The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Whacking The Wine Witch Round The Chops (With Barry The Squid).

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse :)

I'm one of the Brave Babes who's travelling on this wonderful, magical, mysterious Bus, trying to hold onto my sobriety for me, and for my family.

I do drink but thanks to this Bus, I've kicked the vodka addiction into touch and the evil WineWitch has been banished far, far away so I now drink in a controlled manner, One Day At A Time. :)

By that, I mean that just for today, I won't be drinking. Tomorrow, however, I will be because it's a very special occasion. The day after will be dealt with when I wake, and the day after that, the day after etc.....

We're a Bus filled with some fantastic posters, some who drink, some who don't touch a drop ever and some who are on/off drinkers who have lovely warm seats in the side-car, some are hanging onto the roof-rack by the tips of their fingers and trying their best to resist the dreaded WineWitch's charms night after night. But they are trying, and that's all that any of us can do, is keep trying, keep starting again!

So, if you think that you're drinking too much (you probably are) why not come and say hi? We won't bite - unless you ask very nicely, manners cost nothing .

There's lots of seats so pick whichever one you like and have a . Just jump in, we're not a judgemental pack of quiche makers

And here's a bit of light reading for you.... our latest thread and the very first one, the reason we're all here.

PREVIOUS THREAD

FIRST EVER THREAD

fullof try and think that it's not YOU, it's nothing personal - they just have to make savings somewhere & you're the easiest target. It is hurtful because they expect company loyalty from us, but it doesn't work the other way around ! Don't let the bastards grind you down.

mouse I was just posting on another thread about DD going up to secondary school, and how small she is - it's freaky having to watch them become all independent!

clutter well done!

full if they make you redundant I'm pretty sure that they can't employ anyone else in your place. That would amount to constructive dismissal which is unfair and you could sue I think. Maybe post in legal?

full so glad you are OK and stick it to them re redundancy rights. I was dumped from a job once and had to take them to tribunal to get what was owed to me, but its a big hassle.
curry finger s crossed house-wise.
Will be seeing Richard tomorrow to take him to the doctor, nurse and counsellor. Will update you all then.
Can't wait to see a pic of wee nemo in his school uniform...Ds starts high school in August but he's already built like a brick shithouse so its high time he moved on!

curry I'm really rooting for you On the house front, keep chasing the mortgage company, really hope it works, it's a horrible feeling when something as important as a home is outwith your control, hugs to you x x x x

Full - get yourself clued up over the wording they have used in your notice. Get a union rep and get all the advice that you can. Citizens Advice, Job Centre Plus, everything that you can.

Even have a look on the web about employment law for people in your position. They can't employ another person to do your job UNLESS they change the job description and/or hours.

They're clued up too because they have made you redundant before 4 years, you have the additional years under your belt which is a slap in the face for them.

Just make sure that you keep a note of everything that they say to you, copy all letters, keep all emails etc......

Sorry you're going through this xx

Ps purple I tried to reply earlier to your pm but reply doesnt work for me on this tablet fsr. Thanks so much for your good wishes really appreciate them.

PS Full Got your PM. Hugs. xx

full the ACAS website has useful information.
purps how are you today?
thurso my friend are you out there?

Oh, quick boast....dd2 not only got through her audition to join Edinburgh Musical Theatre's production at the Fringe this summer, she got a SOLO!

Im a techical genius (not)!!! I didnt see it cos didnt click on show sent! Hugs back to you as well :-) im feeli g v low at min and this is my only outlet just now :-(

Hi ma ill have a look just now and thx good luck with db tomorrow. I hope hes a bit better!

aliasjoey "theala okay that's great that she was lovely, and you're probably right - it would be better to wait for the meds to kick in before getting all deep with emotions.

Sorry, I was just bringing up my bad experience. And anyway, I know counselling isn't a magic fix (after years of therapy, I'm still taking the drugs!) I hope you feel better soon."

Please, don't worry, you are right to be wary if it seems like someone is just dishing out pills. i would be exactly the same. she did listen to all my various woes and ask loads of questions though, so it wasn't just that she wanted me out of there. and she said I could come back next week if I felt like it, but I think I'd prefer to leave it untill the meds have kicked in before going back. Thanks for looking out for me though.

Anyway, my second evening on them and I feel very nice and relaxed. (I think that's just the xanax actually.) Came home from pilates to find P had already gone to sleep in the spare room, which would usually be an occasion for me to open a bottle or two, but I'm sitting here with a nice cup of decaf instead.

Full don't let the bastards grind you down! Get the union advice and fight!

curry fingers crossed for your house, and mouse awww...little big grown-up Nemo. That's lovely, although it probably doesn't seem it right now.

full you should post on the employment issues thread HERE. There are some great HR bods who post on there with very sound advice - look out for *flowery( - she is superb.

ma did dd see the consultant as well (or maybe I've missed something about it)? She must be thrilled with her audition results

Thanks everyone. Day 5 here and it's going ok - lunch was not a big deal for me as I often decline at lunch, but thanks anyway. And thanks for your good wishes with the house.
Full, you sound very clued up. Well done and bloody good luck. Hope you feel better now.
Ma - so thrilled for your dd! She will have the most fantastic time. You should be bursting with pride.
Following on from the theme I was pondering this morning:

Some of the most compassionate writing in the world was written in the middle ages by Julian of Norwich, the first woman to write a book in English. Here is some (translated into modern English):

"And then he allows some of us to fall more severely and distressingly than before - at least that is how we see it. And then it seems to us, who are not always wise, that all we set our hands to is lost. But it is not so. We need to fall, and we need to see that we have done so. for if we never fell we should not know how weak and pitiable we are in ourselves. Nor should we fully know the wonderful love of our maker. [...] The testing experience of falling will lead us to a deep and wonderful knowledge of the constancy of God's love, which neither can nor will be broken because of sin. To understand this is of great profit."

