The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Kicking The Devilish Demon Drink Into Touch This Hallowe'en!. Mwahahahaha!

[Mwahahahahahahahouseface]

Hello

I'm Mouse, well normally! [hgrin]

Welcome to the Bus. We are a mixed bunch of Babes, some of us drink, some of us don't and some of us are trying to find out the best way to cut down or stop completely.

There is plenty of room on the Bus for everyone so, come say hi. [hsmile]

And, if you'd like to see what brought us all here, you can read all of the past threads, including the original one by JWN RIGHT HERE

ma!! you daft thing! apart from anything else, i am willing to bet my life that if your boss has a wife/girlfriend he knows ALL about womens insecurity over what they are wearing! bet he sees your boobs in a whole new light now! i bet he tells you that you great at the do too!

daisy, i like to dress up my jeans with a bit of glitz for evenings - nice tops in soft fabrics with a bit of sparkle, sparkly jewellery and some lovely high strappy peep-toes, make sure your hair and make-up are done, stick a smile on and off you go!!

SaF - I merrily went to www.bluebanana.com/section.php/109/1/dresses, then stared at the dresses a few minutes and thought "wow, I really got the wrong impression of SaF's style from reading her emails...". And then went back to the google page and found www.bluebanana.eu. Complete with teal wrap dress (I'd go for the teal one, I bought a black jersey dress from white company a while ago on the basis it was "safe" and have only worn it once as it makes me look like an aged greek grandmother).

Please tell me I am right and you are not buying a "hell bunny" dress?

legal - ive pmd you!

am off to have a look bluebanana, i might be in the market for a 'hell bunny' dress!

Well, if we're going to talk about fashion I'm going to shamelessly plug my friends' online boutique. Which has lots of lovely but expensive clothes - you can however pick up good bargains in the sales from time to time, and some of the tops are manageable eg this one.

Genuine next day delivery!

saf - love your dress! i really like the teal! - im going to buy one of the jumper dresses in red i think!

it's just so clingy jesus!

and no to hell bunny dresses! dare not google

legal I did the same thing .

I thought, my god, I really AM middle aged.

guess what - work going ok, on track!

I am NOT going to get sidetracked by the fashion discussions. Honest.

(phew) I had images of saf coming back and saying 'WHAT! I love to dress in bunny mini dresses. I find them so comfortable for the school you, you're all just OLD'.

Damn you Phase Eight - this is the one I meant - its v lovely on and comes in a range of colours.

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/All-Sale/Short-Sleeve-Gypsy-Blouse/500726200

saf - i have a truely fab bit of kit for clingy dresses - its like control knickers fabric but its a dress that has straps but is cut under the bra line iyswim? its short, just below my bum, but it creates a lovely smooth line and as its kind of silky the dress moves really nicely over it - im not skinny or young and lovely so i take all the help on offer!

i looked at that one msgee - is lovely but i have too much boobage and it would look smock like/square on me. i need a neck line to compensate for the bulk of breasts underneath.

it's not so much that jesus is more the feeling like i have a spotlight above me shining 'look at me my body is on display' it feels attention seeking and in reality i'm not that great at attention. it makes my cleavage look huge.

saf we have opposite problems. I need 'interesting necklines' to make up for the fact that my tummy sticks out more than my boobs

ah! now im no shrinking violet so i may be the wrong person to give advice but honestly saf, that dress is perfectly 'safe' (for want of a better word!) its not too short, its not tarty, its bright and pleasant to look at at, it shows a bit of style, its not boring and in fact, its a bit like YOU! (and showing a bit of cleavage is OK!! )

Hello Brave Babes, I am one of those annoying lurkers who takes all sorts of support from reading this thread but am hopeless at posting. Am a bit of a reluctant mnetter generally to be honest - sounds weird but it makes me very self-concious interacting with people I don't know (I do realise that is the whole point but..!) Anyway I was wondering if any of you had any thoughts on the Alan Carr book/method. I've just read his "Easyway to control Alcohol" book and am pretty dubious... but wondering if it's worth trying a seminar? For those of you that haven't read it, the book basically just tells you over and over again that we've all been brainwashed into thinking that alcohol is pleasurable and actually it isn't, it's poison and brings no advantages whatsoever to our lives. This lasts for about 200 pages and it is really I think just a counter-brainwashing which unfortunately I'm just too bolshy to believe... Anyway has anybody tried the seminar and had more luck?

As it happens I am on week 4 of not drinking but it's a continual struggle and he claims that if you follow his method you won't have to use willpower. Hmmmm.... Any thoughts anyone?

I think I may just have to battle on taking my inspiration from all you lovely ladies but wouldn't it be nice if Alan was right :)

isindie don't worry - i'm not sure what i'm doing in this conversation - my general look is slightly hippyish bag lady

thanks jesus - that is reassuring. it feels a bit tarty and garish to be honest but then i'm not used to wearing big blocks of colour and usually if i'm showing cleavage the rest of me is draped iyswim - a shrugs off the shoulder top is flashy for me. it's ridiculous really.

msgee would be nice to swap for a season so we could wear different clothes.

