The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Turning Over Autumn Leaves In Search For Our Own Personal Sobriety

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm mouse and my best friend used to be vodka. We were inseparable at the time, such fun! Wild nights out, wild nights in..... danger, excitement, strangers, not knowing where I was when I woke up, oh it was all so fantastic.....

Not the case for the last couple of years or so, since I found this Bus.

Now, we are practically strangers. Don't get me wrong, I still abuse alcohol and use it to self-medicate which completely defeats all of the work I've put in, trying to see my life through sober eyes but that's just how I do things......

Anyway, that's enough about me so why not come say hello to the others on the Bus, we're all at different stages of drinking, not drinking or complete abstinence (of the drinking kind!)

No-one on the Bus wears judgy pants, nylon bloomers, leopard skin thongs? Maybe...... I wouldn't like to ask to be honest! But we are all here for the very same reason, we can't (or don't want to) control our drinking like 'normal' people do.

If you'd like to see how this all started, why not have a look HERE and read about one of the most inspirational ladies you'll ever 'know'.

You can also follow the threads, one by one, by clicking on the links on each thread towards the end, leading to the next etc......

See you soon x

Can you pour it down the sink, or failing that, use it to marinade some meat?

Not suggesting you should waste money if you can resist, obviously, but I know I couldn't!

I've just suctioned it so it's good for a couple of weeks, there's only half a glass out of the bottle, fuck what do I sound like!

I'm probably not ready to be on the bus but I'll definately stay for today x

Hey, I wasn't trying to guilt-trip you!

Just thinking what I'm like myself.

Good luck for today.

Well thank you for having me lovely ladies (and gents) hopefully I can stay a while

Oh dear kotinka, no that's not what I meant, expect I have done similar though!

greeneyed today is perfect - get on for today decide about tomorrow tomorrow.

was it you who keeps chickens greeneyed? sorry if i've muddled.

Morning all!

Saf I have chickens...

Day 4 and today I will not be drinking

Aliasjoey - "And then I remembered the Bus's motto: One Day At A Time. I only need to think about next weekend, not next month or Christmas!"

No - you only need to think about TODAY. The time to think about next weekend is next weekend, or next Friday if you must. Today you plan not to drink. That is all.

Good luck with it!

Hi,pleeese can i join ?
Have name changed for this because im so ashamed.
Ive been drinking most nights for a few years now. Started off as a glass of wine to relax after work and has become something i now recognise i am choosing over more important things-like going out with my girlfriends or taking my children out because i know ill have to drive.
I drink wine mostly and about half a bottle sometimes more.I know its not a HUGE amount compared to some who i think drink a lot more, but the dependancy and realisation that i am on a slippery slope is real.
last night i had yet another alcohol fuelled domestic with my dh. Ive become aware that out recent arguments which have become disgusting because i am so so horrible, are partly if not entirely fuelled by me drinking wine.Last night i ended up argueing until 2 am and kept my children awake because i just would not give in. I never ever want to be so awful in front of my children again which is why please i want to join your bus for some tips on stopping this and getting my life back on track.
Ideally id like to not drink at all in the week and enjoy a glass at the weekend with dinner-not reach for the wine before anything else.
Thank you x

time welcome. I'm right at the beginning of this journey so I don't have any wise words for you. However, my drinking was very much like yours. Half a bottle most nights, triggered in an immediate sense by 'coping' with work. I still drink, and I'm not where I'd like to be yet, but I now have as many non-drinking days as I do drinking days, and it's getting easier (I think!). It's really important to break the habit of coming in from work and pouring a glass of wine, or starting to cook, or waiting for 7 pm, or whatever it is that makes you pick up that first glass.
I used to pick up as soon as I got home, so now I cleanse off my make up and moisturise instead. And then if I still want wine I leave it for half an hour and do something else or drink something else, and just keep repeating the process until I get to 9.30 or so and the craving stops.

And just do it one day at a time...

Morning everyone!

I'm back inside the bus, if you'll have me!

