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.

Mouse would cheese and biscuits, and a cheesy film temp you?
xxx

tempt you, even? !!!

hello ellie

faire I don't really have any particular cold drinks, because I don't like fizz or citrus. There is an amazing lack of choice for non-drinkers! I drink lots of water anyway because of a health problem (I know, whingeing about my health is getting boring!) The only pub drink I ever liked was J20s apple & melon - and they stopped doing that.... oh, some places have started doing ?Belvoir? (I think) raspberry lemondade, which is nice but still a bit fizzy.

Herbal teas - fennel, lemon & ginger, lemonbalm and liquorice... okay I'm sitting here freezing and now think a hot tea would be nice!

Sorry about the constant mention of non-dietary products - it really is the only way I can manage to avoid alcohol. Hopefully not forever...?

Oooh I like fennel but never tried lemonbalm and liquorice, might look out for it. M&S do some nice soft drink all dressed up in a posh bottle too. Don't worry about talking about sweet treats. I can enjoy a 'virtual' ice cream along with the cheese and biccies

Thurso you are in for a real treat my lovely. A total chick flick but some great tunes

thurso - yay to the assignment

My eating is rubbish again. I have been eating crap all week. So I have just put jacket spuds in the oven and chopped a huge tray of veg to roast. That at least will be better!

well done on assignments thurso

on the pub drinks - if it's seasoned well a virgin mary can really feel like a treat. i live on coffee and water in the morning, tea and water in the afternoon and herbal tea and water in the evening.

not feeling great. was freezing beyond warming up earlier and ended up literally putting tights and thermal vest under trousers and socks and multiple jumpers and put a hat on and got a hot water bottle AND had two dogs nuzzled into me on the sofa like a plum whilst ds was waltzing round with his socks off saying he wasn't cold. then i've swung to hot and with a horrible headache that came out of nowhere so i'm thinking a lurgy may be on it's way in. that or the lump under my tooth is an infection and has just hit the system nicely.

see what tomorrow brings.

boring moan for you all

ellie welcome - may be picking your brains if you stick around - have chickens arriving soon.

oh dear saf that doesn't sound too good. I admit to now wearing fingerless gloves while typing! (sitting still at the computer doesn't keep you warm) I hope you aren't getting anything too bad... an early snuggly night (with dogs?!) might help?

faire lemonbalm and liquorice is... a bit weird. I got it after mia recommended lemonbalm for anxious stomachs; 20 years ago I might have sourced it from a nice herbalist, but now I'm lazy and just bought it in H&B, and it came mixed with liquorice.

Currently drinking 'herbal tea surprise'. When visiting family I've started taking a few bags with me (a fennel tea in the evening is a nice break after a few glasses of wine, and has sometimes actually discouraged me from carrying on, and go to bed instead) They all look the same and smell similar though, so without the packaging its pot luck what I get! I think that one was lemon & ginger...

Lol thurso. Might watch that too.

haha to your herbal teas, alias!

oh dear sAf - that sounds awful and very much like what i've had for the last week or so. my BF has it now and is struggling. it does make me feel a little better as i was worrying that i had just turned into a huge pathetic wimp and wasn't in fact ill at all. i didn't have a hugely snotty cold, but just had awful flu like symptoms

DS's cast came off today but he isn't to run around or do sport. err!?!? he is 6. how do i stop him?? anyway - he won't use the arm at all, won't straighten it and says it will hurt if he tries (but he hasn't tried). sigh...

am still working at the moment. had an emergency dash to the GP tonight as i suddenly became very aware of an itching sensation under my left boob that i have had for a few weeks. and then i thought i felt a lump, so i panicked. anyway, apparently 'tis nothing. although i do have 'nodular' breasts. now there's lovely, as they say round here!

do hope friday evening is treating everyone well and clutter is still going strong

rural - seat next to me really needs a bum on it. you around?

It's on now!!!

< passes round popcorn >

Wow what a flurry of activity!

Thank you for the welcomes, wish I could name check everyone but I'm so not going to remember...

Thurso well done on your assignments, I am studying too, back to college in October. Wish I could join in the virtual girls' night but unfortunately it's DH's turn with the remote tonight. Yawn.

Saf hope you feel better soon, the lurgy I've got is horrible. Look after yourself. Chickens are great btw, I'm still learning really but ask any questions you want!

Ma hello again!

Joey and faire have you tried pukka teas? They are lush. There's a three mint one and a lavender one, both are lovely.

Thankfully not having a problem with not drinking tonight, water and proper tea all the way here.

Hope clutter is doing ok...!

NoNo glad to hear about your nodular breasts!

thurso well done on the assignments, amazing what you can achieve when not drinking eh?!

I do wonder how clutter is getting on...

My Plan for Sunday evening (post-mother-lunch)

Strip bed and put on clean sheets. Have lovely bubble bath. Clart with M&S fleur d'orangier bodycream. Put on NEW pyjamas I bought today (won't wear them before then, the ultimate excitement in my life) Maybe buy new bedsocks as well. Climb into bed with hot chocolate and new book.

