The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Still On A Sober Holiday, Waiting For The Summer!

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse

I'm one of the Brave Babes on the Battle Bus, it's HUGE and never gets full, the doors are always open, 24/7, every single day.

We're a mixture of people who have been drinking for most of our lives and in one way or another, abuse(d) alcohol.

Some of us have stopped drinking every day completely and are taking it One Day At A Time.

Some are trying to control their drinking with medication, willpower, AA, some of us aren't quite sure what we want or where we're trying to get, but we're here, we're all in the same boat Bus, and there's a seat for ANYONE who wants one.

You can find the previous threads HERE and where this Bus first started it's journey, thanks to a wonderful lady, who'd hit rock bottom face first (and she'd admit that to us herself), seeking help and advice from a bunch of 'strangers' on an internet forum........

Come have a peek, take a seat, we don't bite or judge. We listen and will try to help, best we can.

Morning all

clutter another thing you can do is not think about any further than the next 30 minutes. As soon as you start wobbling, just tell yourself, I'll give it half an hour. And repeat that 30 minutes as often as you can.

Anyone can go 30 minutes without a drink. Several hours would be the same as sleeping through the night. You can do it, you just don't realise it yet.

Before you drink, instead of feeling miserable that you can't have one, enjoy the fact that you're sober through choice and make the most of it. It's wonderful really, once you get into it.

Personally, rather than drink, I would make an excuse and leave. Any good friend would understand.

Finally, if you do drink and it all goes horribly wrong again, don't give up trying! Use it as a learning experience, to reinforce your need to stop. Come back on the bus, no-one will say they told you so. We've all been there, we speak from experience

Venus some really great advice there, good to see you again x

Well babes it's Forge on through Friday again. Doesn't it come round quickly . For those of us who don't want to drink today, remember it's just another day with the same number of hours as any other day.

alias you are doing brilliantly, keep going. Will this evening be a tough one for you?

NoNo good for you! A visit to the pub, who'd have thought it. Alternative drinks - do you like sparkling water or tonic? They are good for giving a fizz to a soft drink and not too sweet. Grapefruit and tonic sounds good, I've never tried that. Most pubs will do you a mug of hot chocolate too if you ask.

clutter why don't you take a notebook and write down how you are feeling all day? So write now that you feel that you don't want to go, how you are feeling and what you are worried about. Then as you go through the day write down what you did to avoid drinking, record how well it went, and how you felt about it. View it as a really useful opportunity prior to your counselling. You will have some really useful information and insights e.g. about your dm wanting you to be her drink buddy, and then you can work on some really useful strategies to help you with those specific circumstances.

You may also be happily surprised by moments when you realise that you don't actually want/need a drink, and how much you are enjoying yourself being sober.

Hi faire I am usually lurking around, but have been finding life overly busy recently.

Hi Clutter
Good luck for today at the wedding, you can do it, it may be hard but listen to all brill advice on here-Im definatly going to be using it in the future!<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png"> Also think how good youll feel when you get home tonight or get up in the morning when you realise youve actually gone & stayed sober!!<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png"><img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Shock" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/shock-7MJQdU1X.png"><img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png"><img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Wink" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/wink-ClU7UaDM.png"> I am now on Day 6, Friday is the day that I look forward to most for having a drink, so I think I be a bit <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Sad" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/sad-q5SIe0Cq.png"> tonight but proud in the morning! <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Wink" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/wink-ClU7UaDM.png"> Mind you, I have got my youngest DD coming home tonight from a school trip to Paris to keep my mind off opening a couple/few cans!!<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png"> Cant wait to see her, she`s been gone since Sunday

Great advice on here for you Clutter, hope you enjoy the wedding.

Morning, tis me, Mouse

IsinDe - Having the plague a terrible cold has stopped me wanting to have a drink this week as I've mentioned before..... it's weird but I get what you mean about going back into the grey, fuggy, cotton wool type haze that descends once you start again.

It's like putting the wrong glasses on, or your contacts in the wrong eyes, shoes on the wrong feet, it just feels, well, odd.

I'd been self medicating (grief and pain) and hadn't really noticed who I was when I did so. Can you relate to that? I become this other Mouse. A know it all of sorts, I know what I'm doing, I know drinking won't solve ANYTHING, I know that I'll feel like Deep Fried Dog Vom in the morning...... and yet I still do it.

Not all of the time. I like to think that I am in control of my drinking and most of the time I am, unless I let myself not be ITMS? I can cope with that and that means that I enjoy alcohol because I call the shots now.

For now at least................. xx

Nat - great advice for you and you too Clutter.

I must get my furry butt in gear, Nemo is due in Pre-School soon.

Back later, it is Friday after all........

Hey Mouse:)

thinking of clutter as the wedding starts

rural - you ok?

Well that's me off, actually feel sick, not the best feeling to be having before a wedding! Thank you everyone for fab advice, have took it all on board & feel armed with survival pack. Hair, clothes & make-up look reasonably presentable & going to try so hard to still be like this by evening reception then make a getaway!

