The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Stepping Into Christmas With Sobriety On Their Minds.

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse

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

Even if you think your intake has gone up more today than the last or this week than last, come and join us on Gerald, the amazing, always room for more, fully stocked with glorious treats and donned in his Christmas Decorations, Bus!

We are a supportive thread, 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 smile 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 Addiction Support Teams, or even other support threads, posts like that will be reported if the need arises, so 'Orange Paper supporters' don't waste your time please :)

This Bus is a place for honesty, sanctuary and safety, something that has taken almost 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, it's filled with (non alcoholic or narcotic) delicious, luxury treats and HUGE fluffy quilts, plus anything else you might need to help YOU get through YOUR day a minute, or an hour at a time.

And, if you'd like to see where this all began - This Is The Reason We're All Here, The Original JWN Thread

And This Is Our Previous Thread, With Links To Those Over The Past Few Years

We hope to meet you soon :) x

Did pop out to the shop after all, but got me some tonic and lime.

Hi looking, I'm a newbie but here to hand hold anyway. ma I think I beat that craving for today, how are you doing? alias you weirdo leave those anal glands alone!

purps great to see you back
Bit busy at the Mo will be back to catch up properly laterxx
A hard day 3 but hanging on.
Lets get that WW tonight babes

Huge (((hugs))) Mouse xx

Thanks mamabear - I have not had a drink yet but may have a glass of wine with x-factor - had a heavy couple of days - well, week - so weaning myself off. Hoping to start AF tomorrow, tho dread of the working week looms... But well done you, I will try to learn from you lovely babes here ....

Aaah, the Crimbo-themed bus. Time just keeps marching on, doesn't it?

Hello at all the Brave Babes
It's been Day 1 for 3 days now.
Reserving my seat and grateful for any green opal fruits that may be lurking
Lurking for now.
Hello everyone to all you Babes on or off the bus

Hi I'm planning to have a glass of wine tonight. Hope it's ok to say that. I'm contemplating how to handle controlled drinking and my thoughts are not on a school night, not when I have work the next day, not when I'm upset, tired, stressed, trying to numb myself to reality....no more than twice a week. This is just an idea, if I find by drinking I binge, can't get back to af days or it sets me off obsessing about it then I will have to rethink it....

Hi spanner, I thought it was just me who got day 1 on repeat! What are your plans to get through the rest of the evening? anne you gave a long list of good reasons not to drink. What's your reason for having the one glass? Hope it's ok to ask that, specially with me being new n all.

Of course it's ok mama. I've always planned do controlled drinking, if I can. I've been looking at when I tend to drink for the wrong reasons, like to reward myself or drown my sorrows. Tonight I just feel like my normal boring sense so thought it might be a 'safe' time to try a glass x

evening babes,

mouse hope your DM's health begins to improve.

annie try not to overthink it,if you end up drinking more than you planned then you will have learned something,if you stick to your planned amount then well done.

joey step away from that dog's bum! That is not christmassy at all

Welcome to looking- your life sounds really busy. I bet you don't get much time for yourself? Hard to resist the booze under those circumstances. Waht do you want to do- stop? Control? have a few af weeks? Good luck whatever you decide.

Big,big hug to all tonight. I had a 'oooh wish I could drink' moment but after a while I understood that I didn't want to drink I just wanted to switch off and rest properly for a while.

Welcome back hope ( that was a nice thing to write).
ERM, I'm in charge of Opal Fruit distribution round here so if could just check that bag in here, I'll deal with it.
spanna you haven't got a snowballs chance in hell of getting the green ones babe!
mama top job on getting in and out of the shop booze free. You rock.

Anyone seen thurso recently?

Anyone else reading the thread in chat on having friends who might be alcoholics? The posts from those whose childhood memories are of drunk parents are chilling and heart rending

Hi all

Mouse to you for setting up the new thread and for being there for us all even when you already have so much on your plate. Sorry that your dm has taken a turn for the worse.

Welcome back hope

why I love the word 'Crimbo' - very 80's

joey for the love of God man, leave the dog's arsehole alone!

< throws green opal fruits around with wild abandon >

Ooooops, sorry ma (hastily hands over Opal Fruit stash), didn't mean to upset the sweetie monitor!

And thanks Gugg, I do have a stupidly busy life, that is the problem. But alcohol doesn't help me get things done. I just don't know how to switch off any more without it, so any r&r tips for middle aged mums welcome! Think i need stress counselling, but it would just be another thing to fit in and scared what might come up.

Good luck and congrats to all not drinking tonight.

Hi babes, Bldy internet not been working tonight, The joys of living in what is termed an isolated rural community, yes ma that is a euphemism
for The middle of nowhere.!!
spanna I get a lot of repeats of day 1 too hope you kicked that WW A8SE today.
anne agree with the wise guggs about tomorrow and the controlled drinking. Let us know how it goes.
purps looks like you and looking are going to be sans opal fruits in the sidecar if ma gets her way.
mama good going

Oh and hello again faire thanks for the welcome . Opal fruit rebel....

