The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Are Going To Need A Bigger Bus!

[Mouseface]

Which is FANTASTIC!

Welcome to the Brave Babes Battle Bus, I'm Mouse and I'm addicted to cheese, but have a pretty nasty relationship with alcohol too, mainly vodka.

This Bus is for anyone and everyone. Drinking or sober, or somewhere in between or just not sure if you're drinking too much........... this is the place to ask and maybe have a chat too.

No pressure, no judging, no cliquey savoury flans (although I'm rather partial to a cheese slice ), we're all on The Bus for the same reason; alcohol.

Even if it's not you, and you'd like to talk about someone you know, come and say hi. We won't bite, well, not unless you ask very nicely!

And, if you'd like to see our journey so far, follow THIS LINK and read back through the previous links there.

See you soon xx

Morning Brave Babes! Or should that be Braves?

Am currently hauling, and I do mean hauling, DD out of bed for her piano lesson. It's such a glorious day, all out there to be enjoyed without the aid of drink.

Morning all, slept in till 10 (unheard of) and feel thankfully a bit refreshed after last night's boozeathon. Mia we had two back-to-back sleepovers last weekend, both here, but it was fine and it's lovely to see DD so happy with her friends. How can you not watch HH with them - it makes me laugh like nothing else! Thanks so much for the offer of your address (just in case), it's very much appreciated. I hope you have a lovely nature-filled day.

Enjoy the wedding Faire hope the rain holds off.

SSSM what you say resonates with me also and you absolutely have the right end of the stick. I think introspection about things like this is important and am glad therapy worked for you Isindie but I do really try not to blame my parents and especially not for my drinking, although I was obviously being super self-pitying last night. I was even wondering if I should tell them I have a major problem with drink dependency - not to get at them or anything, but just to get it out there, tell the people who matter (and I love my mum to bits) and then they can stop offering me g&ts! My brother is a recovering alcoholic so they know all about it. But maybe mum has enough on her plate with dad being the way he is and I should keep it to myself. She is one of those people though who thrives on giving support but I don't want to worry her....

Truth glad you slept well again, you're doing so well. And Chopin what you said about going to the pub to top up made me cringe/smile. I did that last night - where I live in St Albans we have the highest number of pubs per head of population in the entire country so there are no less than six within five minutes of my house!

Hello to everyone else, someone has just started up their lawn-mower so spring really has sprung! xx

The pond... well it's a wildlife pond, so there's no fish or anything. I'm aware that others don't get as excited about pondlife as I do, so don't feel like you have to read on... I love it though; this little alien world full or bizarre alien creatures. I've got an absurd phobia about insects and creepy-crawlies, so I think the fact that they're all underwater and can't 'get' me means that I can enjoy the otherworldliness of them without the fear factor. Anyway we have dragonfly nymphs in the pond - the nymphs are fearsome predators that live underwater for between one and three years before emerging from the water, splitting their skins over the thorax and crawling out as a fully formed dragonfly. The metamorphosis is just... magical, astonishing. Here are pictures I took last year of a damselfly emerging, if you're interested. Yesterday I noticed that the big scary nymphs were crawling en masse to the surface and lurking in the plants there. There was something really sinister about it - all these creepy creatures slowly clambering over each other. I think they're sunning themselves to get the energy of the sun to enable them to emerge and undergo metamorphosis. They're doing it again today, so I keep dashing down to the pond and watching them to see if they're going to come out and let me photograph them! We've got lots of frogs and hundreds of tadpoles too, so I can spend hours there just gazing and watching!

Soma I've PMed you.
HH is absolutely fanbloodytastic telly, but DD does tend to watch them over and over!

Am I allowed to feel the boing today even though I'm in the sidecar at the mo? This weather makes such a difference and I feel so much better today. I drank around a bottle of wine last night over the whole evening (and with a good meal), and I feel fine today. I wish I hadn't drunk on Wed & Thurs, but I'm not going to dwell on that now and just enjoy feeling better.

Hi all - doing my weekly/fornightly drop in! Glad all/most are doing and feeling fine. I have cut down a lot as intended but need to be vigilant.

I'm embarking on a juice detox from tomorrow for a week (how the feck I'm going to do it without a juicer I don't know! I have a blender and a nearby Waitrose and an organic health food store though).

