The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Off On A Journey Far & Wide, Full Of Support, With No Reasons To Hide.

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse, one of the Brave Babes on this Bus. :)

We're heading to sobriety, in various different ways, in our own different ways, some of us are there, some not quite yet.

We're a group of non judgemental, mothers, wives, partners, sisters, daughters, girlfriends, and of course all of the male equivalents that run alongside those 'tags', but most of all, we are, or we have been, just like YOU. :) Real people with real concerns about how much we are drinking all of the time.

Our relationships with alcohol are varied, and you'll find most of us are wanting to do something about it..... desperate to stop the cycle of drinking, stopping, drinking, stopping, drinking more, stopping for shorter periods of time and then the reverse, doing ever so well and then 'something' happens and you're back to square one, a place that sometimes gets a little crowded, one little square filled with lots of people who all want out.

Sound familiar?

You're never alone here. Ever.

Come and take a seat, post or lurk. We won't bite but we WILL look after you, SUPPORT you, if you want us to. :)

And for those want to know how we've ended up where we are today, about three years on from THIS THREAD RIGHT HERE

To our last thread JUST HERE

It will be lovely to meet you so why not take a seat and have a gossip about all things booze related but also, DCs, husbands, wives, in-laws, out-laws, and everything in between.

There's always a seat for YOU xxx

Where is everyone? Never known it so quiet here. Hope all babes are out enjoying the weather. Alcohol makes me retain so much water. Just 3 nights of the booze and I am 3.5lbs lighter

Hi babes, I feel like such an idiot, my dh and dd are away this week and yesterday my neighbour offered me a wine and I stupidly thought, why not, I'm a normal person now, I can test myself without dh and dd hovering with disdain, so I drank and I drank and today I feel like shit, like a hypocrite to all you babes giving me support and praise, I wasn't go

I wasn't going to post again but if I can help any of you by my experience then not a total failure. The ww may get quieter but still waits for her moment and boy she got me good, sorry babes and BE VIGILANT xxx

Afternoon babes:) you're not a failure Baby, you remind me of myself, once I have that first drink it's very hard to stop! Today is a new day.

1 year and 5 days

hope everyone is ok, sorry haven't read the thread

1 year and 5 days, well done Trinity:)

couldn't have done it without mouse and these threads, thankyou everyone

Hello have posted a few times but need some inspiration! Feeling so crap with pains in liver/stomach region! Been drinking half to bottle of wine most days since dd3 was born (except early days when was bf). Had a couple of single/double days off but need to have a lengthy detox for health reasons methinks! Been incredibly stressful time as had consultations at work for losing job (have kept job but more workload for the rest of us!!) and am main breadwinner, but need to put that behind me. Dd3 is nearly one - cant believe have slipped into bad ways! So tonight is going to be first if many (I hope!), thx all

Hello everyone - just a quick check in as still on holiday and hardly getting on line at all. All good here - first sober holiday that I can remember. I was half dreading it thinking it would be v dull but it's actually oddly relaxing! It's also very lovely to spring out of bed and enjoy the early mornings - went for an outdoor swim at 6.30 am the other morning and it was GLORIOUS.

Haven't been able to read all the way back so apologies for lack of namechecking but trinity - that is an amazing achievement (I remember you from when I was lurking a couple of years ago) and hello tazmo - enjoy your sober evening. :)

Good evening lovely Babes, tis me, Mouse :)

Taz - whilst you're not drinking vast amounts of alcohol (compared to my past drinking habits) you are drinking regularly, so yes, time off sounds like a plan to me :)

How do you think you can do it? What are you thoughts on not drinking at all for a day? Just one day. Make it today or tomorrow or a week next Tuesday but try a day and come here.

We'll all support you through it, hold your hand, talk you through some alternative soft drinks in advance and plan your day. How does that sound?

Quite often, as with drinking, your first day off, day 1 leads to day 2, to 3, 6, 10 and before you know it, you've had a good run off the drinking. What you do each day is your call. But you will only succeed in stopping if you plan and think about not drinking, worry about not having that first drink, not being scared of having that crutch or numbing nectar, One Day At A Time.

Trinity - you are so ace. I can't believe it's been a year! All of those times, tears and terrified moments you went through..... I think you ROCK lady, you really do. I you can stop, after everything that life has thrown at you, then anyone can kick ass.

Give the girls a squidge from me and Nemo xxx

Pink - you are welcome. I honestly think you are doing great. Absolutely great! You should be proud of yourself whether you don't drink for an hour, a day or a week, just not drinking is a huge achievement. Go you!

Lonni - you are doing well too! I love success stories, I really do. They make my little mousey heart skip along with joy to know that this lovely Bus, fabulous Gerald, is doing some good!

Baby

To coin a phrase - 'You're not the first and you are not going to be the last'.

NEVER say sorry to us for drinking, (I am being very honest here because I care about you) the only person who you have to feel sorry for, is you.

Thing is, we're all bloody human and I did exactly what you did, thought I was 'cured' and had a glass of wine with DH one night. It led to a bottle each and fuck I felt like utter shite. For days!

It's a test you were going to take eventually, I think most drinkers who stop, do it at some point, or at least think about it. The thing is Baby, you came back and you posted about it. You're being honest about how you feel, how drinking made you feel and how disappointed you are with yourself about it, and you came back to warn us all that even after however long, the WW is always lurking! She's shameless and will get you if you let her.

