The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Carry On Past the Valentine's Wining and Dining

[notevenamousie]

Following on from jesuswhatnext and her original very successful thread and all the many others here , this is the Brave Babes Battle Bus, sharing struggles, thoughts, experience, strength and hope concerning life but more specifically our relationship with, and our journey through, cutting down or cutting out alcohol.

There is no judging or nastiness, just support for whatever works, and if we fall out of the bus we are always welcomed back on when we are ready with open arms and listening ears.

I'm notevenamousie and I'm an alcoholic. I abused and was dependent on alcohol for months if not even a couple of years. I feel a hundred times better physically, emotionally, spiritually, since giving in the fight with alcohol, admitting I had lost, and walking away, but it's very much one day at a time.

If you are a long time lurker, why not make this thread the one you jump in and say hello!

Am starting to go through the steps with my sponsor - don't worry, not having a struggle or relapse or anything!

Evening all and Happy velantines day. Valentine's day is all about love, so let's start by each of us loving ourselves. Absolutely no point in having a lovey-dovey partner, roses, chocolates, diamonds, hand written poems etc, etc, if we do not feel within ourselves that we ABSOLOUTELY and totally deserve to be loved.

So whether you are single, partnered, hopeful ore despondant, the very best gift that you can get today is the one you give yourself. Just for a little while accept yourself EXACTLY as you are at this moment - whether you are sober, drunk, struggling - you are who you are, and you are lovable and worth loving. Don't wait (or expect) somone else to do it for you. Love yourself.

Sent with lots of love from venus xxxxx

Well said Venus :)

Mouse ffs that is a feking wolf not a dog - you are the maddest woman I have ever come across - do you know how much he will cost you in food, vets bills, cleaning up dog shite accessories, collars, chewed furniture................................. adn yes i do know his name is 'Wolf' x

ok i had a dog once............

still alive and lovely.....

my brother's ex gf has him now - but we have been recently reunited - now brother out of prison as most of you will know. That's the dog, me and my brother's ex gf and my DD who used to torment the dog to bits as a toddler but has never forgotten him.

border collie called patch x

Silver how are you?

Do you remember last December when I was stuck in Bristol airport and tormented by drink? You send me such wondeful messages. I couldn't reply to them all, but I knew that you would come and rescue me. I felt so supported by you.

What can I do now to return the favour? What can I do to help? C'mon honey, tell it like it really is.....

zippy waving to you from the other side of the Forth [crazy waving emoticon]

Silver - I didn't do this overnight you know.

We thought long and hard and did weeks of research into the ideal dog for all of us.

He's not bred as a lead huskie. He's a pack dog but a non active one.

He's KC regd and insured. The vet has said he is super healthy and well ooked after.

We will follow suit. He will turn out to be a fab family pet. We were ready for him and him us.

'looked' even

What can you do? - just be you. will PM you tomorrow. maybe not. I don't know at the moment. But I am soooo glad you are back on line. Night Night lovely wise BB xxx

Mouse - sorry

was just being a bit flippant.

sorry sorry sorry.

HOWEVER, still stand by...................

OK love you all and off to bedsville x

silver you mad babe - come back whenever. You know we're here. And you know we're here for you. Whether it is us, or whether it is AA or whether it is something else, just ask for the help you need. Just ask and it will be there.

I know you were you daft sod

Just putting my point across (albeit badly) that we didn't get the wolf on a whim.

It's cool babes really. Go get some sleep and I'll have bacon butties and hot tea ready for you before work tomorrow.

Night all xxxxxxxxxx

mouse lovely girl, I agree with Silver - you're mad, mad, mad, getting a dog...

...well of course I understand (and what a beautiful dog) but every day I look out of my window and see people walking behind their dogs picking up warm crap in a wee plastic bag, and no matter how much I'd like a dog, it puts me off...

But I bet your dd absoloutley loves him, and Nemo and wolf will have a special bond.

Still think you're crazy.... xx

Venus

xxxxxxxxx

Silver I wish all those hugs back to you xx

I cannot remember where in the country you live, but at times like this I so wish we could be neighbours so we could be around and support each other in a practical sense. I'd come round and give you a big hug (even though I'm not a huggy person really) xx

Ahh just seen the pix of your wolf Mouse, he is lovely

And I haven't had anything to drink tonight, first time for a few weeks. Yeah

Evening all,
Amazing evening, am as smiley as a Cheshire Cat.

venus it's so good to have you back, you are one of these people so capable of saying the right thing, and I have learned so much from you.
Zany good for you, how great will it feel in the morning? And if it feels good today, you can do it again tomorrow.
Bedtime for me too, take care BBs. x

zany well done. Nothing else to say except well done, and well done and well done.

You will feel fine in the morning, and you will KNOW that you don't have to drink every day. You're on here a lot zany, where do you want to go from here?

noteven give us a Cheshire cat smile then.....

My ideal place to be would be to be a sensible drinker I guess. To not drink in the week unless its a special occasion where I may have 1 or 2 and then to have a few drinks at the weekend but not to go to excess everytime. I suspect I won't be able to do this as I have been a heavy drinker (possibly an alcoholic although not able to admit to that yet) for quite a few years now. Am so sick of waking us and feeling guilty each morning because I haven't been able to cut down or not drink the night before.

Yayyyy Venus - waving back through the howling gale. :)

Zany - the guilt is HORRIBLE isn't it? :(

I've got so used to waking up feeling disappointed in myself that I still do it even now that I'm not drinking. It takes me a few moments to realise that I have nothing to feel guilty about - which feels fantastic :o .

Well done tonight! Happy waking up tomorrow!

Morning all!
Zany I think the outcome of your desire to cut down, enjoy just a couple occasionally - will give you your answer in your heart to whether you are an alcoholic or not. I know when I have succeeded in cutting down in the past it has been miserable, always wishing I could have another drink, waiting for the next time I would 'allow' myself to drink - and I used to think this was normal behaviour! If you can do it, and enjoy it, and not think about alcohol or allow it to take up residence in your thinking, then you are a completely different type of drinker to me and probably most of us on here.

Have not had much sleep here but feel ok so far, the crash will probably come later. I have so much to think about from last night. Am having childminder issues which I am worried about but need to just let go of them and stop trying to control what I can't change. It's so good to wake up sober ready and able for another day without alcohol - who would have thought I could or would say that?!?! Thank you all for helping me get here.