The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Off To Find The Summer Sun and Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to the Bus, take a seat and enjoy the ride. We're a Bus full of drinkers, non-drinkers, those who are trying to give up for life, those who are giving up for a few hours because that's all that they can manage (which is fine!) or quitting just for today......

We don't wear Judgey Pants (they're far too last year darhling ) but we have hugs a plenty and tough love when it's needed. Which isn't often!

So, what have you got to lose? If you're reading this, you're thinking that you are no longer happy with the way you drink, which tells me that this is the Bus for you. :)

If you'd like to see where we've been so far and what we've been up to, take a peek HERE

And if you want to knnow why we're here in the first place, take a look at THIS THREAD RIGHT HERE :)

See you soon x

Hi and welcome Red

Ladame - blimey that would have freaked me out - cheese sounds good though.

mouse hope hols still going good :)
Annie - keep going :)
Pink, Guggs, Ma, Mrs Pickle, Bobbly and neon hi hope you are all ok :)

Hey all and sorry not to name check everyone. Welcome to red - we have a green and a purple and a silver so we are very multicultural.we also have a squid called Barry and a spirit dog who rides in the sidecar but we are perfectly normal, oh yes!
dame quel excitement! Glad you didn't get shot - I would miss you.
That fecking fecker of a dh KNOWS I am trying to cut down and KNOWS I am trying to low carb so bought a bottle of wine for me, chilling nicely in the fridge. Also tried to sabotage me going out for a walk/run by saying tea would be late etc etc. I went for the run anyway and they ate without me and lived. As for the bottle of wine - readers, it is still there UNOPENED!
Day 2 in true bag.
Oh, thanks to all for your kind words re my friend Stef.

Annie - If your DH gambles, then that's his addiction to deal with, and as harsh as that sounds, you need to not let that get to you. I know you can't afford for him to be that person but drinking won't stop him, nor will not drinking.

BUT - the more sober you are, the better you can deal with the consequences of his actions. I'm sorry to read you have that pressure forced on you...... So, what do you want to do?

Are we going to help you to stop for good? Give up that wicked wine witch? Can you do it and can you do it now? You need to be so ready, mentally, physically, emotionally... I hope that you know we will all support you no matter what, that's what the Bus is all about xxx

Ma - WTAF! YOU HAVE UNOPENED WINE? I am so proud of you, so bloody proud! I know that life is pretty shit right now with DH because you're not posting about him, and your relationship, that tends to mean you can't bear to give him any of your 'time off' when you're here with us..... or it has in the past.

YOU ROCK! BLOODY WELL DONE LOVELY!!

Right, I'm off to bed, we're hoping for a nice last day tomorrow and a relaxed day of packing on Thursday and heading home to see how our neighbour has got on doing stuff around the place and the alarm engineer fixed our new house alarm so I need to remember that's fully operational now and not wander in!

We've had a fab time, with a few ups and downs, DD's friend is still poorly, DD is still being a teenager and will NOT be coming with us next year (which we've booked) as I can't be arsed trying to suggest things to keep her busy. She is going to be packed off to my mother's for a week, mwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Night lovely Babes, sorry not to NC you all but you're all in my thoughts and I'm missing some of our missing in action Babes......... you know who you are, please come and say hi if you are reading xxx

Hi babes :) checking in at the end of day 5
starting to feel the benefits again. Actually did some exercise earlier ok it was only a short time on my bike (indoors) but it was something.
Skin is looking better. Eyes not as yet regained their sparkle .
Brain/mind is clearer. I feel calmer :).
My aim is too abstain until night out Ive got planned end of Sept. Gonna really try and acheive this. I know I wont manage a full on social night out a/f plan is to drink a bit then move onto soft ones or alternate. Also NOT peform my usual trick of preloading and be half cut in taxi on way out!!

