The Brave Babes Battle Bus - On Their Way To............... Amarillo?

[Mouseface]

.............. sorry, ran out of ideas tonight!

Hello, tis me, Mouse and I have a very abusive relationship with alcohol, vodka in particular.

Welcome to the Battle Bus, full of totally Brave Babes all on their own personal journey to sobriety. Some are there, some are still on their way and some aren't quite ready yet but stay on the Bus for a good old natter

Wherever you are in your quest to get back control of your drinking, we've all been there too so you're not alone, not by a long shot.

Come take a seat and say hello.

If you'd like to know the history behind this amazing journey, you can follow the links back HERE

See you soon x

You could always open a greeting card outlet...

Mia I probably have more stock than Clinton Cards do right now

Hello lovely Babes

Hi truth you sound like you're doing great.

Mia hang in there chick, you haven't let anyone down.

I've been eating emotionally today which is not good. But considering I'd originally fancied a glass or two, chocolate is okay.

mia I'm sorry to hear you're feeling low. It sounds as though you've caught a few colds and viruses the last few weeks? I hope you're eating okay.

I know how you feel about expecting to feel great when you no longer drink - I've been hoping my insomnia would improve, but my sleep is as bad as ever. It kind of makes me think, whats the point - but there are other benefits.

Mia - I don't know how on earth you cope, Mouse, with the degree of pain you're in. Mine is nothing like as bad as that and it drives me to drink

So does mine but because if the amount of morphine I'm on (enough to put an elephant into a catatonic state, never mind a mouse ) I choose not to pick up these days. Well, no, that's wrong. I choose not to self-medicate as often as I did. Don't get me wrong, there are days where I sob in pain. When I just can't move because the pain is so utterly immense.

I have Oramorph (liquid morphine for those who don't know ) to top up my morphine tablets and I have to self-medicate with that instead.

I enjoy a drink, like for Nemo's birthday, to celebrate, not to ruin which is how it all used to be.

One, two, three, seven....... puke, smack head/face/body.......argue......carbs......bed.

I HATED being like that.

I have to tell you that I knew you would pick up tonight. Please don't hate me for that. I knew when you said the wine was in the freezer.

For me, there would be no going back and I think we are alike in some ways.

Just try to take your time drinking, add a pint of water before bed, make sure you eat...... and just be kind to yourself xx

'of' and sorry for any other typos!

at Clinton's cards. It's probably more to do with the anonymity of the city, but I'm ashamed to say at the end of my drinking I didn't bother to even make up a story for myself as to why I was buying 8 lagers at 7am. Actually I'm not ashamed- it feels as it happened to someone else.

sunny and ht well done on battling today's challenges- and we should all follow mouse's bedtime routine. I often wake up grotty because I'm dehydrated, perversely I'd stagger to bed with a pint glass of water in my boozy days.

mia don't worry, stay safe and know that things will get better.

at your stock of cards Truth and I'm glad you're glad (IYKWIM?) that there's another daytime drinker here too. I was relieved in a strange way when I read your post and it prompted me to finally start typing. Bloody well done on your sober week and recycling trip

I treated myself to knickers last week - only cheap ones as usual but new and intact! Didn't think I was worth spending on while I was buying wine, whether that was because of self-esteem issues or sheer guilt about what I was spending money on...

Going to book a short sun-bed course tomorrow- thanks Mouse for that idea!

My, this is a fast moving bus! Have just about caught up and in the process gone from a "well, no work tomorrow, I could have a glass or two, I'm not trying to give up completely afterall" to getting the elderflower mixed up and deciding not to pick up the wine afterall.

mia be kind to yourself, you haven't let anyone down.

HT - wow, you're amazing. Really. Fantastic!

Anyhoo, sorry not to name check all. I've work to do this evening so am off to do that.

Take care all.

Well done celery

Mia we had a good old chat this evening and you had time to make the decision whether to drink or not. You didn't just rush into it, you made a considered choice, so in a way you are taking contol

Tristessa I am going to treat myself to some new knickers on Friday I was so relieved when I saw your post, it really does make a difference knowing that someone else has done the same, thankyou
I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. Normally I would have had a glass of wine before breakfast because I don't have to do the school run. I have nothing planned and nowhere to go, the day will drag. I might sort out my wardrobe (now that there is more space in there) but I am worried it will put a dampner on my mood, most of my clothes don't fit me because I have put so much weight on. Don't know. I will get through it and it will be fine. Up until now I have been busy and had stuff to keep me occupied. Tomorrow is my first "nothing" day.

Aw thanks lovely Babes.

Faire thank you for talking me through it earlier. Yes Mouse I think it was a done deal when I put it in the freezer.

Well, I had two glasses of white, one of which was with dinner. It was an 11% white too. So... not the end of the world, but still drinking for the wrong reasons on a night I'd pledged not to drink.

