New Year New Life

Thanks NT, congratulations mate,sounds like it's going well.

Great work in Town today mate...That was a brilliant decision to make & v brave in this weather 🙂

Before you go next time, take some passport photos. I would suggest putting them in your wallet where your money is with a little note to yourself (a reminder of why you are here) or a photo of the life you want back! This way should you find yourself somewhere blue hopefully that will be all the deterrent you need to march straight up to the counter & self exclude!

I don't bet on sports but some people on here have found it incredibly rewarding to be able to sit & actually watch sports knowing they are in recovery & therefore, without the exhaustion of worrying about every twist & turn of fate. Recovery is bespoke so there are no rights & wrongs per se...You need to find your own way along the path.

So far so good though & I am chuffed for you...Just for today, choosing 'No' - ODAAT

Day 5

Didn't get chance to update last night for day 4 but it was a success. I actually watched the racing which was nice,then a Chinese with kids and partner.Seems she has been getting huge amounts of pressure from her family but she's back.thank god!!Anway we got through yesterday quite nicely. Heading to rugby today watching my youngest play,so will post another update later-but we should be safe today!

Day 4 done

Day 5 ongoing!

I'm really happy for you mate 🙂

Now you have to prove to her that you are worth the grief she is going through by staying in recovery & being the father you know you can be - ODAAT

Thanks ODAAT

Havent been on for a day or two - so were now up to Day 8 Gamble free. Had a good couple of days family wise and been ridiculously busy at work so apart from a little wobble weve come through unscathed. A week doesnt seem that long,but boy my heads not spinning nearly as much with the thoughts and desires to bet. I say i had a wobble,met friends in passing on sunday afternoon in local town......they were heading to that little blue devil for an afternoon.When asked to join i instinctively walked towards the place with them,chatting and having a laugh....it then dawned on me I cant do that anymore.They no my issues more than most with gambling but see it as funny to encourage me to do it rather than help me stop.Anyhow,i didnt go,although it came close.Massively proud,thats a full weekend of sport and online poker(weekends are huge for poker) thats gone by and were better off for it. As a reward - off shopping tomorrow to treat us with saved funds.And get some brownie points hopefully! So if its stopped snowing it will be manchester bound. Cannot wait for the next 8 days and my heads even clearer. Night all.

Well Done for walking away...Who needs friends huh?!? Maybe you doing this today is proof to them that when you say you have a problem you mean it!

A week is a very long time @ the start of our journey so be proud & go get those Brownie points 🙂

Keep strong - ODAAT

Hey

I haven't managed to update for over a week,had massive issues with Broadband provider,anyway we are now back up and running.We are still doing alright gambling wise, been kept busy for the last week with work,and decorating the house.So quite productive really.Had one blip of sorts to report,my cricket team had booked a meal and a night out.Turns out the meal was booked in a casino and that was the night out.Anyway I went,had my meal and used my free £10 token that we were given for the roulette.The rest of the evening my wallet stayed in my pocket,and genuinely had the most fun I've had in years,I was watching others go crazy and win then lose and eventually lose all of it.As I watched I didn't really get the urge to be honest which is why I found it quite easy not to get involved,apart from when one lad won a tonne on my OLD numbers I thought what if but it soon passed.So wether or not having one go with a freebie is a blip I'm not sure,but either way it's getting a whole lot easier.Last few bits in house to finish off today,so will update tomorrow.Hope everyone else is doing ok.

Great to see you back...I say keep on counting! I wouldn't have reset my counter with that had I found myself in that situation & I certainly wouldn't have given up my night out! In actual fact, when I think about it, that was one helluva test & you passed with flying colours! If you're @ a loose end when you've finished decorating, my place needs doing 😉

Keep up the great work - ODAAT

Well done on not using your own cash. Whether you reset your own counter is up to you. For me i would as my mindset is gambling is gambling no black & whites but we are all different. I wouldnt have even be able to go i would have had to make an excuse not to attend. I think attending those sort of events gives my addiction ammunition. It will tell me you went to a casino & didnt lose your money you can go again, you can go in a bookies & just watch. These are dangerous messages for my long term sanity. I may or may not get involved in things like this dozens of times safely but it only takes one minute of complacency before im back lying cheating stealing indulging in my addiction & that seems like to high a price to pay for a supposedly free bet & a nite out. I had to draw a line in the sand & admit that i can not gamble safely ever again. Why do casinos give out free bets have free spin slots? Its not out of appreciation of your loyalty to them is it! Give your addiction a way back in & it will engulf you in its loving arms again. It will dance & play with you all the way to homelessness, prison, insanity, suicide. A free £10 bet.... no thanks its not worth the risk