The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Carry On Past The Vineyard.

[Mouseface]

Welcome to the Bus!

I'm Mouse and you'll find me snuggled sat at the back where it's warmest!

If you're sober, drinking, or somewhere between the two, you are more than welcome on board.

No judging, no cliquey groups and no closed minds here, oh no! Chances are, no matter how bad you may be feeling right now, one of the Brave Babes will have been there too!

So, come say hi.

And, to read the last thread and other journeys so far, follow this link

Night all (Goodnight Mary Ellen, night Grandpa) He he

Night Zany we can dream of celeb gossip tonight lol

Night BB's

I wish I could spend more time on here and respond more. Life is really crazy at the moment. I finish my job 2 weeks today but I have so much to do and am having to get DD out the house before 7:30 and we've been home around 7 every night this week. She's 4 next month - it's not good for her. Am getting a bit stressed about it but I need to keep thinking that even this will pass - and very soon - in 2 weeks in fact.

I am now on day 4. The cravings are pretty bad. No physical effects but the little voice is not going away any. I am going to try and get home for 6 ish and spend a nice hour with my DD and then come on here and be supportive instead of just wittering. Hope everyone has a good day, today I won't be drinking, and I know I'll be in good company.

Hi noteven you've got a lot on your plate just now - don't put so much pressure on yourself. Hope you have a lovely time with DD tonight.

Threesteps brilliant achievement last night - especially as you were having such strong thoughts about drinking in the afternoon. You should be seriously impressed with yourself.

wizzbang today's another day...up and at 'em!

Morning Noteven and *Witchety and everyone else starting their day:)
Threesteps well done on not drinking last night!

Just seen this quote on a thread about best advice you have ever been given and I thought it was hilarious "if you spend your life with your head in the sand all people will see is an arse":):)

That could have been written for my ex!

And mine too Witchety:):) Although to be fair I have a habit of doing the same thing myself . .

Morning to everyone.

Sleepfairy love the new name - perhaps you could work your magic in Mouse's house and in wasindie's....

Wasindie/whizz the silly thing about drinking when you are tired is that it will have the opposite effect of what you are really craving - good sleep. I use the HALT thing sometimes when I feel a strong craving. I think does my body really need alcohol or is it hungry, and I make something to eat. I wonder whether I am really pissed off about drinking or whether ther is something else making me angry - then I try to make a plan to sort that. I try to work out whether alcohol is really my best friend or whether there is someone that I can phone, or text, or send an email to, or write to, or go into the next room and give a cuddle to. And I ask myself whether having a drink is really going to relax me, and then try going to bed with a good book instead. By the time I have done all of that, I am usually past the point where I wanted a drink anyway, and as a by-product, I'm fed, have connected with some real person, have thought about the underlying causes of my anger/emotions and have usually fallen asleep.

noteven 2 weeks to go - light at the end of the tunnel? I often think that that is one of the most difficult phases, we can carry on for ages, but it is when we see a potential end to it that we suddenly realise how exhausted we are really feeling. I always get like that the week before I go on holiday, and at the end of a big work contract. Have a look at what I wrote in my previous post to wasindie and see when you have a craving whether it is actually reduced by paying attention to some of your other needs - if nothing else it make the time pass

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for being so kind to me yesterday, when I was so cross and being such a downer. It was a very major wobbly and I was just so angry (at who I wonder).

Dh went out very early this morning, and I have been reading some very early posts (the first thread, in fact).Venus if you don't mind me asking, had you stopped drinking when you joined the bus, and haven't had one since? I haven't had a drink since the night before I came on here for the first time, but the wanting to came back in a big way yesterday. I read your post from 5 June, and you too said that you felt cross about things, so I was so happy to see that I wasn't the only one.

I still worry a lot, that because my Dc's are older, 1 at uni, they will remember very clearly the wine, and me not being "with it" later on at night, more than anything else. One of the(many) things that crucifies me, is that Dc said a year or so ago, (in his talk) that they couldn't phone me after a certain time of night because "I wasn't really there" sad. How will he ever get over that? They don't think I've been drinking much since that time because I haven't done it when they're home. But I know, and I should think DC2 does too (sad).

