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

[RadioSilenceGirl]

Hello,

Please can I join the bus??

I have been lurking for a while ... I am an 'all or nothing' drinker, at the moment it is nothing, and I would like it to stay that way.

Does anyone know how the lady (jesuswhatnow?) who started all this is getting on?

[dementedma]

puts arms around silver in silent hug
So good to see you. Did you follow the earlier threads about my brother's return from addiction to normality? I feel for you so much.
Not in a great place myself so living in the sidecar. helps self to ladame's chocolate*
26th wedding anniversary tomorrow - deep joy.

[Ladame]

Ma Sympathies. Stocking up on the chocolate (although I must say that French chocolate is cr*p) so pastries and other gorgeous stuff ... I think we might need it tomorrow.

[thurso13]

Ma My 25th wedding Anniversary on 10th of September.
How did that happen?!!!!
Lots of love to you Ma, and please send me the "no thanks" vibes for tonight, really I can't be arsed bothered.
xxx

[PurpleWolfe]

Pathetically In need of hugs tonight. Struggling with all things 'children', 'houseworky' and finding it hard being single, on my own. And failing the 'fight' too (again - stupid fuckin' moo).

[lonnika]

Hi - I send hugs to all who need it. everyone is doing better than they were before joining the bus and that is a positive.

Hi Radio - Jesuswhatnext is still no drinking so I believe

[greeneyed]

Hugs purple congratulates ma and thurso for making it to quarter of a century of that 'great' institution of marriage. Welcome radio and well done for your abstinence.

ladame i could commit murder even for some of your crappy french chocolate right now!

[thurso13]

purple hugs, hugs and hugs virtually. Not stupid, at all, doing the best that you can. I'm struggling tonight too.
Lots of love
xx
Ionnika, Green hope you're having chocolate now!

Hi Radio take a seat, all welcome on here
(crikey what a relief to say that), not doing so well tonight!
xxx

[KoalaKube]

Hi Babes just popping in to say hello before I go internet awol
for a couple of weeks. Moving house this weekend and haven't set up a new line yet.

Well here I am almost 8 months in ... talk about a life-changing event, new city, new home, new plans for the future and all is well.

The best thing is the accomplishment of those plans so far and
actually looking forward to whatever life scatters in front of me.

I've not been to AA for ages, but thought I'd pop in one last time down here just to keep my hand in. In the last few weeks I've been out to the pub to celebrate a couple of events, meals out with family, had a big old party and received copious amounts of booze from well meaning neighbours who didn't remember I wasn't drinking as goodbye presents.

The thing is it's nice to receive the gifts as it means that nobody has noticed my inward change (still the same old Koala on the outside) and I've not been tempted to touch a drop of the stuff, its stayed in the fridge (then given away) and one bottle received tonight is still sitting where my friend put it on the dining room table - haven't even peeped inside the gift bag. I think that's what you'd call WINNING!!

Love to you all wherever you are on your journey

I WILL NOT BE DRINKING TODAY

Koala

[Ladame]

Good Morning all babes waves at Radio Hi you and welcome to the bus.
Am in the side car today with coffee and French toast for anyone that wants to join me (leaves out some creamy brie for a mouse and an Inde)
Happy Anniversary Ma. Mine was 25 years last Christmas Eve. You'd think they would let us out on parole soon, shall we appeal???
Hug for Purps, hope you have a better day today sweetheart.
Hi Green, Silver, Lon, Guggs, Thurso, Pawprint, Chippit and Annie and babyjane and everyone on the bus this morning. Gazes at Koala with admiration. I so remember your story and think you are such an inspiration to us all.
Where are joey and clutter ?? Hope you're ok babes.
Today it is cold and rainy (does happy dance). Ladamegarden has had a good watering and even the dog is in a good mood.
Every morning that we wake up is our chance to start again. Be kind to yourselves today babes.

[greeneyed]

koala it is truly wonderful to get your updates. You are amazing! Good luck with the move

[greeneyed]

ladame I hope your veg patch has had some attention!

[PurpleWolfe]

Thanks Thurso, Green and Ionnika. Surprisingly had a half decent nights sleep and feeling more 'up'. Clashed with DD again yesterday. Not badly - but enough to make me feel weary of it all. I would have coped much better without wine - as in, not risen to some of the nonsense she was coming out with - but just wanted to blur the edges a bit. She's off with a friend to a theme park this morning and having a sleep over after - so is in a happy, smiley mood now!

Blimey! Well done Koala You've done so well - especially with the alcohol gifts thing. Inspiring.

