The Brave Babes Battle Bus - On Their Way To Spread The Festive Cheer, Without The Beer!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm mouse.

I have an obsession with drinking, I can't have a drink, not just one..... it has to be more. Always more.

So, I got on the Bus, this Bus, full of Brave Babes who will help and support me all the way. Come say hi, grab a seat and a . We're a real mixed bunch that share one thing without any doubt - alcohol abuse.

And if you want to read about our history, it's HERE

See you on the Bus xx

checking in x

mouse If you look back a couple of pages, you'll find a post that I made about the wonderful babeland. I think that you would enjoy being there right now. Sweet dreams honey x

Hi ho silver

How are you doing lovely? Always good to see you on here, whatever is happening. You know that I have a special wee place in my heart for you.

hey all. Why is it that EVERY night DH is home there is a row?
Are we so incompatible now that we cannot even have one evening without fighting?

Is it bath night or something?

I have had a lovely hot bubble bath too. It's about the only thing that warms me up properly. We have some freezing fog here this dark, damp night. I'm going to put my bedsocks on and snuggle under the duvet with hose .

Winter if your DH can 'take it or leave it' how about letting your alcohol stock dwindle a bit so that if you run out you'll maybe turn to tea or hot chocolate or other soft drinks. I find it so hard to avoid if it's in the house so I just ask DH not to buy any. You will find what works for you.

Hello to everyone else and, well, goodnight x

Hmmm, maybe reflects the deep dissatisfaction that you feel?

Oh ma I missed your post . What are you fighting about?

fairE glad to hear that hose is still around . Sounds like a better option for warming up than a bath.

and he'll be wondering where I've got to, so buenos nochos babesalicious, hasta luego x

Faire of course we realise, I am not in real life yet safe to be let loose! And happily single tbh. Most of the time.

Silver how's things?

Winter I had a bit of a negative experience in AA here - someone said to me that at first in AA you learn to listen, and then you learn who to listen to. Wise words. But the programme is changing me - it not only means I can put the drink down but gives me emotional sobriety as well - I didn't get sober to be miserable, and I wouldn't settle for just being dry. This time last year though I didn't get any of this, I just wanted my life to change. Or, at times, end. It's not like that today. If you're in the NW I'd gladly go to a meeting with you, as it's the only thing that worked for me.

ma when is it time to do something active and positive about this? You can you know - the can'ts are not insurmountable, just fear, which can be overcome.

Bit of a ramble coming, sorry, am very grateful to be able to get it out here.

It's strange, last Christmas time I was heading into it scared, fairly certain I would relapse but having no idea just how terrible it would be, anger, hurting, desperate to make it ok as I knew it was mum's last Christmas, still ashamed of my alcoholism and not really in AA properly, worried for my DD. This year there is still a lot of pain but I know I don't need to drink on it. I don't have to like Christmas - I love the mystery of Christ being fully God and fully man but hate the expectations, the stuff/money/behaviour changes, the time stuck inside away from reassuring normality (I know, I know, I'm strange) - but I can do it sober, make new memories, spend time with people I love but also spend time helping people that have nothing (doing a fair bit of volunteering). I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to it but I do have peace about it, and peace about there being no need to drink if I keep doing what I'm doing ODAAT. Doing more music this year - a few choir things coming up - which was in the past my favourite bit of the run up to Christmas so maybe I'll change in the way I feel about it, I need to become willing to change that I guess.

Right, enough, my toes are very cold so off to fix that and then I might be able to get to sleep! Sleep well all, and sleepy dust to the little non sleepers.

Hey Noteven
I am just going to bed now, but you have reminded me................
My favourite song on the ipod is "Man in the mirrorr", and the "make that change" at the end resonates every time with me.
We can, make that change. xxxxx

Noteven the sorts of things you would say to your daughter, that you should say to yourself.

I'm so glad I have you in my life
You are wonderful and amazing just the way you are
You make a difference to me by your kind thoughts and deeds
You enhance my world by just being in it
You are beautiful, you are lovely, you make me smile
Just knowing that you are there makes me feel warm and happy
I like being with you, you are fun
I feel safe with you
You let me know how you feel, you share

Add some of your own, write them down, wrap them in littles boxes and give them to yourself as Christmas presents. Treasure them, look at them often, believe those words because they are true.

Let go of the guilt. Put that in another box and shred it. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that's why we call it the present .

Morning all, hope everyone is well on this crisp cold Friday morning.

Grrrrrr if I hear more Xmas ad I am going to scream.

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Loving all of the Christmas names.

venus - I read that post and have booked a one way ticket to Babeland. I'm happy to sleep in someone's pocket if you're fully booked.

Just checking in and saying hello to you all, off to play with Nemo for a bit, he has a wooden spoon and a ball........ not going to end well unless I play with him.

Physically, I'm struggling again. Loss of feeling is now in both arms, not great when DH is away working. Not only is he away, he has the pushchair, all his hats, glove and blankets for Nemo in the boot!

Doh!

