Stephen - Stopped Gambling 1st November 2019

Stephen,

I will be staying up to watch your jig at midnight. Day 70 here you come ??

Thank you Murlo 

Just getting my dancing shoes ready and putting a few banners and balloons up.

Stephen x 

Congratulations on 70 days Stephen ???

Thank you so much Murlo and a massive thank you for the help and support you have given me over the last 10 weeks.

Stephen x 

Good morning diary and a jolly nice day it is too

For ten weeks I am gamble free - Yabba Dabba Doo

But though I am real happy at my progress on this quest

I must never let my guard down and will always do my best

I am fully aware of the danger associated with reaching what I consider to be an important milestone.

In the past I have relapsed on more than one occasion upon reaching significant dates and it seems to stem from a desire to reward myself for not gambling by having a bet!

Crazy maybe, but I believe it has some substance to it so yesterday I bought myself a nice coat for half price in Debenhams.

That is my reward/treat together along my new Deluxe Foot Spa.

Stephen x 

I just read that tonight we will have a "Wolf Moon" so immediately went and looked out of my 12th floor kitchen window towards the eastern sky.

WOW - A clear sky and the moon looks awesome.

Stephen x 

I am a gambling addict and it is plain to see

That gamble free's the only way for me to ever be

Foolishness once ruled my life but them days are now gone

So walking the gamcare highway with a smile on day seventy one

Wishing anyone who reads this a contented, forward-looking & gamble-free weekend.

Stephen x 

Hi Stephen

Congratulations on passing the 10 week mark! Enjoy your toasty new coat and well-pampered feet - well deserved rewards! 

Best wishes

Forum Admin

Many thanks Admin for your kind words on my diary. 

I imagine that friends in Admin will have ups and downs just like everybody so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all peace, contentment and happy days.

May I also say a big thank you for all your hard work in making sure the Forum runs smoothly.

Respectfully yours

Stephen x 

Well the weekend draws to a close and the gamcare family are retiring to their beds after a jolly gamble-free Sunday.

Stephen sits with feet in his recently purchased reward/treat - Deluxe Foot Spa - on setting number three which is described as:

"Vibration bubble massage with water heater & infraredLEDs."

To which he has added a few drops of mint, witch hazel & calendula

Nite nite world

Sweet dreams 

Stephen x 

N'nite Godbless Stephen. Sweet Dreams Buddy. 

Love from 

Drama x

Many thanks for posting on my diary good lady. The welcome mat is always there for you.

I recently carried out a survey asking for three words to describe Drama. The results were most interesting and came back as follows:

1st  -  Enchanting  Gastronomic  Genius

2nd - Elegant          Gentle              Gifted

3rd -  Empathetic  Goodhearted  Girlie

Conclusion:

The results of the survey prove quite emphatically that Drama is indeed a good egg.

? Thank you Stephen! 

Thank you Drama.

Hello Diary.

Had a real reality check yesterday.

Bumped into a man in Tesco whom I had said hello to a few times in the bookies. 

He had lost his months wages for January on New Years Eve. Suicidal thoughts and at midnight whilst watching the celebrations on television he had felt quite wretched. I could easily identify with how he would have felt because I have been there and it's horrible.

Apparently he now had three pound on his bank card which he had unfortunately left at home and requested I lend him 50p to add to the change he had.

I wanted to help the bloke out and on reflection felt I should have told him to get a few groceries which I would pay for at the check out but I didn't wish to embarrass this fifty something man who was down on his luck so I just gave him a fiver and swapped stories with him of all the times we had won and than lost everything.

Mentioned self-exclusion but he was politely dismissive of that.

So we stood for a while chatting as I observed this sad character clutching the note as if he was frightened it would blow away and wondered if it would be spent on groceries or if it would merely allow him to visit the bookies for a short period of time.

Before we parted company I thanked him for making me ever more determined to not gamble.

Stephen x 

Stephen,

that must have been a really difficult experience for you. They very fact that you had some time to talk to him and introduce the notion of self exclusion is fantastic. It may well be something that he revisits in time because you had the courage to speak openly to him. I hope you are ok x