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

Ahhh Chippit - you won't - think of all the calories you are saving by not drinking alcohol - worth at least an extra piece of pavlova for sure x

Hi Greeneyed - thanks for asking after me. I am annoyed with myself - have been drinking nightly for about two weeks. I think it's partly boredom - perhaps I need to do something else in the evenings.

I am learning to drive (will need to stop drinking for that, obviously) so am swotting for my theory test. That, at least, is giving me something to focus on.

Crawling shamefully back on the Bus...

Thanks for asking after me purple and ladame. Sorry not to namecheck everyone - I've missed several weeks.

I just got out of the habit of posting, real life was very busy for a while. And then my drinking started creeping back up again. Only a couple of glasses a night maybe, but it was starting to happen almost every night.

Have I missed anything interesting?

Morning campers

Mutha fucka of a hangover here!

ma of course I followed your posts about Richard and I am so happy for you both that he has turned his life around. the Salvation Army sound amazing.

Off work now for three weeks so danger danger time for me. However two weeks in France with family will help to keep me occupied.

Where's that pesky rodent got to??

Waves to all and slides back under the duvet

purple thank you for your pms x

Let me self down again had a drink again yesterday ;( wen will I learn x

joey i was wondering where you were? wassup?
koala you seriously rock, babe. i remember you going cold turkey and was awestruck by your strength.
thurso dreading DH feeling the need to harvest the vegetable patch here too. I suppose I can get through it as long as he doesnt wake me up
Off to the the Fringe tonight to see DD2 in her show again. I saw it on Tuesday with the girls from work and we are all off tonight en famille to watch it again. Will try and film a wee bit and put it on you tube .

Joey! Good to have you back! Sorry it's been a bit shit for you recently. I'm the same as you in not posting when things aren't great. Don't think it does us any good but we are who we are. Hugs. Stay! Post! x

Ma Looking forward to seeing vid of your talented daughter - don't get caught, though! Hope you've had a good day?

This and Paw Feel bad, for a mo', pull your big pants on and launch yourself at a new day. You can do it!

Chip I understand how hard it is to face a holiday without alcohol. The two seem to be entwined for me. Good luck with everything. Ionnika Is right about the amount of totally useless calories in wine. Plus, so I've read, the fat goes straight round your middle!!! PS Ionnika 100 days? You star! x

Sending nutritious food, vits and tons of water to Silver Hope you are feeling a bit better this afternoon my lovely?

Thurso That 'treat' shit is a killer, isn't it?

Sending a hug to Green for no good reason! x

Hi all - welcome back Joey

purple thanks :)

chippit sounds like a plan, you never know after 24 Days you may be feeling fab and not want to drink on your holiday. Welcome back Joey, all pretty much business as usual here, no juicy gossip to report.

paw get past day one again and it will be easier. silver and this hope you are feeling a bit better now. Big wave to all i've missed. Today is a great day for day one all. It's just one day. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow xx

Great advice Green. - :).

ma nothing up really, it was just a busy few weeks & I got out of the habit of reading the thread. And maybe without the constant reminder and support on here there was a little gap for the WW to poke her head through.

It's annoying to think I'm stuck with this forever - always having to keep watch and be on guard - it does get easier over time but you can't turn your back and relax without 2 weeks later thinking hmmm, when did that habit creep back in?!

Ah well it least this time around it didn't take me too long to recognise the warning signs and get straight back on the Bus.

So, what have I been missing? Who's in, who's out? Any gossip?

Did somebody look after the Opal Fruits while I was away?

Sorry greeny I didn't read your post about there not being any gossip.

What none ? Not even Barry The Squid ???

Evening all,

Thank you for making me feel welcome. I have a question ...

I was shopping in tesco today & had the usual mad dialogue going on in my head - 'buy the wine, one glass won't matter, start again tomorrow' etc etc. Is it just me?? It's exhausting.

I ended up buying a bag of sweets (never in my life have I eaten so much crap as I have over the past couple of weeks)

And ... when does the swishy hair thing happen??

LOL Radio - no it's not just you - voice does get quieter and is sometimes non existant as time goes on.

As for swishy hair - still waiting for that to happen

however improved self esteem, weight loss (even when eating sweets), whiter eyes and glowing skin will all happen relatively quickly. :)!! You are doing great - enjoy the sweets nom, nom -

looks like a good night of telly too tonight - celeb master chef, followed by a new drama (which I can now follow as I am not too pissed to understand it :) Have a good one !!!

Koala 8 months! Wow! That's awesome.

Day 18 here and going ok so far. Every time I'm tempted, I remind myself that
a) I'm much less anxious when I don't drink (partly because I'm sleeping better)
b) I feel much more positive in general.
c) I look better (vain I know, but I bumped into a friend I've not seen in a while and she told me I looked really well, even before I'd told her I'd quit drinking for a bit)
d) I might even lose some of this poxy extra 20 pounds I'm carrying (that is if I can stop stuffing my face with maltesers - my appetite is back with a vengeance!)
e) DH and I can start TTC properly rather than the half assed version we've been doing so far. It took ages to get pregnant with DS so I'm not expecting miracles but it's good to know I'm doing everything I can now.

