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

Afternoon all

I've been fairly busy this morning but somehow still seem to be in my pjs so off for a shower and get dressed in a mo.

Saf I think it would do you the world of good to just try to 'listen' to your body right now. When you stopped drinking before you knew that that was what you wanted because having a couple of beers everyday just didn't 'feel' right for you. If you need a glass of baileys or a burger it's ok to just have it without feeling guilty or thinking you can't talk about it with us.

We are all trying different things because we are all different and our daily challenges change with our circumstances. Some of us are running round like headless chickens trying to cope, others are bored witless trying to cope. And then there's others who think well my life doesn't seem so bad, so what am I moaning about - and they are trying to cope too. Everyone's feelings are valid and we are all as deserving as the next person, imo.

There is no one answer fits all. So do what feels right for you right now and tell us about it.

venus what is that serenity prayer? I do hope you manage to find a calm and peaceful place to just 'be' today. You do sound emotionally exhausted you poor love. Well done on not picking up, you are a star. Do come back and talk about it anytime you like. I agree that it's wonderfully reassuring to know that you can find friends across the airwaves wherever you are x

Theala well done on sticking to Plan A. That is a huge accomplishment .

Re Father Christmas. When my dcs asked if he was real, I just said well if you think he's not real, don't hang your stocking up .

the courage to change what i can, the strength to accept what i cannot and the wisdom to know the difference? something like that.

thank you ssm and good luck with the busy-ness

faire i'm not long washed and dressed myself. thanks for the wisdom x

saf - you're all right, you are!!

and for some reason that nearly made me cry jesus! i guess i'm not doing so good

i'm going to try and drag myself out of here and just walk ds to softplay and sit and read there. also need to pick up ingredients as i said i'd cook for family tomorrow and i'm going to cook some kind of beef and stout malarchy and serve it with garlicky, cheesey mash. cooking stresses me out for some reason.

take care everyone and thanks for listening.

Afternoon Babes

Some real emotional posts here which is very nice to see; to know that Babes feel that they can let it out, that they can share their feelings on here and know that there are others, sat, listening and holding virtual hands.

venus - I was really worried when I read your post, I know that things have been so very tough for you of late and I'm beginning to wonder if those recent events were bottled up, your feelings hidden away, and now, now that the dust is settling, you are feeling the release maybe. Your words were so hard to read, so sad to read.

I really hope that today is a better day for you lovely venus xx

Saf - dinner sounds lovely, what time shall I be there?

Agree with others when they say listen to your body, your mind. You have to allow those feelings out, otherwise they become this dark, hidden monster in the corner of the room. You need to let your thoughts out, your feelings out, listen to how YOU feel for a change and try not worry about what that might be.

Try and accept that some days, you just need to be you and do what feels good. If that means having a drink, then so be it. xx

Theala - WELL DONE YOU!! I hope you are proud of yourself.

Nemo did great at the hospital yesterday, the geneticist are going to investigate for more chromosome issues, he has very narrow shoulders and a short neck which is linked to a missing chromosome so that's something that they plan to look into in a lot more depth, as it's also connected to DCs with all of his other conditions.

It was a very long, emotional and painful day for me, in fact I'm still suffering and have a 3yr olds party to go to later. I've lost the feeling in my left arm today and I keep getting tingling in my little and ring fingers....... I'n hoping it stops as picking Nemo up is a bit hit and miss!

Hopefully my brain scan and MRI will show something linked to the numbness?

JWN - glad you are back, hope you can rest to get your body clock back to where it should be. xx

Hello all other Babes, hope you are all safe and well xx

hey babes.
venus are you feeling better today. I'm worried about you! You too, mouse
I managed another booze-free night last night which makes an earth shattering 3 this week!! The ballet was ok - I like it when they actually dance but there was a bit too much of strutting about waving arms for my liking
Have had a good day - off to wash hair dye off and see what colour I am this time.
wishing you all a peaceful and sober/controlled Saturday

Sounds like we all need tea and chocolate biscuits today. Luckily, I have been to IKEA and have a big box we can all share.

Saf, I know exactly what you mean about the 'not feeling good when you're trying to be good, so you might as well be bad' thing. In fairness, it's a shite, stressy time of year. It's cold and dark early and there's loads to do ... and just bleh. I think for the moment, you should just try to be nice to yourself. Eat the tasty things, even if they're not praticularly good for you; have nice long baths if you like them; read crappy novels; whatever makes you feel good and safe and secure. No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition you to be bounding out of bed like some sort of mary poppins on speed all the time.

venus, notamousie, the same goes for you guys. Be nice to yourselves and look after yourselves and take it easy and slow. Do what has to be done, but also do a few of the things you want to do yourself. And notamousie, if that means having a very low-key christmas, just you and your DC, then I think you should do that. Sometimes you have to be your own mother, and look out for yourself like your mother would.

