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.

thursomuchtolookforwardto: yes I have been here before...not for long though....I felt guilty for posting while still drinking.

venusandmars: Thank you for your reply....as you might of guessed, I can't (won't) stop now, I i will have to finish the bottle (and open another if history is anything to go by) and tomorrow...well, I'm going out so can't stop then either...and Sunday...well, it's Sunday roast...I have to drink wine with dinner (do you get where this is going yet?)

Stupid, stupid me...oh and then in November I'm going on a girlie holiday...and the of course it's Christmas!!!!

msgee I've sent you a pm with some explicit 'bottom' details (not mine), and I seem to remember that last year we were suggesting things that your dd could sing when she went to the toilet - a bit like having a 'labour song' (and that is another story!!).

namenotneeded if you felt guilty about posting while you were drinking, then please understnd that that is about how you felt - I don't think that anyone on here has ever minded when others have posted drunk. Sometimes we know or notice, sometimes we don't. Our responses may come with some advice (like stop drinking now, drink some water, clean your teeth and go to bed) but mostly, I hope, it won't come with judgement of where you are or what you are doing.

Ah, I understand exactly where you are. But BUT for some reason today you came onto this site and posted again. So somewhere in all that today, tomorrow, Sunday, next week, next month stuff... there is a little tiny kernel of something that doesn't want it to be like that. So take all your courage in your hands, grab that little kernel of hope and do something with it. Here are some choices:

• you're pretty much through one bottle of wine, and it sounds like you've got another ready, so take that 2nd bottle of wine, give it to a neighbour for safe keeping, put it in the garage, hide it at the end of your garden.
• tomorrow - try an experiment: make the first 2 or 3 of your drinks non-alcoholic (I can give you more detail on this) so that you don't start drinkig till much, much later (and your tummy if full of other liquid)

-Sunday - hell that's a long way away! keep coming back here between now and then, and loads of people will help you with ideas. Don't worry about Sunday at the moment.

I know just what you mean Venus, I want to be Patti Smith!

MsGee I'm sorry I don't know about last year, and I can't remember little msgees age, but as it has got so bad this afternoon. Have you ever tried saying "Okay, if you don't want to go the toilet this afternoon littlemiss, just do it in your pants, if you feel like it, in fact don't go to the toilet because it it's worrying you a bit at the moment, it doesn't matter because we're not going out anywhere, and tomorrow we can stay in too, if you like" It will be a bit messy for you, but, just might take the agony away for a while.

When my DC2 was 2 and a half, and even 3, he went to the wee like a grown up, but, always did the poo in his pants, didn't even try for the loo, (sorry, DC at uni, please may he never read this), it solved itself eventually, but, I can well remember!!!

NNN don't feel guilty, just feel glad that you decided to join the bus again . xx

thurso was it you that posted "pot calling kettle loon" the other night? I've been repeating that to myself the last couple of days, no idea why, but it is making me giggle.

legalalien apologies I thought you were offering sAf a coat but not the because she's a single mum bit - no-one has ever offered me hand me downs on the basis of being a single parent but I pass on DD's old things too to smaller children not because I feel sorry for their parents!

namenotneeded I too wouldn't be able to stop now, tonight, if I started. I used to kind of realise that I was going to have to feel desperate for things to get bad enough for me to want to stop - it's easier to be willing when you feel awful. So I guess I'm saying is the best time to talk about this all will be tomorrow morning. I'm assuming that 2 bottles even starting now will have you feeling not quite 100%. That's not to say don't post and drink - plenty of us have. I remember going to a meeting after (one of the many times) I picked up again and sobbing that I'd had a drink and someone who I have come to know for her unsubtle tough love saying 'yes. and?' - as in, we don't come here because everything's great, we come here because we have a problem with drink, and we drank - what's so unique about that?

sAf that's very true about the gap that is left - although my aunt (mum's sister) always did organise things mostly, but my mum talked to me and me to her, and I miss her, really miss her seeing things starting to go better (and the 'how do you know she can't see?' doesn't seem to be cutting it at the moment). There's a lot of drama triangles being played out and though I can recognise them now they seem to change very slowly (and I can't stop others playing them I guess). The thing that hurts me the most (and probably because I let it) is that my aunt and sister rarely visited mum when she was alive but are there frequently now. And I also feel put down somehow for being a single parent (which I don't usually so I don't think it's me projecting that onto them.) Thank you - your wisdom is very much appreciated. (And I thought that might be really long, that's about as summarised as I can manage.)

Well, it's Friday everyone, so what's for dinner? I'm just cooking for me so I'll be zapping something from the freezer - probably the pasta bake I made last week with spinach, bacon and 3 cheeses - it's like having homemade ready meals because I always cook loads.

MsGee good to hear from you and well done on Day 7. Has it become painful for DD to 'go' now that she's waited so long, or is it just trying to hold on to it that's upsetting her? Can you think of what might have triggered this again for her as it's been a while, I gather, since she last had this problem.

