now. Really saddened that Duncs may potentially leave the site. I sincerely hope that is not the case.

Too be honest I have similar feelings myself at the moment. I won't be leaving the site as the diary is helpful and keeps me focused on a daily basis. It's what I need and I am thankful for the site. In addition the site is also overflowing with some really nice people genuinely trying to overcome this horrible addiction. I have so much time for so many people here and I would consider many friends even if only virtual.

However, I am thinking long and hard about the threads that have just started and they may well be removed over the weekend. There have been suggestions that they were the cause of all the problems during the last week, the catalyst at least. There are suggestions that they add undue pressure, and a suggestion they should be stopped anyway. Too be honest I don't want an argument about it infact i fully respect all opinions.

What i don't want is to hinder anyone's recovery and if there is a view that this could be the case then I would much rather offer a few words of encouragement on people's diaries and keep my own diary ticking over.

I will review this over the next day or so. I think I would have already removed them if I thought they were pointless and didn't help. Need to be decisive either way.

Right it's Friday and that is reason to smile. January will be long with no money but only 3 days away from next target and feeling pretty good about my own recovery. That ultimately is priority.

Day 271 - For Thread's Sake!!

Flagg,

Many thanks for your recent post.

I to am saddened by recent events although i'm not sure where and how it all started.

Stay strong,

gazza

There are far too many lovely people on here for me to worry about the sad ones.

Positivity will overcome negativity in the end.

Stick around, eh? We need you to keep your other threads going!

NT

Hi Flagg I'm sure that many people on believe that joining a thread would be bad for them, increase pressure etc. And I'm sure many on here would say going to GA would be to much and don't do that either. But both ideas are very good and very helpful to some but not others. I doubt I'll go to a GA meeting but would definitely agree that they do help many many people and wouldn't dream of putting anyone of them it's just there not for me. The threads should be treated the same, if there not for you then don't join them or if you find that it's all a big competive and the pressure to much leave them, one thing for sure is no one would be judge in that decision.

All I'm saying is is I think the threads add focus and help the days turn to weeks and on to months and I'm all in favour of them. I totally respect other opinions of them and agree to some of them but if threads help some then surely there worthwhile. You always say its take it or leave it, no pressure.

I try to be laid back about things on here and try not to let things get to me. If you decide to cancel the threads then that's fair enough, it's your choice and I'll stick by that. You've done great by me in the past and I'm sure will support each other in the future and get through this, thread or no thread.

Hi there

fairly new to this and so sad that recent problem has erupted when people have been so kind and generous with their thoughts and feelings.

I have no idea if a check in thread will be of any help to me but after all the negative experiences of gambling I can only feel that anything at all is worth a try. If it helps me I will carry on, if not I will opt out and use the forum in a different way but I do appreciate the opportunity you have offered to try this out and hope that you go ahead with the project.

Take care

xxx

Flagg,

No need to remove them threads and they certainly are not pointless.

The pressure will all be on you moderating them all and also sticking to the strict rules that are in place.

I told my good friend nearly there and im sure he won't mind me saying that he suffered from burntootdiaryitis,basically doing too much on these pages.

You also have your gamcare get together to organise so it looks like your in for a very busy year.

Its a major task to remain gamble free far less moderate threads etc but just because its not for me I wish you the very best of which im sure you will make success.

Congratulations on your continued progress.

Best wishes.

Winning Post

Hi Flagg,

I think that if people want to sign up then great....I know that it helps me with the monthly one......If people dont thats fine too.But I appriciate the work and find it helps keep me focused.

Thankyou again.

Sue x

hi flagg

I would say what works for some may not work for others, for me it works and I appreciate your threads and the work you put in to them

Hi Diary,

Day 272 - Many thanks for your responses everyone. Very much appreciated and gave me a lift yesterday.

Nothing much to report today. Was brilliant to see a really positive start to the January thread and long may that continue.

Two days away from 9 months plenty reasons to be cheerful if I sit and think about it.

Day 272 - 2 days to go!

Fantastic achievment Flagg. Keep going. Thanks for all you do with the threads. I find them very helpful. I'm really gonna try for the big 2013. Wish me luck! 🙂 -joanxx

Hi Flagg

I can only read with admiration how far u av come in ur recovery the positivity and consistantcy u av shown from day 1 is a shining example for anyone to follow

Then the threads u av took on the organisation of gamcare live all done with the best intentions for everyones recovery , even had to contend with someone who dared to blacken ur good name

Its been a remarkable 9 months for u I hope when u do sit back ur very proud what u av done is a massive achievement

So pleased for u well done

Castle2