Has anyone done this? Do I just do juice or have a few meals? I have the recipes for juices but not sure how to go about it.

The aim is I admit weight loss, but also will be another week with no booze so all good I hope!
x

Mia have PMed you back. Your pictures, well what can I say, you've been hiding your light under a bushel (not a word I use often, is that how you spell it?) x

Thank you lovely! No skill there though - I just point the camera and press the button.

Sun, sun, sun! Hope everyone's boinging as a result!

I'm taking 5 little girls to the theatre this afternoon, and then all back here for a sleepover; 4 eight/nine year olds, plus own DD aged 10 ... wish me luck! Not sure how much sleep I'll get, but at least I won't be adding wine into the sleep-deprivation mix ...

Have a lovely Saturday, Babes xx

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Proud - Juice Detox eh? Not one I've tried but it sounds okay. Be careful, some juice (fruit) has a high content of natural sugar and acids in so you might end up with a touch of heartburn now and again! Sounds like a good idea, I bet you'll shift a bit of weight too not eating solid foods for a week, no idea how it works, can you have a look on line?

Ann - well done to you too! Two weeks is a brilliant achievement! Such a positive post from you too. Thank you for posting and letting us know how you've got on xx

IsinDe - WOW!! Well done to you for kicking ass last night. I bet you are beyond happy and so you should be. xx

Horrible Histories ROCKS! DH and I watched yesterdays' before bed last night, we have it on series record. It's so more for grown ups than kids! I said I'd wished I'd had it when taking History GCSE!

Thurso - Please just pop in and say hi xx

I tried Jason Vales fruit smoothie detox diet.

Spent about £60 on a truck load of fruite & veg including 'Spirilina' (???) and lasted about 36 hours before I was so starving, I binged on carbs/sugar carbs

Not for me but best of luck to you!

Carrie - sounds like it will be great fun. Erm, sleep? It depends how much giggling goes on! DD had something similar for her 9th Birthday. 2am was an interesting time!

Mia - gorgeous shots, I love the pictures. I'm a huge fan of photography. If only I had the time.

Soma - I'm glad you got some sleep. How are you feeling about those 'boxes' today? I know exactly what you mean about your ex's DD. There's something about children with additional needs, they seem to accept far more about them than people know. They have an inner glow and never seem to realise just how much that shines.

Nemo coughed for most of last night, (I forgot about the garlic suggestion Mia but will try that tonight) he is always worse at night. Spring and summer are the best seasons for him, in terms of his respitory issues.

He's now sat with his wooden train track out all over the lounge floor (after DH had built him a zoo resembling the one from Madagascar!) and is singing his own version of the 'Hello' song from Something Special.

He's started to sign much much more too, which is famtastic. He still says the word, but also signs. My frined said I should run a Makaton class for 6-12 month olds, when she say me signing 'Happy Birthday' last week.

It's now just second nature for me to sign when I'm talking to him.

I'm looking forward to Saf coming back from staying with Dubs in Ireland, she's been missed!

DH has taken the wolf out for a walk up at the fort but after that, we're all going out.

Hello Babes

Have spent two nights drinking and feel a bit rough. :( I think I've just proved again I can't do moderation.

Mouse sorry Nemo is feeling poorly, I hope he feels better tonight.

"I think I've just proved that I can't do moderation"

Not many can Sunny. It's not an easy task and it's not for everyone. Why not give your body a break today and plan not to drink? xx

Right, I have made a decision...... I'm going to buy a washing line after our latest electricity bill is a whopping £481.00. We pay £50 per month but I had an e-mail to say that BG were going to increase it to £150 per month.

We can't afford to pay it. The builders being here for 2 months charging all their tools etc has pushed it right up, as well as other things, DD on the internet whilst watching tv, and me, and DH. We're all to blame. So it's time to take action.

British Gas are the cheapest provider in our area by a long chalk and they have agreed to install a pre-payment meter so that we can get the bill down and then go back onto a credit meter.

I was gutted to be honest, amazing how much we take for granted isn't it?

Sunshine calls.

Have a lovely day all, lots of love,

Mouse xx

Chasing/Mouse - thanks. Yes I am a bit worried about ditching it early through extreme hunger! I am a greedy pig! But if I don't lose at least 5lbs this week I won't fit into the new rather expensive dress I bought for yet another blooming wedding!

