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 hatingbooze I'm also pretty new to the bus. Jumped aboard in september after an all day wedding drinking wine which resulted in me trying to jump out of moving car on motorway being driven by 8 month pregnant wife of dh's work colleague because I wanted a cigarette!! Gave me big shock. This bus has provided me with support, coping strategies, togetherness. I don't feel an alcoholic but do feel when I drink I have a problem. Over the last 3 months this bus as well as counselling has helped me to manage my drinking. Maybe in the future if things get worse I may feel that the only option is complete sobriety but for the moment the support from the babes has helped me manage. Thank you amazing babes.

Half your luck Koti!! Wish I'd been avoiding 'sex for ages' - with anyone!! xx

I'm thinking of trying the Jason Vale book. I read 'The Juice Master' and liked his style. Has anyone else used this book? The reviews on Amazon are very positive.

Sorry alias its soba who has fleas
Welcome to boot camp gold
We are SO going to get healthy and fit this year.
But don't worry - the boot camp will always be secondary to the alcohol battles, it's just a bit extra, not to sidetrack the bus or anything.

kot you should be so lucky! Thurso and I are very particular about who we offer our sexual favours to ...

No kotinka I'm not trying to lose weight. I had a go at the Juice Master because I have the opposite problem. I can eat any old crap I like and I stay a size 8-10. I realise this some would see this as a 'nice' problem to have but it means I don't eat healthily. I look OK on the outside but I dread to think of the fur I probably have inside my arteries. If I'm drinking I eat really really badly too.

When I did the juicing thing I looked amazing. After a couple of weeks my eyes looked whiter, my skin glowed, my hair even looked shinier. I loved it but I didn't manage to keep it up, partly because it's a load of hassle not eating the same as your family (not that I feed my family a load of crap but kids aren't keen on things like sardines and raw spinach as a rule).

But I found the book really motivating.

I'd love to cut booze out of my life as it causes me so many problems.

And I quit the fags fourteen months ago after nearly twenty years on a pack a day, so perhaps I can stop drinking.

Everyone finds their own way of doing things. I know that for me, I need to stop seeing drink as something positive. Because although it really fucks up my life I still see it as a reward and I suppose I like the camaraderie of drinking (a lot of my friends drink a fair bit, though I'm always the one who gets the drunkest).

I think if I can stop seeing any positives I might be able to stop. This book sounds like it kind of re-educates you about it. He has a very motivating style of writing that really fires you up. It's also apparently different from the AA thing which I'm sure is not for me. But it advocates complete abstinence rather than controlled drinking. I haven't managed to maintain controlled drinking.

Here's a link:

www.amazon.co.uk/Kick-Drink-Easily-Jason-Vale/dp/1845903900/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356875239&sr=8-1

I'm going to try it and will post here to let you know how I get on.

I've just ordered it off his website it is cheaper than Amazon.

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Okay, I'm going to put my two penneth worth on here then go for a shower. This post is directed at Help.

Help - You said Bubble baths and mutual support and great, maybe it's all some of you need. Controlled drinking rarely works, I can't think of anyone who's gone from problem to controlled drinking

You also said - stop chatting and stop drinking, which I found a little disrespectful to those who have bared their souls and cried out for help, just to get it all out, just to ask for reasons from others here to stop themselves from picking up that first drink......

Reasurance. Kindness of strangers. A hug through the ether can make a huge difference if you can't get to an AA meeting, get to see a GP, get to a friend's house. Or even if you don't want to face the reality of what your life has become, not in person anyway. Not just yet. No-one knows who you are here, you can be yourself and not be punished or judged. It's always been that way and has to remain that way otherwise we'd never have new Babes wanting support would we?

For me, chatting about what makes me want to drink is a HUGE part of the reason that just for today, just for right now, I AM a controlled drinker. I think you need to accept that not everyone is going to want to go to AA. Not everyone is going to switch to Elderflower cordial, or a N&T (Nothing and Tonic for those who don't know Jesus's fave tipple ), we're all so very different, even though we all have abusive relationships with alcohol.

I understand your frustration Help, but saying that you don't care if you upset people just to get them to sit up and listen is rather counter productive in my eyes. You've been so supportive in the past, and it's wonderful that AA has worked and remains to work for YOU.

This is a support thread, it always has been, no matter what your own circumstances or views. No matter how much you do or don't drink, or where you get RL help from or not, you're always welcome here.

That's the point..... everyone has a right to post here and talk about themselves, why they drink, what help they've tried and why, if the case is so, they don't want to go to AA/GP etc.

