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 everyone. Waves at joey, silver, ma and jango Hope you're settling back in ok mouse nothing like your own bed . Hi Inde lovely, how are you?

Bobbly back. away. from. the. bottle. One wise babe once said (think it was the fabulous faire apologies if I'm wrong) you will never regret not drinking So true! Day 4/7 for me. Happy happy . French fairy dust to help babes sleep tonight x

Are you winning Bobby?

hey ma mwhaa

bobbly. I find thAt I can't have ANY alcohol in the house if I'm trying to abstain - its like setting myself up to fail.

So if you did open the bottle don't beat yourself up, but try and learn from it - tomorrow is a new day and maybe you could remove immediate temptation. I find I really do think twice if I have to get off my arse and go to the shop - and that five minutes of deliberation can make the difference between giving in to the WW...... Or not

Thank you all so much .
I didn't give in, the bottle remains unopened and I am now going to bed totally sobre to read my kindle.
Jango..you are so right, the reasons will always be there, just harder to deal with with a fuzzy head
Ladame...that is so true! I have NEVER regretted not drinking, but have regretted deciding to drink many, many times !
I find the worst time for me is between 5 and 8.often if I can resist till 8ish then I'm ok after that. Suppose that fits in with tea time chaos etc...
Anyway I will be very happy when I wake up tomorrow, plus I've got loads still too short out this weekend for back to school so really don't need a hangover too!
Hope everyone else is coping with Friday evening.x

Hello everyone. I've been following this thread for about a month and and decided it was time I came and said hello. I'm a wine witch wrestler too - I got into serious difficulties about three years ago and have been mostly af for the last couple of years. It has not been an easy time but gradually I'm getting to do all the things that I used to do with added sobriety. (Gigs, festivals and partying with mates, pta meetings in the pub, nights out with colleagues)

This is a lovely supportive place, I take my hat off to you all.

Hi all
Had a full on carb, sugar and alcohol fest
tonight and had a lovely evening meeting new friends from dhs work.
Back on the diet tomorrow

Hi checking in tonight can I say I'm on day 1 AF now got bad headache oh the joys eh?

Hope everyone's having a good evening x

Evening, tis me Mouse

Welcome Louise :) Well done on your sobriety!! It's always fantastic and a really positive things to read when a 'lurker' (in the nicest possible way) comes to post about themselves and their own journey alongside the Battle Bus.... fab to meet you :) x

Joey - lovely to have you back!! Missed you :) x

Silver - you are still fighting and in my book, that is what you need to do...... KEEP FIGHTING! Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.... however you do it, you need to do it and your posts are telling me that you are doing this, doing this finally for YOU!

You're such a different person of late. It's fab to see, it really is :) x

Thurso - are you out there?

Just so you all know, and I don't think that she'll mind, that Clutter is okay and just really busy with work and the school hols :)

Bobbly - well done you! That is a HUGE step in the right direction, and you should be so proud of not giving in, especially on the weekend when you might not have to be up so early :)

I bet you'll sleep better for it too.... knowing that you kicked the WineWitch's ass tonight lovely lady! :) x

ALL other Babes - well done to those who have kicked ass tonight, sorry not to NC everyone but it's been a very long day, I've had issues with a Company taking money out of my bank without my permission to the tune of £150 over the last 8 week, 4 of them this last month, 3 this week! And one this morning before the bank could cancel my card! So my card has been cancelled..... PITA central.

Nemo has been bored as I've had to sort everything today, admin a tastic! Lots of letters about him to confirm and sort out.... Always the way after a holiday, that and the washing that was left for me, as the cottage we had wash furnished with a washing machine AND a dishwasher!! Luxury!!

Night all, take very good care, sleep well and I'll be back (Arnie style ) tomorrow lovely Babes xxx

Hugs Isinde. Joey Hope the pre-teen hormones have settled down a bit? Mouse Get those f*ers sorted out, they're taking the whatsit! Sending resolve to all - because it's in short supply in the Purple household. xxxx

isinde glad you chose not to drop off the thread.

Great poem and Thank you again for introducing Mary Oliver to me.

Be gentle on yourself. Don't fret and admonish, make like the wild geese and just be. What's done is done, wishing you a peaceful night. Water and paracetamol ready for when you wake. X

purple hugs, same applies.

Night night babes

for the poem isinde.

Hope you feel better in the morning - don't let the self-hatred get its claws into you. It's the booze talking.

Night babes.

Bobbly well done.
Inde Thanks for the lovely poem. If you are following your usual pattern (my usual pattern) you are really in the doldrums this morning. Soooo, I'm sending you a lovefest to hopefully help with that :-
Righto ...
You are a fabulous warm and wonderful woman
You are kind and empathetic
You are intelligent and hardworking and resourceful
You are a mum to twin babygirlies (how wonderful must that be)
You always have something supportive to say to us if we are in trouble
You know such wonderful poetry
You are one of my biggest inspirations and a mate
We all luffs you.
Be kind to yourself today. You know the drill. It WILL all be ok.

