The Brave Babes Battle Bus - On Their Way To Giving Up The Booze For Lent (or just for today)

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Brave Babes Bus where you'll find a mix of drinker, non drinkers, those who has been sober for a long time, and those who are getting there One Day At A Time.

Come and say hi....... we won't bite

And if you want to know how this all got started, HERE is a link to the previous threads.

Well as it seems to be bridge burning night I'm going to wade in too (to mix my metaphors). I'm usually here as helpyourself, but I found it very difficult to not come over as if I were lecturing- I haven't posted for a while as I was aware that it was inappropriate on a support thread.

FWIW this sort of spat comes up regularly, even the blessed Miflaw has rubbed babes up the wrong way... The only tragedy would be if any newcomers or regulars were put off.

I have had my say too, just coming back to say blanket there is absolutely no reason to feel awful for speaking out and I am as certain as can be that you are completely welcome on the bus.

Now, who is the driver, who is the navigator and who is going to get our bus out of this traffic jam on the hardshoulder of the M25 and back on a lovely sunny b road down to the coast somewhere?

Thurso, Isinde, no need to apologise (in my opinion anyway) . I completely understand where everyone is coming from. It's just so sad that people are feeling like this. This thread should be a source of support not a source of stress ffs!

Blanket, please don't go. I read it as you'd had a drink tonight too (not that I'm judging, I've had a few too ). You did brilliantly last week. Come back and tell us how you did it!

I haven't been put off! The support far outweighs it all.

Well you lot, I tried to run too soon.

But I shall look to the positives; I didn't have a drink til half past 8 and I have only had a glass and a half.

Reserving my place in the side car and clinging on as I am not sure I trust the driver!

Hey All

Fpr some reason, for the first time in weeks I logged in tonight, so after weeks of not posting at all I am gonna wade in, sorry!

One if the many reasons that I stepped away from the thread was finding some of the postings and the posting styles difficult to deal with, it was no longer a safe place for me, and I found myself becoming upset about things and carrying it about for days, which was neither helpful nor healthy for me. I, being a big old coward stepped away rather than stepping up, leaving the people who manage to say what I want to say far more eloquently than I ever could, and share their warmth, compassion and friendship in ways I hope I manage in real life, but struggle to when writing down words.

This thread has given my so many friends, over the Internet, over the phone, and also in real life.
The thing that I have most in common with them is our common desire to get a handle on our lives, and give our children the best start to their own lives. I hope that I never preach nor judge, I can only ever share my own story, and how I managed to make things get better for me.

I would suppose that to some people, the fact that I have managed not to drink for 16 months would almost mean that I don't have a problem, it seems unreal to me that I have manged to do it, and the one thing that I hope and pray tht I don't and would never do is appear to be boastful or bragging about it. I thank God every single day, that for another 24 hours I have managed it. I also really hope that I never appear to be saying that the only way to do something is my wy.

I have to join JWN and Indie and Venus and Mouse in my disquiet about someone, anyone posting as a "therapist" rather than a fellow "alike" "problem drinker" "overly social drinker" "secret drinker" "hide the empty bottle drinker". Delete as applicable. I realise that it is posted from a place of wanting to help, but does patronise and raise my hackles somewhat.

I miss milf, and I know that some people were irked by his style, but he always always posted his Own experiences and what worked for him, he was straight talking, but never made himself out to be anything other than someone just like me trying not to drink for this 24 hours. Whereas others really took exception to his straight talking.

So, that was a rambling little monologue!!

The good news in my live, is - that after 16 long long arduous torturous months, I have finally signed the separation from exp. and in a few weeks the house will belong to me!! Yay! (oh - and the bank :-().

So, I am sorry tht people are feeling upset, I can relate, but the thread will go on as long as people want to stop drinking, and I hope that everyone can get some peace at the moment.

Love to All
Bafana

I think demented posted this first, but this is the way I think of this thread, and some of the exceptional people who are on it, or have been on it in the past.

Silver I am delighted that you are back in the driving seat but you really did not have to karate kick the keys off me .

Bafana I have not seen that clip before, thanks for posting it, very apt. Well done on the 16 months (without booze or ex!). I bet when you joined the bus you didn't think you could do 16 days, let alone 16 months.

I wonder how many babes have ever posted, followed or lurked on this thread? Most probably hundreds of us, criss-crossing the country, or even the globe. I like it when posters are moved to de-lurk and share a little of their story with us. It makes me think that, whatever is going on, there is always someone out there, somewhere, who will benefit from this bus and all our shared thoughts and experiences.

oh for crying out loud!

here i am, having a pleasant sulk and thinking, 'i'll just pop in and have look' and MA posts about newbies and if im strong enough to try and help (meaning am i big enough to apologise and get my head out my arse) thurso gets all brave, mouse is her usual sensitive self, silver is about and the thought of isindi choosing her wedding outfit BY HERSELF! , well, i say no more!

seriously, im sorry to have caused trouble and upset, this thread is very close to my heart and i care deeply about it and its very special dynamic. i apologise if i have offended but i still stand by my previous posts, - whatever else happens, if i stay on the thread or if you would all rather i left, protecting my own soberity is paramount to me and i make no apology for that. i wear my heart on my sleeve, say what i think and hopefully am big enough to say sorry when i have to, so, i will be here tomorrow as usual, ready and willing to try and help any babe if i can.

