Once Upon A Time

Please keep writing. I really want to read a happy ever after ending.

The beauty is that it's you writing so it can end anyway you choose.

Pat

Morning Elfie

Love your story and it's your choice to how it continues

Day 5 is a good place to be well done

Best wishes Suzanne x

Day 6 today and not a good day. I have realised that I have very little in my life at the moment. I knew gambling was a huge part of my life but didn't realise there was nothing else when the gambling was gone. I am sure if I had had the opportunity I would have gambled today so I need to work on all the triangle now and GET A LIFE!! Enough feeling sorry for myself - I didn't gamble so still in recovery. Let's see what the princess has been up to:

The princess continued using her magic machine. It was fun and so she continued to put more coins into the magic machine safe in the knowledge that she would soon be adding more gold to her counting house. She didn't tell anyone, after all it was her life, her gold and her magic machine. She wasn't ashamed or anything it was just nobody elses business. This carried on for quite a while but then it seemed the magic machine wasn't working as well as it should. Yes, the spinning reels, bright colours and magical music were still there but less gold was coming forth. 'What is happening?' thought the princess. 'Where is the plentiful gold I have come to expect?'

***you may have noticed that the princess 'thinks' a lot and doesn't actually talk much. In fact no-one in this story talks except the Queen near the very end. She is very vocal indeed.*******

The princess was still relatively happy, knowing she had complete control over the magic machine and it was still fun.

Round about this time the princess was invited to a land, far, far away. She travelled on a huge bird with her sister (an older, wiser but less pretty princess) to attend a royal wedding. This land was full of sand and huge palaces and, to the princess' amazement was full of magic machines. All with spinning reels, bright colours and magical music. The older princess had never seen a magic machine - she had a machine very similar but it had quite different uses. Our princess however knew exactly what the magic machines were. There was row upon row of magic machines. 'I will surely have gold a'plenty now' she thought and happily placed coin after coin into the machines. Yes, some gold did appear however the princess decided it would be wise to put the gold back into the machine, thereby ensuring more gold would come out. Alas, this didn't happen and the princess found she had used up all her coins. The older, wiser and less pretty princess decided she would try the magic machines. The spinning reels were fascinating, the bright colours were magnificent but the magical music could not put this princess into a trance no matter how hard it tried. She placed her coins in the machine, the gold came out which she promptly put in her coin purse and skipped merrily away.

The princess was distraught and had to rely on her sister for feasting and such like until her return to her own kingdom.

Now back in her own palace the princess was keener than ever to use her magic machine. After all, she needed to replace the coins she had used in the far, far away land and her magic machine was due to give her some gold now. It didn't. She had no coins in her coin purse and no gold in her counting house. 'What am I to do?' thought the princess.

****We'll have to wait and see but I have a sneaky suspicion readers will know what is coming next****

Hi Elfie - Thanks for the second instalment!

Yes, I know what's coming, but like all good fairy stories, the familiarity is part of the enjoyment, and boy, is your story familiar to me!

Sorry you have been having a 'down' day - this sometimes happens after the euphoria of giving gambling the old heave-ho. It will pass.

Regarding the lack of alternative activities, what did you do before the dreaded slots got hold of you? Reading, crafts, volunteering, gardening or simply getting more exercise? I am slowly getting through a pile of books which had remained unread, finishing lots of knitting and sewing projects, gardening and actually doing more housework (that can't be right!). Part of the reason I wanted to be 'clean' of gambling was the fact that I was wasting so much valuable time on such a pointless activity.

So be of good cheer - you will gradually find yourself doing more and thinking less about gambling. Also the very important thing to remember is .... you did not succumb today!

Best wishes

Joanna

Hi Joanna

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I have been busy yesterday and today at work and doing my Ding Dong Avon order tonight so no thoughts of boredom. I think I was just feeling a bit lost on Sunday, a day when I would usually just gamle all day, funds allowing of course.

I do love crafts, knitting, drawing, writing poetry, sewing and reading so I have plenty to be getting on with. Now I have a granddaughter after 5 grandsons I have every reason to get out the knitting needles and sewing machine and make some dolls clothes. I'm just not used to having so much time on my hands.