Dc2 has been away this week, so I suppose I have had more brooding time.

I totally agree with what you say Venus Dh and I have had some very "nice" evenings, but I do miss the grunts in response to my questions, and the frequent "muuuum".

On a brighter note, I am on day 15, yaaay, and I would never have got this far if I hadn't trawled the internet in misery 15 days ago and found all of you. Thank you.

Also, Dh woke up this morning, and snuggled into my shoulder, and I didn't for amoment think "do I smell of booze" because I knew I didn't :)

Mammoth post, but I feel so much better today. Thanks.

Still haven't quite got the hang of the icons yet!!
Mouse how are you and nemo today?

Yay Thurso, Day 15:) and congrats on getting over your wobbly patch yesterday!

Thurso well done you
Sleepfairy love the new name....wish you could work your magic on me
No alcohol last night, so no sleep! It is the worst thing about being sober and makes me want to drink any old cheap plonk just so I can crash out and not be awake half the night....growl....

Good morning lovely Babes,

And a special welcome to embracing, hope to see more of you in the coming days.

Hello whizzbang. I too am struggling a lot these days. No big benders of late which is a plus but several evenings of a few glasses of wine. Is it controlled drinking? I'm not sure.

Anyway, I had a lovely evening. I basically lounged about watching TV while FB cooked shepherd's pie (from scratch!) A man of many talents

Hello BB's

Well it's, er (counts on fingers), day 12 here!! Thank you for the well dones and encouragement for last night .

The sleep thing is awful isn't it demented. I am getting better though but have to endure at least an hour before I drop off where my heart is usually racing and for some reason everything itches . It is getting better though.

wasindie here's a cup of coffee and a delicious smoothie to try and shake off the fug this morning. Drinking is a bugger when you're tired as you find reserves to stay up three times as long to drink more and you feel three times as crap the next day. I know I could start drinking, knackered, at 9 and find myself still up and going strong at 2 or later.

It's filthy weather today so am battoning down the hatches here! Hope everyone has a good day

xx

Morning Red, does FB have any brothers?:):)
I absolutely love shepherd's pie!

Morning red
couple of glasses instead of a bender is great news! Does FB drink much? (tell me to go away if being nosy)

desire he does have a brother but as far as I know he's happily married, sorry about that!

threesteps he does like a drink, couple of pints after work maybe some wine when he gets in but he knows when to stop. He knows about my booze issues - like I've said I propositioned met him when on a bender - so although he doesn't 'police' me as such he's been a good influence if that makes sense?

Sounds like he is what you need at the moment Red:)

it does make sense red. In a way it must be a relief to know that he knows about the ishoos so there's nothing to hide? Funny about the 'policing' thing, any time DP or friends have mentioned my drinking, it just makes me drink more!

How is it that he, and DP, know when to stop and we can't, it's so unfair!!! (difference between an alcoholic and a non-alcoholic I guess)

Hi moomin - not being on a bender is great, but I am just wondering whether you can try not having anything at all? Does FB buy the wine or do you? Many people don't have a glass of wine on a normal evening - especially when you have alternative interests to pursue .

The early stage of a relationship is a great time just to be excited by life and each other. Drinking hot chocolate in a steamy cafe can feel as romantic as champagne on a beach, and a mug of tea while watching a film or playing monopoly can be relaxing and close. Going for a walk in the wild weather or playing twister can be good for a laugh. You don't NEED to drink. Do you?

threesteps - totally with you on the policing thing. If someone says anything I just think, "Fuck it and fuck you," and then drink some more. He's so calm about it that it seems to have calmed me down. Have been to the pub with him a few times and have either had lime and soda or a couple of halves of lager and then I'm ready to go home. It's very bizarre. And not sure how long it will last.

threesteps - so agree with you - other people trying to 'police' my drinking was like a red rag to a bull. I made me want to do the exact opposite.

On reflection, I think it also made me feel ashamed and guilty, but they were feelings that I did not want to acknowledge so I buried them deep and they expressed themselves as petulance, opposition and aggression. "don't tell me what I can or cannot drink - look I'll just have whatever I like. F.. you"