The Final Countdown

Hi Stephen. Glad that you seem to be in fine spirits, and now firmly in control of the various aspects of your life.

Love your song choices - you even take on board the wonderful 'Let it go' sound track from a children's movie. Inspiration can come from many places.

Little Miss Lost has highlighted a most important and crucial element for our abstinence. Dealing with the 'low' days which we will inevitably have to endure from time to time. A bit like like gambling urges - knowing that they will come, gives us the power to deal with them. Take a deep breath, remain calm and they will pass.

Thankyou for the posts on my diary which are much appreciated.

Great dancing last night but aching today. Everything go's with ""Five Rhythm Dancing" and I like to give it some welly.

Sobering time at the cenotaph this morning for the remembrance parade. Good to see so many people paying their respects but sad to see families who may have lost loved ones, and children looking cold and bemused.

The 1st World War was a time when whole communities lost their husbands and sons, they had marched off in high spirits to teach "the hun" a lesson. Most of the "Pals Battalions" were just slaughtered. A song from 1915 and apparently very popular was ...Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag And Smile, Smile, Smile by Oscar Seagle ...What's the use of worrying, it never was worthwhile - So pack up your troubles in your old kit bag - And smile, smile, smile.

I'm not comparing the horrors of war with addiction but it reminds me how precious life is and the futility of wasting it through compulsive gambling.

Your (excellent, respectful) final sentence sums it up, Stephen: how precious our life is, and how we shouldn't waste it.

Hope you're keeping Ok Stephen, guess what, I might be up 'your way' soon, got a meeting in Hull! I haven't been there for a while, but had a good time on my last trip a few years back. Anyways .... here's hoping you have a great day, my friend.

Hi Stephen,

As you rightly posted on my diary thread, I posted on your diary this morning but it doesn't appear to have saved. I'm not sure what happened there!

And - I think my brain cells are disappearing quicker than I thought - I can't quite remember what I posted!!!

But one thing remains resolute. I hope all's well with you, my friend - such are the constraints on my time that I can only follow so many diaries - yours is my 'feel good' dip to help me start my day.

Your most eclectic mix of tracks never fails to make me smile - and expand my musical repotoire. Because one track always leads to another... and music feeds the soul 🙂

All the best to you Stephen 🙂

Ha ha thanks for that Mixer it brought a smile to my face.

Not posting so much now as i'm trying to keep up with the English & Creative Writing I am doing at Adult Education. Lot of fun but it's a struggle going back to learning and I have to do homework for the creative writing.

Hello Diary. Have read some good posts recently and thought I'd copy some of it into my diary.

Changemylife wrote; "Knowing the gambling urges will come gives us the power to deal with them. Take a deep breath, remain calm and they will pass." & "Let's count our blessings and enjoy love, peace and happiness."

My song choice today is...If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback....If today was your last day - And tomorrow was too late - Could you say goodbye to yesterday? - Would you live each moment like your last? - Leave old pictures in the past

Sharon wrote; "Like a hangover, neither triumphs or disasters last forever. They both pass and a new day arrives." & "Tomorrow is another GF day onwards and upwards."

Mixer wrote; "Whatever our troubles, however we've got to this place, if we can just do one thing today let's just be gamble free."

Little miss lost wrote; "We can't all feel brilliant every day, it's just knowing that on our low days we just have to hang in there. Accept that sometimes these days are inevitable and know that they will pass."

Morning Stephen, Thanks for the post on my diary, wise words which i will fully take on board.... the continued support from people like yourself really has played a large part in me making it as it stands 81 days gf..... glad to see you are still very much on the right track and you are a great example of what can be achieved and how ones life can change for the better in a relativly short space of time.... keep up the good work mate sometimes by just logging on and reading your posts can help get me through the days when i struggle 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hi Stephen, glad you are enjoying your creative writing etc. I gave myself some early nights and time out from thinking about gambling/money this week as my brain was a bit fried! Thabks for posting your fav quotes, great ti read how others thinj/feel ref gambling. Thabknks for your rocj solid support as always S:)