And we are always here to listen.

Mouse you poor old thing. Do you have to go to the party later? Can no-one else bring him? You sound like you need an evening on the couch.

Faire, SSM thank you for the cheerleading. I was a bit smug this morning tbh.

However, that has now worn off and I am just irritated. Does anyone want to buy a second-hand husband, by any chance? In perfect working order, but has a tendency to talk all the effing time and not listen to a word anyone else (me) says.

Ma, three nights off the booze is pretty good going! Well done!
I suspect I am a similar philistine. I always really like the idea of going to the ballet, but I fear I may get bored rather quickly.

We have just booked tickets to see La Boheme on New Year's Eve, however, which I'm really looking forward to. It will make a nice change from the usual boozefest.

just about to read and catch up but if anyone has time for a bit of nervous cook counselling can you visit my thread here please?

forewarning there is talk of beer drinking on there sorry.

theala thank you my love! think that's just what i need to hear and get to sink in to my head.

back to the stove before i burn the house down.

theala if he can cook and doesn't moan send him this way. oh and if he's got a decent drill send it with him because i need curtain poles putting up in steel lintels.

He can cook, and he's very handy around the house, but he moans like a bollox. The big moany feckin' git. I've had to send him down to the basement for a few hours as otherwise I would have been too tempted to flog him on ebay.

Ohgodohgodohgodohblimey. I appear to have signed myself up for a half-marathon at the end of march. I am panicking.

i'd be panicking too

good luck!

will be ace though won't it - do you feel quite fit or is it a real challenge ahead to get up to that level?

Oh dear Theala

At least you have time to get into training. There are a couple of babes who like to run so maybe they could give you some encouragement.

Saf are you all set for the cooking marathon tomorrow?

I've done bugger all this afternoon. Ground to a halt and lazed around the house with DH and DS. But it was lovely to chill and chat and spend some time together. Going to be proper busy tomorrow though but that's ok.

DH did suggest getting some wine in this evening but I said no way, hose so we've had buckets of tea instead. Phew, close shave .

I might consider dusting off my treadmill Theala. Watch this space.

no way, jose, I think that's supposed to say and I can't do accents.

And I thought that hose was maybe a 'special' name for your dh

Maybe it's just JWN's exotic holiday rubbing off on me?

Right, I'm done in. Night babes x

chuckling at no way hose here well done faire for tea drinking save.

yes i'm set - have a sizeable chunk of the cooking marathon tonight. tomorrow morning will be the rest of it plus the making the house look presentable chunk plenty of time especially as ds is going with sis and her kids to see them play so i'll have a couple of hours of no one underfoot. no one human at least.

venus - yes i wondered if she was giving us a bit too much information there

i did drink 2 beers earlier but am now happily drinking cammomile tea so that's ok. had a bit of a sinky feeling when i got to the end of the beer but glad i made the choice not to bring more into the house.

ma well done to you and i love the idea of a philistine emoticon

hope everyone has a lovely night's sleep. venus are you feeling better for having had a cry last night? are you ok?

Think I may have found a new nickname for him now, although he will be a bit .

Right me and hose are off to bed

i have images of you tugging him by his belt straps now goodnight

Morning all,
First Sunday in Advent - how did that happen?! The year is slipping away from us. Might have to dig out the John Rutter CDs :)
Hope everyone survived the storms and has a lovely Sunday whether busy or restful. x

i know noteven! ds has just gone off with sis and kids to christingle service and pre service rehearsals as the kids are playing in the church today i'm stuck slaving over a hot stove and currently making fresh bread

it's nearly december!

were there storms? i knew it was really windy and noisy but that's all i registered. guess we weren't in the midst of it.

Morning noteven, yes this year has been a bit of roller coaster for many of us. It feels not so much as though it's slipping away, but rather that it is roaring out of sight at a tremendous speed. I think I'm going to spend some time this week recalling all the many good things that HAVE happened this year - lovely days on the beach in April sunshine, happy family events, the love and support of other people around me.....

Have a happy cooking day saf - enjoy it, enjoy the smells of your baking bread, enjoy filling other people with warm norishing food. I am going to see dd2 today and taking her an advent calander and a toffee apple cake that I made last night. Well - I'm taking her half a toffee apple cake, it was too good to resist

nourishing