I see from your diary that you have been 4 months without gambling. That is brilliant, you are doing so well and must be so proud of yourself.

Part 3 of the Princess saga will probably be posted tomorrow.

Take care and keep up the good work.

Elfie

Hi, I really like the story...You are an excellent story writer..

Don't get too down..I have wasted a considerable amount of money, the good thing is, your talented..Try to imagine a world without money? I'm sure you would still follow your dream?..

Hi Elfie - Yes, I feel good about the four months free from gambling. I'm sure you will find that as the days and weeks mount up you will have fewer days like last Sunday - thoughts of gambling will recede further and further from your mind. Mr Brightside's reference to the music level analogy is very helpful for me - allowing your 'life' and 'family' music level drown out the 'gambling' music in your head.

Wow - six grandchildren - I find my three little ones keep me busy enough!

Best wishes,

Joanna

Well day 9, here I am and feeling good. I have responded to the music analogy and my life number is poor so will have to work on that.

Thank you Joanna for your post. I fell sure that I will be a few weeks on and, like you, not thinking about gambling.

In the meantime, let's see how the princess is getting on:

The princess, now returned from the far, far away land and having put all her coins and gold into the magic machine was distraught. She had no wish to share this with anyone as she knew they wouldn't understand. She remembered that there were money-lenders in the village who could loan her some gold. Now, the princess had left the King and Queens palace many years before and had to look after herself. She therefore held a good position at court and, because she was well respected, was paid handsomely for her services.

**** I don't want you to get the wrong idea, being paid for her services isn't quite what it sounds like !!****

The princess visited the money-lenders and they were keen, because of her position at court, to lend her some gold. Of course, she didn't tell them why she needed.

The princess decided that perhaps she shouldn't use the magic machine so much. Perhaps it was time to keep what little gold she had. The spinning reels, bright colours and magical music were still beckoning her but she knew she had control over the magic machine and would only use it when she wanted to. What the princess didn't know was that the magic machine was more magical than she could ever have imagined and it had cast an evil spell upon her. The spell was so great that it compelled her to use the magic machine again and again until once more she had given it all her coins from her coin-purse and all the gold in her counting house. Not only that but she had given the magic machine the gold which was intended for the upkeep on her palace and gold which was to repay the money-lenders. The princess knew what she had to do - she visited another money-lender in the village who, like the first one, loaned her an amount of gold. Again, the princess didn't tell them why she needed this.

The princess at this stage was so far under the wicked spell of the magic machine she could not stop herself from using it at every available time. The reels span, the colours shone brightly and the magical music held her in a trance which was only broken when the last of the gold had been put in. All her gold in the counting house and the gold for the upkeep of her palace and that for the money-lenders was once again gone. The princess was relieved when the last of the gold was gone for it meant that she was no longer forced to use the magic machine and could then retire for the night. The princess was so sad that she wished not to wake up, if indeed she was able to sleep.

***** are you yawning yet? ******

Two things happened at this time. The princess' palace had been slowly turning into a tall tower. No longer was it full of nice things for the princess had no gold and the walls were so high it was virtually impossible to escape from. The other thing that happened was that the once beautiful princess felt worthless and ugly inside. This ugliness began to show on the outside and no longer could she bear to look at her reflection in the looking glass. The princess had no idea that this was also the magic machine's wicked spell.

Now, the princess had no more gold of her own and had used all the gold for the tower's upkeep and also gold intended to repay the money lenders. There were no more money lenders to help her so she could only turn to the court official. The court were shocked when the princess told them about the magic machine and how she had placed all her gold into it. She was well respected however and the court valued her long years of service so agreed to lend her some gold - but only once!

The princess was overjoyed. She could pay the upkeep on the tower, repay some gold to the money lenders in the village and life was good again.

***** But was it? *******

Hi Elfie

Thanks for your post it's made me think what bit I have left is my own and I can choose what I do with it

Very well done on day 10

Taking one day at a time we can abstain and win everyday we don't play

Keeping going and keep strong

Suzanne xx

Well diary, I have been somewhat neglectful of you but I am now back and on day 58. More time on my hands now my sister's wedding is over so will have to get some hobbies going. I hadn't realised how long my Princess Posts were so will be cutting them down a bit.

