The Brave Babes Battle Bus - New Year? So, Let's Go Up A Gear!

[ChristMouseTimeMistletoeNoWine]

Hello, tis me, Mouse (normally Mouseface but I'm wearing my festive name )

Welcome to the Brave Babes Battle Bus, to a place of solace, support and sanctuary, if that's what you seek of course. It's also a Bus full of bloomin' chatterboxes, waffling on about life, love and all things from school reports to laundry!

The journey into 2013 is going to be an ass kicking one as we're moving up a gear to give the WineWitch a bloody good slapping, and the BoozeBeast a kick in the bollo.............

Some of us drink in moderation, some of us drink. Some of us are sober, some of us are trying so very, very hard to be.

Some of us have been dry for days, weeks, months and some of us years...... some of us are just starting out and are scared of what stopping drinking means. It's not forever, it's just for today if that's what you want.

We have a saying on the Bus One Day At A Time. Or ODAAT

Take each moment, each day and each blip as it comes. The support on this Bus has kept me from ruining my life time and time again. The experiences of others shared here has helped me to change the way I see alcohol, the way I see what it does to me.

Although some Babes have been here a while and kind of 'know' each other, we all have different lives, different roles to play, different places to sit on the Bus, but we ALL have or have had abusive relationships with alcohol and we're here because we want that to change; for the better.

Everyone is welcome here so don't be afraid to just jump right in and say hi. Post as much or as little as you like!

So, come say hi, grab a seat, an eggnog (non alcoholic of course ) and a mince pie, or chocolate chip cookie, and meet some lovely, genuine people who are just like YOU.

Also, HERE IS THE PREVIOUS THREAD with a link in the OP to the first ever thread, and the reason why after more than two and a half years, this thread is still here, supporting those in need.

welcome jango and well done for being brave and making the first step!

purple so glad to hear you are feeling better. must have been the wet fish that did it, I reckon.

Day 1 for me, and I'm going for dry January

p.s. has anyone seen dementedma lately, she seems to have completely disappeared, and there's a whirling shiny dervish in her place?!

Thank you lovely Mouse.

Done my shopping (no alcohol purchased). Got myself a cooked chicken and all the stir fry bits and really looking forward to dinner. [grins] The only alcohol in the house is half a quarter bottle of whiskey - I'm not really bothered about whiskey - unless I've already been drinking wine and run out. Still, I think I'll give it back to ExP next time I see him.

I made sure I took my vitamins this morning, along with lots of water, Campral and some paracetamol. I didn't know about the probiotics, thanks, I'll get some tomorrow. Feeling much better now my house is clean and tidy. The state of my house is always an indication of how the inside of my head is.

I decided last night that I wouldn't drink today. Apart from the night sweats and disturbed sleep (and the cravings, obviously), I don't suffer too much if I just stop and moderating just doesn't work for me.

So glad you got a bit of a break! You do sound more 'boingy' today. When is Nemo back at school? A man not indicating?! Surely not?!

Resting and watching TV now. Feeling much more positive. Mwah to all the Babes! xxx

Thank you, too Joey. Wet fish therapy! Day 1 for me too! It's my birthday on Tuesday and the DC are doing a meal for me (with ExP's help, natch!) and I can't say I won't have a glass of wine then but after that, I'm going to try for a dry Jan too. x

Thanks for the welcomes guys !, right I have just tidied the kitchen! gonna hoover in a min- then?? just wish this bloody awful churning that I have in my stomach would go away :((((.. Already been out with ds1 (another time passer) It doesnt help that I am dreading DP coming home :(( (long story) but lets just say he doesnt help the situation

Welcome Jango, you've come to the right place. Mouse it's lovely to see you smiling again and in fractionally less pain.

Soma my first thought was how different that is to DD, who loves it when we're altogether and wishes we could all live in a huge house as one big blended family... (I had to explain how very very very very big the house would have to be for that to work) My second thought was that she should jolly well suck it up - you and xDH are adults and it isn't up to DD to dictate whether you spend time together. But I agree with wise Mouse that it's well worth doing a bit of subtle digging to uncover what her issue is with it and why it bothers her. Can you probe a bit further into it? All critters ok here, thank you, although the dog hasn't been quite right since she had pancreatitis a few months ago. She's going for vaccinations next week and I'll get them to take bloods as I suspect she's not absorbing her food properly.

I want to say a huge thank you to DeterminedSuperMa for proposing the boot camp. It gave me just the impetus I needed to get back on the bus/roof rack. I'm feeling so much better for four days no booze - stronger and clearer in my mind, brighter, more hopeful and energetic. Less panicky, anxious and irritable. The smell of stale booze isn't permeating the bedroom each morning [boak] and my eyes aren't so puffy. I'm feeling so much better that I'm not going to drink tonight either, apart from the wee glass of dessert wine to go with some naughty pudding. Well it is Saturday...

Right, who's for curry? I find I yearn for spicy food when I'm off the booze, so I've got fragrant kashmiri chicken bubbling away in the slow cooker. I'm going to make saag aloo to go with it, but with jeruselem artichokes as a low GI alternative to the potato. It'll be served with basmati rice at 7pm; please bring a bottle (of something delightful and non alcoholic, obviously) and form an orderly queue at the door. I'll be booting the lot of you out in time for 9pm though, as it's the new series of Borgen. Anyone watch the first? Be careful parking Gerald outside - the road is very narrow.

Good Late afternoon all I love my cat !!! He is just so friendly and gorgeous and big and shiny and soft and and...squeeee!!! Also feeling really well today. Am kintedning to go swimming at the gym tonight - around 8ish, as it will be empty, I will be sober and it'll help me sleep. Also trying to cut down on eating too much. I'm sucking nicotine lozenges still which are good. Not craving cigs really anymorel but am thinking 'but it's saturday - I should be drinking' a bit. Jango - I'm on day 4 too. I think this bus is the bizzniss to you all

'kintending' ?? - kittens and cats on the brain

Actually it's day 5 isn;t it? hang on...yes - oooh!!

