The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Blowing Away The Booze In The Autumn Breeze.

[Mouseface]

Hello.

Welcome to The Brave Babes Battle Bus.

I'm mouse and I have an abusive relationship with alcohol. I can't have just the one drink, ever.

I'm not alone here, there are Babes who are sober and have been for some time, Babes who are still drinking and trying their best to stop or cut down and then there are Babes who aren't ready to stop drinking. Yet.

So, why not come and say hi?

No judgy pants allowed on here I'm afraid, cakes and cheeses are!

And for those who want to know a bit more about the Bus, HERE is our journey so far.

count me in, I am great at carrying heavy weights (appearances can be deceptive - just ask the ocado man!)

jesus - indeed, 3 is the magic number (she said, speaking as an only child and parent of an only child). I think in some ways it's easier to be a parent of an only child if you're one yourself, as you have a fair idea of the things that you can do wrong (too much focus etc. etc.). You're right about inviting people around!

Wonder how Isinde is going...

Oh - and cake is cooked. Not masterchef material but not a complete disaster either.... bring on the decoration.

Right I'm off for a swim now, going to get back into the swing of things and exercise more, lose weight etc. I won't let the bugger get me down.

Is anyone else addicted to trashy TV at the moment, I am loving all the 'real housewives' programs. It's unbelievable just how bitchy 'friends' can be.

Hope its going OK Isindie and you'll have a latte in your hand soon.

MsGee I thought you were talking about you and MrGee when you said this - and we had mr tumble this morning and I thought, are we sharing that much as well these days? .

Isindie had everything crossed for you today, can't wait to hear back from you. Don't keep us all in suspenders for to long will ya.

Afternoon

Faire I didn't see the "mr tumble" post of MsGee's, sounds like a good euphemism though. Don't think I'll tell DH, don't think I can bear "Do you fancy mr tumble tonight" .

MsGee I hope have had a good day. I did cry when I read your letter, I'm so honoured that you chose to write it out on here (and humbled). My little sis had a miscarriage the third time, and didn't have any more children, but, she has blanked it out (as far as anyone else would know), and it isn't good. Please keep writing on here whatever and whenever you want to.

Inde How did it go? Are you on the train back, yet? Please post, so that we know you are ok!

I had a bit of a stressy old morning, and to make it worse, last night I decided that tonight I would cook Delia's beef curry dopiaza, WHAT!!
10 million ingredients, and two hours later it is simmering away, I hate the bloody sight of it! I am really hot, and smell like an Indian bazaar. Or perhaps that should bizarre .

Ma GOOD LUCK for tomorrow. Will your man be there?

Off for a wash up of the billion things I've used (never one for understatement!).
xxx

Eveing.

IsinDe - I understand what you meant. DH had no support at all when we lost the boys. Nothing. It was all focused at me. What did I need, want, etc.....

None of the nurses spoke to him really. It was appalling now I look back.

Six years ago next Wednesday is when we lost them, so if I'm a bit sharp or weepy, that's why. Sorry in advance. xx

Right, off to catch up! Back later xx

isinde fingers crossed- at least some of the lawyers, risk people and procurement folk there are nice....

This may be really strange so I hope you don't mind me wittering...

Evenings. What do I do with them? What I should probably be doing is studying but with exams over a year off the impetus isn't there. When DD hasn't been here, I'm at a meeting. When DD is here but sleeping badly, I'm often very early to bed. These days, I'm not drinking and nor do I want to. Sometimes I'm on the phone. But... I'm not exhausted as we actually slept last night. Don't watch TV, never have really. Don't want to get into a cycle of wasting the evening on t'interweb. Baking? Sewing? I want to cross stitch my Christmas cards for my close friends and family this year. I've got another couple of creative projects. There's a jigsaw, books. I fill the days easily, but I don't usually have evenings at home. I just don't know what to do with this time? I just feel a bit odd to be honest, and I don't know why. Maybe it's just getting back to normal after these crazy few months and I don't know what to do with myself. Maybe I can manage an hour of postgrad physics and am being a lazybones.

Probably a bit self indulgent, sorry.

Do you draw noteven? Paint? Baking and sewing are all great things to relax and pass the time. Do you enjoy reading? Writing to friends?

Not sure what to answer, my evening are filled with Nemo

Hi
checking in.
mouse thanks v much for new thread. V much appreciated by so many of us.

Drank yesterday evening, my plan is Fri and Sat only, and I wish I had not.... Just made me feel tired and fuzzy and a bit sad this morning.

Have had back to back meetings at work, all over-ran, and really really wanted to buy booze on way home, not sure how I managed to stop myself, but I did. I just tried as hard as I could to question myself. ALso promised self I would get on the bus as soon as I got home, so thanks all. Drinking lots of sparkling water and about to eat crisps now.

Am a bit down, pissed off with DH - who is going away for cycling long weekend leaving me to look after his aunt and nephew - latter is moving up to uni, as well as looking after DSs. DH goes sailing most Sundays too, and every so often it cheeses me off.
Sorry for moaning

Zany - I am fascinated by that housewives stuff but cannot bear a whole programme cringey, bizarre tooth whiteness and boobs. I guess it is a whole load of staged reality or whatever theycall it - hence staged bitchiness?. I like embarassing bodies for my trashy TV, but if want to watch, have to go in other room to DH (see above, that may well happen this evening!)

Newly I tried hypnotherapy, but ended up finding mindfulness, which practitioner also gave me some advice on, much the more useful. I really like Jon Kabatt Zinn's books and approach. Being mindful when I have a hangover (Ie really noticing exactly how it feels) helps me remember (why) not to drink..., and mindfulness meditation helps me deal with stress which thus helps me drink less. Hmm, thinks, not meditated for two days now - could well be reason why feeling low.

