Stephen - Stopped Gambling 1st November 2019

Thank you Murlo. I hope you are having a good day.

Yes it was upsetting to meet that sad man and it brought back memories of the trauma I myself had experienced on many occasions through gambling.

What really sticks in my mind is the sad look in his eyes when he described coming out of the betting shop on New Years Eve with thoughts of walking in front of a lorry because he had lost all his wages for January.

Stephen x 

My chance encounter yesterday with a traumatised compulsive gambler has left me feeling sad.

It has brought to the surface many sad memories of my pathetic self when lost in the insane world of gambling addiction.

The good news that I am 74 days away from that madness and more determined than ever to stay gamble-free.

Its overcast, raining and somebody on the radio was just singing the Erma Franklin song "Piece Of My Heart" so that might have contributed to my feeling blue.

Or most likely I am just feeling sorry for myself.

Love and best wishes to all my fellow travellers.

Stay strong, keep smiling and keep going forward.

Going for a walk in the rain.

Stephen x 

Thank you for posting on my diary Mark.

I appreciate your feedback and what you wrote is perfectly true.

Meeting a fellow compulsive gambler in such a sorry state was disturbing but I now realise that it will have done my recovery good as I have recently maybe been getting complacent.

Stephen x 

Hi Stephen,

It was great to chat to you tonight; always nice to see you on Group Chat.  Just to let you know, your 100-day target - 10th Feb - happens to coincide with my birthday!!! 

If I could wish for one birthday present this year it would be for you to hit 100 days GF.

It's always one day at a time Stephen - so never any pressure.  We're always looking  forwards one day at a time. 

But it would make my day, my year, if it happens!

All the very best to you, as always,

Mixer

Mixer you are an absolute star

And I will definitely celebrate my gamble free century along with your birthday

Stephen 

That is great to hear Stephen 🙂

Stephen,

It was lovely to see you in chat tonight. I hope you have that foot spa cranked up ?

Thank you Mixer & Murlo.

The Chatroom got my brain working and I liked the camaraderie.

Time now for the foot spa.

Stephen x 

Cast aside addiction's chains and now I'm running free

Aware that nothing in the world is sweet as liberty 

Blood is pumping through my veins and keeping me alive

So give myself a gentle hug and dance through day seventy five

Congratulations on 75 days Stephen.  That's fantastic!

Thank you Mixer for visiting my diary and thanks also for all your hard work at the 100 Day Club.

We are all friends on the diaries and it saddens me to read of the problems that some of my fellow travellers have to contend with.

I suppose that by not gambling we will all be in a better position to cope when unforseen difficulties arise.

Stephen x 

Shortly heading off to a tenants forum meeting at the Guildhall and will than have a walk to the river. Visit a cafe I like for a bit of lunch and than just see what the day brings.

Bit dull but retirement is not what you would call 24 hour a day partying. 

Wishing all on the diaries a good gamble-free day.

Stephen x 

Thank you Russ.

I am living a mundane life but in reality I could be doing with a bit of excitement and a few evenings of wild abandonment, high jinx and crazy parties.

But for now I will settle for mundane.

Stephen x 

Mundane is a bad word I think. I would switch that up for peaceful or steady. No Drama's. 

If you want some excitement, check out some fun activities to do but don't admonish the good times you are having with negative labels. 

I wonder if maybe you've got some post-Christmas blues. Maybe book an Easter break so you have summat to look forward to? Doesn't have to be a dear do. Could be a little coach trip or summat. 

Take care of you Stephen. 

Drama x

I might see if there are any 68 to 70 wild holiday brochures about.

And maybe I could let my hair down (what's left of it) in Ibiza or Ayia Napa.

Or beach volleyball on the Copacabana beach in Rio.

Stephen x