Hi,

I'm supposed to be studyin... oh sod it- who am I trying to kid? My next essay will be on the babes not the course material.

Gah- I have 2 mins only so won't namecheck but am quite concerned about purple's half cleaned bottom.
mia- yum! Loads for me please. Well done on the 5 days
mouse x
jango eat and drink loads of water and tea. I always need to eat at 4/5 ish when I'm not drinking and it makes a massive difference to my ability to abstain if I don't eat. You won't put on weight if you lat off the booze.
clutter Good luck- I have my fingers crossed for you. best wishes sweetie.

Thanks again- just feeling like ive got too much time on my hands, to think, to dwell, to crave!!! ahhhh, have completely lost my appatite too, v unlike me :(

at Gugg!! x

Welcome Jango Hang in there, it will get better bit by bit - just keep posting on here.

Sing along ladies ..." Don't sop me now, I'm having such a good time..."

Welcome jango a few of us are on day 5 and its the dreaded Saturday night. Stay strong. Dinner is at mia's tonight

Welcome jango sounds like you have been doing lots to keep busy. Could you go & make big dinner to pass the next couple of hours by, then eat, tidy up, have some pudding then this hopefully will help you beat off wicked wine witch for a 5th successful night!! Hope things not too stressful when dp comes home x

Doh just saw you last said that you have completely lost your appetite jango maybe making something nice may bring it back? (( ))

Hello everyone, i'm new here. I found this thread after drinking a bottle of wine last night and waking up this morning not feeling physically any worse for it. Mentally, however, I felt awful. So i googled giving up alcohol and here I am! Although i don't usually drink a bottle of wine in an evening, I do drink wine every night, usually 2 large glasses. Usually starting at 5pm. I really want to break this habit. I don't want to be dependent on wine. I want to be healthier and happier. I hate that my children see me drinking wine every day. So i'm sat here at 5pm ish and I'm not drinking wine. I'm going to take things 1 day at a time but I have to stop drinking daily.

Just done my shopping too Purple and didn't even consider going in the wine aisle. I wonder how long that will last You sound more positive, well done. I'm like you, would never consider spirits unless I was already hammered on wine and had run out....Welcome Jango, know what it feels like when the lure is overwhelming. You just have to try and ride it out, minute by minute if necessary. Drink lots of water, eat something sweet, go for a walk, remind yourself constantly how crap you'll feel tomorrow morning if you drink. It can be done!

Mouse thank you for answering my question - I believe you're right, she has mentally separated us and it just feels downright weird when we're all together for too long. I'll do some subtle probing though because I'm intrigued as to why she feels this so strongly. She does still mention how awful if was towards the end of our marriage - me shouting and drinking too much - so maybe she's afraid that will happen again. I'm envious of you Mia and Purple that your DC still want to see their dads as part of the "family" but at least there's no unpleasantness in my set-up.

Well, I've had a day largely free of cravings and have noticed that alcohol hasn't been on my mind so much (usually I think about it CONSTANTLY) and I know I won't pick up now. Sounds like the endorphins are working Ma, I know if I miss my daily walk with the dog it makes me feel sluggish and under the weather although it can be hard to get out in the evenings so I much prefer going in the morning.

Well done purple :) you can do it girl. Welcome stronger and jango

Thanks Soma It's so nice when someone tells you they did the same alcohol related things as you - makes me feel less loony somehow, less alone. As for ExP and DC situation - I think ours will only work until ExP or I find another partner. ExP is still quite hung up on me and, given half a chance, would like to give it another go so me finding someone else will probably change his attitude somewhat. And, no, there's no chance I would ever go back to him. Well done for avoiding the 'Poison Aisle' in the supermarket. x

Hi Green Thank you for your words Lovely! x

Thanks Green :) Had dinner with family and a nice glass of water! Kept busy by preparing veg for tomorrow's Sunday lunch.

clutter couple of other interview tips.... If you are worried about being nervous it sometimes helps to have a structure (3 or 4 typical steps) for answering questions e.g. Plan, Do, Review. So they ask a question about something and your mind goes a bit blank, and you fall back on your structure and say, well first I planned [how I was going to put out the fire / whatever is relevant], then I took action (the doing bit), then I *reviewed whether anything else needed to be done / anyone informed etc. By the time you start talking your nerves have gone back into the right place. Depending on the job / role the ones I find the most useful are: Plan, Do, Review; or Analyse; Discuss, Agree, Implement; or Act, Measure, Change i.e. take action, measure whether it is working, then take any corrective action.

It is often useful to be clear about a couple of your strengths (and to not feel bashful about saying them). I found it easiest to ask other people what my strengths were, or think back to what nice things your boos or colleagues have said about you - and remember the actual events. e.g. if they said you were organised then think of the situation where you were organised that they were praising you for.

You can also use the 'any questions' bit at the end to add in something really vital that you may have forgotten to ask earlier, and give them the stunning bit of additional information that might just clinch the job for you.

SUPER-Ma you are sounding great - I can see your fire and enthusiasm glowing from here

Ahhhhhh he s just arrived home, now he s popped back out to get his wine!! I got to sit there while he guzzles it down.: ((

Thanks venus that's really helpful, really like the Plan, Do, Review, like having things structured & clear! Starting to feel really nervous, don't know if it's worse cause I've been off work for 2 weeks so double whammy! Like your advice about strengths, what sort of thing do you think is good to say as weakness, obviously it's personal but don't want to say something that then they think "oh, right don't want you then!' hope everyone managing to beat ww tonight