The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Spicing Up The Winter Nights With Rich Hot Chocolate And Thermal Tights!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

I'm one of the Brave Babes travelling on this fantabulous Bus, on it's journey to the wonderful world of sobriety.

The great thing is, that the people on here are a real mixed bunch. Some are drinking regularly, some aren't. Some are sober and have been for any number of days, some weeks, months and yep, some even for years.

There's no judging pants allowed, no savoury flans either , just lots of unconditional support from many varied sources. Yes, some of us have been here from the start but please don't let that stop you posting, this thread is for EVERYONE and it always has been

If you'd like to have a look back, here are some links. One to the previous thread and one to the very first, and the reason we are all still here.

See you soon,

Mouse xx

PREVIOUS THREAD

FIRST EVER THREAD

Oooh, a flurry of babes !!

I love it when that happens. It's like we're somehow 'connected'

But not in a weird stalkery kind of way.

< grabs tinsel and wraps ma up in it >

< emerges all twinkly from glitter mound and lobs virtual snowball at ma >

evening babes,

I've had a nice sober evening I had the apple and lime drink instead of wine. Thought I might boast while the going is good, doesn't happen often.

As you were with the tinsel and glitter...

at faire
Builds snowman in sidecar to fool passersby.
Where are indie, thurso silver etc.
Puts CD of Christmas carols on in the hope of making Gerald more festive.

Yeah, c'mon you old codgers. Where's JWN too? Dancing the night away in killer heels no doubt.

And here's me, hoovering up glitter before Mouse gets back and sees what a mess that ma made on the bus

Fa la la la la la la la la la

(Did I get the right number of la's there? )

hey I'm in charge of carols! you've already made a mess with all this glitter and now falalalala-ing!

well it's all bloody drama here, I do wish life was simpler. DD found an insect in her bed. cue hysterics (not that I blame her. and she found one a few weeks ago and we didn't believe her )

I have spent months googling bug bites, seen a dermatologist, crept in her room with a torch etc and still none the wiser. options are scabies, bedbugs, dustmites, booklice... nothing exactly fits the bugs we've seen and the bites she appears to have. I think we're going to buy her a new bed. £££ great.
and
anyway tonight she's in bed with me, DH is in the spare room and I'm glad I'm not drinking! it might take away the anxiety for a while, but I know it would trigger wanting a drink tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...

the dermatologist said she had an allergic reaction to ordinary insect bites. no idea what that means. what insects? the dog has been treated. nobody else has been bitten (and DH always gets bitten by stuff!) over 3 months now...

her arms are covered with scabs and sores. I know she is embarrassed about them. and we didn't believe her

Morning Babes - as you can see I'm up extremely early as have a lot to do today. Apart from this dreadful cough that won't go away feeling really good - liver doesnt hurt any more, mouth healed and can't believe my energy.

DD2 has been home for a couple of days,and we spent loads of time together- no sneaking wine and 'just going for a little nap' we haven't had one disagreement (yet!) must be a record (she's 16 by the way).
Picking up DD1 today as well so we'll all be together as usual for our little 'power of 3' xmas.

Drinks party this afternoon (funny the invitation said come for mulled wine/juice! - so no problems there), and I've got some lovely looking sparkly juice drink for our xmas lunch.

2 cans of Cider in the house (left over from teenage party) I found while tidying up and haven't been tempted by it at all. I have had the odd moment of thinking oooh what if I had a glass of wine - but I've firmly shut the door on that Wine Witch when she comes sneaking into my head - playing the video forward has really helped.

Today will be day 11 for me and that's a record by 6 whole days I think that the last time I went so long without a drink was 10 years ago when I did abuot 4 months after the death of my sister - she died age 58 an alcoholic of liver failure and encepalitis - it was horrible to watch her eventual decline and ultimate inability to beat her illness. As my mum also died age 58 an alcoholic - I refuse to let history repeat itself- I have so much to live for (I'm 50 btw). Sorry if this sounds a bit self-indulgent , but you can't help wishing that loved ones were still with you at this time of year - so many memories.
And its comforting for me to be able to feel the emotions and not ignore it or try to smother it in Pino Grigio.

So Merry Xmas Babes and here's to a happy and healthy new year!

I WILL NOT BE DRINKING TODAY.

