The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Kicking The *Wine Witch* Into Touch, Because Enough Is Enough!

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse :)

This is a thread for those who are worried about their drinking habits towards alcohol, or/and drugs.

Even if you think that you are drinking more tonight than last night or this week than last, come and have a chat, find a seat, we don't bite!

We are a supportive Bus, full of very different posters, from various backgrounds. Some of us drink in moderation, allowing ourselves the odd glass or two as a treat, or just because we're in control of our drinking for that day.

One Day At A Time.

We have those who abstain completely, and those who wake every day to Day 1 and hope with all of their hearts that they can, and will, make it to Day 2.

If you've followed our journey to date, you'll know who most of us are by now :) and we kind of have two 'sayings', that sum up who we are -

1. • The Vulnerable Need Our Support, Not Our Judgement
2. • Alcohol Fosters Inertia

That said, we will not have any bashing of support groups, such as AA or Community Support Teams or even your own GP.

This Bus is a place for honesty, sanctuary and safety, something that has taken four years for a number of very special, very lovely, very honest and caring Babes to establish.

So, come find a seat, grab something warm from the supply cupboard at the back of the Bus as it's going to be cold tonight! Brrrr!

And, if you'd like to read back over some of our history, HERE IS THE LAST THREAD

And, HERE IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

We hope to meet you soon :) xxx

why thinking of you and sending hugs. As faire said you can and will get through. You will then have the rest of your life for Thanksgiving celebrations etc. It is so bloody unfair you have to wait that long, sure if it was UK that wouldn't be the case. Sounds like all you can do is keep going and keep pestering to try and get more contact and a quicker resolution. xxx
Welcome haggis your story resonates with me. Similar family background but I thought I just like a drink. I am not like them can't seem to stop tho.
Big wave to all other babes,
Day 2 for me. xx

soc I know what you mean about how confusing and conflicting our thoughts get, I felt very confused last night when I did drink because I had felt so good a out myself for not drinking and there I was saying to myself that I was going to drink and I felt happy about that, I tied myself in knots last night with conflicting feelings.

why thinking of you lovely, I think your doing an amazing job right now, I hope your ds will one day know what a amazing DM he has x

Why, you can do this. You're doing really well, and having a down moment. I hope you really enjoy your time with you child tomorrow.

Haggis, hi. I recognise that smaller glass feeling. Posting first time is the hardest.

The ww got me last night, after 4 days AF. I was out at the theatre and just joined in.

Never mind, my key aim is not to drink at home sun-thurs, and I don't go out that often. I'm still counting this week as an achievement.

Wishing a good weekend to Mouse, Isinde, Dementedma, Soc, Fairenuff and everyone else on this thread ( whose names I can't look back and check whilst posting on this phone!)

Haggis I have a gimlet eye for getting a ml less than anyone I have that very same eye! In fact it reminded me that I have even got the Pyrex jug out and measured exact amounts - driven by a horror that I might be shortchanged by a ml. . But I also don't have a drink problem like my Dad, so that's ok

soc A lone voice of sanity and reason Or should that read madder than a box of frogs . Well done on your fresh new week, hope your Saturday morning feels good x

Isinde I love that you are able to surprise your dh by offering to be the driver. Was a little worried when you weren't bouncing up and down the bus.

why I didn't like your rope joke . You are in such a high stakes situaition but the potential outcome is EVERYTHING. If there is another 4 months (which seems insanely long) than the 2 months you have already done put you a third of the way through. Is your home the UK? Rooting for you strong lady. X

Purple good to see you last night, albeit in strange European attire!

Im focus on how much you have achieved and get back in the zone! one great to see you staying positive, you HAVE done great things this week Annie double figures, well done to you.

So many babes and I am sure to have missed loads out but I love reading each and everyone's posts.

Think your right beaches I may have lost my way, good job I'm not navigating

My face feels itchy and I can't be arsed to do anything. Unlike the rest of the week.

Sigh. Pissed off with myself about last night now.

Ten days Annie. That's impressive.

Hi one try not to beat yourself up about it today's another day x

Thank Im

re AA meetings - I think that closed meetings are for those of us who have (or think we have) a drink problem, open meetings will allow others e.g. a non-alcoholic friend to accompany you.