Lots of love to you all, I hope you're all okay, no matter whether you are drinking or not, keep posting, stay on the bus xx

Faire that's beautiful, it made me cry. I've got work to do, by the sound of it. Shattered this morning by being awake lots in the night. Real sleep difficulties lately, sober sleep is usually so wonderful.

this one looks a bit like it's singing Christmas Carols right need to try and get moving [yawn]

Mouse!!

All ok here. Worked last night and feeling pleased with self. Couple of glasses if wine whilst I waited for DH to come home from his night out. All ok though.

Mayhem here today. Builders back in so no heating. Friend with baby due to come over soon. Not sure how it will be. He was grossly insensitive after the baby died, chasing me up for baby things i said she could have ... So not sure how I'll feel seeing her and the baby.

LittleMissGee is great. No poo gate since I last posted. (seems better in winter for some reason). She is a bit baby obsessed at the moment, which is odd, but she is also horse obsessed and something the lovely venus said once about seeing them both in the same light has stuck with me.

Right off to catch up and read posts.

MsGee - OMG! I'm ed that your 'friend' would even dare to ask you!

I hope that's not the case today lovely. Fab to see you back posting though, you were missed that's for sure. Your drinking sounds okay at the moment. It's great to hear that LittleMissGee is fine and dandy. Is she driving you mad about Christmas yet? xx

Mouse so nice to be back.

Friend was ok, was lovely to have a cuddle of a baby. Made me not or . Particularly when she was worried about feeding routines, weaning and sleep etc.

How is Nemo? I know it's a worrying time of year for you.

I have a sore throat. Bah. If I'm ill when we go on hols I shall be royally fucked orf...

Oh and DD not toooooooo bad re Xmas. We have a lot planned before then so she's only allowed to be excited about nursery nativity, then holiday, then nursery Xmas party, then my bday .... Then Xmas!!!

Awwww.. that sounds lovely having a wee cuddle (and then not having any of the responsibility). I'm glad it waas OK for you, it's all part of the healing isn't it? Even if you cry your eyes out later, it all feels like little steps forward.

My lovely dd1 has to have another operation (for those of you who don't know she's all grown up and had an op a few weeks ago). It will be the week before Christmas, so assuming that all goes well with the surgery she will be back home for Christmas. It is pretty major surgery again and then there is the inevitable wait to find out the histology results - which won't be quick over the festive period....

I'm not posting too much on here because it will make me very identifiabe, but if you want to know you can pm me.

I hope you are all having a safe and happy Friday evenings xx

venus poor old you and poor DD. How worrying for you. Hope things go ok.
hi to all babes

Morning all, thank you all again for your warm welcomes! Morning Mouse hope you are feeling better today. Hope all goes well with you and your DD venus.

Sorry was not online yesterday to say thank you for all the lovely words and helpful advice. :)

Thanks noteven for your very kind offer to come to AA with me. :) I am not near you though, I think. I do know my negative experience was with one group only.... I was the only woman in the group, and I was working abroad in a macho environment and I felt quite vulnerable. I feel sure it would be a very different experience in another group. I am not averse to trying again....

Last night again I tried the pint of water between drinks, and that worked quite well- but I got through an entire bottle. But, I will take whatever victories I can! Today our friends arrive.....my plan is to slow things down even more. Two pints between each glass. I will focus only on that.

I hope you all have great days, Brave Babes! Offline now to make beds... yawn....

Hello !!! I know some of you think I'm a bore but I don't mind ! If I can help at least one person, it will be worth it ! I had my last drink on 11/11, it is now 3 weeks since my last drink and I didn't suffer at all since stopping drinking. Thanks to the Allen Carr method I'm a non smoker since april 2011 and a non drinker..it is worth giving a go. If you are interested by going to a seminar, you can have discounts thanks to me !!!

Eek, I wrote a post, went to do something else, and it seems to have gone completely. Such is life.

(((venus))) sounds very tough for you - have sent you PM.
I need to get moving this morning, been very productive and done loads of things but still in my pyjamas which is not a good look for this time on a sober Saturday.

shake how does it work? I think a few people have asked and it all sounds very mysterious, I'm sure it would be really useful if you could share some of what it is you are doing that is having such an effect. Does it deal with drinking only or does it deal with all the feelings and causes and conditions that I know I drank to avoid? I guess I'm saying, how does it teach you emotional sobriety and not just abstinence?

I think I may have to brave the shops today. Urgh. Thank God for amazon!

Love to all, hope you have lovely Saturdays.

Morning everyone.

Keep thinking of you all and keep checking in but mega-busy at the moment, as everyone is I'm sure! So much to do, so little time. I'm realising that I don't seem to get the peace and quiet or head-space needed to make an even vaguely helpful/interesting/appropriate post at the weekend so I'll save up all my words of wisdom (yeah right!) until Monday

Still waiting for inspiration re Christmassy name. There are some really clever, witty people on Mumsnet, some of the names are hilarious

Anyways...have good days everyone