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

spanna well done for putting the brakes on. I am ok, ww quiet tonight. So should make day 5.
mouse love and hugsxx
Sorry not to nc but luffs you all.
Having to help someone close as her dm has been taken into hospital sudden and unexpected iyswim so might not be posting so much for a few days.
Love to allxx

Hi just a message for mouse, sending you my condolences you are a nice lady and the work you do keeping this thread going is smashing. Thinking of you and your family at this sad time. I'm - hope you are safe. Baby I hope your health stays on an upward trajectory. Just wondering did any of you babes watch last weeks tonight on itv I just saw it now on itv player its worth a watch, thought the lady who agreed to be monitored was very brave.

Hello Beautiful Babes

Day 2 here. I’m like a hamster stuck in a wheel, but actually things are so vastly different to what they were just two months ago. I was drinking every afternoon and evening until I was hammered. Going just 1 day without wine seemed monumental and 2 days seemed absolutely impossible.

I have drunk 3 times during the whole of November. By far the best thing is that I drink, but I don’t carry on the next day and/or the next few days and weeks after. Things have so definitely changed and improved in my life, beyond measure and I have this bus to thank for a lot of that.

My intention is still absolute abstinence but I’m not going to allow the WW to make me feel guilty either when I do slip up. All I’m going to do is dust myself off and carry on being a fabulous, fit and feisty 44 year old teetotaler…(that’s the image I have of what I want to be – not a drunk, slob, incoherent 44 year old).

Sending mouse more big hugs. It’s hard losing a parent.

I’m hope you’re safe and ok. Please stay on the bus.

alias you can do it…..it’s just an adjustment, but you’ll manage fine. I second the slow cooker. I made a delicious lamb stew the other day. Had a mad day at work and family visiting that night so I bunged it all in the slow cooker in the morning and impressed everyone with my superior culinary skills at night. It can be a life saver and makes you look good.

baby hope all is ok with you. Great post. I could write the same.

Hello spanna selling a house is stressful enough without having to battle the WW.

dancer don’t feel too bad. We’ve all been there multiple times. Just keep posting here. It really helps and is one of the reasons I don’t go back for more day after day.

babes don’t underestimate the power of this bus. Keep reading and posting. Doesn’t matter if you’ve been beaten by the WW. Some of us take 100000000 attempts to get rid of her. Just keep trying. Any day sober is a good one. I love hearing other people's thoughts and opinions and progress (whatever it is) so please keep posting. Your message may just stop someone from picking up that first drink.

And that is all from a bossy Soc today. xxxx

Good morning Soc

Fabulous,fit and feisty sounds GOOD you go girl

Day 1 here, doing my usual 'waking in the early hours, mouth like gorilla's armpit, drinking sweet tea - so that I feel halfway decent in the morning'

Joey Good Luck today, you'll be fine Buy chocolate on your way home as your reward (ignore that WW, she's a bitch) and don't forget to pat yourself on the back

I'm I hope all goes well with WA today stay on the bus babe we're all here if you need us

Hang in there Im. Get back on to WA. It may not seem appealing but it is better than you might think. You'd be amazed the situations you can survive and thrive from.

Soc Rural babyjane faire mouse spanna beaches and mamma hey to you all.

I've been asked to give the qualification at an AA meeting in mid-December, the very second I hit the 90 days. gulp

wooo hooo fame and glory for our why. Well done.

And bloody well done on 90 days. That's incredible. xx

Good luck for day 1 spanna..

I think Gerald needs new treads btw.

Morning babes. Another scary Monday here - gone into review at work again. They won't be happy till they havegot rid of us all.

At least facing it with a clear head!

I'm - thinking of you, stay strong and safe today

Joey good luck in your job xxx you will be great

Other babes - hope you all have a good week x

Lovely Joey, good luck for today - Knock 'em dead (so to speak!). You'll be fab! xx

Good luck today to joey, Im, Why, hope and anyone else facing a difficult situation head on. You can do it, don't let the bastard ww get you!!

(Are we allowed to swear this early in the day?)