Now, stop beating yourself up, put it down to experience and a test as you said, and move on lovely lady. It's done and dusted. You're still a Babe, your seat remains firmly bolted down, embroidered with your name on it, and no matter what, it always will be. You've learnt the hard way that the WW is invincible when you let her be. BIG HUGS xxx

baby Mouse has said most of what I was going to say to you. You are still the bravest babe! Do NOT let the bitch (WW) derail you. Now she's found a route in she'll be trying to poison you with "well you've failed" "you can't do it" "May as well admit defeat and keep drinking" "shall I press the fuck it button for you?"

Negative self talk is part of the cycle - banish it and remember how truly brave and wonderful you are and how far you've come. How many AF days, bottles and units not drunk, money not spent.

Non of us are superhuman it's just a slip, so glad you told us about it. Keep on keeping on. You've sounded so upbeat and positive recently don't less this one day drag you down. Big hugs x

mouse if you were in front of me I would hug you for your kindness, you have so much to put up with and yet you show me and everyone else on here such kindness, I sincerely thank you.... I have had a rubbish day, felt rubbish, eaten rubbish totally non productive day, not worth 3 hours of feeling giddy and slurry (not nearly as much as much fun as i remembered being in the past) felt depressed, extremely anxious and there was no sign whatsoever of swishy hair!!!! Anyway tomorrow will be better and I'll be wiser!!! My love to all you babes, tomorrow I will NC all you lovelies posting when I'm a better version of myself x x x x

Just popping in to say goodnight and that Baby, you are wonderful and that Greeny - fab post from you.

I love this Bus and all who travel inside, outside and alongside of him :)

Night Babes xxx

Hello Babes, sorry not to namecheck everyone just mad busy atm.

Will post properly tomorrow, but wanted to say I've had a fantastic ALCOHOL FREE weekend! And it's all down to the Bus, learning new habits and tactics over the last year.

I love you all

Baby - you are right re Mouse - I struggle to name check but Mouse does it everything and remembers things about us as well :)

Last night has gone - yay to moving onwards today :)

To everyone else - shattered.com here - cant wait for hold- got a busy sporting weekend with dd coming up - starting on Friday night !
Health anxiety still there bu not as bad as earlier in the week - love to all babes L xxx

What a lot of love on the bus this morning

Will catch up more later.

Love yourselves babes and take very good care of yourselves today x

Good morning all brave and wonderful babes

Baby Hope you are feeling better this morning and not beating yourself up so much! You are 'une bebe fantastique' - the WW is oh so sneaky and can catch anyone out, this much we know, but even apart from the other night, you have been doing so well and I'm sure you can continue to do so. If the journey were easy sweetheart, we wouldn't need the bus (and our wonderful Mouse and fellow bravebabehearts) would we?

I'm being a very good Ladame compared to usual. Sticking to one glass or one beer every other night or so. It is soooo hot here, I found a lizard in my crocs yesterday !!!!!

Sorry not to nc, I'm busy with a job today - just read back and wanted to send a ((hug)) to baby and say to all babes to be kind to yourselves today x

Good morning my wonderful friends, I'm feeling much better and I'm genuinely touched by you lovely words. This bus had changed my life in so many ways and this is soooo cheesy but I'm an only child and this place has given me the feeling of a big group of sisters older and younger to console and encourage me, I just remember one day desparate, parched and alone, typing into cyberspace the key words "I drink too much wine" and it lead me to HERE, my "salvation" and to all you lovely friends... So I'm grateful to every single one of you, I will return the sentiment to all of you x x x x x

Good Morning baby, I'm glad you're feeling better today.

I did the same as you, nearly three years ago now, typing sad words into cyberspace, and hitting the jackpot when this thread came up, which has been a source of support and somewhere I can always "tell it like it is", with no judgement or recrimination, just wise words, kindness and understanding.

I often feel that I don't offer the same sort of help in return, and so baby, I second your gratefullness and send love to all lovely friends too.
xxxx

Also, thank you to everyone for your congratulations on my new job. The shock is starting to settle!!!!

I've spent the last few days writing letters of acceptance, resignation and good-bye letters, emails to colleagues and friends, all waiting to be sent on Saturday, to hit the desks Monday morning! I've got to wait until then because of other paperwork. Fair old washing machine tummy some days, but all better without hangover!

New beginnings! At my age!!!!
xxxxx

thurso good for you!

Bloody bollocks wrote a massive post the lap top died!

Summary day 5 feeling good. Signed up with a personal trainer this AM . Determined to be fabulous at 40!

Love and luck to all babes xx

THE PARTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you who read my post about DD going to a sleep-over at a boys party, a mixed party, with them sleeping in tents on the field at the farm, next to the house where his parents would be, but still.......... IT's been cancelled!

Apparently, according to DD, his mum had said yes to a 'few friends' camping out at the farm. His step father on the other hand, has found out what is actually happening, which is that he has invited 25 people, not the handful he'd told his mother, (I thought there would be more than a handful but not 25!) queue a huge shitfest and said Birthday Boy getting grounded for the foreseeable

I am relieved, as are other parents! I know that she's sensible, and her friends who she was going to be camping with are too, but she's really not bothered, which I'm pleased about because that tells me she wasn't going to get pissed, she was going because her friends were and she was invited.

She's not even mentioned the two drinks that I bought her :)

Thurso

I'm sure that you'll be fine but it must feel odd, after being with certain people, in the same place for all of this time, it's going to feel strange, new, exciting but also frightening too.

Big hugs to you lovely xxx

Thank you my sweet Mouseface. Yes, very, very odd, and a bit scared about when everyone finds out (why I don't know!)
My friends at school, some of whom already know will be pleased for me, others not quite so much.
xxxx and bigs hugs to Nemo.