The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Travelling Far And Wide, With Sobriety In Mind.

[Mouseface]

Welcome to the Bus one and all! I'm Mouse, one of the Brave Babes :)

We have a new line that we're taking with us on every journey, thanks to one of our wonderful Babes, Curry -

Alcohol Fosters Inertia.

So when you're drinking excessively, nothing changes, or improves, the sharp edges of our lives just becomes that little bit less in focus, blurred and all you feel is numb. Then like shit (emotionally, as well as physically) if you're honest! Who wants that?

You are only ever better/pacified/happy whilst the alcohol is in your system. And that doesn't last........... it's not a cure, it's a quick fix. A sticking plaster.

So, if you think you're drinking too much, and want some friendly advice, or just to come and have a chat, get to know others who are just like you, who won't judge or criticise you, then hop on board! :)

We're a really mixed bunch and all at different stages of our journey to find sobriety or certainly drinking in a more controlled, less dangerous way.

And, if you'd like to see where we've been so far, have a look at the links below :)

LAST THREAD

THE STARTING POINT AND WHY WE'RE ALL HERE

Well done InCiderMind. The 'novelty' only gets better when you wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to go, without the shame, guilt and general crappy feeling of morning.

Keep going.

Just checking in on day 15 a/f hurrah! Feeling good about the not drinking (which is all thanks to you lovelies) but have a social event on Friday which I am very nervous about because its in a pub and involves meeting new people... help! How not to drink? I'm really scared of slipping back. How do people handle these things sober?

Hello,
just checking to keep myself sensible [as it's my day off tomorrow]
Ladame I comletely empathise with you!. I've seen my children a bit over the the past few weeks, and now they've gone.......I miss them so much!
Oops, wrote this hours ago, before Dh came in, now I've done dinner, but I'm too tired! and going to bed.
Good sleeps all, I love you lots xxxxx

completely Ladame sorry for the typo!
xxx

sausage try not to think about meeting new people at the pub. Just focus on what you are doing and the road you are travelling.

And don't forget why you are doing it - and the consequences of what might happen if you relapse.

15 days is amazing. Well done you. Amazing x

Thanks bill
Good luck you guys on day one x

H is sat drinking red wine, I'm watching being Paul Gascoigne. I will resist

Evening, tis me Mouse

Thurso - Hello lovely, it seems as though we've been ships in the night of late, venus too, I hope that you are okay, it must be so hard for you and the wonderful Dame, waving goodbye to your grown children, watching them carve their way in the world, knowing that you've given them all the tools you could to help them along the way...........

At least at the end of the school day, I get to pick up my little boy from school. :)

So, how are things with you Thurso? How's work? Manic? How are things with DH? I hope that you are at least happy, at the very least xxx

Sausages - 15 WHOLE DAYS!!! GO YOU! :) That is a lovely post to read, you've made me smile! xxx

Hey Bill - how are YOU today? :)

Why - how are things sweetheart? With YOU, in your thoughts, feelings, emotions... when do you next get to see your boy? Sorry if you've posted about that already but I've not really read back. I wanted to say that no matter what, no matter how deep and dark you feel, you can post here. It's safe, no-one will judge you, no-one will tell you to leave, ignore you, you can be YOU here and we'll be here to hold your hand, sit with you via the ether when you are sat crying in the deepest, darkest hours of the night, we're all with you, rooting for you, wanting you to get your boy back.

No matter what. Your story (I don't mean that in a 'story' way) is close to me heart, I can't go into details here because it's not my story to tell, but I hope that with us holding you up, walking alongside you, catching you if you fall, which you won't, with our support and those of others, you'll get your boy, your darling boy back.

You know what you have to do, and being here is a bloody good step in the right direction :) xxx

Tomorrow I have to take Nemo out of school for some bloods to be taken.... and I have to try and get a urine sample from him even though he wears nappies still because of his feeds. That will be easy ..... And then we have to take him to meet a hearing consultant. So a bit of a there and back again kind of day for me tomorrow.

