reborn on the 4th July

Hi Castle,

I hope u and Jessica have an amazing time in Blackpool, U have worked so hard on this journey and I am so proud of u 🙂

I am sure u will create lots of special memories on ur holiday and that is Priceless.

Take Care xx

Hi castle,

Thank you for your message..I hope you have the best holiday of your life...weather is good too:)

i know i wasn't 100% right in recent debates, forgive me...i put too much than i expected from myself..just a moment in life...

I want to support everyone here, we all here for a reason, and it's fantastic to find a understanding between all of us.

Please take care and keep going

Sandra x

Hits castle. Have a great a holiday. Create those special memories. Gambling has robbed me of holidays and fun things but I'm determined to go away next year and I can't wait. Hope you and jess have a lovely time.

Castle,

I echo previous posts and wish that you and Jess have the most amazing holiday ever. Nobody deserves it more than your.

Tomso.

Hi Castle,

I know ur not reading at the moment, but I'm catching up with ppl on here and there is no way I could miss u out. So just wanted 2 say I hope u and Jessica r having an amazing holiday 🙂

I am looking 4ward 2 reading about it xx

Hope you and princess good mate?

Womble xxxx

Hey Castle ..

Thanks or popping in and hoping you of some of the good weather at Blackpool in the last few weeks..

I'm guessing you and Jess had a fantastic time and are back home now..

Can't wait to hear all your news and you must feel refreshed now with your batteries recharged,

Yes...my head is loving my little job but my feet are taking longer to catch up..owwwch ..

R and D xx

Thanks everyone

Well had a fantastic time in Blackpool and more importantly jess loved it I don't think she had a spare minute to get bored the things to do were just endless, for me that was all that mattered we created some real special memories and it was just so good to see her happy relaxed and having the time of her life

The slight downside to it all was the expense in one week spent 530 pound all carefully accounted for but neverless still spent I found it really hard to justify spending all that money in one week I guess that comes from my whole value of money has changed so much

Life is for living though and I don't regret it for one minute so now its back to reality and start getting my finances back into shape

Had one or two urges as the week went on I put that down to my money goin down and thought a quick fix on the football could put that right but they soon passed the amusements didn't bother me that much but then there not my downfall staying out of the bookies is the full focus

Full credit to Blackpool they know how to get ur money its just designed to take it overall though the money I spent created some special bonds with me and jess some moments neverto forget and put that into respective of the money wasted on gambling in the end it was a bargain

Thanks for continued support Castle and glad you had a good time at the Norbreck, I have stayed there myself in the past.

I can recall years ago having to return home from a planned weeks holiday after 2 or 3 days a couple of times as I lost all my money in the bookies. Bottom line I couldn't find anything of interest where I was. Then I went on holiday to remote places with no bookies and just got bored!

Well done for resisting the urges and hope your head stays in a good place now that you are home.

Agree with you it's not easy appreciating the value of money after years of just gambling it all. Definitely something those in recovery need to work hard on.

Hey Castle,

Thank you very much for your message on my diary, and am very delighted to hear that you had great time on your holiday. You are right, money is quite big addition to having a good time and enjoying the attractions.

But the most valuable thing is of course your loved ones, those memories with Jess will stay with you forever and i can imagine you still having a broad smile on your face after this break.

i am very happy for you.

Keep going strong

Sandra x

Castle,

Great to hear you and Jess had a lovely time in Blackpool. Don't have any regrets about spending 530 bucks on holiday. I spent that last week on a roulette machine in an hour and would love the chance to get it back to spend on my family.

When my now wife and I first met 15 years ago we went to Blackpool for our first holiday together. Totally loved it. I had broken my leg playing football and remember going on the Pepsi Max with my leg in plaster. Happy memories.

I have had a great week since my last relapse. I feel in a much better place and bizarrely feel happier after my loss than before. Only a gambler could come away with such a comment. I just feel as if I needed this loss. I have that desire back in my belly. I have quit smoking and not had a bad moment and I am just more determined than ever. Out of my spare money this week I have spent less than five pounds because as a gambler I don't buy anything and this week without smoking either I have hardly spent anything. What I have learned in this past week is that being debt free and being a recovered gambler are two completely different things. I am not ready to be debt free yet. I am not ready to have access to lots and lots of cash. It is better for me to be deep in an overdraft at the moment with limited funds. In time this will change. In the meantime I will let the days add up once again.

I am happy to read about your continued progress.

Tomso.

Yo,

Did not take a mind reader to know you and Jess would have a fabulous time . You both seem to get soooooo much out of each others company .

The money , well it is what it is . Understand the thoughts of trying to win a bit extra , that monkey on our backs , but you stood your ground . Good on ya .

Yep xfactor again, loving it . And double the dose , yipeeeeeeeeeeee.

Take care my dear friend , expecting regular updates about who Jess thinks has got it in the bag this year .

Shiny xxx

Thanks everyone

Back to reality today after a shocking nights sleep must av woke every hour waiting for the alarm to go off, got to work bright and breezy feeling refreshed bout 3 hours later the bright and breezy wasn't quite so lol in truth though its good to be back at work it gives me as much as I hate to say it a routine and as far as my recovery goes it what I need no urges or time for any gambling thoughts head full of work stuff and there's loads to fill it

Jess back at school tomorrow which shes ready for and from an expense point of view so am I. ! Av to say though she must av had the best 6 weeks of her life with all the stuff she has done

Went over the 100 day mark when on holiday since my last bet and can honestly say feel the strongest I av ever been in October it will be 2 years since I 1st admitted my addiction and the learnings av been valuable I av no regrets bout my relapses other than the financial losses but the the mental rewards are far greater than money I still believe there's a long way to go and under no illusion there will be times when life is stressful but I av all the tools and knowledge to combat anything that comes my way

Just need to keep making the right decisions

Hello Castle,

Glad you enjoyed your time on the sea front.

It is strange to think about that money you spent as I too, like many others, have in the past spent that in 30 minutes online gambling. Your holiday story really brings to mind the true value that spending money should bring... which it obviously has to you... memories and some happiness.

It is strange, as I now slowly change my spending habits, how buying something I really needed for £20 or more was so difficult to do, yet only worth one spin to me online. Maybe as gamblers we should celebrate any spending of money on normal every day things more. " I bought some pyjamas, a Terry Pratchett Diary and a dvd drive... hooray!!"... it felt good to see something for my hard earned cash.

Hope you are well.

Jon

Hello Castle,

Glad you enjoyed your time on the sea front.

It is strange to think about that money you spent as I too, like many others, have in the past spent that in 30 minutes online gambling. Your holiday story really brings to mind the true value that spending money should bring... which it obviously has to you... memories and some happiness.

It is strange, as I now slowly change my spending habits, how buying something I really needed for £20 or more was so difficult to do, yet only worth one spin to me online. Maybe as gamblers we should celebrate any spending of money on normal every day things more. " I bought some pyjamas, a Terry Pratchett Diary and a dvd drive... hooray!!"... it felt good to see something for my hard earned cash.

Hope you are well.

Jon