The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Starting the Summer Filled With Luscious Mocktails.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse and I used to drink far too much. Too much vodka to be exact, then too much wine, then too much cider....... you can imagine how it went.

This Bus is full of people like me, and people like you actually. Sober people, drinkers, a few not surers, and those who are simply 'somewhere'.

The one thing that we have in common is that we can/do/did/will abuse alcohol.

Some for a number of years, some months, some for their entire adult (and before) lives.

The support here is for everyone. Those in AA, those who are taking medication to help, those going it alone, those with the support of others. We're all here for the same reason.

Why not come and say hello? We are all so very different in our every day lives but we all have a common theme.....

And, for those who want to see where all of this began 2 years ago, HERE IS a link to all of the past Bus rides.

Oh wow - what beautiful words your dp wrote, you are a very fortunate couple to have each other. And isindie, that is exactly how it should be - time spent thinking about the promises that you both want to make to each other, for a lifetime.

I'll be at a wedding tomorrow, and you'll be in my thoughts xxx

I have to delurk to say huge congratulations to Isinde and I really hope it is an amazing day. Your DP has brought tears to my eyes - what utterly beautiful words.

Congratulations Isinde

isinde hope your day is special and lovely, what a beautiful prose

venus awww thanks
indie have a bloody fabulous day my friend.
here come the girls......................

Another de-lurker here :) Just wanted to say a huge 'happy wedding day' to Isinde. What amazing words from your DP. I'm getting all emotional thinking about your special day today. Us Babes will be with you in spirit, willing you to ignore any undesirable comments or omissions etc from your parents, to deal with or gloss over any practical/organisational stressors, and to stay sober (at least until everyone else has gone to bed...!). You and your lovely DP and the wonderful DTs are the most important people today so stay focused on enjoying your gorgeous little family on this very special day. Wishing you a wonderful wedding day xx

All the very very best indie. X

Ma, your DD sure is beautiful. And she can sing too? I'm sure she'll go far :)

Soma, oh my goodness, you are like a different person. Good for you, you did that :) I think all those clever, attractive and unconventional men had better form an orderly queue :o

Mia, I saw your post the other day. It's good when you can look back at previous posts and see how far you've come, isn't it? Well done, you. I have been away for similar reasons to you I think. I must admit I do miss your waffle

Joey you are doing so well too. 10 days was it? Wowzers. Well done!

Mouse, hope you had a reasonable night last night. The pain sounds horrific. Like everyone else, I just wish someone could do something :(

Faire, hope all is well with you and Hose and the rest of the family. Who'd have thought we might have need for your ark in June? Bloody weather!

Big wave to everyone else. Real life has been even busier than usual and I've found it bloody impossible hard to get a moment's privacy on the PC due to a constant stream of house-guests. Am learning that I NEED my own space and that having people stay is a huge trigger for me. But when you live away and people want to come and stay to see you maybe once or twice a year, how on earth do you say no?? Got more guests coming soon and I am already dreading it and feeling my stress levels rise :( Ah well, I'm sure the emigration will help take my mind off it ... and breathe...

Best go. Have good days everyone x

Isinde hope you have a wonderful day both of you!

Isindie, wishing you lots of love, luck and happiness on this special day:)

All the best for today isindie & partner, have a fab day :) xxx

soba I think dogs usually only mark their territory when they are insecure? Once he has settled in and feels safe in 'his' house he shouldn't do that. Was he a stray? Do you know what happened to him?

Ma Thank you for scooping me up last week......

Am going to just find a little corner and cogitate for a while....

Isindie Have a wonderful day.....

Isinde you'll read this later so I hope you had the most wonderful day. What a truly heartfelt and lovely email from DP, you're a fortunate woman. How nice that you're able to reassure me that the type of man I seek actually exists - I is however rather ancient (54 but told look much younger and things haven't sagged too much) so anything from early 40s to early 60s I guess. Probably all the ones you know are younger though....

SSSM great to hear from you, yes I feel good, full of zing and proud of myself. It's great when you lose that horrible feeling of self-loathing, as if you're self-destructing and don't know why. Mouse said something yesterday that resonated so much - it's as if you see everything more clearly and that allows you to make better judgements. I'm also discovering that I can actually have fun without being pissed and that's an absolute revelation! I've been playing my trance music really loudly in the car and dancing as much as you can when you're sitting in a car-seat but can only do that if DD isn't with me. My sole role in life is to embarrass her!

As for the men forming an orderly queue, that's very kind of you to say, but just one will do! I know what you mean about needing space, I'd be miserable if I didn't have plenty of it (which I do). Didn't know you're emigrating, where to?