Bobblypop day 6! good on ya. One day ahead of me jealous.
ma well done on resisting that wine!
indiside sorry to hear your sad news :(
lonnika fab your on week 17!! amazing! bet you feel grand. I can relate to what you posted about a close relative dying from alcoholism and how it forces you to examine your own drinking habits. I lost a close family member some years back. What a bloody waste of a kind,clever, compassionate individual :(( that same person held down a successful career for years then slowly lost everything their house, family, job and most crushingly their self respect- in the end they didnt even wash:(. One thing that can stop me from picking up is the dread and real fear that I COULD end up just like them.
red hi! welcome
mouse hope you enjoy the last day of your hols
Hi to all other babes I love reading and gaining strength from all your posts.
Will check in tomorrow x

Very quick check in, sorry not to have NCd for a few days. I am thinking of you all tho and will post properly soon.

Welcome to the newcomers, well done for boarding the bus. Probably one of the best decisions you've ever made

Today is day ten for me. I won't be drinking today. I am back at work now which does make it easier for me to resist as I don't like going to work feeling below par. I have felt extremely sad that its the end of the holidays but didn't drown my sorrows so that's the main thing.

Again I'm sorry to dash in and out, once I am back in the swing of my 'new' routine I will be posting more. DH still doesn't know I post here so I have to pick a moment when he is not around which can make it tricky sometimes.

Love to all, make this day a good day Babes

Pink X

Good morning everyone and thank you so much for the welcome. Sorry I did not post last night... ended up being a bsuy evening!

ladame how scary!

I want to be able to say hi to everyone, and respond properly, but am at work, so will just check in quickly if I may?

Thanks Mouse for the tapering advice. I do shift work and finish at 3 and usually have my first drink at 3.30. yesterday I poured my first at 6 pm, with dinner, and when I opened the bottle I poured out and threw out a glass first. I finished that bottle, (was always going to) but it was easily half of what I would usually drink, so a small victory. Tonight I plan to start at 6.30, and throw out two glasses and then keep going down. What a waste of money, but oh what a waste of time it is that I put into drinking.

You are right, weekends are hard. This Saturday we have a party to go to. I am planning to suggest that I drive rather than take a taxi.

BraveBabes- thanks all for the welcome. thank you also for sharing your stories so openly, honestly and courageously. I have lurked on and off for quite a while now, and always felt in awe.

Morning everybody! Well with recounting my tale, I had one of my nights 'on'. So two more nights off out of the next four to achieve my 4/7. Feeling ok this morning though as I think it helps when you're not constantly topping up from the night before. Red sounds like a plan you've got going there babe - keep at it!! Mouse enjoy the rest of your holiday. Ma just, speechless!! Day 2 inthebag and temptation of bloody husband's bottle of wine in fridge resisted - go Ma!! How are you feeling?

All other babes have a great Wednesday, obviously I was meant to survive yesterday in order that I can give my veg patch some attention. Be kind to yourselves all of you x

Cross-posted!! at Inde - how about if I marked the box 'Decorating Products' (then you could decorate a cracker with it) Have a good trip x

ladame surely to god the veg patch isnt needing attention AGAIN? What are you doing with it?
jango bloody well done on day 5 - when did you get ahead of me? and way to go bobbly

Day 3 and starting to feel good.

Isinde sorry about your friend and ladame wow, that must have been terrifying!

red half open wine is usually a trigger for me so it's a good idea to throw it out what you don't want before you start drinking so that you're not tempted. Think of the money you'll save when you cut down completely and the treats you can buy yourself!

I'm feeling happier today (or at least less grumpy!) so I'm sending everyone positive vibes. Let's ditch the WW!

Reading all your posts you all sound so strong
I feel lost and don't know why it's that's hard but it is, iv had af days and enjoy them and feel the benefits
Why's it so bloody hard

Morning all lovely Babes, old and new. Been really busy here so not posted/read much but welcome to all the newbies and 'Hi' to all the.....errrrr.... oldies!

Well done Ma on day three! You've done really well! I've not been doing great, arse seems to have taken root in the sidecar but am planning on fighting back once school starts again and a semblance of routine is restored.

