Stephen - Stopped Gambling 1st November 2019

Thankyou Lisa & Drama for visiting my diary. I really appreciate your support and encouragement.

Hello Diary. 

Thursday went well as planned and I watched some lights being switched on as well as listening to a choir singing hymns. 

I am feeling a bit topsy turvy just now but will soon get over it.

Going to bed for a peaceful sleep and hopefully will wake up in the morning feeling on top of the world.

Just jumped out of bed and putting on my socks

Ready for the weekend and hoping that it rocks

Gamble free and jolly with smiles and a cup of tea

Free from the chains that bound me and happy as can be

Lovely poem, Enjoy Stephen, Wrap up it is FREEZING today! 

Thanks Lisa it has been a bit chilly but clear skies and gamble free so it has been a good day.

Went to see another choir today singing carols at the Streetlife Museum which was quite special. About 40 in the choir singing by a replica Victorian Railway alongside vintage trains, trams, cars, bikes, horses, carriages and people of a bygone age. (I was pleased that they had not included a vintage betting shop).

That last remark got me thinking about something an auntie once said to me before she died. She was reliving memories of her father (my grandfather) and recalled an occasion when she was deeply upset and ashamed because he was playing pitch and toss in the street and lost money which the family could not afford to lose (it would have been in the 1930's). He was a bad man by all accounts. A powerfully built docker who could be charming but many a time my grandma was on the receiving end of his bad t emper (usually when he had been drinking and lost money gambling). Coming home late and throwing his dinner against the wall because something wasn't to his liking. Towards the end of his life he was housebound due to ill health so grandma used to go to the betting shop to put his bets on for him. (It is quite ironic and also a bit of a family joke because he had a win on the day he died. My uncle collected the winnings and the family all enjoyed a drink together with it). 

I suppose Grandma must have loved him regardless of his faults because they had 4 children together and I never heard her speaking badly about him. 

Thirty days since having a bet and no signs of dementia

A tired old soul gamble-free embarked on a great adventure.

I stood up tall and yelled to the Gods - "Don't treat me like a fool"

They shouted back in one loud voice - "Your looking mighty cool"

All is well in my little world and I am in good cheer 

The future looks quite jolly and I have nothing at all to fear

Skipping along this gamcare road happy and contented

Far better than that other road where I was just tormented 

A calender month without a bet is just an hour away

Good riddance to the betting shops is all I want to say

It does me good to see you well and posting happy thoughts x

Thank you for the lovely poem Stephen, that has really cheered me up and congratulations on reaching your calendar month x

Thank you Drama and Murlo.

To be honest I am on cloud nine because I have done what I set out to do and have not gambled.

Feeling good about myself and my recovery.

PS. I am not one normally to blow my own trumpet (maybe I should have rephrased that! Lol) but I am a rocking and a rolling and cruising up the gamble free highway like a man who is very pleased with himself.

Nite nite x 

Congratulations on your achievement Stephen! Really well done!

Keep enjoying cruising up the gamble free highway - who knows where it may lead! 🙂 

All the best 

Forum Admin

Many thanks Admin for your support and encouragement. 

Hello Diary

Today it is 31 days since I last had a bet and I am feeling very positive about my recovery.

I will look upon the rest of my life as an adventure and will focus on the words of Admin in that last post: "Who Knows Where It May Lead."

Wherever happens in the future I will be able to hold my head up high because on the 1st November 2019 I finally put a stop to the gambling.

31 DGF

My motto from now is:

"If there is anything about my life that I am not happy about than I will endeavour to put it right."

The time has come to stand my ground and stand up for what's right

A man of honour all day long through morning noon and night

There are no demons in my head or monkeys on my shoulder

I'm gamble-free with a smile on my face and doing the things that I oughta

WooooOooo well done stephen! Buzzing for you. The next gamble free month has arrived and I know you’re going to smash it right into next year ? 

Hi Stephen. That's a lovely reflective piece about the Victorian street museum. I can imagine the exciting atmosphere and feeling of nostalgia. 

The account of your Grandfather strikes a chord and in many ways we have similar traits through our family genes. However, we must never let it be an excuse for our decisions and actions as we are strong willed and value our lives with respect to freedom, health, friendship and happiness. 

Thankyou Lisa and Changemylife for visiting my diary. I appreciate your support and good advice.

In half an hour I will be 33 days away from my last bet and am feeling very positive.

Pleased to report that everything that needed to be paid has been paid and I have sufficient left over for socialising.

Betting days are over so I graze in pastures new

For this old goat has seen the light and smiles the whole day through

Me and myself are now good friends and get along real well

He thinks I'm a jolly good chap and I think he is as well