Mouse - sorry to hear Nemo had a bad night but so wonderful to hear his progress with signing/language. Your life is so hard and stressful compared to mine, it makes me feel appalled with myself for drinking too much when there are others that have been genuinely self medicating with alcohol iyswim.

Sunny - yes why not decide not to drink today. Take away all the justifying, planning how much to drink and then possibly self hatred the next day if you don't stick to the plan! It is bloody hard. Hang on in there.

x

Afternoon Babes

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun.

I have mowed the lawns and took DD to get her Brownie uniform, it is very different to in my day which was a brown shirt dress and bobble hat We had a lovely girlie morning together, such a change to a few weeks ago when I would have been rushing us so I could get home to have a drink.

mouse The cost of electricity and gas is getting ridiculous isn't it? We have a tumble dryer but rarely use it, if I get desperate with the washing DH takes it to work and uses theirs

Sunny Hope you are starting to feel better, moderation is a word my brain doesn't understand either.

Soma Hope you are feeling a bit more positive today. Re telling your parents, maybe if you don't want to tell them everything you could just say you are on a health kick or that you have seen what alcohol has done to your DBro so you want to keep yourself in check? Sorry if that is a crap idea x

Mia your photos are amazing! You are so talented.

Well my dad has just rang. We are going out for dinner with him tomorrow for his birthday. I would normally have lots of wine to help me get through it. I can't decide whether 1 glass of wine would be ok who am I kidding as long as I make sure I have no wine in the house for when I get home. I'm dreading it but I have to go. Think I need to go and do something so that I don't obsess about something that hasn't even happened yet.

xx

Hello lovelies

Thanks for all your kind messages, I'm feeling a bit less deathly following a walk and a full English. I am not going to drink today.

Truth that sounds like a good idea - what have you got planned for the rest of the day?

Hi Sunny Glad you are feeling better.
I am going to finish the lawns by using my old fashioned edger. It will go a small way towards toning my arms plus I can get some of my aggression out at the same time What are your plans for the rest of the day?

Afternoon everybody

Have come to the long overdue conclusion that enough is enough. I have absolutely had it with waking up and feeling utterly ashamed of myself and my antics from the night before

New to this thread so I hope you all don't mind me barging in but I just need somewhere to vent without any hoiking up of judgy pants

Welcome Gruffy Definitely no judgy pants here
Better Babes than me will be along soon with their fab words of wisdom. I am on Day 12 of no drinking, I used to drink 2-3 bottles of wine a day and like you I finally thought enough is enough.
x

Welcome Gruffy

No judgey pants here. :) What are your plans for today?

Well I have this amazing bus to thank for yet another thing - a new friend! Soma has just been round to the NonAstemia madhouse for a cup of coffee before visiting her parents. Apart from being swamped by children and animals, I think she enjoyed it!

Gawd bless this bus and all the Brave Babes who sail in him.

Thank you for the welcomes

I don't really have any plans, am too hungover very annoyed with myself because me and the kiddlywinks are missing out on the first nice day we've had around here for weeks!

Are all you lovely ladies making the most of this sunshine?

Gruffy, we've all been there.

I have had my head stuck down the loo many a weekend, whislt DH has has to amuse DCs.

(shudder emoticon)

Welcome Gruffy

Glad to see you're feeling a bit better Sunny. Get there back on t'bus

Oh Mia how lovely about Soma visiting! So nice for you both. I still think we should all live in a commune And your photos were amazing. How do you know so much stuff?! You make me feel rather stupid

Mouse - bills are scary these days aren't they? Hope you are having a nice day out.

Looking forward to hearing all about Saf and Double's week. It sounds fab.

Hope everyone's doing OK. The sun is making me crave a beer (not my usual choice of weapon). M-u-s-t r-e-s-i-s-t.... Doing OK so far

here you all are!
Better be a seat for me or there'll be trouble
welcome gruffy and anyone else I have missed.
A miracle happened today - DD1 went to London. DD2 to the stables, DS to a friend's house and DH to work. I had AN AFTERNOON to myself!
was so happy I managed a new personal best of 40 minutes running alongside the loch and river then came home and made both lemon drizzle cake and sticky marmalade loaf! See what I can achieve when I only have me to think about?