The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Boinging Into Spring, With A Dance And A Sing!

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse and I'm one of the regular travellers on this Bus!

This is a Bus for drinkers, the completely sober, those fighting to stay sober and everyone in between! No matter what, you're welcome here if you feel you don't like the way you drink anymore, or you're worried for someone else.

Take a seat.

You'll be listened to, looked after and maybe (if you're lucky), slapped with our resident Squid, Barry whom I'm sure you'll meet in time!

So, what have you got to lose by posting? What have you got to lose by coming to say hello and telling us why you don't like the way you drink anymore?

And, if you'd like to see where we've been so far HERE IS THE LAST THREAD

And the reason we're ALL here in the first place, the first ever thread is ALL HERE

See you soon xx

Morning all.
Just checking in.
I know who you are, isinde! Come back, come back!
Purple, come and tell us how you are.
have a good day to everyone else

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - what time is that thing today? So sorry that I missed asking you about it last night. How are you feeling? Sorry

Baby - I need to figure a way to cope with the sober version - yep, you do. It's not going to be easy and you'll want to drink and shout and scream and say fuck it more than once but you have to look at the bigger picture here..... Although this will be a ODAAT 'project', you need to look at the BENEFITS of not drinking alcohol.

When your pain levels are through the roof, and you're feeling like super shit, all you'll want is a drink or seven. We can ALL relate to that but for you and me, and others, our illnesses and bodies kinda need us NOT to use alcohol as a relaxant, something to ease the pain, something to numb the agony of your condition. Maybe see what has helped in the past? What have you used when you really couldn't drink? What else helped?

IsinDe - hello lovely, are you okay? Get yourself back on this Bus please, you know more people than you think :) xx

Morning Faire :) xx

MsGee - you know the score, post whenever you want to! That's what the Bus is all about. Hello again :)

Purple - where are you? Are you safe? xx

Ma - how's life with you? xx

X posted with you Baby - I'm smiling reading that you're feeling string :) Go you! xx

Hello Curry - you sound very upbeat xx

Hi Lovelies.

I'm just about to head out to take the DC skating but wanted to say I'm still here and appreciate all your thoughts and wishes.

I'm just so disappointed and disgusted with myself. Despite really wanting to stop this infernal drinking, I don't seem to be able to pull it to a stop just now. So many good, healthy, financial, obvious, intelligent reasons to stop and the slightest, silliest, inconsequential, untrue, warped reason to pick that glass up - again.

On the outside, I look like a fully functioning, vaguely intelligent, funny, coping parent of 3 but on the inside, I'm such a mess.

Quick bath now (to hopefully shift this awful odour of booze ) then pick up the DC and ExMIL from ExP's, put my 'coping' face on and feel like a fraud - again.

Sorry for the 'me, me, me' post but I just wanted to post quickly so I don't cause anyone further worry. I'll check back and thank people for their kindness later. xxx

Ah, Purple have a {{HUGE}} We're with you. It can be so desperately hard sometimes..... x Is there any way at all in which we can help? Can you write a list and let us suggest things that can help you?

To all you other lovelies - huge hugs for you all too. I think I need to read that Alan Carr book. I've given up smoking for 11 years and now 6 years respectively and if I can do that, I can do it with the drink, but it's proving a bit harder.

Anyway, DAY 2. I shall not be drinking today.

morning babes!

isindi - you know me! and ive missed you! i need a poem!!

purps - have a ((((hug)))) - hope your bath made you feel a bit better!!

purple - good luck to you today. It is horrible, isn't it? But we can do it.

mouse - thanks for the welcome back.

And how annoying about the appointment. Honestly. You do wonder how people keep any clients.

Right then, Day 2 for me .. onwards and upwards.

purple we love you, please let us help!!!!! Xx

Checking in, Lent didn't last too long, had too much vino on Friday night but have been alcohol free since. Purple, I so empathise with you! Talk to us (needs to take own advice and admit I need to talk too).

Shifts over to make room for Mouse:) Cheers hun xxx

Morning babes afraid I was in the sidecar last night, after Monday's lapse it was too easy to fall down the slippery slope (although at least I didn't have too much last night) now I'm back in the Bus till the weekend.

My triggers were it being half-term (no responsibility for getting up in the morning) and still thinking about what my colleague said. Having to think carefully about how to handle my emotions rather than just hiding in a bottle of wine...

mouse sorry to hear you have been let down. Can I ask if this person was recommended by your GP? As far as I know cranial osteopath is not available on the nhs as there is little evidence for it. I'm wary of some alternative practitioners as they are often used by people who are desperate and vulnerable... forgive me if you have done your research and I'm speaking out of turn, when you wrote that she saw £££ it rang warning bells...

Joey - she was recommend by his nurse, she's worked with children with cancers, looked after children who are dying, have a shorter life expectancy etc. I was all for it given that she said she could help with his sleeping issues.

Oh well, I'll speak to his nurse and let her know what happened Thank you for your concern, DH was the same xx

Clutter - thinking of you! Hope your interview is going well?

I'm off out for a bit, need to collect the rest of my meds and pick DD and her friend from town.