And MsGee sorry I missed you - I think poogate was just before I joined - so I don't know what medical advice you've had and what you've tried. My DD had a chronic anal fissure and had to have lactulose and topical lignocaine and hydrocortisone (not licensed for children but it WORKED) from a very knowledgeable GP to get past the pain. She has no memory of it and no issues now.

Does anyone fancy a face pack Friday. I'm game if you are but I'm not sitting here all by myself being the only one with drying mud on her face.

fairenuff I'm up for FPFriday My dp is away, so I can look silly all evening

noteven fwiw I think you are doing really well, just coming on here and posting about everything that you feel. It seems to me that the way you are using your sponsor, your meeting and us, is all working together for you in dealing with the stuff of real life.

Am I right in thinking that THIS weekend your dd is back with you? That is fantastic - what a great thing for you both x

Thanks everyone and thanks to venus for pm. Good news is DD just pooed! Hurrah. Hoping it will break the cycle this time.

Problem normally starts from one bad experience - bit of discomfort then she gets it into her head that she shouldn't poo, which eventually becomes a physical problem as she holds it for days and days. Sadly the songs and naming poo success of last year no longer works... I've filled her full of water and healthy food for a few days so hope that helped. After she'd been she said - can we go to the safari park tmrw? So perhaps threats of it being cancelled worked (I wasn't being horrid but a long day trip is impossible if she is soiling herself every ten minutes and writhing in pain). Anyway she seems happier now.

We have both celebrated with a chocolate biscuit.

Thank you for hand holding. 3.5 years without sleep is nothing compared to three days of toddler constipation!!

Crikey, I am up for FPF Friday, as well.

I have spent the morning in a meeting with clinical child psychologists (although not officially at work), and have just texted DH to come home with a funny film,(no thinking required!).

I have had three phone calls from DC2...asking how to do the washing machine..... how to work the dryer...and how to turn bolognese into chili......also said that he is cool and everything is fine, and he knows that he can phone at any time! Goodness, do I repeat myself .

Noteven Yes, it was me, but again, worried about it .

I so enjoyed those scented candles so think I will light them again later when I have my mask on and relax with some music. About 8pm any good girls?

I don't think I have ever owned/ used/ bought/ encountered (is one of those the right word) a face mask. I am really not very girly, I wonder sometimes if I should try harder. What am I missing out on??

Don't worry, I'm not offended, it's just interesting to see that I am potentially as socially awkward online as I feel in real life!

Have survived an uber playdate (three six year olds, a seven year old and an 18 month old whose mum was there) sans alcohol, have just had a cup of tea. We have a babysitter tonight but haven't decided what to do yet. Am feeling decidedly low key.

Suzi Quattro comments made me laugh as have recently acquired a black leather biker jacket which most people compliment me on. DH has a bit of a view of it I think, but if you can't have a mid life crisis at 40 when can you have one? In my perfect world I'd be played by Katharine Hepburn, who doesn't really look like me or have a similar background to me, but who I love! Am a particular fan of The Lion in Winter (shows age).

Evening, not really caught up but want to send out a huge {[({[( HUG )]})]} to those who need it or who are struggling with the day's events in one way or another.

The gym was awesome, I felt and still feel really great for getting through a new routine.

Eating some dead grilled protein and salad for dinner, then of to catch up on TV with DH and DD.

I too and up for a face pack but I don't have one, I may make a quick cucumber mask in a bit.

I missed loads didn't I?

Pha, gym schwim, here is where its at.

And Saf - no, I'm not. You are gorgeous. FACT xx

venus when you smile you look like Renee Zellweger
I look like one of the cast from Planet of the Apes.

ha ha ma - and here is renee trying to look like me

isindie OK so just follow this day 1 with another one tomorrow, and another.... you'll soon be back to where you were.

@venus. You do NOT look like that at all!!!
DD has just been on Skype - she looks tired ,
She'll be fine, she'll be fine.......

Ma - she will be tired, new routine, new surroundings. How long is she out there for? And YES, she will be fine because she has you to talk to whilst she's there.

Big hug to you lovely xxxx

venus - I see you as a very elegant lady, blonde and well dressed. Educated. Sophisticated.

I'm pooped! And snacky. I did buy some sweets today because I can feel the wine calling. Why wine? I hate it. Bleurgh. I mean really hate white wine and how it makes me feel.

So why do I really fancy a glass of ice cold glass of sauv blanc?

I'm going to crack open a Becks Blue, topped with lemonade and open the sweets.

I hope my dentist isn't planning to take a holiday!

. . . she'll be fine. Ma she really will.

Right, have you all got your masks on or am I sitting here like a lemon in my tea tree and witch hazel peel off .

When I was young I used to look like Lily from How I Met Your Mother. Now I fear it will take more than a face mask.

ma this is from planet of the apes

and isindie THIS is a morph of bonnie and mick

still haven't caught up but - LEGAL it is wonderful to offer clothes to people with younger children and i am really pleased you did - its considerate and i do the same. please don't be offended - i was just joking at the coat thing - it was me who was wally enough to think you meant a coat for me instead of the entirely logical assumption you meant ds - it was because i was literally looking at coats before checking the thread.