I am not drinking this evening..

noteven - addictive fiction?? I am part way through Stieg Larsson's trilogy, and had a period of addiction to Caro Fraser's sagas. I love getting second hands from Amazon, somehow I can feel I am not spending money on books...

Hello all and thanks for the warm welcome from so many of you. Day 3. Determined not to drink tonight. Still a bit headachy but less so than yesterday. Shit, if withdrawing from alcohol is doing this to my body, what would staying on it.

Thanks clambering I'll have a look at Jon Kabatt Zinn.

Btw, did anyone see this in the DM www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2040267/I-didn-t-think-I-drank-lot-I-stopped-took-years-me.html (yeah, yeah, I know - I picked it up in a coffee shop while the kids were at music lesson).

Sorry, should read: what would staying on it do?

Well noteven apart from coming here for a chat of course how about evening classes at a local college? Or volunteer work. I used to be a volunteer tutor's assistant for adults who were going to evening classes to improve their literacy. Or join those of us on a health kick and go swimming or join a badminton club or other 'friendly' sport.

Newly - quite frankly, kill you. So, stay on the Bus and let us help you get through this xx

Clambering - Tis my job to do the new threads, it just kinda happened. There was a time when no-one on here could do links or figure out how to get the links to follow on......

Hence me being given a job!

Clambering I get that urge at the end of a long hard day at work, especially on Fridays. I use HALT. Hungry, angry, lonely, tired and it sound like you are experiencing at least 3 of those at once (angry with DH but also probably feeling a bit lonely when he's gone, etc.) See if you can fix those first to help fight those urges. And remember, they will pass. And post, post, post

see how zeigeist we are, everyone is giving up!

How are you feeling MOuse any more blackouts? Are Nemo and DD feeling better

No more blackouts Zany but I do need to go and get my blood results. I need to make time to go to the docs.

DD is still off school coughing her lungs up. Nemo has an appt in Manchester tomorrow with a team of Genetics bods. We're hoping that they can shed some light on the background to his conditions.

So it's going to be a long emotional day for us. Then I'm calling in on my mum to see how she is. She has MS and hasn't been so great of late.

Anyway, I'm going to stop moaning and go to bed.

Night night lovely Brave Babes, sleep well all. xx

PS - Zany - I hope you're okay. I often think of you but don't post. xx

evening ladies

Jesus and legal thank you for thoughts on families of three. I do think we work well as a family of three which is good. DH as an only is more comfortable with it than me, but we do fit well. We are lucky to have a big house so DD has a playroom which we will kit out as a teen lounge so she can have lots of friends over when she is older. At the moment she is showing many signs of DH lack of need for lots of socialising though!!

Faire no no no!! No Mr T of that sort here thanks. DD spoke via signing when she was WeeGee and still loves trying to sign!

Isinde very funny you should say that ... I was awake in bed last night thinking about the fact that the letter does not mention DH and that it was his loss too. I ask how he is about it now and he says, fine he doesn't think about it. And I believe him. In life he combines being a tad on the spectrum with putting things in the box and sealing it forever more. At the time he said it was the worst week in his life but he seems ok now. I know this might be hard to believe but its just his way. I don't think he is bottling it up, or hiding from his feelings. He is just simplistic emotionally (not in a bad way). In his eyes he has a great DW and DD and could not wish for more. And that is pretty much that.

Anyway Isinde I have fingers and toes crossed for you. I am sure that you did great. I think a lot of places go for the smaller outfit now - I always use the honesty approach in pitches. Not the biggest or flashest but I'm bloody good

noteven - reading? watching films? learning something new? I don't mean that in a naff way but pursuing an interest that has always been there?

Mouse I hope meeting goes ok tmrw. Sorry for daft Q but will background to Nemo's conditions help in supporting him and managing them in the long term. Hope your mum is ok and you can heal each other for a while. Tell her from me that she has raised one incredible daughter. Someone I am proud to know.

Zany how are you? . You are too precious to us all to put up with being treated as anything less than a goddess.

Anyway, am either off to bed or wine bottle. xx

Faires just for you, the story of horridbabydoll.

Picture an old baby doll, the stuff of horror films, alone in a nursery. Dirty plastic legs, weird plastic curls, dirty body ingrained with the filth and germs and 1,000 nursery children over many years.

Picture a strange child [DD] falling in love with the horridbabydoll. Nursery, delighted that horridbabydoll is loved, encourages this, telling her she can take horridbabydoll home for the night. Eventually, they give child horridbabydoll FOREVER.

Child adores horridbabydoll and takes it everywhere. Motherofchild washes plastic bits of doll to little avail but struggles to wash material body. Child adamant that washing horridbabydoll will change it and therefore is not acceptable.

horridbabydoll is often thrust in motherofchild's face, up her nose. Possibly this will result in plague like symptoms. At the least a general feeling of uncleanliness.

mother accepts horridbabydoll is here to stay. and that it will result in a perfect immune system in DD.

I don't know how to share pics on mn but I can take a pic of horridbabydoll if you need to see the horror. It might not show the filth, germs and stink though. horridbabydoll is currently in bed with DD. introducing the plague to her room.

Faire not Faires ooops

lol at horridbabydoll. DS had a baby doll in a pink romper, which he called Alan. Don't ask me why. He won't get rid of it so it lies in a little Moses basket in one of those clear, perspex storage boxes, like a horrible little embalmed thing.
isindie hope you get the contract. Did you manage to avoid the trigger of the train journey home?
Conference tomorrow - thurso no, DH will not be there