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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

The Brave Babes Battle Bus - All Going On A Sober Holiday! <crosses fingers that it stays sunny>

999 replies

Mouseface · 25/07/2012 12:56

Hello, tis me, mouse Smile

Welcome to The Brave Babes Battle Bus, grab yourself a seat, they're really comfy and a Brew, oh and a home-made chocolate chip Biscuit before they all get eaten!

We're a Bus full of alcohol abusers/addicts, some of us say it out loud, some whisper it and some aren't ready to say it at all just yet.

That said, there are a few of us who just have the occasional drink and that's something that they can handle. There are a few of us who must NEVER have another drink because that first one will lead to many, many more which will only ever end badly.

We're open to all....there are no requirements to join us on our journey to sobriety, there's support, great laughs, tears and tantrums here and that's just me!!! Grin

If you'd like to see how we got here, follow THIS LINK

OP posts:
imcomingup · 27/07/2012 00:54

G

imcomingup · 27/07/2012 00:55

Ood night my friend x x

Isindebetterplace · 27/07/2012 01:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thurso1 · 27/07/2012 07:44

Morning Babes,

Phew, terrible night's sleep here, I feel asthough I've got little sandbags sewn in under my skin all around my eyes!, such a muggy night here, even though we're on the coast. I seemed to see every hour in, and then, just as I got to sleep, DC1 texted me from Australia Grin.

Silver How are you my dear friend? I'm so happy to see you back.

Isinde, my darling, what brought last night on? I hope you don't feel too bad this morning, and please come and talk. Don't hate yourself, life's too short, and I know this from a wonderful source (actually, you wrote it to me, about 18 months ago Smile.

Well, it's my Dad's 80th Birthday today, Dh and I made a cake last night, and this evening, we are going up to my parents to take them out for supper. It will be a bit weird, because my sister, her Dh and children will be there, and it will just be me and Dh, another empty nest experience!
Anyway, we go to my parents for drinks first, then on, I'm not worried about being tempted to drink then, or even when I'm in the restaurant, it was always the stop at the wine sellers on the way home, after these events that I had to resist........

SobaSoma · 27/07/2012 07:46

Just marking my place, will catch up properly later. Good to see so much discussion going on here and hello MissPerrier, it's great to hear from Babes who have done so well, you're an inspiration to all of us.

dementedma · 27/07/2012 08:31

silver great to see you. There are loads of new babes needing tickets so you could please get your finger out and get on with it?
indie hope you slept well and are ready for the battle again today
rural you did it! bloody well done. MIFLAW - who used to post on here - had a very good analogy about stepping away from the fight and refusing to get into the ring with the demon, which was very good. Does anyone know how to find and post it?
thurso great that DC is having such a good time and spreading his wings. DD2 has announced she is going to Paris for a few days in August, on the bus, with Calum." Who's Calum?" "A guy I sang with at an open night"
"where are you staying" "Hostel"
"how are you going to live?" "he's taking his guitar and I'll sing. We'll be cool"

Oh to be young again......

thurso1 · 27/07/2012 08:40

Ma Hello matey, DD2 will have a great time. My DC2 did some busking last year, didn't make much money, but enjoyed it!
DC2 is in America for the summer, working on a Summer camp, I spoke to him on skype last weekend, and asked what he was doing at the end of his contract: "what do you think you'll do?" "don't know, probably go to New York" "where will you stay" "don't know, probably a hostel", "are you going with anyone", "Don't know yet" Shock

Silver66 · 27/07/2012 09:06

changed back phew Grin

Tristessa · 27/07/2012 09:39

Hi Babes. Not doing so well. I got to 95 days with the help of A.A and reading the old threads here, couldn't get rid of the thought of experimenting at the weekend and bought wine. Nothing bad happened other than buggering up three months of sobriety Sad but nothing good happened either. Hopefully it has been a lesson learned.