When i stopped beating myself up about past (even recent past) behaviour and started dealing with today - that was when I found it much easier to carry on and get better at doing what I deep down wanted to do - rather than what the ww wanted me to do

Believe me I have wasted many a morning after on the regret of the night before

Love to you all x

Inde has she got you chained the in dungeon? I know I said send an SOS but, blimey, I wasn't expecting eloquent poetry to come sailing across the airways.

Anyway, SWAT team is here. We are all lined up with buckets of water to throw over her, just point us in the right direction.

Can I add to Ladame's list:
You are stronger than you think
You are not going to let this beat you
You knew it wouldn't be easy
You are going to stand tall with your head high and start again
Day 1
ODAAT

x

Hi Louise, welcome to the bus. Lovely post

Waves to all. Back later.

isinde what a great poem - did you post that once before? I like it.

The pre-teen hormones have settled a bit, but had too much to drink last night.

Morning babes :)
Well have woken clear headed and refreshed here. Wont go as far to say happy lol but thats down to other issues.

Had too much sleep I think can remember my dreams.
Well need plans to fill day as am alone with dd1.
Its Saturday so my weakest day for sure.

Did anyone read the Daily Mail article re Gillian Mc Farlane middle class woman who rang social services to plead with them to take her daughter away. She was a severe alcoholic who willingly chose alcohol over her five year old. She is totally open about it. Speaks about how drinking just crept up on her :(

Good luck to all babes today. x

Day 1 again....for all I was feeling better yesterday and had no intention to drink I totally gave in. Didn't really try. I had to get shopping after work, about 9 pmish, and dh was texting 'get wine'. So I thought I'd just skip the shopping as it was late anyway. Then thought that I didn't want to go shopping today with two dds so I went and I bought his wine

Long story short I get home and he tells me he has bought new glasses, I ask with what money as earlier in the week he was asking me to buy him some new glasses. He tells me he's been paid and the money he was setting aside for DD1's birthday party he has used for his glasses. So now I have to pay for her party or she has no party!

We had the usual row about his selfishness, irresponsibility, money he's stolen from me in the recent past, blah blah. I then stupidly said to dd that her party would have to be cancelled - horrible of me I know - and he's like 'mommy's mean'. So I'm the bad guy for suggesting the party be cancelled. It won't be cancelled I'll pay for it like I pay for everything

So the row ended with H opening the wine and pouring me a glass. I drank it because I was pissed off and fed up, and feeling like it was the only way I could stand to be near him. I had a good third of the bottle and did not enjoy it at all, I just felt sickly. I'd like to think I'm losing a taste for it but it was a cheap bottle....

Anyway sorry to go off topic with the thread; I do think that was the reason I drank last night rather than just an excuse. Hope everyone has a good day, and good luck with saturday night :)

Hi annie a third of a bottle of wine is not really a lot 2 or 3 units??
when I go off on one I end up having more like 12- 15 units :( not that it a contest though ;)
Im similar in that I can be absolute in my will not to have a drink then wham! dp does/says something to pee me off and I lose my will. Past few times he has done that Ive found another distraction and it USUALLY passes. Even if its just tidying up lol .
Talkinng of distractions can any of you babes recommend a good film??

jango its so sad, it's heartbreaking in fact that things could ever get that far and it's not until someone stops drinking they see things how they really are.

I'm feeling rubbish today not sure if its withdrorals but just feel really rubbish tell me it gets better please x

indie are you OK? Well done for posting and I second every word ladame said.
Also, you are my friend.
thurso are you mia?

Jango I suppose a third of a bottle of wine might not be alot but for me it can easily turn into a third of a bottle every night. Then gradually creep up. Years ago I used to binge drink, the hangover would keep me off alcohol for days/weeks. Now I don't drink so heavily in one sitting I can easily drink for weeks at a time

Since joining the bus I seem to be drinking more moderately but it doesn't feel natural. I'm consciously counting af days, and units of alcohol, and it all feels sort of forced.

Evening, tis me, Mouse

IsinDe - it would be lovely to hear from you tonight..... I hope that your body is being kind to you, DP too but I doubt you feel particularly great physically, emotionally or mentally today. I agree with Faire and Dame's words to you.... and second every word written.

I'd also like to add that whilst you dance this dance on a regular basis, something that you admit to openly you Brave Babe you, you are still able to offer others support and post such wonderful poetry, I loved reading that, such a wonderful talent, being able to write like that :)

I know you don't want to be 'this' cyclical drinker anymore. I know that you don't want to keep doing this to yourself. And, I know that in your darkest hours, you can still search out for that small, flickering light that is this thread and come back to us.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make this all go away for you, but you know only you can do it. We're all here for you, I loved what Louise said... so true about tormenting yourself over the past.

And, I too am your friend :) xxx