Being a bit silly here this morning. The children and I have had a wonderful summer, probably the best ever. We've found lots of great (and mostly budget/cheap/free), interesting things to do - Wales holiday, day out in London, National Trust places, beach days and lots of picnics with lots of friends. This morning, DC have bounced back in from their regular night at their Dad's, full of how wonderful his new, huge, all singing, all dancing TV is - with Face Book, internet, surround sound and BluRay DVD player. This from the man who has done nothing with them all summer long (not even a long weekend) because, he says, he can't afford to take time off work! He's self employed (and not even sure where the next job is coming from!) and claims he can't afford to turn down work - but can afford a hoofing great, brand new TV system!? If I hadn't taken the children on holiday, I could have got a new TV (mine is a very old one, fuzzy and the size of a small shed!). I know they'll have great memories of this summer from all the stuff we've done - and not of Dad's new technology and that time spent with them is far more valuable but still........... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Morning all :)

I'm posting quickly as on dh's pc and he doesn't know that I post on here; he knows I'm drinking less but that is as far as it goes.

Day 2 today and feeling headachy and tired, I'm sure that's down to three days drinking even if not particularly excessively. I have work the next few days so think I should be ok, it'll be the weekend that's a struggle. Then it's dd1 birthday on wedneday which I feeling hugely anxious about so I really should keep a clear head. Mouse I totally understand what you mean about dealing with your problems when you are not drinking - being sober won't make them go away but you'll be in a better place to handle them.

Ma well done on resisiting the bottle of wine, that would be my undoing. If it's there I want some, even if I don't really fancy it, I will still have a glass.

Isinde you genuinely made me laugh out loud, yes having a pulse is a definite trigger :)

Ok I know I shouldn't project too far ahead but I'm thinking I did 5 af days, then 6 so now I should aim for 7, or rather 8. That will take me up to dd1 birthday which feels like it's fast approaching so using that logic the af days should fly by. Well that's the theory!

Hello again,

It is funny what you said about the Mary Coughlin quote Isinde. I was thinking something very similar this morning. This will sound quite crude, I warn, so forgive me!

I have an uncle who is very wealthy and a big self promoter. I recall a few years back he was telling us how he ate in the fancy restaurant in New York, and he boasted that he ate a black truffle omelette that cost $500. (This may have been an exaggeration- he talks himself up a lot). I recall thinking 'what's the point? You just shit it out anyway'.

I thought that this morning, about what a waste of money drinking is, because it causes harm, and just comes out again.

Sorry again for crudeness. I am really quite ladylike!!!!

I rang DH and asked him to pour the glass of wine out of the bottle now so I cannot even be tempted to deviate. I would love love to be able to take or leave alcohol. I am not sure I will ever get to that point.

Ma good for you for being so strong and resisting attempts at sabotage.

Thanks everyone for the welcome. :)

Morning babes:)
Joey and Baby, are you ok?

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Off to the beach today, I just wanted to post and say a massive well the feck done to Red :)

You are clearly serious about what your goal is and that's fab, keep going. One Day At A Time. xx

Right, off to get ready.

Be back later, love to all xxx

Yes, I'm a martyr to my veg patch. It needs trimming again and some bits of it are a bit scrubby and some bits of it have got leggy bits growing out of it. I really need to start closing it down for the autumn.

Hi babes
Checking in for day six.. Doing quite well today, keeping self busy.
Last few days before my dd2 goes back to school so lots to do.. eek! school shoes to buy!! may battle town now this.
Plan for tonight is... force self onto rowing machine and bike. Then reward self with soothing bath and bed with munsnet and a book! wish it was a good man but hey ho..
How you all doing?
Where are you all?

hi babes.... Ive killed the thread!