If DP had opened a bottle of red then I'd have happily had another glass or three, but he didn't, so I didn't ask him to.

That's a co-incidence Truth, tomorrow is the first day in the last three weeks that I don't have a driving lesson or an AA meeting to go to and I'm a bit wobbly about it too.

Maybe stay away from the wardrobe sorting for now. I have gone down a size already so what doesn't fit now could well be better soon. I have taken the cellophane off the Shred fitness DVD which I ordered in January and will put that on.

I may even watch it sitting up

why are we all buying new knickers? Is it some kind of initiation into the bus...?!

I think things are getting better for me, I found it easier to avoid going near a shop that sells wine today. (and its becoming second nature not to think about it). Bought a large pack of Werthers sweets instead.

tristessa Are you me? I bought the Shred DVD in Feb but not tried it yet I am hoping that some weight comes off. I feel so grotesque at ther moment.

You make a good point Mia.....

So what are the RIGHT reasons for drinking? Are there any - maybe one of you Wise Babes can enlighten me?

Tris - I love my 6 minute blast of tropical island and peace! Plus, the vitamin D boost is good for you in so many ways......

I have to say that the Bus has seen some really great posts today. I feel honoured to be part of something so genuinely life changing. You should all be really proud of yourselves, even if you are drinking right now, you are here, and more than you know, you have the best support money can't buy.........

The support of real people, people who have hit rock bottom, face first, or lost so many important things, seen and done things that no-one would have thought possible..... secret lives, double standards, hidden sadness, whispered thoughts, dreams crushed......

We've all been there, or are there, of could be there.

I love this Bus because it's part of my life, it has people from all over the world!

I think we should have a badge, 'Are You A Brave Babe'

What about it MNHQ????

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGH!

Shred is evil! Put that woman and her exorcises (yes, that's the correct spelling) in the bin!

She broke me!

Mind you, I had a pop at the old Shred before my diagnosis.

If you can get on with Jillian, (is that her name?) then go for it.

Truth - you have nothing to do tomorrow? Errr...... you have the rest of your life to plan.

What are you going to spend the money you save on? What do you like to do other than drinking?

Books? Fashion? Art? New bedding? New knickers are a given my dear! Holey draws are a bit should you meet with the front of a double decker!!

Treat yourself. Treat your DC. Treat all of you........

Take time to catch up on all of the hours you have missed drinking. Not nice to think about but it happened, leave it behind and move forward, a day, minute, hour at a time.

When you get up in the morning, BEFORE you do anything else, log onto here. Come and say hi.

Make a hot drink and try your best to eat breakfast. Something solid for a change. That's not a dig, not at all, something filling is a better way to start the day.

Post some more. Sort the washing etc out..... then shower/shave/whatever and go out. It's supposed to be better weather tomorrow.

Go and walk up your high street. Breath in. Breath out.

Just be..................

Just be YOU xx

I also have the weights and mat gathering dust in the cupboard, Truth

Might organise the DCs clothes. Summer is supposed to be coming and they are growing so fast I can charity-shop most of their winter things. DD (11) has also been treated to an entire new pants and day-glo socks which she adores, and the pristine blaze of colour cheers me right up when I am putting stuff away.

Mouse, have you bought tanning accelerator? My salon says you must use it as non-moisurised skin reflects the rays back and reduces the effectiveness. Would normal body lotion work as well, do you know? I have tons of the stuff.

Love the idea of a badge. Maybe MNHQ will give us a naice knickers emotion!

Mia - well done. Not in a 'phew' way, but in a 'you made a conscious decision to stop' way.

You know that the taste of the poison is far less pleasant than the taste of victory, because after all, you won didn't you? xx

Tris - If your skin is moisturised, you'll be grand

An accelerator is a way for the salon to make more money (I used to run a tanning salon) although some do have a chemical in that can help the skin produce more melatonin..... not enough to tan you in the short term though.

My advice is to give yourself a good scrub in the shower on the day you plan to go, moisturise WELL, top to toe, and then use a sunbed.

Good night everyone, a lot of heartfelt exchanges here today and humour to go with it. We will survive!

Truth take Mouse's advice and log on here in the morning before you do anything else. It'll help keep you on track. Sweet dreams all, sober or not xx

I don't feel like I won, but thank you Mouse' you wise and wonderful woman. x

Chasing for me (I'm not looking for total abstinence, just moderation) the right reasons for drinking would be to complement a meal, enhance a social occasion or nice relaxing evening - a treat, basically. Even as I type that though, I'm aware that those things should be just as enjoyable without alcohol.

What I do know, though, is that for me, the 'wrong' reason to drink is because I'm feeling so shit that I'm desperate for something to change the way I feel for a while.

Night Soma x