Welcome Radio Well done for making the effort to not pick that glass up. There are all manner of 'drinkers' on here - you'll get lots of support and advice. Stick with us.

Thurso Sorry you were struggling as well last night. Any idea why? For me, friction with DD is a biggy for me. Hoping for a better day for both of us.

[thurso13]

Morning all,

Happy Anniversary Ma.

Koala What an uplifting post, thank you. I am in awe. Good luck for the move this weekend, and I'm wishing you a very happy new home.

Major housework day for me, I have got to get the house straight (been decorating) before we go away this weekend. And so, of course, I imagine I'll be on here quite a bit .

xxxxx

[lonnika]

koala thanks for the uplifting update - 8 months wow - you sound so boingy as well
morning green Ladame purple ma ma silver thurso mouse Guggs Chippit and Radio. Hiope everyone is well this morning
A big wave to pink on her hols xxxxx
Today is 100 days AF for me :).
I feel great - like I did in my twenties actually - optimistic, fit, healthy and just generally good.
I look great. it had taken some weeks for any noticeable changes to occur but this week both my mum and my hairdresser have commented on my glowing skin :)
Keep at it Babes - Everyday AFi is a day you are winning - the gains far out way the temporary fuzzy feeling you get from the ww.
Got to go and buy uniform number 2 now - see you later L xxx

[thurso13]

Hello Purple, X posted

Yes, I stupidly (oops, I told you not to say that ), I felt like I'd done so much in the last couple of weeks, what with new job, decorationg, booking and planning holiday, etc, that I deserved a "treat".
Drinking a couple of glasses at the weekend didn't help, either. I'm so much better if I just don't.
Anyway, new day, new day! I have a big glass of Berocca and the housework to take my mind off the guilty anxiousness. Why, eh?

xxx

[thurso13]

Ps Is there a Mouse in the house? xxx

[chippit]

Good morning everyone,

KOALA - you are cool. Fact.

I hope everyone is looking forward to the start of a new day. My DD has been up since 5.30am, so I already have the Flash with Bleach in my hand and plan to clean my house from top to bottom.

I'm on day 5 - which isn't hard for me because mid week drinking has very rarely been my thing. Today, tonight, tomorrow and Saturday will be the killer...but I'm feeling strong. In spite of the fact I have my best friend's birthday party on Saturday night and we normally go hell for leather.

So...BRING IT ON, WEEKEND face full of fake bravery and bravado.

MA - Happy Anniversary - you are also cool. It blows my mind that my husband has stuck around for 5 years, let alone 26...

Hugs to everyone who needs them for whatever reason they need them.

Cooking and tidying are my new best friends in your face WW

Happy Thursday and hold on tight. XXXXX

[chippit]

Oh look - just found out how to do the bold thing. Might be the best thing that's happened to me this week. It used to be a Thursday night glass of vino. Le Sigh...

[chippit]

also - well freakin' done lonnika
I bet you look lovely. xxxx

[lonnika]

I just found how to do the bold thing as well Chippit

Get a diff treat in for tonight maybe ? I love the bottle green drinks with diet lemonade - my current David s lime and coconut - I also love chocolate covered caramels - so I now ave these as my evening treat :)

I don't know if I look lovely but I look a lot better than I did:)

[greeneyed]

I think it takes at least a couple of weeks to notice any difference in how you look and more like 4 for eyebags circles etc to go down. Stick with it babes. I was quite freaked when a friend mentioned how much better I looked and that my face was much less puffy. Sad that I looked noticeably shit all the time.

[greeneyed]

chippit what's your plan for the weekend, abstinence?

[greeneyed]

pink and paw how are you doing?

[chippit]

I am planning to remain AF until Saturday Aug 31st. 100%. Absolutely. This is my ultimate goal.

Which is 24 days from now. Not that I'm counting. If I can prove to myself that I can do this, then I'm going to (perhaps stupidly) assume that I can control my drinking and will try to moderate going forward.

This date is when I jet off on a 2 week holiday to a lovely villa in spain with my DH, DD and a few friends, so being AF isn't really an option (well, it is, of course it is...but I don't really want it to be).

I don't yet know how big my problem is - I have my first appointment with a counsellor on Friday to try and get to the bottom of why I drink until I black out and do things that make me want to set my face on fire in a bid to deflect from the shame I feel.

So...we'll see. I'm going to try. Really hard.

lonnika I have diet lemonade and lime already prepped for the weekend and I'm planning a chicken lasagne and pavlova for friend's birthday dinner on Saturday.

So while I may be AF, I may well evolve into a chubbster. You can't have it all, eh? .