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

Someone wise will be along I'm sure but welcome x

I'm doing shit want a drink so badly got bad headache been stuck in this
prison house for days with my dc I'm going mad

3 o clocks danger time for me feeli like I'm planning to drink

Someone shoot me now please

De-lurking just briefly to say to ImDoingThis - can you go out for a while?

It's racing and so cold hard with no money carnt do walk or park really

Raining

mintyy I'm having a fag hiding from my dc in toilet
I don't smoke either oh tell me this gets better

Oh deer.... I killed the thread

Sorry! You haven't killed it but I'm working, shouldn't be lurking really. Its just that you seemed to need someone to hear you . All I can say is that whatever is making you feel bad today will not be made better by drinking, as you know. Infact, you will just feel worse and I am sure you don't want that. Hope another babe comes along shortly ...

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Mintyy - thank you for delurking, it's always fan to see you. :) xxx

I'm - you need to try and calm down and distract yourself. Will the DC sit and watch a DVD? Do you have any booze in the house or not? Have you managed to stay AF so far today? Are you safe for the night?

Sorry for the grilling, I just want to know you're all OK.

IsinDe - I'm going to take a wild guess and ask if the row was about the obvious? What are you going to do? Have you even spoken to her this morning, or did you just go to work? :( xxx

Welcome MrMeanor - I hope that this time, you'll be able to kick the WW into touch? :)

'Fab' - still getting to this touch screen!

Thankyou minty
So far today I have yes been AF I have bought some though

Dc are a bit better now, fed and watching a film.

I'm in a panic today for some reason,

Day 1

Hi quick check in, I'm on my phone which I find a total faff on but I have a horror of h discovering this if I go on the pc. Anyway I've spent the last three days decorating and rrewarding myself with wine. Which I know isn't really a reward I just feel like I deserve something. H does not help at all and the majority of the house work is still left to me too. So I'm feeling very swlf pitying :(

isinde I hope things improve with you and your dp. I have no suggestions on how to get her to do her fair share round the house, this is a massive issue for me. Me and h both work part time but I do most of the domestic stuff. I know what it's like to come home from work to a shit tip and be faced with the choice of a furious row or just quietly getting on with it and diving into the wine. Oh and my h has rewarded me with a bottle of wine for my efforts when I would really appreciate it if he would just go do some ironing!

Guggen I've been trying to do controlled drinking. I'm much better than I was but I think the quantity I drink on my alcohol days is creeping up. I'm considering trying not to drink during November, partly to save money in the run up to Christmas, but also because I know it's the time of year when I'll start to drink more. Then I'll say let's wait until January and so it goes on...

Hi guys just delurking here if that is OK? Have been following all your stories. Isindie you sound like you have a very difficult situation at home and I really hope you can get it sorted between the two of you. Since my kids have been born I have worked full time as a solicitor, part time and not at all so am wearily familiar with all the "well I do this and you do that" arguments - my sister is due to give birth to her first child this December and I feel like warning her that of everything this is by far the hardest part of it all in my opinion - the main problem being that when you are a stay at home mum although you work very hard(if you are conscientious about it! you get no pay cheque at the end of the month. The whole thing is just such a battleground really. Other than that I love being a Mum! Even enjoy all the keeping the house clean and cooking etc (weirdo!) Hugs to you.

As I say I have been lurking but wanted to post today Today here in Manchester is the first day of half term - normally I am very ashamed to say that half term is when I would "take the brakes" off with my drinking as I don't have to be up in the morning to drive the kids to school etc. I have wasted too many half terms in this state and don't want to repeat it again this week. I like to think this year that I have been doing ok - managing four alcohol free days most weeks the problem is that when i do drink it isn't just one or two but a lot - an awful lot- even on just three days a week i manage to notch up nearly forty units of booze! In my saner moments I know that is terrible but I have got myself stuck in a cycle of say planning to have a week off the booze not drinking Monday or Tuesday then by Wednesday morning - you guessed it - I am saying to myself "look you are in control of this it's no big deal you can still have a drink a few times a week -and so it goes on week after week. I have looked on here and also on the Soberistas website which is also good and the stories there are very inspiring. I read the blogs there of all men and women who are not drinking and loving it and then thinking "yes perhaps a year from now this is where I would like to be myself. I could get back into my piano properly - I was Grade 8 when I left school now I hardly touch the piano I just watch over my daughter playing whilst sitting with my wine! What a waste I am what an insult to my lovely parents who paid for my lessons, sat in the car week after week whilst I was having my lesson encouraged me and supported me.Me and my DH are starting a new business at present and I will be saying to myself "well in a year from now when I have set up the business and got over the stress of that then I will give up drinking." In my saner moments I examine comments like this and think "how on earth will drinking help the new business get of the ground,how will it help me, my DH or the children?" To be honest when I look at it like that it sounds like the comment of someone in the grip of a terrible sickness.