Hey jango you arse doing brilliantly. Keep at it girl.
tango don't be fooled. Any given time the bus is just a snapshot of how well or how badly we are doing. Sometimes, if I'm honest, I get pissed off with posts saying "I'm on day such and such" when I am wallowing in failure. I feel as if I am the only one not making progress. Then, if I DO have a few days AF which doesn't happen often, I want to shout it from the rooftops too .
I have cracked again on the dreaded day 3 but only two glasses and tomorrow is another day.
purps the memories you have given the Dcs will far far out way a big shot TV. It doesn't feel like it now but it will pay off in spades in years to come. Speaking as child with parents who separated.

Oops. Sorry jango. That should say you are doing brilliantly. Pmsl. Stupid autocorrect

Hi Babes - just saying Hi and best of luck to you all. I'm still drinking but have cut down. A long way to go

Evening all, tis me, Mouse

Pawprint - welcome back from your holiday, you've been away haven't you? Was it good? Well done on cutting down and how about looking at it this way, each drink you don't have is one drink closer to being sober! :) Lovely to have you back xxx

Annie - I'm so with IsinDe (alreet lovely? We never did make that meeting did we?) on the trying not to worry about tomorrow, the weekend, Uncle Bob's 60th shindig. Worry about the here and the now because that's what you can control and in the longer term, change.

Keep going. I know it's hard at first but it's bloody worth it, I can list so many things, reasons, justifications as to why not getting shit faced each night, and why it's so nice to wake up to a clear head, able to deal with what your day throws at you......

The benefits of not getting shit faced each night far outweigh getting wasted each night tenfold and then some!

Red - I'm loving your new plan to get DH to get rid of some of the wine before you get home - IF IT'S NOT IN THE HOUSE, YOU CAN'T DRINK IT

And, as patronising as that may sound, it can be that simple if you let it be..... you have to plan your life away from alcohol at the start of this journey, not towards it. If that means avoiding the pub for a week or so until you feel able to have a sift drink when there, then so be it. If you really, really, want to be AF for good or for a long period of time, it can only ever happen One Day At A Time...... that's just the way it goes. :) You're doing fab xxx

IsinDe - how are you getting on lovely? xxx

Jango - kill THIS thread? Never! It's far too tough for that lovely. You sound as if you've turned a corner? 6 days is great!! Well bloody done you :) xxx

Dame - My DH is a slave to our 1/4 acre of garden that came with our cottage, little did I know at the time the plans he had/s for it. The front part is stones and pots, filled with rainbows of coloured plants and flowers in, the rear, a vast jungle at one point which has now been transformed over 4 years to a lovely flower filled garden that I can see from the extended kitchen, and him from his office window, then there's a bit of no mans land and then a huge square of 'fun' grass with apple trees and berry bushes all newly planted and nurtured to within an inch of their tiny, new lives!

But it was a wasteland, a scrub of nothing that no-one had bothered with and he has. Same as the cottage, it looks like a humble dwelling from the outside, not much at all but since I've stopped getting shit faced, I've put much more effort into the house, the upstairs is almost done, a few tweaks, new carpet in the H,S and Landing..... then the lounge and dining room.....

Gosh I'm waffling.... sorry!

Anyway - Tango - sorry I missed you earlier, I hope that you feel brave enough to come back and post some more lovely, we're all in this Bus together... all been where you are now. When you're ready :) xx

Right, I better get my furry little backside off to bed as I'm packing tomorrow. The beach was awesome today, so perfect, slightly misty which meant the sun wasn't so strong but just right :) and we've had a fab time here, 2 weeks of time away from our house, seeing nature, the sea, I feel so drawn to the sea and coast, we've just been there as much as we can. Wonderful, truly, it's been fab!

So my lovely Babes, I shall see you on the flip side of holidayville.

Silver - if you're driving the Bus tomorrow, could you swing by Anglesey and grab a few bits? I seem to have collected a few stones, shells and big bits of slate

Night all, lots of love and sober wishes to you all...

Thurso - are you on hols? And others.... Clutter, Baby, Joey, where are you all..... JWN are YOU okay? This is your thread after all...... we're missing you and your updates in shoes and various other lovely things :) xxx