Anyway - here is MIFLAW's boxer post:

"Give up seeing alcohol as something you are going to "beat". You have already lost. So walk away.

Imagine drink as a boxer. He (or she) is twice your weight, twice your height, doesn't mind inflicting pain, and fights dirty. If you sqaure up to it, you will lose - and you will lose in a painful, protracted, humiliating and quite possibly fatal way.

However - you have an alternative. Just get out of the ring, put your shirt on, and walk away. You are not obliged to drink. You are well past the point of getting any benefit or real pleasure from it and those days are NEVER going to come back.

So put the down down.

Do so very consciously and remember that that boxer is going to be leaning over the ropes, shouting out your name to come back, for a little while to come.

So start walking and keep walking. Don't try to control it. Don't go back for one last try. Don't go back to test out any bright ideas. You've lost. Walk away. And every time that voice tempts you back, remember how you feel now and how you felt during and after your last drink.

Remember - if you leave now and you really miss the madness and misery it brings you will have the option of going back tomorrow for another beating.

but if you stay in the ring there is no guarantee that you will have the option of getting out tomorrow"

Tristessa · 27/07/2012 09:40

Erm, that would be "put the drink down"...

obrigada · 27/07/2012 10:17

Hey Babes:) just checking in, normal routine is to drink on Friday evening and feel shit on Saturday, but this weekend I have decided to change my routine. Started low carbing yesterday as I feel so bleugh about myself so don't want to feck that up by drinking way and above the legal limit!

Where is Miflaw these days, time was when you mentioned his name, he would appear as if by magic Hmm

dementedma · 27/07/2012 10:32

obrigada good to see you again!
Well, that has been week 1 and my sum total of wine consumed is....drum roll...1 bottle. Drunk over a couple of nights as spritzers. Normally my weekly haul would be around 6 bottles Blush.
Now I have to do the same for week 2 and not consider myself "cured"
tristessa thanks for the Miflaw post. it is one that really struck a chord with me.

Fairenuff · 27/07/2012 10:39

I think you have to say it three times . . .

MIFLAW, MIFLAW, MIFLAW

P'raps we could get a chant going?

Tessa thanks for finding and posting that boxing analagy. It's great isn't it. And well done on 3 months. Like you say, drinking after all that time isn't anything special or wonderful. You just realise that you're not missing out on anything. Here's to the next 3 months Smile

Fairenuff · 27/07/2012 10:40

Oooh ma snap!

kotinka · 27/07/2012 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mouseface · 27/07/2012 11:28

Morning, tis me, Mouse

I realise that I am late posting this but JWIM, the post about how your darling son would have been 21. Such a huge milestone. I read about the loss of your second darling son too. Life is a cruel and twisted bastard at times and hurts those who deserve it the least, yet allows others, those who rape, murder and maim walk free.

I have no words to take the pain away, with each year that passes, each milestone, each Christmas, each 'would have been' for your boys must be so hard to face.

It's common knowledge on here that we lost triplet boys at 16+5 weeks gestation in September 2005. The guilt, the hurt, the void, the unanswered questions that rattle round your soul for days, and weeks and months and years, do fade a bit, well, they have for me but every now and again, when you least expect it, you see their face or hear their cry and your heart sinks.

Having to let go after your son held on for so long must have crushed your very being. It was all out of your hands, nothing that you could/n't have done would have changed what happened to him I'm guessing? For me it was the not knowing that means I can't close the box fully, but then again, maybe I don't want to. We have a Christmas tree for them in the garden and cherry blossom too....... I often go out and just smile at the trees, and at Christmas, their tree has lights on Smile

DH and I had only got together four month's before we found out we were pregnant and although we hadn't planned to have a child just yet (the pill and antibiotics don't mix and we thought we were out of the 'risk' zone), we embraced the fact and were so shocked when we discovered that we we're having three babies, let alone one!

The first few scans went well, lots of questions from both sides and although we were warned that maybe we'd lose one of the three as he was smaller than the other two, we can of flowed along with everything.

