Time for a change

Hey Curly,,as Russ says, can't wait to hear from you in the golf club, 🙂

take care my friend and stay safe.

suzanne xxx

Quick update.

I'm still gamble free and still feeling strong. I did have a tiny wobble the other week courtesy of having a bit of cash in my pocket after a hard day at work. The thought of having a quick bet on the way home did cross my mind. I'd read the messages left by Russ and Suzanne and they helped me eliminate that thought. What also helped was the knowledge that IF I won it would inevitably lead to a binge and ultimately a loss and the whole sorry saga of my gambling would start all over again. f**k that!!

Nope I cannot be bothered with gambling any longer. It took 20 years of gambling to realise it, but better late than never. I don't miss it one bit.

Curly.

Great work Curly,

Stay strong, positive and keep going forwards and keep winning.

Suzanne xxx

Thanks for dropping by on my diary Curly.

All the very best to you my dear friend on your continued recovery.

If I can do it, you can too...... ;0)

Keep strong

Ade

Hi Curly! You don't know me, but of course as a fellow CG, you actually know all about me, but anyway just thought I'd congratulate you. You sounds so positive right now, and I LOVED your cricketing analogy earlier in the diary. A lot of people thing that humour must mean people aren't taking this quitting business seriously, but I think that's utter rubbish. Humour is a release valve, it great to be able to be so self-assured as to be able to crack a joke about things. Well done indeed!

I got an e-mail this morning from an online account I excluded many months ago. I logged back in as my exclusion had expired. No thoughts whatsoever of gambling. I simply excluded the account for a further 5 years and then logged in here. Progress.

It's taken me 20 years of gambling heartache to get where I am today. I genuinely believe I am now at a place mentally that I have never reached before. For the first time in my adult life I DON'T WANT TO GAMBLE. When I've had a decent run in recovery before it has seemed like every day was a battle not to have a bet. It's so much easier when you don't want to bet. A nice example was last week in work. A lad I speak with now and again came into my office to give me a couple of tips for Royal Ascot. One was running that day and one on the Saturday. He came back later that afternoon asking me if I'd got on the 9/1 winner he had passed me. I told him that I hadn't bothered and explained to him that I was through with gambling. How long would it take me to return those 'winnings' to the bookie I explained. And then some more! I didn't hear from him as to how the other horse did on the Saturday but I will assume it lost. The main thing I took from all this was the strength of knowing that not for a single second did I want to follow the tip. For the first time in my life I don't want to gamble and I'm in control of that! The addiction will always be there lurking but it can be controlled.

Hallelujah.

Hi Curly,

That last post is the absolute best that we gambling addicts can aspire to, I will be dragging myself back towards that gamble free state and the utter desire not to bet again. I've never had to explain not gambling to anyone, so maybe that would be useful for me to have that kind of conversation with somebody in real life. Anyway, keep on that right track and enjoy the rewards that progress bring. Keep the reins of control tight.

Ryan

Well done curly, sounds like you are in a strong position. I have also received gambling emails, from companies trying to get hold of my cash. There is nothing better, than watching my bank balance go up instead of down and I think this thing can be beaten.

Keep moving forwards, well done

Paul

Tomorrow I celebrate 200 days without a bet. This is the second longest period I have ever managed. This week I feel especially strong as the Open Championship was always up there with my biggest betting event of the year. Not anymore. I watch sport for fun now. Just like I did when I was a young lad.

I remember when Jeff asked to change his username on here to ex-gambler Jeff. Well that's where I am at right now. I feel like an ex-gambler.

Hey Curly,

Welcome to the double century club lol, 200 days of hard work, lovely milestone

Very well done indeed.

Suzanne xxx

Day 213.

I had a little walk at lunchtime yesterday into the town centre near my work and it struck me that it was the first time I had made that walk this year. There are three betting shops within 100 yards of each other hence the reason why that particular walk used to be more frequent. I've lost count of the number of times I have made the walk back to work knowing that I'd just blown more in 30minutes than I would earn for that entire day. Not exactly the best motivational tool ahead of an afternoon's work. Yesterday was different though as on the walk back I had a spring in my step as I pondered as to whether I had finally grown up. No use crying over spilt milk. The future is bright.

Have a great weekend.

Curly.

Day 231.

Driving out of work today a little voice in my head suggested a quick bet. Weird. Not heard from that little s**t for months. I laughed in his face and dismissed him. Who does he think I am, a fool?

My gambling days are now well behind me. Jeez that sounds good.

Curly10

Hi Curly,

Thanks for your message last week, it's lovely to see you staying strong on an amazing 231 days,

You are doing great.

Keep strong with guard tightly up.

Suzanne xxx

308 days since my last bet. I remember it well as it was on New Year's Eve and I was on half-day at work. I had £100 burning a hole in my pocket and popped into the bookies on the way home. I'd already decided that I was going to start afresh the following day so it was a bit of a last hurrah really. The money didn't matter. Like so often when I gambled I lost all sense of the true value of that money. Truth be told I couldn't lose it quick enough. My last ever bet? A £20 win on trap 3 or 4 I forget which. I do remember though that the dog was a stayer and that it turned 2nd at the first corner and should have romped home only to run up the back of the leader at the last bend. Stupid dog! But actually a great result as it meant I could walk out and start afresh.

That day and plenty of others like it are now long behind me. I don't feel like a gambler anymore. I don't have the slightest urge to get involved. I've learned to value my money. It'll be 6 years in a couple of weeks since I first signed up here. I was at a really low ebb then and I've had plenty of costly relapses since. Not this time though. This time is different. Am I confident enough to say that I will never gamble again? Yes, I think I am.

Onwards and upwards.

Hi Curly

Thanks for dropping by my diary with your supportive post.

Good luck on making your whole year gamble-free too. It took us both a while to figure out this recovery lark, but now there is no more looking back for either of us.

As for Spurs, yeah they do look good at the mo......but having supported them for nigh on 40 years now......I won't get too excited just yet!!

How's the golf handicap coming along??.....

Keep strong mate

All the best

Ade