I hope you are all okay Babes - I'm sorry not to catch up properly, off to bed and will report in tomorrow. Well done to those who have stayed AF tonight.

Love and Huggles™ from me and from Nemo to Ma and your lovely DS, hope he's okay? :)

Night all xxx

Sorry about any typos, I'm knackered.

PS - hello to any new Babes who have joined the journey, I'm so loving InCiderMind's name! That was one of my weapons of choice.

Annie - If you resist, then go to bed without touching a drop, then you have won tonight's fight with the WW and with your inner drinker, that is worth a million glasses of wine sweetie xxx

So in bed and reading the thread that started this bus - wow I can really identify with so much on it. I got through today, cried a few times but got there.

I just wanted to say although I've just started posting, I've lurked for a long time and because I saw the non-judgemental way everyone speaks I felt able to post... So thanks to you all.

Due to how I drink, my worry is the weekend but I'm just going to try and take a day at a time.

Good Morning Babes.

Day 15. Hanging on by a thin thread, but it's all good.
I'm pretty sure the intensity of my feelings and desire to drink are getting slightly less every day. Yesterday felt difficult, but nowhere near as difficult as the wobbles from the week before.

I'm awake, NOT hungover. No bottles to hide. Feeling fab.

Got to get the kids up and off to school Good luck today/tonight everyone.
xxxx

unhappytimes I get through the week-end by having loads of other types of drinks in the fridge, going for runs, crying, eating loads of chocolate, eating loads of everything (feeling full helps me) and hanging out on the various bus threads. Also went to AA on Friday night.

I felt a million dollars after my first sober week-end in about 10 years. If I hadn't been pregnant it would be 20 years.

Do it, it's worth that feeling. xx

mouse how the he'll do you remember who everyone is?!

Sorry, short message because my kindle didn't seem to be posting properly. I wanted to say, mouse you're amazing

Still here, still reading, sorry I'm not posting - life is stupid busy now (and two years sober, mostly, although my slips have been :-o quite large.)

Morning all, day 4 :) Pleased I didn't drink last night despite the open bottle of wine being there and it being a night I'm 'allowed' to drink - no work the next day. I know have to get used to being around wine and not drinking it just because it's there. So a small step in the right direction.

Hi babes - Mouse hope Nemo' appt goes well.

Still drinking every night but managed to cut down a bit. Resisted buying booze yesterday. Still a long way to go and, if I'm honest, I don't have a lot of faith in myself :(

Annieisnotyourname Well done, that sounds like your mindset is really changing.

Socfish I'll be taking your advice, thanks. Going to go shopping on Friday, stock up on yummy food and soft drinks and have busy days. Well done on your journey so far.

How is everyone else today?

Thanks unhappy, it does feel like something within me is changing, certainly I no longer obsessively think about wine. Hope I've not jinxed myself saying that!

For the weekend id try to make some plans for the morning that you can't easily get out of. I find imaging tackling a busy morning in the fog of a hangover beats having that first glass. If I know I can have a lie in I will tell myself it's ok to just have one or two...

Just checking in hope everyone's doing ok
Day 4 today.
I'm starting to actaly look forward to coming home for a coffee instead of a larger someone was talking about it on this thread not long ago, and about charging your thought process it's so true! I was on the bus and thought 'oh I carnt wait to get home for a coffee' wtf me that has drunk daily for over ten years.
Thankyou bus and amazing babes xx

Checking in.
Managed day2 a/f twas haaard tho
Well done incider and unhappy feels good when you wake up after an a/f day doesn't it
I am definitely trying to force myself not to think ahead and take it ODAAT. Thinking ahead seems to bring me a big fat fail everytime.
I Will not be drinking today.

Morning Babes.

Socfish Look at you on day 15! You mind and body must be in shock, I know mine are. You are doing great and Why and sausages too.