I am sorry if this seems painful or excluding if you are not a Christian. I am not sure if I am, or what sort I am. I do know that there is a sort of peace in meditation which could be understood as the experience of God's love, and it is not conditional upon you being worthy of it. A sense of completion and belonging, simply by virtue of being of this universe.

A lot of Julian is about falling, and the different pains of falling, and compassion to one who has fallen. I will save more quotes for another day.

thanks to everyone rooting for my house. I appreciate it!

Have a good evening all x

Hi Venus yes. Finally referred for MRI scan. We've been asking for it for months

PS

I wonder whether some of the difficulties of replying on such a busy thread could be to do with some insecurity about who is who. Maybe we should have a Babe's roll call at the beginning like on antenatal threads, or weight loss threads. Name, a few biographical notes, goals, and identifying details, like

Curryeater - 41 - DP and two small DDs - a job in media - attempting controlled drinking, resorting to abstinence instead when necessary

Full - if you are being spoken down to, poorly treated, bullied even, in the office etc, and if you have the opportunity, PLEASE CONSIDER RECORDING CONVERSATIONS with your mobile.

AFAIK, you only have to let someone know that you are recording if you are using CCTV to record crime/potential crime or something you'd use in court, I think voice recording is different (please don't ask how I know

ma,49, mother of two adult dds and one pre-teen DS. Serial offender when it comes to drinking. Record AF is two weeks.works fulltime, rocky relationship with dh, periodically attempts jogging to lose weifht

Weight, even.

Mouseface - 38 - DH and DD 14 and Nemo just 4 -disabled full time carer 'training' for a sponsored 2.9km hobble/shuffle - attempting controlled drinking, resorting to abstinence instead when necessary.

Thank you Curry - that was just what I needed tonight because for some reason, I'm feeling very sad, I think it's my friend losing her baby and Trinity losing Cliff all in one weekend, it can affect you, other people's pain can't it?

Very blue and lonely, wanting a drink and I will NOT DRINK so I'm off to bed.

Night Babes xxx

ma,49, mother of two adult dds and one pre-teen DS. Serial offender when it comes to drinking. Record AF is two weeks.works fulltime, rocky relationship with dh, periodically attempts jogging to lose weifht

Mouseface - 38 - DH and DD 14 and Nemo just 4 -disabled full time carer 'training' for a sponsored 2.9km hobble/shuffle - attempting controlled drinking, resorting to abstinence instead when necessary.

Curryeater - 41 - DP and two small DDs - a job in media - attempting controlled drinking, resorting to abstinence instead when necessary

Any more babes want to copy and paste and join the list?

Sorry you are sad, Mouse.
Sometimes the world is so full of sad stuff.

Evening babes,

hugs for mouse hope you sleep well and feel happier tomorrow.

curry I loved that post. I'll look up some more Julien of norwich, it was very interesting. I think I was under the impression that Julien was a man, not that I know very much about religious writing. I do love your posts but I'm always because I never manage to say anything profound- I'm all poos in potties and trivia.

fullof hope you get every penny you are entitled to. I loathe the practice of bulling people into leaving their job- vile. You sound much cheerier!

purple Still very glad you are on the bus what can I say? Poo prizes are when you reach the end of the line on attempting to PT your toddler and buy toys in an attempt to bribe said child. little horror Hope you are ok lovely.

Guggs, 42. One ivf ds, teacher and bookworm. After many years on the booze I joined this lovely bus and after a long time of trying to abstain I realised that I can't control; I needed to stop. Sober for 4.5 months with AA. Have no idea if I will drink again or not, hope not.

for all the lovely babes I have forgotten to name. I am rubbish at keeping up with the bus and I never pm anyone. Think I might start to do that.

ma,49, mother of two adult dds and one pre-teen DS. Serial offender when it comes to drinking. Record AF is two weeks.works fulltime, rocky relationship with dh, periodically attempts jogging to lose weifht

Mouseface - 38 - DH and DD 14 and Nemo just 4 -disabled full time carer 'training' for a sponsored 2.9km hobble/shuffle - attempting controlled drinking, resorting to abstinence instead when necessary.

Curryeater - 41 - DP and two small DDs - a job in media - attempting controlled drinking, resorting to abstinence instead when necessary

PurpleWolfe 51 Single (sob!) DS 31 - wayward, DD 11 - pre teen, DS - 9 and DS -7. Not working as have enough to do with three children to look after right now. Previous life - well paid PA (now not got enough brain cells!). Alcohol - serial re offender. Longest AF - 7 weeks

Thanks Guggs Not doing so well here but totally bored of my own whinging. Good luck with the potty stuff!!! xx