Some people have been to AA, some have tried it and just didn't like it. Some have tried medication and that's failed too. Some cold turkey, some just sheer 'fuck it, that's enough'

I think you need to let people get on with it. Just as you would anyone else..... you stand far enough back to let someone carve their way through their life, but stay close enough to catch them should they fall.

((( ))) Mouse xxxx

Oh, felt that wasn't enough so....... (((((( )))))) Mouse xxxxxxxxxx!

AfternoonBabes - I don't get involved in some of the discussions but wanted to give support to Help who has been a source of support and good advice on this and previous threads If we can't voice our opinions and thoughts here about booze then where, ? and that includes all our varying degrees and experience of our drinking problems.

It didn't matter to me when I first found Jesus's first thread that she drank more or less than me - just that her journey was one I wanted to emulate - I'd got to the point where I had had enough - that was all it took.

So let's all sit next to our favourite Bus Babes and continue whatever journey we are on at the moment. Help and Ma and BabyJ you're with me on the back seat - you know the one near the heater! Thanks for the last two weeks - you've kept me coming back here day after day - sober.

I'm off to an AA meeting tomorrow the first for over a week cos of christmas hols and looking forward to it. I'm an atheist and have no belief in a god figure so I'm not bothering with that aspect - at this point its not important to me. What is important is that I don't pick up a drink and I'll take support in RL from anywhere I can get it. The thing that got me through the door was that I was frightened, humiliated and ashamed and now I feel humble and thankful and hopeful for the first time in many a long year.

I'll keep posting MY experiences - because it helps me to remember and reaffirm my commitment and who knows it may help someone else in the future who finds this thread and keeps reading.

Just thinking that yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion but, imho, it needs to be tempered with sympathy and understanding and appropriate to that person. People, for the most part, are only on here because they are really struggling with life. Frightening people away from something that could see them though some really hard times can never be right.

Before this site, I was on a more 'serious' site. Their tag line was that it was a place for anyone who wanted to cut down/give up. After I'd been on there for a few weeks I left because there were a few 'hardliners' who told me if I wasn't going to go to AA, as they were pushing me to, I clearly wasn't really serious about giving up and wouldn't ever manage to be alcohol free. Who the fuck knows, they may still be right but their comments upset me and lead to me leaving the site - and a potential life-line. Here I am, four years later. I'm more hopeful now than ever before. Still in the sidecar, some good 'dry' weeks behind me and not feeling as hopeless as before. This is my very real experience.

FYI Not sure having favourites is a helpful notion either. Everyone on here has something, sometimes to offer all the Babes at varying times. Just saying.

Right, off to wash the target off my t-shirt.

Luffs you all! xxxxxxxx

Koti Put Mama Mia on whilst you are working!!! Do crazy Mum Dancing to it! That'll drive the WW away. xxxx

(And every one else!!!)

Oh, Koti I wish!!! xxxx

and we may not agree with everyones opinions, but who knows when somebody might make a point and change a little idea in our heads... it's always interesting reading different viewpoints

right, I've bought 2 mini bottles of wine instead of my usual small (500ml) bottle, which is good but not good enough and I know that in the new year I've got to get back on track.

also got zero fat yogurts and skimmed milk. I can't do much about meals as am a useless cook, and DH does most of the cooking. am going to concentrate on not snacking etc.

(((((( ))))))) purplewolf hope you got target mark of t-shirt

Hi again all. Been lurking for a bit but not wanting to join in ... As I knew I would drink over Xmas and felt weak and lame. I have had lots of social occasions - work do's, Christmas day out, meals out etc. Most of the time I was really moderate but slipped up last night at party of an old friend. There was flowing and big glasses and we were there ages cos had pre booked the taxi, and I ended up drunk. I didn't behave badly (at least I saw my pals this morning and they said nothing and dh was in a good mood with me) but dd was upset as I tripped up, then on the way home I threw up. Am so ashamed. Definitely want to join you for a booze free January boot camp. Have bought 30 day shred DVD anda low carb diet book. Am hating myself so much right now though : (

What a nice idea mouse and wishing you a much better 2013. My dd was getting bullied at school at end of last year & fake facebook pages made in her name. The whole experience was just awful, Hope situation improves for your dd.

Hope - keep a good hold of that memory. Use it. Keep it close to the fridge or wherever the wine is. It's how I learnt to stop embarrassing my DD. xxx

Clutter - it's horrid isn't it? Girls are nasty, spiteful bitches and are so harmful...... It's even worse when you can't get them to understand that you've been there. Massive hugs to you xx