I have reached and astonishing day 10 today.

The habit in the evening, or wine o clock, is less pressing already. Normally I would be slightly begrudging of the bedtime story routine with the WW tapping me on the shoulder and looking at her watch - now I can relax and enjoy the stories. I still then go and watch the same old rubbish on tv but with a cup of tea rather than a (bucket of) red wine and it is OK, REALLY OK!

On the subject of recycling, the main reason I changed to boxes of wine was because they were so much easier to hide than hundreds of clanking bottles.

I am not going to mention anyone else because I don't know where to start and finish, it is nigh on impossible for me to remember everyone old and new but know it can be dis-heartening if no-one mentions you. I hope everyone feels included, there is always someone reading/caring/interested and rooting for you. Lots of love and warm wishes to you all xxx

Afternoon babes and well done - namechanging regular here, think colour but not Purple or Silver :)

Some great successes here today, well done all. Can't namecheck as a bit befuddled with speed of bus at the mo but thinking of you all and wishing you all well.

I back slid last week drank 5 days out of 7, not much, just a glass or two of wine or a can of cider. I felt crap, couldn't complete my training, low mood, no energy - didn't think it was the booze as only a small amount and didn't feel hungover. However after 2 days AF I feel so much better, energy is back and I don't feel down. I have to conclude that Alcohol really is a depressant for me even in small quantities.

I'm not going completely AF but trying to stay within the 14 unit guidelines. Have a good day everyone and keep on keeping on. Don't think about the weekend yet, it's only Wednesday x

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Thank you for remembering Paw and at Joey but thank you lovely xxx

Four attempts, FOUR! Poor Nemo didn't cry at all for the first two, snivelled a little and the third and cried his tiny heart out on the fourth cannula going in in his little wrist.... he is terrible at giving blood, he can usually get 2mls very slowly, and then clots. It's dreadful and ever so upsetting. They needed 10mls in total for different departments.

It took them an hour but the staff were amazing, and said just how good he was, they said that we were such a lovely mum and dad, holding him and we'd got stuff to distract him but the Play Leader was there and he had a blast with her.

And, at the end for being so good, he got a box of 250 Mega Blocks! The play lady said she'd never known a child be so forgiving, the sister tried at first and got the first two but then they called the registrar, he got the other two. When he was going he said he was sorry to Nemo for hurting him and Nemo replied, "It's okay, it's not your fault"

My heart melted, he was sweating and tears were rolling down his hot little face... he is just my hero, he really is. :)

Why, sausages, beaches, and Soc - you're all in double figures now and from experience, this is when as beaches says, my mind and body really started to change, to really feel the benefits as it were, every part of me was changing, my skin was clear and smooth, lines had gone, the suitcases under my eyes were shrinking to small purses, my hair (as short as it is) was shiny, my eyes were bright and twinkly and I felt GOOD about it all!

Even if you do 1 AF day, just 1, you are giving your body a rest, giving it a much deserved break. But not just your body, your mind too.... your emotional welfare, your life as a whole is affected by every drink you take.

So well done no matter what day you are on, it's bloomin' brilliant!! :) xxx

Right, lunch and then back to the hospital for another meeting, ENT I think this time.

Hope you are ALL okay xxx

Hi guys, there's so many brilliant comments and support on here I won't even NC, I have stopped for 7 or 8 weeks now and after the first few weeks I genuinely wondered how I found the time to sit and drink wine all night and how the hell did I get through the next day. Every passing day your brain will distance the memory of nightly wine drinking and your memory will register the new memories. I'm so chuffed my house looks better, my paperwork in order, kids app's all properly recorded and the clutter in my head is clearing!!! I had a wobble at the weekend but the triggers were obvious and I've learned from it so it's not so bad. To all of you trying so hard to stop, keep going, take up an evening class, dust down the WII and get moving with the kids, it's actually fun. I absolutely promise it's only going to get better, your life fuller and your waistline less full xxx