Be back later lovely Babes xxxx

When isindie jumped onto the bus,
We were waiting and making a fuss.
You know you've been missed
(which is better than pissed)
So post now! And don't be a wuss xx

Hi everyone practically day 8 if you dont count last saturday! Passed offlicence again tonight! Acarr goes on about alcohol making you thirsty and thats why you have to drink more and more as you get ever more thirsty! Im now worried:-) that ill run out of apple juice!!!

Hi

How do you keep up with all these posts and remembering what's going on for everyone?

Had a sneaky look at your pics, mouse. Nero is a little treasure, what a smile. You are a brave lady. Makes me feel humbled if I'm honest.

Day two. Hard part of the day. Day one was easy. I felt so last night due to the GF that I didn't fancy anything, let alone a glass of wine, but hey, if I wasn't 'trying' I probably would have had one anyway, so therefore a success. Unfortunately today I am dosed up on paracetamol and therefore unaware of my shivering and aching, and could quite happily swig a nice cold glass. I'm not going to, I know, but I'd really like to.

I've looked into GF and spoken to two friends who have had it as adults. Both of whom were told that their livers were affected and they had an elevated blood test result (just like me) and both were told absolutely no alcohol for 4 weeks and 6 weeks respectively. I also posted on the health board and got the same answer. My gp didn't say that to me but I'm not stupid, GF affects your liver, you need to stay away from the booze or else you risk permanent damage. No alcohol forevermore, or no alcohol for 4 weeks. The former scares me more, but STILL I could drink a glass. I keep saying I will allow myself one small glass on Friday if I get that far. I used to have a small glass on a Saturday when pg and made it last all night and was very 'satisfied' with it, but still, I don't know if I can do it again.

Desperately need some new books for bedtime, so am amazoning later and will definitely get the Carr book then.

Sorry its a me me me ramble again. Really must clear up, and avoid the fridge.

I'm not drinking today. Day 2.

Nemo, not Nero I know....autocorrect on iPad, sorry!

Trying to keep up - my tablet corrects nemo to memo!
clutter was the interview today? How did it go?
purple thinking of you. I understand. Truly, I understand.
indie get your amplebutt back on this here bus pronto. I miss your posts and there are lots of lovely new people for you to meet
Venus like the verse! How is dd?
kotinka where are you?

I'm OK. Somewhere between bus and sidecar. More demented than determined but still here.

Aw thanks for asking MA and Mouse, had interview at 11am....and got the job!!! Even asI'm typing that seems really surreal! Will start in about 6-8 weeks, wish it was tomorrow!

DH was great when I came home then had almighty row with dd and grounded her for 2 weeks as she was late for school this morning. I said this is way too extreme and he needs to get a grip and it's one of her best friends birthday meal on Friday and she's not missing it. He then went mad at me as said I always undermine him, I'm too soft, DD is taking the piss! That kinda put the kibosh on the happinees of new job, dd in tears. I really, really, really want a huge glass of white wine but (un)luckily for me there is none and I have zero money!

Life always keeps the balance gives with hand, takes with the other!

Day 9 here :)

clutter oh well done you! Brilliant news, you should be very proud of yourself. The Dh/dd scenario sounds very familiar - we have that here with DH and dd2. Don't let it take the shine off your day.

OK, so, coming to you all from my well-worn seat in the side-car.......

In all my years, this is the only place I have felt that it's OK to come to when things are shit. Not just once, every now and again, but daily, hourly (if necessary). This place is truly a revelation to me. In the past I have hidden problems and attempted (badly) to get on with life by myself - because that's the way things have always been for me. From an early age, I learnt that the people who should have been there for me were busy doing other things.

I have never been so honest and open with people the way I am here.

Thank you so much to the lovely Curry, Joey, Emin, Jesus, Faire, Isinde and LRD. Ma, Lovely, thank you, I've identified that I post most when I'm 'up', I'm able to support others and I'm trying to break the habit of hiding in my dark hole when things are crap. Baby I remember your first post and I'm so privileged that you say I made a difference. I'm finding it hard to realise that I, me, little ol' me, got to seven weeks! Who was that person?

Full Thank you Sweetpea for reading my backstory and for your empathy, it means a lot. Clutter Your support has been so appreciated. And, no, I have no support here - it's all down to me.

Marvellous Mouse. Yes I can say that MIL is a trigger (fucking rhinoceros of a woman ) but, in all honesty, I can find numerous 'faux' reasons to descend back into the bottom of the bottle. I know the excuses I give myself are a crock of shit. So sorry you have had continued struggles. I feel a little fake in the knowledge of your problems. Sending hugs and love.

Trusting people doesn't come easy to me. Feeling low but, without you lot, I've been a lot worse.

Thank you my Lovelies. You have no idea how you have helped me. xxxxxxxxxxx

Well done Clutter xxxxxxx

Green and Koti, you old bags, where are you??? xxxxxx

clutter I'm so so happy for you, that's cheered me up, on day 3 and dh is getting on my nerves big time!! Did he always talk this much shit? Have been swimming today and tomorrow I'm stuck in due to horrible pre med for colonoscopy on Friday, it's very painful but I'm looking in the bright side, free colonic irrigation, stay strong brave babes x x x x