Time to stop!

Hi Steve

A man of many talents and now i hear you play the guitar .I agree with what lili has written it would be a good outlet for emotions.Stay strong Jeff.

Hi guys n gals,

Thanks for your posts, they are very much appreciated. Had a busy few days with work, so not had any free time. All work, no play hey!!

I've been trying to learn the guitar and Spanish recently. Having a hard time with both if i'm honest. Why is it harder to learn things as you get older? My brother can play guitar really well and used to be in a band, so he's gonna have to show me the way I think. Anyway, it's good to have a challenge I suppose.

Another day without gambling invading it. Quality!

Stay Strong

Steve

Hi Steve,thanks for the message mate:)....,hope the guitar is coming along steadily,i agree by the way with your point of view on learning a new language,i used to work for a German company and had to attend lessons,although i can read the language reasonably well i have never mastered speaking german....,similar with spanish,i have been on holiday so many times in spain and always try to use a bit of spanish when i'm there,the key for me is that i have to be in it and amongst it to learn.....,when i listen to language tapes etc it just goes in one ear and out the other!!!.Enjoy your day Steve.

Seano.

Hi Steve--when we first went to Spain we borrowed a phrase book from the 1950's that my wife's parents had used on their travels. I can always remember one of the phrases:

Es una Maricon-----it used to get the Spanish in stitches. As you probably know it means 'this man is a fairy'

I see that you are throwing yourself into new interests which has to be a good thing as it detracts the mind from thinking about gambling all the time. I can heartedly recommend local cricket as an outlet for using up time but also for making strong friendships with clubmates and opponents alike.

all the best

Stumper

Evening All,

Just watched the WC final and I have to say that Spain were by far the better team, but the majority of the game was really scrappy. I thought Fabregas made a difference when he came on. Xavi and Iniesta seemed to play better with him on the pitch and from what I hear they could all be playing together at club level next season for Barca. Frightening for the rest of Europe.

nb. A post on my diary just after Spain got beat by Switzerland :Was amazed that Spain got beat today, really thought they might do a France and win Euros and WC, still got a chance but not a good start.

. Paul the stupid Octupus has nothing on me lol. And no i'm not gutted that I didn't have a bet on it. I would have blown stackfulls on the other games if i'd still been betting. No regrets!!

Stay Strong

Steve

Hi Steve,thanks for the message mate,think your spot on,if Barca get Cesc coupled with the fact they already have Villa they will (on paper) be an awesome side.......,mind you that Jose bloke at Real knows a trick or 2 when it comes to winning things!!!,read an interesting bit of news re Barca having to take out an emergency £150 million loan to cover wages.

Seano.

Hi Steve,

Cheers for the posts mate. Nice of you to be keeping an eye out for me.

I've posted on my diary about my plans to have a small wager on a couple of golfers for the Open this week. That might seem mad to some but i am comfortable with the idea of having a bet on the Open as it is something i have always done and it has never done me any financial harm. The risk of course is that it will lead to betting on more stuff but i will not be letting that happen.

Well done on you continuing to abstain from all gambling. A part of me wishes that i had the strength of yourself, Russ, Seano, Jeff, wp and Stumper but i'm happy with where i am at right now.

All the best mate.

thanks for your support on my diary steve mate....i liked your wee quote...guitar lessons great way of taking your mind of things...im of to st andrews thursday and canny wait...best wishes we can and are doing this mate 😉

Hi Steve, thanks for your posts. I've just been reading your diary. I think you have come a long long way from when you first started this diary. Good for you. It looks like you have really turned yourself around. Good man and keep it up.

Russ

Hi All,

Not posted for a few days as have been trying to sort out the transfer of my old house over to my ex. Problems mean that this isn't possible at the moment and I was due in court on the 22nd, but had arranged to take my Mum to London to watch a show, so i'vd had to request an adjournment. This has now changed as well as my Mum can't go on that date, so i've had to try and cancel the adjournment. Feeling quite low with all this now and my head is spinning, it's been over a year since we started this divorce process and has cost me thousands, yet still not sorted yet. They say 'Patience is a virtue', well i'm afraid mine is running out.

Have to careful when i'm a bit emotional, it often lead me in the past to escapism, which more often than not saw me end up in the bookies.

Stay Strong

Steve

Hi (((Steve)))

"Have to careful when I'm a bit emotional, it often lead me in the past to escapism, which more often than not saw me end up in the bookies."

BUT THATS NOT WHO YOU ARE TODAY, my friend. It is not compatible with your life now.

You are allowed to feel sad, frustrated & pee'd off. Its what anyone would feel like I'm sure in your situation. (Not just ex-gamblers;-) Steve )

Like everything... these feelings... this situation will pass. Be strong, deal with what you have to do today and then do something for yourself. Be totally selfish 😉

Don't forget or be 'too big', to use the 'basics' of recovery when finding yourself feeling as you do... Break your day down into more manageable sections if it helps... pop into chat/Netline, pick up the phone.... whatever it takes to distract yourself and change those thought patterns.

You are doing just great in my eyes... In fact behaving very 'normally'!!! lol

Jackie

Hi Steve,i have heard those rumours,they have been circulating around here for a while,one thing for sure is we do need a decent striker!!!........sorry to read that your getting frustrated with the divorce dragging on,Jackie's advice is spot on though,i'm an impatient so and so myself and i get very frustrated when things seem to take longer to sort out than i think they should,and like you i have turned to gambling in the past to hide from these issue's,the thing is though Steve, me and you don't do that anymore:).Stay strong.

Seano.

As somebody who gets as far as.....0n when counting to ten I know how frustarted we can get with things but you are doing great at the minute and long may it last. Rome was not built in a day mate---deep breath and smile.....you know you want to

All the best

Stumper

Hi guys,

Had a great day today. My two nephews have been round and although they don't take away the pain of not seeing my ex step-kids, they certainly take my mind away from the bad things in life. They are like a breath of fresh air. Ok, more like a whirlwind of fresh air!!

Took them to the park for a kick around and then watched Toy Story 2 with them. I've got to say, does anyone else find that these animated films have more grown-up humour in them than kids humour? I was laughing my head off. Great film.

It was one of those days, where everything seemed just fine. Great stuff.

And to top it all off nicely, no gambling thoughts what-so-ever.

Stay Strong

Steve

Hi All,

Well 5 months are now in the bag and I couldn't be happier with the way it's gone. There have been some very tough times, especially early on, but i've got through them and now am starting to see a long term life away from gambling. However, this doesn't mean i'm becoming complacent, and I won't forget the basics that get me through as i'm sure there are more hurdles ahead. That's life hey?!

Talking of hurdles, i'm in court on Thursday for the financial agreements, if my ex doesn't reply to my solicitor. Hopefully, things will start to get resolved, but I can remember saying this back in April and I'm still not much further along. Frustration doesn't even cover it.

Anyway, time for sleep, up early in the morning.

Stay Strong

Steve