Mine, all mine!
Bwa ha ha haaaaaaaaaaa

AF tonight so happy with that. Time for sleep but the scrabbly thing is back gnawing somewhere in the walls......can't be the wankbadger as he is at work

Morning All
Soc does a sharp U-turn with Gerald and screeches up to mouses house. Offloads all the babes. Strap mouse onto the sofa, favourite tv programme on, feed her sorts of delicious treats, while the rest of us rush around taking care of nemo, polishing the house from top to bottom, filling the freezer with home-made meals, attending to all outstanding chores and giving you toe rubs…. Mouse I don’t know how you cope. Xx

Hello looking. Yes, just be careful about those opal fruits. (i have a stash of green ones - just don't tell anyone)

ma I was just reading that thread too. Those threads really make me think – also the one about the DW who is drinking. That was easily me. Makes for difficult reading.

spanna I've had so many Day 1/Day 2/Day 3. It really doesn't matter. I think the only thing that matters is to keep trying. Whether it's giving up or controlling.

Sober Sunday here. Today is going to be a bit of a challenge, but I’m not going to drink. There will be loads of mothers here after my sons party having wine and hanging out. I will arm myself with ginger beer. I’m not going to drink today. I am more determined than ever that I want to be sober. I am much happier without wine. Maybe a little bit more bored, but that’s a small price to pay.

Hope all you babes are doing well. Day 4 here. xx

Well done soc Sounds like the ww doesn't stand a chance if she calls on you today.
Day 3 done here. 1st sober saturday for quite a while.
Well done babes who beat the ww today.
Love and hugs to you all.
Goodnight all, Im exhausted and battle weary today from fighting off the evil WW xx

Hello rural thanks. It seems to get easier - or am I deluding myself. I'm so scared about falling back to all that awful drinking and the consequences.

Bit jealous of you living in the sticks. I grew up on a farm and sometimes hanker for that life.

Well done on Day 3 - especially a Saturday. That's a difficult combination.
xxx

Hi popping back in the bus a bit worried tonight been hiding away its not good if I'm quiet, things are a bit not good here
Sorry its a quick pop in
love to all babes tonight

Just off to bed.

Soc - thank you, your post made me cry. I plan to talk to both my mum and dad tomorrow over the phone, we've postponed the Great Mouse Santa Present Swap planned for next weekend until the New Year as we can all get gifts to one another via different means. From Manchester to Sheffield, to a tiny village near North Wales, we can do it.

So no buffet for my mum to do, no house full of children rushing around of various ages, some behaving with excitement and lack of control, other happy to sit and play with Grandma's wonderful stash of toys in the Magic Cupboard for hours until it was time to leave.

I have told my brother I know and my step sister who has only just had a baby so was asked not to be told. That decision I overrode, rightly or wrongly, she's an adult and needed to know that her step mother is seriously ill and could get worse if there isn't a care plan put into place and soon.

I have a list of who needs to be involved in her care, one that I'll share with my father tomorrow via our call, through the tears and laughter at how daft we're both being.

I feel blessed and honoured that he has asked me to help him with the medical side of feeding mum, caring for her delicate skin, should she need a feeding tube put in........

Today has been hard, but without YOU, my Brave Babes here to support and distract me, I'd be lost and drinking myself into a stupor by now.

Well done Soc on day 4!!! Bloody well done!!!! :) xxx

DD has just got in from the cinema and a chinese buffet for her friends's Birthday. Which is why I am up so late...

Welcome back looking - you can come and go as you please on this thread, the seats are always free, they expand as required......

Spanna - Soc's right, it doesn't matter what day you are at, as long as you're at a day! And you keep coming back, you keep trying, YOU come back and are here with us now. That counts for something, surely?

Ma - I saw both of the threads, my wife is drinking and the friends one.... seems that this evil bitch - The Wine Witch is becoming less of a taboo topic to be raised and more of something that people are actually seeking help for?

Perhaps it's time for a topic dedicated to alcoholism, being alcohol dependence, secret drinking, lying about the amount consumed and the like?

Sorry not to NC back to everyone but well the very feck done Mama for not giving in!!! You are a star!

I'm going to bed sober, I lay with Nemo for hours earlier when he went to bed, thinking of the fights he has had to fight in his tiny little life. The battles he has won, fought and bloody well won..... he, Nemo is the reason I am not steaming drunk right now.

He is the one who was my lightbulb moment all those minutes, hours, days, months and now years ago.... He is my reason, DD is my reason, DH is my reason and my mother too.

Night Brave Babes - let's get our Christmas on in the coming days, make this Gerald all sparkly and as lovely as my house is now thanks to Soc.

Soc - I hope with all my heart that the WW fucks right off away from you today, and thank you. Just for being you xxx

Night all xxx

PS - sorry for any typos etc

I'm - You are needed here, we all need you so how about tomorrow, you come and tell us what you have planned for Christmas, New Year, Wednesday, Friday, what colour your bedding is.... anything just to keep talking and keep your brain busy and not thinking about picking up?

You really are doing great without the WW inside of you twisting your life upside down! I'm sorry I've got to go but will be back around lunch tomorrow.

Why not tell us some of the things you loved as a teen? Jason Donovan? Or whoever!!

Talk to us and we'll talk back. We'll help you think of ways to keep busy, sober, dry and away from the twisted thoughts that the WW can place inside your mind.

Stay YOU xxx