Well as I say it being half term normally I would have given myself carte blanche to rip up my (not so great ) rule book and drink all week - at least I have spared myself that - a topside of beef is in the oven and we are eating at seven and today I will not be drinking. Isinde you have told your DP that you are giving up alcohol if you don't mind I will try and join you.

Love to all the babes I think you are all great sorry for waffling chopin xxx

Thank you everyone x

Good luck to anyone on day 1- just get to bed early and relax. That's all you need to do tonight,let everything else take care of itself.

Welcome new babes
mrmeanor life sounds tough,sorry to hear it. Stick with this thread and keep posting and keep reading. It strikes me that you have several things to think about- childhood,alcohol and your feelings. If aa doesn't work for you then how about SMART or private councelling? Have a think but just keep coming back and talking to us.

annie sounds like you are doing well. I had a long stop at that stage and just gave myself time to work out if I wanted to stop completely or control. In time it became clear that I needed to stop loads of other babes control. Well done for what you have achieved.

Welcome chopin you have a lot of thoughts running round in your head and lots of projected concerns about the future. I'm sure your parents were happy to give you piano lessons.
Please think about this: One day at a time.
Honestly,that is all that anyone can do.

How are you doing i'm? Well done for having got this far-whether that bottle is open or not! Are you sleeping better at night?

Hi again. Thank you. Feeling better tonight and determined (again!) It's gone on too long :( Am going back to work tomorrow and for a run after work - haven't been for nearly a week. I need to get on top of this. It's no good

Hello mouse and inde! Yes thank you for asking, all good with me. I stay silently on this bus because I am still always thinking about giving up alcohol for good. It is a sort of long term goal. But, strangely, I still need convincing that becoming completely alcohol-free (if not at rock bottom) is not a weird thing to do! I am very silly. But am coming round to it.

isinde thanks for you lovely post lovely
It's day three for me, iv stumbled at day 3 before

You've not overstepped the mark at all really you haven't I appreciate you're support
He's a drug as much as is the booze if that makes sense

Hay guggs after the first day yes slept well last night, thanks

Hay ma come over here talk to us, bring the Opel fruits while your at it to.

Hi all jango here :) name changed nd I cant get old name back!!
So Im chugging along.. Still having a challenging time at the moment. Decision made to split with partner, that opens up a pandoras box of new challenges.. Its me! who will have to leave, me who has to try and sell or rent out the house. Have also had a family bereavement so all in all hellish.... But I am managing things. Still having alcohol but strictly limiting it. So I am aiming to have practically none but it is going to be a right battle. I get so much strength from this bus.
Good luck to all who are aiming for an allcohol free day x

My goodness what a struggle. WW started the whspering 5pm about me getting a bottle in. On the drive home I actually shouted OUT LOUD "why dont you just fuck off?". Had to go to shop to get milk but knew I only had enough coins so couldn't get wine. Got home and then Ds who IS going to school tomorrow told me he needed a packed lunch as he is on an outdoor trip thing. Fuck. The thought of going back to the shop, with a debit card, made me want to cry....I went back out, arguing with myself the whole time. Get a bottle, don't get a bottle......so I ended up at the wine bit deciding which one to buy and a huge surge of energy came over me, like a power from somewhere else! I swear I could almost see Gerald pulling up at the kerb with all the Babes with their noses presses up against the bus windows mouthing obscenitieswilling me on and I DIDN'T BUY ANY!
God that was way too close for comfort.
I'm well done you. You kept me going...
jango good to see you
purple how are you today.
indie what I do with the badger is my business OK?

ma you amazing fucker you I knew you could do it, wo ho go you

So what did you do with the badger last night ?