There are NO multiple births on either side of the family so we were a bit shocked to say the lest. We went on holiday as planed and came home for another scan only to be told that all three heartbeats had stopped and that the boys had died.

I screamed, I yelled, sobbed. I shook with rage, fear, pain and sorrow. DH was as white as a sheet. We just didn't know what to do as we'd started to tell people, planed their bedroom..... bought three of everything.

Sorry, this isn't about me JWIM - but I wanted to share a bit about our loss with you..... I know that other Babes have lost precious babies along the way too. And incredible amount of pregnancies end before they should these days, or is it maybe that the taboo of losing a child has lessoned somewhat?

I wanted to reach into the screen and hug you JWIM. Thank you for sharing that part of your life with us. Again, this place isn't just about the drinking is it?

It's about real life, about things that take us to where we are and where we want to be. The things that take us in directions we may never have gone.... the places we end up.

It's six years since the boys died this September 28th, my sister's Birthday. It would appear that lots of my closest friends who have lost children, also have other associations with the anniversaries, which sometimes makes the day that little bit harder, having to share it with another who is celebrating maybe?

Anyway, I'll shut up now.

Lots of love to you and to those who have lost a child or loved ones.

{{{{{[hug]}}}}} xx

OP posts:
aliasjoey · 27/07/2012 11:41

dragon my DH minds about me spending too much time on the computer because many years ago I had an affair and a lot of it was conducted online. Of course he knows I'm not going to do anything so bloody stupid again, but still there is a tiny seed of doubt in his mind. Understandable, but annoying.

venus thanks for the ideas about work. Actually I've got a bit of boing, because I was worrying about the extra meeting on Monday and suddenly realised I had no dog-care.

alcoholic joey worry all weekend, get drunk in the evenings, stick head in sand, panic, call in sick Monday morning, feel dreadfully guilty, drink more to numb feelings

sober joey thinks, what would I do if I actually wanted to go to this meeting? Oh yeah, I'd arrange to start work later. Sorted.

Boing! Grin

LRDtheFeministDragon · 27/07/2012 12:29

Hello, just checking in. Day Two for me. Smile

joey - I see ... as you say, understandable but annoying! I'm sure as kot says, the bus is better than the bottle (nice ring to that, too.)

mouse, I remember your story, I'm so sad to read it again. You're making a very eloquent point about the taboo needing to be dismantled by talking about it all. I like the idea of your cherry blossom and christmas tree for them.

ma - well done! Onwards and upwards!

Right ... I am going to go make healthy lunch to keep myself on this be-good-to-your-body kick. Have a good afternoon babes.

SobaSoma · 27/07/2012 12:36

Wow, so much going on here at the moment, it's wonderful. Joey your comment about "no need for 'over-18 authorisation" made me chuckle. But it's a nice feeling isn't it, I always felt so guilty when I had to be authorised....Mia where are you going in March? I'm going away with DD and friends next week to France and it'll be my first AFH (alcohol-free holiday) ever!

Quick update on me - have decided to stop my antabuse as from today after being on it for just over two months. It's earlier than I'd anticipated but I feel I'm ready to see how I get on without it. There have in fact been a few occasions when I've actually forgotten to take it and it hasn't been a problem as my brain really seems to have switched to non-drinking mode. I do intend not to drink for a while yet, but can see a time when I'll try controlled drinking (I intend NEVER to drink more than two glasses at a time and limit to social occasions only). At the moment I can't imagine lifting a glass and the thought makes me very nervous, so who knows, I might not even go there...

For me, breaking the habit has been key. Now I no longer crave alcohol and have started to learn how great life is without booze and I never want to be hungover again. I suppose some of you may be asking why I should ever want to drink again at all, but I'd rather allow myself the possibility and see how I get on. I believe I've developed a new respect for alcohol and an acceptance that I can never go back to where I was.

aliasjoey · 27/07/2012 13:02

great to hear from you soma and you sound so positive! Breaking the habit is key I think - although I had a lapse last weekend, having broken the habit over 7 weeks prior to that I feel much more in control this time around.