First hurdle done, asked for fresh orange in champagne flute on arrivial...& then 3 other ladies followed suit! Said to my friend that if I had a drink wouldn't eat my meal & this lady came up & said she is exactly the same!

well done clutter. keep it going...

Mouse I know exactly what you mean by this I like to think that I am in control of my drinking and most of the time I am, unless I let myself not be ITMS? I can cope with that and that means that I enjoy alcohol because I call the shots now

I know that if I drink too much I will feel rotten, like any other 'normal' drinker, so I make sure that I don't do it. But for me, it's still a conscious choice rather than a natural desire to reign it in.

It's ok, it works for me, I know how to do it and it's becoming second nature but I will probably always drink mindfully now. I don't see how I could ever go back to that ignorant state I was in before.

I also know exactly what you mean Isinde when you say One thing I really noticed when I drank this week after 5 days off was just how quickly the grey-cotton-wool feeling envoloped me and actually how little I liked that

I've noticed the same thing. I don't actually like being drunk these days, it's too 'foggy' and muddled. It's a bit like overeating and feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. I'd rather have a small portion of fresh food, full of flavour than binge on salty rubbish.

Yesterday I made a 'rainbow' salad with 9 different coloured ingredients, all chopped up and tossed together - lettuce, spinach, tomato, cucumber, celery, red pepper, yellow pepper, sweetcorn, red cabbage and grated carrot. DH got fish and chips from the chip shop for himself and his meal looked so bland and dull next to mine

Hope everyone's coping ok with that Friday night feeling. Don't forget to give a shout if you're wobbling.

oh I'm really hoping everythings going okay with clutter !

Got a little bit of craving today, really feeling like there is Something Wrong in my body, I have to give the mirtaz another couple of weeks before going back to the GP - and anyway, don't know what else they could do.

So its worry anxious for me, and would like a drink to blur the edges. "You've worked hard, you deserve one" etc. Silly voices, if I ignore them they go away after a few minutes! Got pain au chocolats for breakfast - only allowed if I go to bed sober

On Sunday, My Mother is coming for lunch. Usually I would reward myself for 'getting through' the day by looking forward to a drink in the evening. I expect we'll have to stock up on more toffee mousses (mice?) before then...

Fingers and toes crossed for clutter

Hi ladies

Long-term freaky stalker lurker here. Was on this bus many moons ago but only briefly. My drinking used to be pretty bad, it's mostly under control now but I still drink more than I feel I should, often half a bottle when I do drink which makes me feel crap in the mornings. Had one dire night out at the end of June where I ended up binge-drinking in a way I haven't for ages. Horrendous...

At the moment I have a vile cold and have no interest in booze anyway, so that's something! I think I'm on day 3, but I've had quite a lot of alcohol free days over the last 8 weeks or so.

So that's my drinking. Otherwise I'm a mum of 2, got a DH who I rarely see cos he works so much, keep chickens and have 3 cats.

Would be nice to get on back the bus

They were giving away free wine (tasting) in Marks and Spencers today

And this week there was an article in the paper about some new gimmicky winebox - its in the shape of a handbag! (Pink, naturally) Who do you suppose they are marketing that at, ladies?

Honestly its like some sort of evil cult...

PS. I hope I don't end up like some ex-smokers who become really vehement and cross all the time.

Welcome Ellie. You are doing well to have cut back already. Sounds like you have the willpower and determination to do it

alias - sorry to hear the anxiety is back. Keep talking

I have been to tesco for some kitten food and walked all the way thru the booze aisles and bought .... Nom alcoholic cocktails and ginger beer

I remember you Ellie. You were here a while ago. I am still here,still drinking but I feel I offer a useful counterpoint to all the success stories. Light and shade and all that.
I have a daughter called Ellie and a cat called ollie

Hi Ellie, I remember you!

Can I Just let this out: My last assignment is marked and passed , only two more and a dissertation to go , and I might be able to earn more than sixpence an hour!!
DH is out tonight, so doesn't know, but I am celebrating with watching "Dirty Dancing" on 5* at 9pm, anyone care to join me? A virtual "girls" night?
T xxxx

Good for you NoNo, bet you feel really great

Hello (again?) Ellie, welcome back to the bus

Sipping on a peppermint tea here. Alias do you have any special drinks? Toffee mousse sounds gorgeous. I'm dieting again (have I mentioned that ) and today I resisted giant cookies and fairy cakes.

When I've finished with the halo polisher, who wants it next?

Oooh a flurry of posts . . . Thurso I'll say it before anyone else does - 'Nobody puts baby in the corner'

Faire I've never seen it all the way through before, and so I am really looking forward to it (sad, old babe) , going to shower and put my dressing gown on, make cheese and biscuits, and enjoy!!

Ps Is it as good as the hype?