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

Morning all. Strangely, I have woken feeling positive. I plan to get some exercise and not drink. Just for today.

Great news Gugg - glad I could help.

Ma nice to hear you sounding so positive! Have a good day.

Well I only went and missed my bloomin' 2nd sober anniversary! I knew it was around now cos all the BBs had halloween names, but have just looked back and it was yesterday. 20/10/2010 - it should be a memerable date eh?
I was greeted by Mouse, Ma, Silver, MsG, Missperrier and Isindie and met so many wonderful BBs along the way.

to all the Brave Babes

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

BProud - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LOVELY LADY! 2 whole years, how absolutely wonderful. You should be VProud of yourself for all that you have achieved in these last 2 years. I can't have been easy, well, not all of the time?

BUT YOU DID IT!

Here's to another 2 years and many, many more, ODAAT

Oh and look at the date 20-10-2010...... I doubt now that you have seen it in black and white you'll forget it again?

A huge well done to you xx

Thanks Mouse you have been a big part of my story, much love and respect to you
x

Does anyone know if there is a thread for passing on second hand stuff for Christmas. Good quality stuff I mean to struggling MNers stressing about Christmas?
A very kind MNer helped me out once with DS's birthday and it is time to pay it forward.

sorry guys, I haven't read the thread but

I haven't had a drink since the 5th of July

trinity that is so brilliant to hear. I hope that it is leaving you feeling better and more focused, and that all is going well for you xx

bproud happy anniversary for yesterday - I'll raise a lime and soda to you

I haven't been posting much 'cos things have been ridiculously busy here, and also dp and I have been trying not to be on our computers so much. In our little empty nest, it is all too easy for us both to spend the evenings online - it's sort of companionable silence, but we're each in our own world and not actually communicating, so new resolution is working out better for the two of us, but no so well for the bravebabes thread! But I'm always lurking and reading.

isindie you sound like you're in a good place at the moment - and quite determined, and reflective.

Thanks Venus
I'm definitely in a better place

Trinity - can I say that I'm proud of you? I mean that with the utmost respect to you, given what life have given you to deal with. Huge congratulations sweetheart. xx

Ma - there is a for sale/wanted section on here but I'd get in touch with MNHQ via the contact us bit. They'll come back to you if they can help, otherwise, you may find local charities wanting stuff nearer to home? Pay. It. Forward. xx

venus - nice to hear from you.

I'm off to watch some last recorded tv. Couldn't face dinner..... I have homemade apple and cinnamon crumble half made too.... fingers crossed I'll eat it.

Night all xx

venus!

ellie how did it go last night? nice to wake up without a hangover eh?

well I'm passing milestones here (mustn't get too complacent...) In Sainsburys I thought about buying some wine; figured I'd done a few weeks and more importantly I wasn't buying it because of the usual triggers (ie. stress, anger etc) but just because we'd got rid of the DCs for the night and it would be luffly for DH and I to have a nice meal and some wine. Anyway, I couldn't make up my mind, and eventually decided that unless I was sure it was better not to.

[Still on a frugal ??? and if I'd bought the wine, I'd have had to return the toffee mousse and the chocolate.]

Also, even if I was innocently drinking wine today I was concerned it might lead to a slippery slope tomorrow and tomorrow.... I felt very strong to resist when my mind was convinced it would have been okay.

and then (on a roll now!) I had to phone my mother, [rolls eyes] and as I was planning it I thought 'wish I had a treat to look forward to afterwards' and immediately went 'What are you, 6? This is life, some things just have to be done and you don't always get a reward afterwards. Get on with it!'

Hope all the babes on the Bus are staying strong and well tonight (coughs and colds excepted)

not been on here much. just felt it, that its just a drug in a glass.that its the only thing between me and moving forward in loads of ways. that I feel hideous but I think tomorrow morning I will wake with freedom running through me.I wish I wish..there's a chance, yes?

welcome dippy and YES there is a chance! take a seat though - its going to be a rocky ride...

Morning babes been riding the sidecar for a few days. Struggling with MH issue which I'll go into in more detail when I have time, using the booze to calm down of an evening and sleep, I know it's not a long term solution. I can't say yet whether I will drink today or not hope all babes have a good day xx

Dippu welcome, read the thread back and the ones before that if you have the time to see what people have achieved, yes there is a chance xx

Welcome dippy how are you feeling this morning?
Even if you don't want to post in detail spend some time mulling over what made you resolve not to drink last night, and if you did what triggered it.

Congrats to joey, Bproud and trinity well done.

joey you are right it's not worth picking up that bottle, not when you have come so far. I know you are not a well laydeee , but I still maintain that your posts sound so strong and very different from a few months ago.Keep going.

Sidecar babes: just keep reading and posting, there is plenty to learn about even if all you are doing is reading and checking in.dippy I like the description of 'drug in a glass'. Might try saying that next time I'm looking at a glass to see if I really want it after that!

I just about made it last night, I turned down champagne, which is unheard of for me. I feel like wonder woman today, knickers on over jeans and everything.

morning babes!

guggs, your description of me as a 'laydee' made me snort! How are you doing today?

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Greeny - I could talk with you for hours about booze and mental health issues, my own that is, but the good thing is that you know it's only doing more harm, the drinking, and you know that you need to stop using it as a crutch, a pain reliever, life blocker etc but it's so much easier to say than actually do.

Round and round and round you go, stopping, starting, hoping..... feeling strong, then scared, not sure of what to do, what you want, what you need even.

Stay with us, sidecar or not, just stick around okay? xx

Dippy - I hope that you'll have a few days out with us on the Bus. We won't bite, even though it's not far from Halloween I too like the drug in a glass description, alcohol is like any drug, this one just comes in different coloured bottles!

Joey - What are you? 6? - erm, yup, that's how it can make you feel at times. I've done this and sacrificed xyz so deserve some wine..... Well dine on kicking it into touch!

Another rough night with Nemo. I have to say that I have no idea how I used to do this when I was drinking all night every night...... I'm completely exhausted and have a list as long as your arm to do today when all I want to do it sleep and snuggle him up with me.

He's full of a horrid cold. I bloody hate the fact that there's nothing I can do other than to make him 'comfortable' until the spring.

Right, lists are calling!

IsinDe - how was the weekend? How are the DTs? How are you feeling about the week ahead? Are you mad busy and away lots or at home for a few days? xx

Koti - The positive side is I'm not drinking 2 bottles, and it isn't anywhere near as frequent, but I can see my old ways & thoughts creeping back and I need to take control of this

Time to take a strong hold on this...... this is exactly what happened with me. I went from not drinking to the odd glass, to two glasses and then to every night again for a short spell. Before I knew it I'd done 2 weeks of almost drinking vodka and wine each night, it was awful looking back now....

At the time, you don't see it, nor want to sometimes. Thing is, you need to plan your day/life/time away from alcohol. Planning is key for me. If I keep busy, which most nights I am until gone 9pm, then I don't even want to drink, I don;t miss it at all.

Reward your nights off alcohol with other treats.... chocolate, a nice bath treat, a new lipstick/nail varnish etc. You're worth more than this..... a bottle a night is still bad. Don't let yourself down Koti, it's just not worth it xx