The princess, despite knowing the misery it would cause her, continued to use her magic machine which sometimes gave her gold but most often it did not. She found herself asking her sister (the other princess who by now was a beautiful princess as she had a heart of gold and radiated beauty from within) to help her more and more. The money lenders in the village could no longer help but the princess was powerless to stop. Her life was full of despair and shame. Her sister, realising then that the princess was under the spell of the magic machine promptly came to the princess' tower and, because she had powers of her own, took all the magic from the machine, thereby rendering it useless to give (or take) gold.

The princess was so relieved. She could now live a normal life, she could now begin to be happy. The spell was broken.

*******Like all good fairy tales, there is a twist to this one but more of that next time *******

Hi Elfie

Thanks for your supportive message and hey well done to you 58 days is brill

You will get stronger and stronger as the days mount up

Keep going and going to a.happier and healthier life that is gamble free

Suzanne xx

Hey Elfie! I love your "princess" posts.... they're great! All nursery rhymes relate to human failings and I can relate very much to your Princess. Ever thought about writing a book .... along the lines of "self-help"? Your Princess stories could prove to be very useful to us compulsive gamblers and who knows, maybe very lucrative for you!!! Thank you. Well done! Helen. X

Hi diary, it's me again.

Thank you Suzanne and Helen for your kind words. Perhaps I will now write a book as I have time on my hands. We are very near the end of the Princess story and I don't want to spoil the ending but I think we will all be pleased 🙂

The Princess continued to be happy, she was no longer under the spell of the magic machine. She had gold in her counting house and coins in her coin purse. Life was sweet and continued to be so.

One day she acquired a small machine, one she had wanted for a long time. This machine could be carried about the castle (yes, the inescapable tower had now become a castle again) and the Princess loved it. "I will not use this machine for magic" the Princess said to herself and she meant it. She was now in control, there was no spell to hold her. Or so she thought.

The magic was laying dormant and was waiting for the right time to cast the spell again. This it did when the Princess was least expecting it. But this time the spell was stronger than ever. The Princess spent every waking moment putting gold in the magic machine. Once more she was entranced by the spinning reels, bright colours and magical music. Once more she was compelled to use up all her gold until she had none left for feasting or paying the upkeep on her tower.

***Yes, you're right, it's back to the tower****

The Princess was distraught. How had she let the spell take over her again? The Princess couldn't sleep or eat and she fell into a very deep depression. What could she do? Her sister, the older but by now more beautiful princess was powerless to help as, strong as her powers were, she could not take the magic from the machine.

Now the Princess had heard of a Mystical Triangle which could break the magic spell and decided that she would surround herself in the glow of the Mystical Triangle and rid herself of the magic spell once and for all.

The Princess called for her carriage (not really sure who she called so I guess she drove the carriage herself, it was only a pink Smart carriage after all) and went immediately to the castle of one of the little Princes. She handed the magic machine to the little Prince and knew he would be immune to the magic spell as he was pure of heart and would only use the machine to win battles and slay dragons.

The Princess then went to the castle of the older, more beautiful Princess and handed her the keys to her counting house so that all she had were the coins in her coin purse and she would be unable to get gold to use for any other purpose than upkeep on the tower and feasting.

There was one more part of the Mystical Triangle which would come later but the Princess knew now that with the two main parts in place she would no longer fear the magic spell.

The only thing left for the Princess to do now was to find some gold to replace that which she had used in the Magic Machine.

The older, more beautiful Princess could not help our Princess this time as she was arranging her royal wedding and had no spare gold.

****so very near the end of the story but how will the Princess get out of this, hopefully, the last hurdle. Tune in next time*****

Hi Elfie - Enjoyed reading the latest 'Princess' instalment. Like you, I have been taken up with other things for the past few weeks so am now trying to catch up with all the posts etc.

So glad the wedding went off well and that you can now relax a little more. Well done on your continuing days of sanity free from gambling and I trust you are enjoying life on your lovely island...

Best wishes,

Joanna