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.

Great idea mouse < wonders if can find box big enough to put dh in >
Fish boy always makes me smile, I picture the little stripey one splashing about happily.
Right pre-bootcamp challenge for today..... Go through your clothes and find a few things that don't fit anymore. I have found EIGHT pairs of trousers- EIGHT! - that I can't fasten. I have chosen four and made four labels written with target 1, target 2 etc and pinned the labels on.these will be my tests and measures, not just weight.
So - go choose an item or items and label it......you will have something tangible to go for.

ggoodness ma you sound so determined and positive! am liking it

I can't join in as I'm on the Christmas sherry, really wish it wasn't here, but think it would be too wasteful to throw away the whole bottle

okay I've thrown away what was left in my glass and put the kettle on to make some tea. it's a start.

Thanks for the welcome Mouse.

Love your box idea. Not sure I could find a big enough box for my 2012 horrors. A skip might be more in order :)

Ma - the box is FULL! I just had to do it, we've been through so much this year. I know that there are people out there with so much more pain, so much more worry, so much more to deal with....... A fresh start is just what the doctor ordered.

You can get cardboard coffins can't you? I was thinking for your DH?

I can't go through my wardrobe like that, my clothes are too big....... but I can get rid of past shit..... so anything at all connected to my XP. I have a few things, jewellery that I found, notes tucked in books I've not read in years... they are going to the charity shops.

My goal is to eat well, more in fact. I actually ate all of my beef casserole tonight where normally, it would've gone in the bin after cooking it. Even DD had some!

Joey - well done you!!! Great start, no matter how big or small, it's a start. And why not now? Go you xx

Right, box burning time. xx

Good grief! Have just seen the anti-smoking ad with the tumour growing in the cigarette. It's horrible! Feel a bit queasy now. So glad I never took smoking up.

Thanks Mouse and Koti. So upset with myself at the moment, appreciate your comments. I had a lovely Christmas, I have lovely friends and wonderful kids, why am I so stupid? I really need to grow up (at 45!). I am gonna write a little post on Here every day in January to keep myself focused, so apologies in advance if I bore u all to death! You guys are doing so well - I think I get complacent after a few weeks of moderation and let my guard down. Kids and dh have forgiven me & are watching tv with me, but I can't even look at myself in the mirror right now. This is not the worst thing I have done by a long way, but each let down hurts more these days as I know I am running out of excuses, even to myself.

well I've found myself a great little tip, it is herbal tea. I have used this technique several times, and it works brilliantly. I cannot find a non-alcoholic alternative that I like, non-fizzy and non-citrusy. J2O did a delicious apple and melon flavour but they stopped making it. Really all I drink is water instead.

Anyway I have found that if I want to start drinking, I say 'have a cup of tea first'. By the time its boiled, and tea brewed etc. the urge has often gone away.

And if, as now, I started drinking early and realised I was heading for the bottom of the sherry bottle, it helps to put the brakes on. Theres just something about the little ritual of making a cup of tea which gives me a wee pause.

mouse

Thanks Koti. Think I need to abstain in January actually. I find it hard to admit to people in RL that I need to stop, but it is acceptable in January, and I can say I am on a diet from Jan 7th (have 3 meals out booked before then but driving for 2 of them and with very moderate drinkers for 3rd so will be ok. Just NYE party hurdle left - may offer to drive or promise dh to only have 2 glasses wine as he will watch me then .... Thing is he didn't even get cross with me last night and told dh that everyone 'lets their hair down at Xmas'. Not many of them vomit in their hair the day after though.

He told dd I mean. She hates booze much she left.a note for Santa about drink driving after I left him a Bailey's!

Hope - that has made me rofl!! Santa D&D! Can you imagine the press?

"In shocking news, it was discovered last night that Santa is in fact a drinker! For years it was thought he just made the brandy, whiskey, baileys etc just magically vanish and he only ever drank the milk.... not so!"

"Children all over the world are in pieces after learning that Santa is in fact human and occasionally needs a drink after dealing with millions of elves, passport control, a huge clean up operation with all of the discarded gift wrap....."

"Our reporter at the North Pole tells us that Santa is in fact in hiding after getting pulled over for drink driving, unsure of his future......"

Joking aside, we are Santa, we are that important to our DCs and we must keep their safety at the forefront of our minds. We have to take this seriously, we have to protect them from our demons and our undoing when we can. xx

I know Mouse. That is why I feel so bad. Your Santa news report made me smile though x

Pissing myself laughing at kot pinning a note on the wardrobe and at mouse's cardboard coffin.
Well, tomorrow is the last day....feel excited and apprehensive. Babes I am really going to need your support if I am going to do this. I find it almost impossible to have an AF day let alone a month!
Did anyone read the article in the Mail today about middle aged women and drinking.... apparently some are drinking more than 8 or 9 units a week!. Tomorrow, for my third and final pre-boot camp challenge, I will post my weekly units.

Hi Babes even though Im not doing the bootcamp challenge (want to concentrate on one thing at a time) I did look at the drinkaware site - just to see what my units/calories were on a daily basis.

Oh my god shocking so here goes Ma I'll start it off

Units per day 25 or 175 per week
Calories per day 1890 or 13,230 per week

Is it any wonder Santa has such a big belly and a red nose to challenge Rudolf.

Good luck Ma.

Baby Watcha doin'? x

We have burned the Box. All the shit that we've dealt with, has gone. Forever.

Ma - you have been on this Bus for long enough to know that we will be right by your side. I mean, right by your side Mrs.

Every step, every minute, hour, day is yours if you need it. Just yell.

You're not doing this alone, even though I have a Birthday celebration, and a girls' night out, I'll be holding your hand.

YOU CAN DO THIS MA xxxx

@ Mouse! xx

Ok I've missed the last few days... who am I am sexing it up with Ma, Kot
All quiet on the southern front here, for once, nearly bed time (with Dh :0)
xxx
Have peaceful nights babes xxxxxxxxx

Good luck babes with all that your hoping for today, tonight, new year! I have 5 pairs of trousers that no longer do up so am left with only one pair for work that fits. Have them as my goal. I'm going to a Hogmany party tonight that I've been roped into & not really wanting to go. Got a new years day dinner at my parents tomorrow and really want to go to that so going to try really hard not to overdo it tonight. Definitely no wine & I'm going to pre-book taxi so not lots of waiting about where it's so easy to have that next drink. Good luck babes for tonight

Good morning babes! I have been lurking and reading when I can, haven't been able to post for last couple of days - As always I am inspired and humbled to read all your posts. Thread has moved on too much for me to comment personally to you all right now but have some stuff to say I'll hopefully be able to come back later.

Update on burning fanjo hell (sorry new babes!) it's getting better, saw doc today swab results are back, it's a strep skin infection not STI - thank God - huge sense of relief and I am no longer sitting in a darkened room with my pants down crying

In-laws have gone now so that's Christmas finally over, just New Year to get through now - I'm so tired and we actually have a baby sitter tonight for the first time in years so are going to the pub. Will drink but hope not to overdo it then Ma I'm with you - I'll post my stats later when I build up the courage to get on the scales! Love to all - Keep on keeping on and best of luck in keeping to your aims this evening xx

Oh and help I'm sorry to see you go, I like your advice and tough talking but understand if this space isn't good for you anymore, thank you for your help in the past and best wishes x