How is Alfie doing?

NonAstemia · 27/07/2012 13:58

{{{{{Soma}}}}} Hello gorgeous one! I'm so glad to hear you sounding so strong and positive! I hope your AFHoliday goes brilliantly. Is DD enjoying her summer holidays so far? We're off to Naples in March (a prospect to get me through the misery of winter) for 11 days, probably staying in Naples for half the time and somewhere a bit more peaceful for the other half. Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Campi Flegrei are on the itinerary. I'm intending it to be the pinnacle of the next six months' home-ed for DD so planning projects on the Romans, the ancient Greeks (there are a couple of Greek settlements there too) and Italy. Also geology and volcanoes. We're learning Italian so she can hopefully charm the shopkeepers into extra-large servings of gelato! Wink I know it's a long way off but I'm feeling excited about it. Smile

LRD you asked upthread about Milk Thistle - I recommend it, personally. I take it every day as part of a mixture of tinctures, and if I've drunk more than usual I'll have an extra stand alone dose. It's difficult to know how much difference it makes, but as purely anecdotal evidence... years ago now my alcoholic father was told by his GP after liver tests that he had cirrhosis, and estimated that if he didn't stop drinking he'd be dead in about 3 months (I spoke to the GP and he told me the same thing). My dad's only concession was to cut out the half a bottle of whiskey lunchtime session during the week. So still drinking half a bottle of whiskey a night, and a bottle a day at weekends. Hmm The only other difference was that I gave him a high dose of Carduus (milk thistle) fluid extract (a very strong tincture). Three months later his LFT results were much improved and he lived a decade or so after that (drinking right up until the point it killed him Hmm).

Tristessa · 27/07/2012 15:02

No problem Ma, I had it saved. Should have referred to it myself when the thought of drinking again was so horribly intrusive.

Thanks Faire that does make me feel a bit better Smile

MIFLAW, MIFLAW MIFLAW

guggenheim · 27/07/2012 16:36

Hi all,

mouse I'm sorry to read what has happened to you- that was a very honest and heartbreaking post!

I really like that boxing analogy,I'm going to copy it into a file somewhere and read it when needed.

I was aiming for a few alcohol free nights, 2 of which were going out with friend's evenings. I managed one really well and had a fab evening. One of my friends asked why I wasn't drinking and she didn't really buy my " I trying to be healthy" line but that was fine she 's a lovely friend and a good time was had by all.

But I drank loads on an empty stomach last night and feel shite today.I knew I was going to do it and sort of felt as if I'd used up all my will power during the previous evening. Of course, that is just an excuse- I chose to drink and drinking on an empty stomach instead of eating is one of my things.

I feel crap, but all wine has been poured away and today is day one again. Massive respect to those who have made it to days 3/4 or a whole week.

Actually, if anyone is wavering tonight please talk to me: I'm happy to describe in full glorious detail how wonderful my hangover is making me feel and how I'm struggling to string a coherant sentence together and my spelling is shite all because of my friend alcohol. See, I have my uses? Hmm

obrigada · 27/07/2012 17:00

Have been having a little battle with myself this afternoon, one minute deciding "feck it, it's Friday, you have been working all week so you are entitled to a drink" but on the other hand saying "how different is today to any other day".

venusandmars · 27/07/2012 17:10

Well, to be fair, it is a bit different, because tomorrow morning will be the weekend Grin. Isn't that wonderful Grin. So what do you want to do with the weekend? Do you want to wake up early and enjoy the bright light and the sound of birdsong, and do you want to feel fresh and alive and able to make the most of being outside and getting some fresh air? Or do you want to feel like gugg describes - waking early with a dry, horrible mouth, feeling lethargic and heavy all day, craving salt and sugar - what a waste of a potentially lovely day. xx

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