Morning koala! Another early riser here. I've made a cassoulet this morning and now going back to bed with a
Strength and HALT awareness to all the BBs.

alias I had horrendous skin 18 months ago, triggered by pollen but then leading to 6 months on anti histamines. It wasn't getting better and towards the end of it my arms were so sore and swollen I couldn't bend them. DS, then 10 said, just don't scratch for 3 days. I cut my nails short, had loads of hot baths and let my skin air as much as possible. The original allergic reaction,followed by heavy duty antihistamines had snowballed- once I went cold turkey it cleared within weeks and the scaring has gone too. Apologies if this isn't relevant and she's just having direct reactions to individual bites- my problem was the 'collateral' damage.

alias I had horrendous skin 18 months ago, triggered by pollen but then leading to 6 months on anti histamines. It wasn't getting better and towards the end of it my arms were so sore and swollen I couldn't bend them. DS, then 10 said, just don't scratch for 3 days. I cut my nails short, had loads of hot baths and let my skin air as much as possible. The original allergic reaction,followed by heavy duty antihistamines had snowballed- once I went cold turkey it cleared within weeks and the scaring has gone too. Apologies if this isn't relevant and she's just having direct reactions to individual bites- my problem was the 'collateral' damage.

Morning all. About to make lemon ice cream. At this time of the morning

Morning all, just a quicky to wish all babes a happy and healthy Christmas, will be in the sidecar for a few days though feel comfortable I won't over do it. As I am just home around family.. My challenge will be not drinking EVERY day after the Christmas period. May not have chance to check in regularly but wishing you all well and thinking of you.

koala very sorry to hear about your mother and sister, so sad, you can break the mould for your DCs x

ma lemon ice-cream for the whole Bus? Thank you!

Hi everyone. A merry Xmas Eve to you all. I am bearing up thank you Purple - just putting one foot in front of the other for now.

I had some terrible cravings yesterday but thankfully I live in a small rural village (nearest shop is a ten minute drive away) and I have no car, so it is not an option to drink. My alcoholic thinking is so crazy though - I even contemplated if there was any way I could sneak a bottle of wine out of my neighbours house without her noticing. I wouldn't do it, but the thought still came into my head!

At the end of the day I have to come to terms with the fact that this illness kills people, and could easily kill me. Even one drink is just not an option, because once I have even a sip, all bets are off. I cannot guarantee the outcome.

Here's to a sober Xmas you lot

only 1 hour of work and then I'm off - hurrah!

BOING!!! sorry to do my usual run and go

just wanted to come and wish all the wonderful babes a happy, peaceful, sober christmas - i know its super mega hard right now, the world seems to be awash with alcohol, but you can do it i know this because I can do it, and if i can, so can anyone!!

be good you beautiful babes!! i luvs the bloody bones of youse!

Happy Christmas XXXXXX

(btw, i have very much so been dancing the nights away, mostly in my new pale purple crushed velvet with enormous diamonte bows on the toes beautiful shoes and matching bag! )

hey babes. how are we all bearing up?
Other than missing one Christmas stocking, everything else seems to be on track!

Hey Ma. Spooky! We have one Christmas stoking missing too! Maybe there is some sort of Christmas Stocking thief about this year?!

All ready here. Everyone is still a bit under the weather but we're coping. Even had the foresight to buy the DC a DVD for this afternoon to keep them occupied and not play fighting and falling out!

how did you forget 1 stocking ma? do your grownup kids get stockings?

I told DH I wanted more appreciation for my sacrifice on boxing day, and he said it was appreciated and he understood... I'm just trying hard to think of the benefits, being in my own bed, being able to have a bath. (not one of those nasty dribbly showers that PILs have!)

and tomorrow I also plan to avoid alcohol until late afternoon/early evening. have got elderflower, raspberry soda, herbal teas etc

and ODAAT I keep reminding myself that it's not as bad as I think, that other people won't be drinking, I'll feel better and happier for it.

purple a DVD, lucky you, I am being forced to watch Lawrence of Arabia again. 3.5 hours and there is not a single female character?!

how are you feeling?

Doing good thanks Joey. Have decided to have a few drinks tomorrow and then aim for the 3 months dry the Doc and useless Alchol Services suggested. They felt that would be my pivotal recovery time scale.

Feeling calm and organised and a little amazed that I got the remainder of pre-sorting Christmas all done yesterday!! Who knew! This has been the first year in ages that I've got all the presents wrapped before Christmas Eve. Tell you what, they are hugely better wrapped, and used far less paper than when I do 'drunken, last minute, late at night, throw the paper and the sticky tap at it and hope it stays wrapped' wrapping!!! Each of the DC's have their own paper and I even....even....have matching tags! Go Purple, go Purple*!

Did you keep the bug you found in the bed? If so, maybe you could get it identified and be a bit nearer to sorting poor DD's problem? My DD has a fit if her hair doesn't go right in the mornings so your DD must be really struggling. Hope you get it sorted really soon.

Hope you have a fab Christmas, Joey, I like your planning. Good luck and thanks for your support and thoughts these past weeks. xxxxx

PS I'm not watching the DVD, I'm hiding in my bedroom and watching the likes of QI! x

hey joey I didnt forget it, i can't find the bloody thing to hang it up.
Of course the grwon up dds get stockings, there would be outrage otherwise