Dianne Sangster

As a young Aussie teacher in London on my first visit away from Australia, I had fallen in love with an older, wiser man. Or so I thought. It became apparent during our first year of marriage that something was terribly wrong.

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Flutter is the story of our journey to be free of his addiction.

 

I wanted Tony to tell his own story, so I recreated his voice from memory, supplemented by his diaries and notes. He died two decades ago.

 

Flutter is not just about gambling. We have the joy of amazing children and friends and are frequently warmed by the kindness of strangers. We squeeze in some amazing holidays. I write with a light touch – Flutter has fun, love and laughter. I worked in a community centre, and Tony helped hundreds of problem gamblers on their road to recovery; we show the power of humour, kindness and fairness. We lost our home (not through gambling) and moved a lot around West London. None of us escapes loss and grief, and I write about that too. 

 

Compulsive gambling affects thousands of people every day. It’s a puzzling problem to pin down, as it has no obvious physical symptoms. It’s horrible for those living with an addict who don’t have a clue what’s going on. This book could help someone identify a problem of addiction and seek help. 

 

People you know could be hiding their addiction in plain sight. Tony had been a master at masking and denial. Gambling still seems to be one of the lesser-known addictions. There is instant access to gambling sites on our phones, and a deluge of adverts making gambling sound like a bit of fun, but it can be addictive for many and lead to serious harm. Thousands of pounds can be lost in moments. You may wonder if someone you know is a secret gambler. Our story in Flutter could give hope to anyone affected by a gambling problem.