Sending positive thoughts to all x

Pervy - you are doing great :).

Thanks lonnika

The best bit (similar what koala said upthread) is that I still feel like me - I still have the same (generally inappropriate) sense of humour and still get irrirated by the same things. I've gone the odd month in the past without alcohol but I did it to prove that I can (iyswim) and I was really grouchy with it. It's early days but I feel so much better!

Pervy if I had a little more restraint I'd be on day18 too but instead I'm on day one :( really pleased for you though do u feel loads better do you have anxiety xx

Evening all

radio I was exactly where you were today. Not in tesco, but in a place for early dinner which would ALWAYS mean a glass of wine. Ordered a mocktail instead and it kinda did the trick - it helped that the waiter was a FOX . Didn't stop me reading the wine list about 3 times though. I'm hoping that will subside soon. Hope it does for you too.

pervy 20 pounds for me too - if only I could wish it away. Good luck on TTC. Don't underestimate what a good night's sleep does for your overall wellbeing and hopefully your ability to conceive. I freakin love to sleep

This I was on day one last Sunday and I'm already here on day 5 - it wasn't too bad. This bus helped. One wee day at a time. Sending you a hug.

Tomorrow sees my first session with a counsellor. No idea what to expect and really hope I like her. I'm not great at getting past a first impression.

Wish me luck and hugs to you all.

Also, what the FREAKIN' HELL was that pumpkin 'pie' thing on Celeb Masterchef???

Thisis, yes, I feel quite a lot better than I did (and I'm starting to see my cheekbones again ). I only really have anxiety when I've been drinking and then I usually have it for a few days after I've been on a bender. Still get flashes occasionally but it feels easier to deal with when I know I've not been adding to it by drinking.

Hope you're feeling ok too x

Thanks lonnika, wow ... 100 days is brilliant!! Do you go to AA meetings?

chippit, I think I'm a long way off being able to go out to dinner sans alcohol. Best of luck with the counsellor.

I haven't talked to anyone in RL about my shit relationship with alcohol (yet).

night all.

lonnika well done on 100 days - that is such a remarkable achievement, one day at a time.

chippit yup that 'pumpkin slush pie' would drive most people to drink

To many others posting about holidays, I find your posts interesting because I think that on most of my holidays I actually drank less than I did during non-holiday time. I found that on holiday I had less 'private' time to nip to the shops and get a bottle of wine, I had fewer places to hide my stash (or my empties), and I had much more contact time, so more observation of my drinking habits. There seemed to be collective agreement about buying x number of bottles of wine, and I had to be particularly sneaky to buy, and hide, and drink some gut-rot-brandy to 'top up'.

After a holiday with some friends (during which my normal drinking habits felt constrained - as above) everyone else was discussing how the 2 glasses of wine at lunch and the 4 glasses in the evening were making them feel 'liverish' and how they were heading back home ofr several weeks of low consumption. Meanwhile I was left gagging for more most nights, and occasionally sneaking a few glugs of aforementioned gut-rot stuff. I was desperate to get back to 'normal' drinking

Morning all

Radio it's important to point out that my 'dinner out' was with my 2YO DD and it was at 4pm - where she had macaroni cheese and I had a starter fishcake. Just me and her. Noone else. I don't work Thu or Fri and spend this time with my little one. Sadly, I also see it as an excuse to drink wine at lunch / early dinner time and have actually found myself hiding my glass behind the menu when I bumped into someone I know.

(shudder).

A regular dinner out with hubby would be prefixed by G&T, probably half a bottle of wine and then I'd find an excuse to keep drinking until closing time. I too am probably a long way off trying to cope with this bad boy.

Also, I've now talked to two people about my shit relationship with alcohol. My DH and my best friend. I was terrified because I didn't want to be judged and part of me kinda knew they had probably already formed an opinion about it.

I have to say radio as soon as the words 'i think I have a problem' came out of my mouth, the burden lifted a wee bit. Not hugely, but just a bit. Both of them were really supportive and promised to help me and reassured me that I was loved and respected. So I feel a bit less alone in my journey. I know it's a scary thing to admit to yourself, let alone anyone else, but it could just be another avenue of support??

If not, you've always got the bus. .

Will report later on counsellor session. Do you think if I wear a suit and take a briefcase she may give me the benefit of the doubt?

Also, meant to say.

I hope everyone has a lovely, lovely Friday.

Eat some cake. Have a dance in the shower. Play your favourite song really loud and put your best pair of pants on.

You all deserve to smile today. For whatever reason that is.

I came onto this bus at the beginning of the week and I cannot tell you how much support it has given me.

I feel like I have a secret (caring, non-judgemental, supportive, funny, like-minded) buddy that I can talk to about the big black monster that is my drink problem.

So thank you to one and all. You're all brave and lovely. xxxxxxx