I really like herbals teas cold. Love cold mint tea, and love cherry and cinnamon cold. No need for bedsocks and gloves here - something seems to have happened to my body and I'm like a continual furnace, must be my age

A couple of weeks ago I too was feeling awful - so, so tired and exhausted. I thought I was just ready for a holiday, but then after a few days I suddenly felt better again - some kind of sub-clinical lurgy I think.

Well done on you assignment thurso, I'm joining in with the girls night by humming "I've Had The Time Of My Life" under my breath. Hoping that clutter is having the sober time of her life tonight . I've pm'd you thurso

OOOh !!!!!!!
xxx

Venus and very nice rendition of "The Time Of My Life" as well.
Back tomorrow, when I might have recovered from my crush!
xxxx

Been doing so so well, had half lager & 2 magners, have decided to go & as been so good having a wine for the road. Thanks for everyone's amazing advice, has been surreal seeing a wedding thru sober eyes

venus i don't know if you can get here but it's called 'karkade' in egypt and it's hibiscus tea chilled - it is a vivid dark red in colour and lovely tasting and supposedly really good for your blood pressure amongst other stuff. i haven't been able to find it but extra eyes on the case would be good

nono - a boyfriend once freaked out about a lump he found in my breasts that he was sure hadn't been there before and made me go to the docs. after about 20minutes of poking around my breasts the doc announced that it was nothing but i did have, 'very lumpy breasts' i'm guessing 'nodular' is the polite version of that statement? there's lovely indeed!

yeah i don't feel coldy - just the fluey symptoms. hopefully it's nothing but tbf i haven't been ill in ages (touching wood frantically). am convinced the sinus problems i was always having were connected to the booze somehow. when i had that couple of days of drinking again they were back to blocked and sore and horrible. weird.

hope you enjoyed dirty dancing thurso and hope everyone had a good friday night minus the booze.

any plans for the weekend? i've discovered that all of a sudden ds needs trainers, school shoes and a new coat all at the same time so might have to head into town.

saf I get sinus problems when I drink. The fact that my head is currently full of gunk is unrelated. I also can't control my blood sugar. That's one of the things that has forced me to take control of my drinking. The specialist said I have idiopathic hypoglycaemia which can be exacerbated or even caused by drinking so I really have to keep within recommended guidelines unless I want to keep Keeling over in the mornings. Seems like as good a reason as any to cut down!

Nothing much on today, everyone's ill in the house of plague so all plans are canceled/on hold.

Hope everyone has a fab day and that there are no sore heads this morning. Clutter hope you managed to leave after your wine for the road!

clutter - lovely to hear you positive at the end of the night. Did you enjoy it? I found the first thing I went to after I stopped drinking (vfest) was a bit surreal because I was obsessed with watching people drinking and couldn't concentrate on the day. I think it would be easier now because I am not obsessing about alcohol so much

Poor bf has the lurge here so is full of snot. DD also has it and had a temp yesterday as well so didn't go to nursery. Grim grim bug.

Going to get out in the garden today as supposed to be dry. Also going to try another short run. My muscles have all seized up after not running for a week. Yesterday's run was Soooo painful.

< rushes in and rubs the bus down with antiseptic whilst holding breath >

< rushes out again >

Sends in a little note 'Dear poorly babes, hope you are all taking good care of yourselves. Rest is the order of the day, and good nourishment. Chicken soup, or the veggie version is highly recommended. Hope you feel better soon x

Glad the bus has been de-germed!
clutter am so glad you did ok! That was brill, it was nearly an all day wedding wasnt it? Fantastic!<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png"> Did you enjoy the wedding? Hope you are feeling really proud of yourself this morning!<img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Smile" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/smile-iCO8d7ST.png"> I didnt have a drink again last night! DD got home safely from Paris last night, so pleased to see her again! She had a fantastic time!

Hi folks
hope everyone had good friday night and managed to achieve what they were hoping to. All the advice on here truely was amazing and helped me for the first time in my life not to make an arse of myself at wedding. I know this sounds cheesy but I am actually so proud of myself. Said no to champagne unheard of and no to the many many times I was offered wine at the table. Went to the bar prior to meal and ordered a pint of coke with straw so i had something to sip throughout. Had champagne at toast but only sipped when making a toast and then left it on table half full, instead of my usual guzzling it then it being empty for toast. I actually wish I hadn't had wine for toast as then felt a bit fuzzy & did't even really want it & went I first took a sip thought it didn't smell nice but drank it and it was a huge glass prob half a bottle and as soon as I finished it I wanted another. DH said we're going, only got taxi money left and bar is shut. I had strong feeling of going up to bar and asking nicely if bar man would just serve me one more glass of wine and using money I didn't really have and then sitting with guests who were staying in hotel. It scares me now how quickly wine changes my whole being and thought processes. But I am glad to say I did just go home and there was no wine in the house so did just go to bed. I woke up this morning feeling better than usual but still had to take paracetamol. Do feel I can cope with dc today and could venture out of house if I need to instead of my usual hungover recluse at the weekend. But thank you so much again everyone as could not have done that yesterday without everyones fab advice. Think dh thought I was an imposter when he turned up at 8pm and I was stone cold sober lol Wishing everyone a good weekend. X-factor for me tonight I know but helps me connect with usually uncommunicative 13 yr old dd !