I haven't actually been off the bus, just sitting in the library (next to the sidecar, just under the roof rack) writing my dissertation, which I have just taken to the printers , and at my advanced age, I couldn't allow myself any luxuries of distraction, writing anything other than what I was supposed to be doing, would have sent me spinning off track. Oh for the bendy brain of a 22year old, able to FB, surf the internet and messages, etc, all whilst writing an essay!

I haven't read back properly, but really wanted to check in.

Kot I'm so happy that all went well for you. You sound like a fab mum. A horribly worrying time though.

Venus I hope you had a wonderful holiday and that all is well with you.

Mouse Hugs to you xxx

Isinde I think I could probably do with some of your expertise in the training field, I don't know where to go next!

Hello to all lovely new babes, and all my old muckers (that's you Ma ), I hope to be posting a bit more in future, I don't have many (any?) helpful or insightful things to say, but from when I first joined this bus, it has always been a place of honesty, kindness and compassion; tough love or otherwise. Bless Gerald, and all who ride in him .

Mif dear man, I am so pleased that you are back, so many things that you wrote when I first came on here have stayed with me, and become my "operational tools". Almost sound bites (the boxing ring, seeing the fim through to the end) that I use when my whisperer says "one won't hurt".
I am very, very sad to hear that your marriage is breaking up. Don't know what else to say, really. I send you my love.

Speak later
xxxxx

No I don't keep chickens but I'd like to! Welcome time! My "normal" drinking is much the same but it has creeped up again recently. I realise drinking half a bottle of wine a night is not normal and don't want to do that either. Like you though I usually stop at that so I can rationalise well I'm not drunk so it's not problem

X posted

Welcome time, what's your plan for tonight?

Well i thought tonight maybe id just have to drink tea and maybe do a few hours at work actually. Or maybe spend some quality time reading to dc instead of wanting to sleep or drink.Yes i think ill just stop tonight .

It's one day time, you can always change your mind tomorrow. How about just for today?, then tomorrow you can do it "just for today" too, if you want to.
When is your normal time for having a glass of wine? If you can distract yourself at that time, maybe eat something with the children, or drink a big glass of water (or even coke or something fizzy), brush your teeth, sort the washing, anything to change your routine.

(realise I've just said the same as ellie )

Thanks Thurs. My usual time is as soon as i start cooking tea. If i can get to around 8 or 9 i`m not at all fussed really. Its when i get in from work and have to start again x Being in the kitchen really

welcome time you're getting some good advice. good luck with making a change tonight.

thurso - woohoo! done and dusted.

ellie - sorry got muddled up. chickens are not laying much at all and i realised weren't eating much so i soaked their pellets overnight and fed them it as mash this morning and it seems to have gone down better. tried some halved grapes as treats but they're not much interested. do they take a while to start laying when they move do you know?

am reading all the documents i can get my hands on to find out all about the policies and strategies relating to this job. my head is swimming. thurso i don't have a bendy brain anymore either. my body is going the same way - recently i am really stiff and ouchy for the first half hour or so after i get up. i realise i'm very lucky not to have a condition that makes that the norm all day every day! i think i'm just getting old

MIFLAW yes I know the ODAAT means I don't have to think about it till Friday, but I already feel pretty confident I can do this week - but as a Worrier am already anxious about well everything

Shit everything I say at the moment is just going wrong!! Why the hell did I post a contoversial comment on another thread? Did I really expect people to reply 'yes joey you're so wise, so clever'? You're not venus for gods sake.

Want a drink but won't have one, but struggling to 'embrace' it as someone earlier on here said. Just feel fed up and resentful.

And a bit tearful. Wish I had chickens. Do chickens take your mind off things saf ?

hang on saf don't you a new puppy ?

And... chickens?

yes AJ. we are a one parent, one child, two dog, one cat, three chicken family. not sure i actually have time for a job

be realistic - a drink would not help or change any of what is feeling 'wrong' right now. doing some relaxation or going for a walk or listening to music or taking a bath or....... may help.

what are you going to do? we tend to live in our heads and our thoughts and feelings. action makes a real difference.