Hi Erniesmum I have no experience of Alan Carr but I am sure that it was discussed in the last thread - IIRC its not as effective as his stopping smoking thingy. I am sceptical, I can't see how willpower does not play a part in it. Welcome aboard and well done on week 4!

Isinde I am wearing old jeans, primarni tshirt and a v old jumper (daily uniform). I am clashing in grey, brown, green and blue. I tried to co-ordinate socks though I do long to be stylish . I just don't have what it takes. I am one of those people who make a ball gown look scruffy. (and my nice phase eight tops are both at the bottom of the washing basket because they need a special cycle, so I only wear them once a month as I am very sluttish when it comes ot housework.

saf my DH might not want me to swap back though and would regain an interest in me (which is not really what we are aiming for!). At the moment, the fact that he sees me as a fat, stinky being is ok.

Afternoon gone grotty. Friend's baby has died, she has to deliver in next day or two. Another friend emailed me asking for advice on how she gets through the day because she has just had to terminate for medical reasons. I don't think I helped - I told the truth - that its very very shit. Was that bad? I tried to give useful advice on looking after herself but really told her not to avoid feeling shitty or she'll end up bitter and horrible like me.

MsGee so sorry to read that you have two friends facing such awful situations. I think you will have helped your friend with your honesty. And the fact that you are dealing with your own circumstances (however well or not you feel you are coping) from both your friends' perspectives will give them a sense that the days to come can be endured and got through and that even those days will not all be totally bleak. They, as you, will build futures holding their babies in their hearts.

Just to say, I too, mostly read and only occasionally 'de-lurk' but love to all and here there will be no drinking today.

msgee i'm sure your husband doesn't see you that way! if he does i'm coming to beat him up and have his head examined

i'm not sure if today will be day one tbh or if it will be a bridge day - as in allow myself a couple of beers tonight (rather than the antifreeze that is white wine) and wind down to a day one tomorrow.

sounds lame i know but have been drinking most days for what is it? ten days or so since we fell off of our wagon msgee? i think i am going to settle for winding down and aiming in the right direction.

so very sad

Hi All
Ok day here, wish my work would improve, just feeling so pissed off at being under utilised and not terribly productive, but heyho!
Couldn't get out of bed this am, so am taking DS to orchestra and then going out running, have cooked the tea, so plan on a shower when I get in and then jammies, with mince and tatties for tea, so all good home wise.

Thought the story about Amy Winehouse is so sad, but a good reminder to me, that by not drinking I am no longer constantly poisoning my poor old body. I am now forcing it to exercise who'd have thought it a year ago .

msgee hugs my friend

will post again later!!

Day 3

Reading the story about amy Winehouse makes me feel sick :(

Erniesmum I have never read Alan Carr either. But the way you describe the book is kind of where I am at the moment. Well today anyway! I really feel like if I had a drink, I would be poisoning myself.

I had to stop at the shop to get milk on my way home tonight and although tempted by the red wine on offer, I knew I wouldn't buy any.

I'm looking forward to my 3rd morning waking up feeling fine :)

I seem to remember this the last time I stopped, I'm itchy! Very strange I thought. Mainly at night, kept me awake for ages last night.

Oh and jesus that's exactly the look I was going for. But the tops of my thighs ruined it!!

Evening babes and hello to Daisy and Erniesmum

Well I'm back from Blackpool and did not get blown off the Tower. In fact, the weather was gorgeous, sunny, dry and even quite warm at times. We had a fab, fab. fabby time. I braved the rollercoasters at pleasure beach (but not the mega ones cos I'm a self-confessed wimp)

Saf I always go off the wagon on holiday. I'm not ready to give that up just yet but am much more sensible now in when/the amount I drink. So no drunkeness or hangovers for me, yay! I do think that you need to be in the right 'head space' to take control and stop for a long time, so for now I will join you at the back of the bus if that's ok, and have a little drink whilst I ready myself to stop again.

Really great to hear from some of the lurkers

Ma OMG! I have read your recent drama and . But as everyone said it will be fine. The best thing to do is get the damn undies, wear the damn dress and look damn fine, lady .

Well done Daisy on two days, you're doing really well.

Oh and Ernie I forgot to say . . . I think the Allan Carr thing might work better if you don't try to fight it iyswim. You have to just accept that what he says is true, don't overthink it or try to counter his ideas with your own opinions. Just agree, accept, take as fact - alcohol is poisonous, it has NO benefit, why would you need willpower to say no to something so hateful in your life. But I haven't tried it myself and don't know anyone yet who has. One of the on the last thread had booked to go on a seminar in a few weeks, so maybe you could ask them if they could pm you?

In the meantime, stick with us here on the bus, keep posting and let us know how you are getting on