Joey I have no idea about Alfie's past, he was picked up by the dog warden. It makes him even more adorable in a way. But I'm sure you're right, it's probably just a sign of insecurity and we'll try and train him kindly not to do it! I can't believe that this time tomorrow the dear little chap will be part of our family :) How are you doing today, what plans for the weekend?

Hello to all my other dear friends and the new babes on the bus. I can't remember which babe said it but she quoted the line from Hotel California - you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave xx

Or maybe not Isinde - I note that you're old enough to have watched with mother :) You don't go as far back as the Woodentops do you?

Just coming out of the woodwork to give isindie a huge shufflehug and to say I hope she and her wonderful family have a lovely day.

Time for my daily introspection... I've realised that I hate going to bed. I don't sleep well, and resent the end of another day and worry that I'm not achieving enough.

I would put off my first drink till later and later... towards 9.30pm and resisted finishing it and going to bed - if I was at someone elses house where the wine flowed freely, I would always be last to turn in. Even on days when i wasn't drinking, it had become such a habit that I would rarely turn off the light before midnight.

Well, no effing wonder I had insomnia, since I didn't want to be asleep! [lightbulb] There is obviously something in my head that says I want to be 19 again, partying till 2am and having a wild time. I don't want to grow up!

Still not sure what the answer is - I don't have any unfulfilled ambitions, but something is obviously still missing. It's not alcohol. I don't think its religion (although I am ripe for being sucked into some weird cult).

If anyone is still reading - do you have the answer to life?

joey

joey I hate going to bed too, I don't like closing my eyes in case I think too much about things I don't want to think about. I fall asleep watching films or TV, and even then I sometimes jolt awake and think "don't go to sleep"

As well as the not wanting to think thing, I know that once I'm asleep - next thing I know it will be morning, and I'll have to face another day.

That's nothing to do with drinking BTW as I'm not at the moment, and everything to do with my mental health

I would just like to wish Isinde and her dearest partner the best of all things and the perfect day tomorrow.

JWN, so sorry about your Dad, glad to hear he has been looked after properly and will be on the mend.

All babes have a safe and happy weekend.xx

qo that sounds exactly like me, the thinking too much and not wanting to face the day! Not drinking ATM I was using alcohol to numb the feelings or something.

I AM SO GLAD I FOUND THIS BUS !! Even just writing it down, and having someone else say 'yeah, me too' is amazing.

I really want to do a dance now. I love you all. Gosh I don't know where thats come from but suddenly I feel all full of joy and thankfulness and isindes getting married and somas getting a wee dog and

Thank you thank you thank you

oh please ignore that last post, I've obviously gone off my head with lack of sleep. Am not usually all sentimental and gushy.

I shouldn't have had that kit-kat for lunch. I'd better go and have a lie-down.

Isindie have the most wonderful memorable day may friend x

JWN hope your Dad is on the mend soon my love x

Day One for me

at Joey!

Aw shucks Silly, thank for liking my waffling! Nice to see you back, however briefly.

Isinde Huge Congratulations! What a beautiful email from your DP. I think you are both very lucky women to have each other as sparring partners. Well done you for standing up to your toxic parents. I hope you have a wonderful day and celebration of your love xx

Obrigada I wrote a longish post last night twice last night about low carbing and lost it both times while trying to get links from other tabs. Bloody ipad. The gist of it was that Mouse is experienced with the Atkins diet (similar) so she's the one to ask. There's a bootcamp thread running here with lots of info on low-carbing. Dr John Briffa is a big advocate of low carbing. He's here. Also this guy. I'm still reading up about the science behind the whole 'saturated fat is good' stuff, but I've long been a devotee of the Low GI diet (when I've got the willpower) - completely sensible and sustainable eating, imo. I've been doing it since Monday, have lost another lb since yesterday (so 5lb down since Monday) and haven't been hungry at all - in fact, I've been eating copious amounts of cheese, butter, olive oil, cheese, mayonnaise, eggs, meat, cheese, fish, veg and... oh quite a bit of cheese. I can't quite believe that I can eat like this and lose weight, but it's coming off so I'm just enjoying it. Yesterday I roasted a chicken and ate all the crispy, butter and herb slathered skin off the moment I took it out of the oven. Roast chicken with roasted mashed celeriac, broccoli roasted in olive oil, red wine gravy made with the drippings. I'm actually drooling now remembering it.

SexySoma get thee out there into the world of dating! So glad you're feeling good at the mo x

lemony glad you are still with us. we're all a bit excited about indie's wedding today so just settle down in a quiet corner and someone will notice you before too long
silver you go girl!
Everyone else -