There's NO! Bingo Here!

Gambling is killing our Society,
The lure of easy money reaches out it's tentacles and touches all of us in one way or another.

It has the power to destroy the life of the gambler and everyone who knows them. Yet our Governments sit back and rake in the taxes generated by this misery.Gambling establishments boast of how much they are doing to support sporting communities with the profits made, (how nice).

Casinoes, and clubs continually send out invitations to lure you back, with the offer of "happy hour" hoping you will be temtped by the flashing coloured lights to drop just one more coin into the machine before you leave. Even placing ATM machines on the premises so you can not only empty your wallett but your bank account as well.

Do you believe it's the fault of the individual, after all they should know when to stop and go home. Or are we all to blame in someway.

Every day we are enticed to participate in one form of gambling or another with the promise of anything from a new car to a holiday it only takes the cost of 1 phone call, and you could be the lucky winner. For Pete's sake even church group's want you to participate. Just a bit of fun, fundraising. Bingo any one...?

Many are strong and can resist this temptation but there are twice as many that are not. They keep dreaming that the next ticket, the next coin will bring a windfall and everything will be perfect.

What can we do about it? Do we put our head's in the sand and just not think about it until it touches someone close to us.? Well?

I refuse to enter another gambling establishment,
I refuse to enter a lottery.
If we ALL did this maybe these pits of despair would shut down....

What is the dream world of the compulsive gambler?

Courtesy of GA

This is another common characteristic of compulsive gamblers. A lot of time is spent creating images of the great and wonderful things they are going to do as soon as they make the big win. They often see themselves as quite philanthropic and charming people. They may dream of providing families and friends with new cars, mink coats and other luxuries. Compulsive gamblers picture themselves leading a pleasant and gracious life, made possible by the huge sums of money they will accrue from their "system". Servants, penthouses, nice clothes, charming friends, yachts and world tours are a few of the wonderful things that are just around the corner after a big win is finally made.
Pathetically, however, there never seems to be a win big enough to make even the smallest dream come true. When compulsive gamblers succeed, they gamble to dream still greater dreams. When failing, they gamble in reckless desperation and the depths of their misery are fathomless as their dream world comes crashing down.
Sadly, they will struggle back, dream more dreams and of course suffer more misery. No one can convince them that their great schemes will not someday come true. They believe they will. For without this dream world, life for them would not be tolerable.

Here I am GOD!

God can you see me, Here I am. .

IT'S GOOD NEWS WEEK?????

A guest in our home left the Daily Telegraph behind.
Before I threw it into the waste bin to add to the ever growing garbage we call land fill. I thought I would just take a moment to read what made the headlines this week.

I must let you know I never buy or read the paper as a rule.

So here it is ...head line..FIDAY 24/8/2007

SICK JOKE.
THEY LIED ABOUT BEING ILL, NOW THEY WANT TO WORK IN FANCY DRESS.

I read on..

Mia Romano is the tortured face of Sydney's commuters---- that was enough reading for me..
The world is in a mess and we are calling commuters who face a little inconvenience with transport TORTURED....

By the way all credit for this piece of journalism goes to the Daily Telegraph's Transport Reporter..

what a wast of paper and print, God only knows what fascinating reporting lay in pages ahead.

I DID NOT BOTHER TO READ ON...

BUYER BEWARE

The Internet has opened up a whole new way for consumers to get ripped off.
We have independent auction houses, we have direct warehouses, we have smartstore, discontinued stock outlets, and don't forget EBay. and I am sure you know of many others.

We can buy with points just so we don't feel like we are using cash, that's the cash you used to purchase the points in the first place remember.

Then you get the inflated retail price that sellers post, just so you think you are getting a bargain when your not. Then we get the inferior product masquerading as the real thing. The list goes on and on and on.

I am not saying that there are not bargains out there. But you have to do your homework first.

The internet is a powerful tool, so you can instantly compare prices. It is obvious many buyers don't and these cunning calous sellers are taking advantage and are making a killing at your expence. So don't become a victim. SURF around.

Check to see if the manufacturer has a presence on the WWW. Is this an affiliate program, dont give your hard earned cash to a maddle, middle middle middle man.

Many of us don't have the luxury to go from shop to shop to compare prices and we do most of our shopping via the net. so the saying BUYER BEWARE caries a bigger punch.

DID YOU KNOW HIM?

TIMES ARE A CHANGING

A precious little girl walks into a pet shop and asks,

"Excuthe me, do you have any widdle wabbits?"

The shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees so that he's on her level, and says,

"Do you want a widdle white wabbit or a thoft, fuffy bwack wabbit, or one like that widdle bwown wabbit over there?"

The little girl blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands on her
knees, leans forward and whispers ...

"I don't weally fink my pet pyfon gives a phuk"

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

I just love this picture and the memories that flood back to me each time I look at it.

A few years ago on a lovely sunny Sunday we took a drive to the place where I spent my childhood. It felt amazing to be here again after 44 years. It felt especially strange as so much has changed for me.

For a moment I travelled back in time, I could see the young girl that was once me, walking to the shop which was just a few doors down from number 82, I remember playing in the park across the street with its huge trees that shaded the twisting path that ran the length of the park. I had mixed memories, sadness and joy as I miss that little girl, she had dreams that will now never be fulfilled. I wished I could retrace her foot steps and walk where she once walked, retrace the steps she took to school each day, the short cut she took through the hospital grounds, where her imagination ran wild and she would conjure up ghosts that came out in the corridor's, as she would run through screaming, hearing her voice echo in the tunnell that ran beneath the hospital, yet she did this each day to test her bravery.

I still remember the Hill immediately across from our front door, Mum always said we were never to go over the otherside as it was dangerous and something bad would happen if we did. I still do not know what is over that hill. (In those days children actually did what they were told. or was that just me.)

We took a drive down the main street, now that had changed; it now has gift shops and trendy cafes and restaurants where trend setters sat so as to be seen by other trend setters having lunch or they would just sit and sip caffe' lattes at small tables out on the sidewalk.

There was no longer a place for young families in this neighbourhood, sports cars lined the streets where once station wagons were parked. Well groomed poodles and small lap dogs had replaced the family pets.

The old buildings remained standing creating new memories for all the people who choose to dwell within them.

I will be interested to return to see the changes in another 20 years, I wonder what it will be like then. Will the families be back I hope so. that would be nice.