For those of you who are trying AA, or thinking about it, or not sure, I wonder whether you ever tried a drink you didn't like much but managed to finish it all because it was what you wanted / needed? I remember when I first tried gin how disgusting I found it, but I persevered and soon 'learned' to accept it, and even like it. And I have lost count of the number of bottles of truly horrible gut-rot wine I have got through despite grimacing at the first mouthful . So although I'm not an AA regular, I did go to some meetings in the early days, and I reckoned that it was worth persevering with that for a while too.

Thanks beaches and few; I'd like to do controlled drinking long term but for now I'm really trying to change my drinking habits - I don't want to be sat at home bored drinking just because. I'd be happy if I just drank on social occasions. tonight I've made plans to go to the cinema with a teetotal friend - anything to break the habit.

Venus I've not tried aa or thought about it but I can't tell you how many times I've pushed past that first glass of foul wine to get the effect of the second!

Hi all checking in on day 10 never reached this point ever !

Same here, I have persevered through gallons of unpleasant glasses of wine in my efforts to get drunk. I used to drink vodka red bull when out clubbing and now I can't even think about that drink without screwing up my face. Sweet and sickly and guaranteed to make a very messy night. Blurgh.

Annie cinema is a good idea. I have often put off going out to the cinema and opted for DVD, sofa because it was cosier (or more accurately, didn't interfere with my drinking)

Isinde I meant DP

Wow This well done you

Some inspiring babes in the bus today it's truly lovely

I'm sitting at the curb side beside Gerald ATM not feeling good about last night with him and of course I came come to open a bottle didn't I, I'm stupid I deserve a slap, shoot me now please.

Lo there gorgeous babes

Only just managing a few mins to check in and say well done to all the babes who are sober /cutting down / willing to bloody well try even if it's going tits up...
why how are you doing now? it will pass,it will pass. X

isinde - Don't you dare go in that offie . Yup, I also sampled from that fine vintage known as 'orange label' or 'desperate alkie' in sainbos.

Off out to my aa meet. Sorry to not NC much but thinking of you all and keeping everything crossed for a good friday for you all.

Hi again you amazing babes. why my heart breaks for you but get a sense of just how strong you are to be doing all this amazing work under such horrendous circumstances. Hats off. Question for any babes who have set themselves an initial goal of x days af: do you need to do it consecutively or can I redeem myself by being stronger tomorrow? Any tips? The drill worked well for me last night, helped along by my DS who was a bit poorly and unsettled so cuddles in the dark won over getting more than a page into my book. Thanks for checking in on me last night though nuff.

Well had slight struggle with wine with I've really found that flavoured fizzy water and sugary laces seem to do the trick seems to take the edge off so il be welcoming tomorrow morning hangover free, family meal in the pub tomorrow so hope I don't cave in then hope everyone is having a peacefull Friday x

Morning Babes

Saturday morning here, Day 8, and I'm feeling good. Last Saturday I woke up feeling awful. The whole range of hungover feelings and emotions and then spent the day 'just getting through' and so desperate for the day to be over so that I could go to bed. It was pretty revolting, but I haven't drunk since.

So today being all sanctimonious and feeling fab I'm off to the gym.

Still battling with what to do to fill those gaps that I previously spent drunk, and how to cope with life without that buffer between myself and reality, but for the moment I'm sober and need to stay sober.

Hope you're all doing ok. xxxx

Evening all

Mama it's up to you how you do it. What are you trying to achieve ideally?

ThisIs I like sherbert fountains.

Isinde well done for walking on past the offie. Just think how great you will feel tomorrow.

Soc I clear out cupboards and tackle all those jobs that I'd rather put off...

faire I've done a bit of that, my house is going to be immaculate in a few months time. It's more the shit that's going on in my head that is driving me a bit mad. It's almost like I don't want to clean out my cupboard because normally I would be drunk, but because I can't be drunk I refuse to do something boring. Not sure what I think I should be doing though. Something fun that doesn't involve alcohol, but I don't know what that is, because for the past 25 years everything 'fun' has involved alcohol.

Anyway, I'm sure it will pass. I think I need to do enough exercise to feel exhausted at the end of the day. That might help with this restlessness. xx

Apologies if I'm talking in circles. It's very helpful to write it all down even if it doesn't make much sense.

Morning Socfish. Glad you got thro your Friday night & are feeling refreshed this am.

Had a planned single glass of wine with my sister who came to stay with me tonight. My two eldest are off on a trip, DH on a stag so just my sis and my littlest here. She's been very poorly and I am feeling coughy/coldly so I didn't have any problem sticking to one glass (rather unusually) Tucked up in bed with sick child next to me. Pray no more puking....

Hope everyone else had a Good Friday night.