Travelling: The Day I Said Goodbye.

After years of procrastinating, months of saving and dozens of sleepless nights, the time had finally come to leave Aberdeen. For how long? I didn't know. All I knew is that I wanted it so badly. Despite their differences, my family had gathered – Mum, Dad, both Grandmas and Grandad - but I had made...

How ADHD affects me at: Home.

Having ADHD is like having 15 computer tabs open at once. My brain isn’t particularly focused on any one tab, but I am constantly labouring through shutting them all down. At its worst, my focus and thoughts are fragmented with incessant mind chatter, which can make dealing with ordinary, everyday things difficult. If new tabs are added when I’m not dealing...

How ADHD affects me at: work.

For most of my teen years and into my twenties, I floated in and out of hospitality work: pulling pints, waiting tables, grafting long hours in the kitchen. You name it; I’ve probably done it.   The conversation of ADHD never came up as I was able to cope in this type of environment. I thrive in...

The Big Step – A Personal Reflection.

The Big Step is a campaign project formed and run by people who have suffered gambling harm. We are a part of Gambling With Lives, a charity set up by bereaved family members and friends who have lost loved ones due to gambling-related suicide. It was the morning of The Big Step and I knew...

5 Tips For a Gamble Free Christmas.

Well, we are nearing that time of the year already. Again... For Gamblers (and affected others) Christmas can be particularly tough. If you are worried about gambling over Christmas, here's a few tips you might find helpful: 1) Plan for Payday: If you are working full-time, part-time or in receipt of benefits, you are probably...

The Cover all Bases Series #2: New Beginnings.

  After years of procrastinating, months of saving, and dozens of sleepless nights, the time had finally come to leave Aberdeen to travel. It had been a long time coming and despite setbacks, I felt I was ready and I wanted it, so badly. Despite their differences, my family had mustered a little gathering –...

Gambling & Childhood: A Timeline.

“I worry for the next generation” was the quote and headline used, when I was interviewed for an article for The BBC. A year and a half later, I can’t say I’m any less concerned. I once attended Youth Work training, which centred on Social Media, Apps and Technology. I sauntered in, pulled up a...

Alcohol and Gambling: a pint before a punt?

The average person who doesn’t gamble, may think that you’d surely have to be blackout drunk to gamble excessively; or be riding high on whatever your recreational drug of choice is. Gambling is generally painted in an alluring way in mainstream film and media - a heady world of casinos and sporting events; drugs; sex,...

Gambling Debt and The ‘Fear’.

When I think back to the year or two before I finally managed to get on top of my gambling addiction, I’m astonished that I didn’t find myself in debt. During this period, I was auto-piloting my way through life and hanging on mentally by a very fine thread. I was doing a good job...

Lessons Learned From a Dead End Career in Hospitality – Part 1 – ‘The Pantry’.

    I'd go on to associate 3am on a Sunday morning with stumbling home drunk from town: eighty quid down, my trainers scuffed to bits and guided by streams of piss and the stench of Joop Aftershave to the nearest 24 hour bakery. Before those bleary years, there was a time that I'd be...