JWN I'm glad you're sticking around.

Hi Fairenuff - Well, I drank last night but less than normal. Still too much, still can't face an evening without a drink. I was pretty upfront with the GP, told him I was drinking too much and trying to cut down, that my granddad was an alcoholic etc. The GP didn't seem as concerned as I thought he would be, but we did discuss the issue and I think that I can get support through the mental health services if necessary.

Of course, if the GP had seemed more concerned, I would probably feel more of a pressure to give up ...

I do feel trapped by this habit. I have tried many times to stop but failed. My drinking is better than it was - I used to steal the odd nip of booze when I was staying with my (moderate drinking) parents. However, my drinking is clearly not healthy and it's a slippery slope into full blown alcoholism...

Bproud - I thought the same! Most medics I know like a drink. When I was on the maternity ward after having my son, one of the nurses smelled very strongly of drink. I can't have been the only one to notice it - the smell is so strong.

Hiya babes. Long time (2 years) lurker here. One post and back to lurking ....... Saddened by the turn of events. I too have felt over the past few weeks as if the doctor/therapist had jumped on the bus, even though I'm sure with the best of intentions. Hope you can get back on route. Love and thanks to you all.

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Blanket - With the support of this bus (and my electric blanket) I didnt drink for a week. 7 whole nights. Now with the excuse of Mothers Day, playdates and my birthday Ive started drinking again

So you're not drinking again? Sorry, I must have mis-read the above. I apologise.

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This ^ is the line I am drawing on the road. Personally what's done is done. Can we please move on from this? With or without those who feel that this Bus is no longer for them?

I'm going to take Nemo swimming, oh the irony, and will be around later on. Thank you to those of you who have come on to share your thoughts, Lurkers especially, I really relate you de-lurking

JWN - I'm glad you posted what you did, I feel as grown adults and not children in a playground, we are big and daft enough to move forward from this. This is, after all a Bus full of problem drinkers, with normal everyday lives and worries, just like the rest of the world.

We're human, we're all fragile at times, some of us forget to engage our brains before our mouths but hey, live and let live I say.

I don't ever want to lose a source of support for this Bus, yes, I do say it how I feel it is, but that's just one tiny mouse's view and actually, who am I to call the shots?

So, post if you want to, or not. It's that simple really.

Have a good morning everyone, Nemo has been up since 6.45am, our respite has just called to cancel so we are going swimming instead.

Be Brave Babes xx

'relate' ??? I mean appreciate you de-lurking! Doh!

I am going to re-lurk for now. I have only got positive things to post atm which I am sure must be very boring for everyone else who is trying to get a grip! But lurk I will ...

dont be daft bibbity, without the positive stuff we would all go hang ourselves! its 'positive' we all need!!

hello. I am still here, always have been...

I was put off posting yonks ago, because I felt disconcerted and 'unsafe', nothing at all to do with what's going on now. Anyway, I was reading the last couple of days worth of posts, and was due to wade in and BEG the very three people who saved my life in those early days of the thread to stick around. ...then I began to think 'no, if I do that they'll know I've been stalking them', until wham, isindi gives me a namecheck! So here I am saying hello...

Please keep it going all; though I long since gave up on trying to remember names and stories individulayy, I still remember with fondness my late night (sober) conversations and early afternoon pleas for help. I love catching up on the news of those of you i 'knew' and feel horrible that I haven't even logged on to say 'yay' at various intervals, I don't mean to be sneaky, just can't do the full on 'sharing' thing I'm afraid!

As for me, way out in the sticks now, new people, all of whom seem to think I'm pretty normal, new job, new life really. The demon still reigns though, albeit in a less concentrated way. I have to drive to the shops now, which is a blessing. I haven't beaten it, and at times feel pretty desolate, but... 45 in a few weeks time, I don't want Mr. Whiskey to take me off to heaven/ hell before I'm 50, but he still seems all too attractive I'm afraid.

Love love love.

and while I typed that, billions of new posts! Gah!

no, actually i just hadn't read the last few. Oops ignore last post; I'll get my coat...

stalk away algee! its more than great to see you here! much love! XXX

I do so miss it here, I miss interacting rather than observing from my self imposed exile.

JWN, must be almost two years now?

Think I might treat myself to a wander down memory lane later on tonight, and remind myself how, in my dark dark days, Jesus saved me with the help of her Holy man (miss seeing MIF too) and women!!

...strange how the action of typing is bringing a sense of renewed resolve.

ps ... just to clarify, I'll be 44 soon, not 45! Thought I'd share, makes me feel a whole lot more youthful!!
Now I'll shut up...