What a day!

Hey Irene ..

Less jangled cos you're all untangled...:-)))

What a year it has been...and one that starts a new you! Xxxx

Hiya Irene. You enjoy your Christmas you certainly deserve it. I'm a bit late but big sorry massive congratulations for the year gamble free it really is great to see people doing so well and it does inspire me to stick at it and I see that it really can be done. Thank you for that, keep leading the way and I'll keep following.

Hey wee pal,

Just a little bump before you got to page 500..lol

Keep it up girl 😉 xxx

S x

Thanks folks x

Last gamble 11/11/12

Phew.....today is the first for a while that I've thought about online slots and experienced a whammy urge to play earlier today which took me by surprise.

Thank goodness for my blocker! I'd swithered about renewing my subscription in Nov- I am so relieved that I did........

Thinking of triggers for today's urge. All I can identify is the post nightshift tiredness which has always been a difficult time since I stopped gambling. I hadn't slept, have money in the bank (salary in early and direct debits not out till 30th) and was home alone with a mountain of housework needing done.

Thankfully, my sis appeared for a cuppa which kept me focussed and I got cleaning thereafter. I feel safer in the knowledge that my blocker is there.

Happily, my last gamble is still 11/11/12!

Hello sweetie,

Not happy to read ur post!! What happened to our agreement?? Urges- get a phone out, e-mail or get on the forum?? 🙂

Well done darling..you have navigated through..keep it up 🙂

You know where i am Hun.. look after yourself

Speak later xxx

S x

Last Gambled 11/11/12

Thankfully no further gambling thoughts since last post. I did manage to have some time on "chat" exploring the triggers and some offline support from my wee pal (thanks S).

I spent some time yesterday reading on here- reflecting on my own thoughts over the past year. I am so thankful that my life this year is very different. Actually, what I do on a daily basis is very similar, get up, go to work, walk Paddy etc- how I feel about what I'm doing is very different and there have been some massive changes.

I was looking forward to Christmas Day with a bit of trepidation- I now live alone for the 1st time and the Christmas rituals that have been developed with my son at the forefront had to be changed. It turned out to be a really special Christmas day and I needn't have worried. I spent Christmas eve getting merrily intoxicated at their new home. They visited for breakfast on Christmas morning and I spent the remainder of the day with extended family at my sister's house. It was a welcome relief to have the "day off" from cooking Christmas dinner and allowed me to chillax and blether. Oh, also this was also spent with my new "friend" so managed some festive romance!

All-in-all it was a wonderful few days in which gambling did not play a part.

My liver's suffering a wee bit- and more to come as I'm off out this evening with my pal for cocktails and gossip and got an overnight tomorrow for C's birthday on Sunday (oh I'm so glad I've discovered "voucher codes"- everything 50%off !!!).

"What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself." (Hecato, Greek philosopher)

Wishing all my GC buddies a Happy, Peaceful and Gamble free 2014!

x

Hi Irene... nice post (your on day 411 by the ;-))

Glad to hear that your being a friend to yourself. Am still a work in progress on that one.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!.. S.A 🙂

Friend to yourself...friend to others !!;-)

Thank you darling for everything...i did found few voicemails...hope they are not yours!! Can't call me girl lol - ME NO ENGLISH 🙂

Take care and watch ur liver 🙂

S xx

Last gambled 11/11/12

What a great festive period, but kinda glad it's over! I needed to get back to work or risk becoming a total lush!

Still not finding anything about online gambling attractive, for which I'm grateful.

Goals for this year include:

No gambling

Pay debts

Look after me

Stop smoking

Lose weight

Get fitter

I've asked for help with the lifestyle stuff.....start my smoking cessation group 23/1, but found some nicotine patches, so on day 2 of almost no smoking....only had 1 today.

Start my "fat club" next Monday- no more faddy diets for me, but looking for good, healthy advice that I can maintain.

Gym tomorrow-I've been so lazy!! Planning to ease myself gently back into my morning regime.

The "looking after me" goal is less easy to plan- achieving the lifestyle goals will help me to feel better in myself, but I think I still need to take time to appreciate my life- its so much easier in the summertime to feel motivated and energised. I'll need to ponder this one........

No gambling has been my goal for many months and I plan to continue to "practice" my diversion techniques. Although I don't have urges currently, I need to continue to protect myself and equip myself with the coping skills which I know can work for me.

Similarly, the debts are being paid. There are arrangements in place which should continue throughout this year. I could pay my cig money to pay them quicker, but I'm reluctant to do this just now. I'm still feeling vulnerable at my lack of "emergency cash" and plan to squirrel away some "rainy day" money.

I've just realised that this wee list is like deja vu of last years- oops!! .......maybe this time I'll achieve more of what I hope to!

Lovely post darling.

Keep reaping the rewards you gifted urself in your continued recovery.

((((((( wee pal Irene ))))))

S x

Hi Irene... Great to read your post. Your positive outlook shines through. I hope you achieve all that you set out to achieve.

Well done on your continued abstinence. Your on day 423 by the way! ;-).. take care.. S.A 🙂

Hiya Irene. A very late merry Christmas and happy new year. Great to read your positivity ahead for the new year and I'm glad you had a nice Christmas. Thank you for your support and your continued success is an inspiration, I plan to walk the same path, thank you for showing me the way.

Hey my wee pal,

Dropping by to say hi :-))

Glad to read you started New year with positivity and determination!! Way to go girl :-))

I hope you still staying away from cigarettes? :-))

Would be nice to hear from you now and again..I know how busy life you lead and am well chuffed for you my friend.

Just miss ur uplifting posts around the forum :-))

Keep it up and stay on a straight and narrow...I'm watching ya lol

Take care

(((( Irene )))

S x

What a difference a year makes. So glad things are going so well for you. Really motivates me to make some healthy changes as well.

Hope this year is the bestest yet.

xxx

Hey Missy

Just checking all is ok with you? Have txtd you a couple of times.

Hope all is well with yourself.

Hopefully catch up soon.

Lady Feb.xx