Damn fucking right we are nuff swearing gives me strength I need it x

Thanks everyone for your kind words its a great comfort
Day 7 today

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement and well done to you all in your own progress.

After having a disturbed sleep, I have woken up with a bear with a sore head this morning and have already snapped at DD a few times .

Am still determined to not go near the wine later this evening though. I would often reach for the bottle to take the edge of a bad mood but it invariably goes from "just one glass" to the whole bottle. I have to learn how to deal with my emotions in a more healthy way.

Am not really looking forward to today as have no plans. Am going to ask a friend if she can meet up for a bit but if she can't make it I am on my own with my DD all day and night. I just get so bored and moody and both is a trigger for boozing.

Keep going over horrible things that have happened in the past over my head. It takes real effort to say something positive about myself.

*like a bear not "with"

Not a great start - as usual I went to bed too late, and then heard noises coming from the radiator. Poked DH (who was of course already snoring) "Did you mess with the settings on the heating?"

Answer "Yes, he did."

(we have a system whereby if you just want to change the settings temporarily you can just press one button. I have told him this loads of times, but no he keeps changing the damned settings - it was set to 24/7!) Kicked him out of bed to un-mess the system, but by that time I was very irritable!

soc i loved your post. i think you're amazing for only drinking 3 times in november, and you've come so far! it's great that you're focusing on the positives in your journey rather than the temporary blips. we're all human and you've inspired me to stop worrying so much about the potential i have for slipping up. can i ask how are your days 1-3 after a blip? is it as bad as the first time(s)?
hope work sounds like a nightmare, v impressed you are facing it all sober, it would be far worse with a hangover.
dancer it's great you are still posting. when you've had a few days sober under your belt, you can look back on these posts and see how far you've come. it's not helpful to project though, just something to remember to do once you get there. I'm rooting for you to beat that wine witch today!
why you are such a huge inspiration! little by little there are chinks of light in your posts, and I can't wait for the day you & your family are finally reunited.
rural sorry to hear about your friend's dm, and a massive well done for reaching day 5!
joey i feel your pain re radiators! we were without heat for 2 days in the living room, me & ds already with stinking colds, was not happy. dp seems to have sorted it out but to the detriment of hot water in the bathroom. kitchen water is fine, british gas came out last week and were completely useless. i have to organise another visit today, grrr. anyway, i'm sure you & your family will take to your extra hours easier than you expect. sometimes being busier than normal makes you more efficient than normal if that makes sense?
nuff, spanna, i'm, ma, isinde and anyone else i've inadvertently missed, hope you're all coping with monday ok. day 11 here, can't believe i have made double figures!!!

Brrrrr, brass monkeys with knobs on. Snow on the ground here and an icy wind. blue with cold face

11 days Ma, that is fantastic! Well done x

Good to see you Spanna sorry you are having a nightmare with the house stuff.

Shocked at your foul fucking mouth there Im well done on day 7.

Faire your children sound wonderful on shopping trips, when mine are with me I think we take 10 times as long!

rural it sounds like you are being a great support to a friend, take care of you too

soc refusing to feel guilty is excellent, I often think that is the way the WW gets her claws in deep.

Since I jumped on the bus in September I have drunk a total of 10 nights, that must be out of about 70. And nothing so far in November. This is from drinking night after night for years, swearing to give up very single day. I managed 3 months 4 years ago and during my last pregnancy 8 years ago. I am so much better for not drinking, far more rational. I am scared of slipping because I am rubbish at fighting off the guilt. Also because I love drinking and know drinking. Yet when/if I do drink I can come and re-evaluate here. I hope I don't sound as if I have it all worked out because I am really hanging on by a thread sometimes. I try focus on the benefits because it helps remind me why I am trying so hard. I hope that doesn't put any of the new posters off, I have attempted to stop regularly and not made it past the evening, a bazillion times probably. All of the posts are wonderful, drinking, not drinking, hungover, whatever. Having somewhere to come to, where people understand the pull of the drink is invaluable.

.

love to all

I meant you mamma, 11 days wonderful x

beaches snow great

My search continues nothing in England for me and five dc ;( another night of hell I could so do with a drink

Oh Im, so sorry there doesn't seem to be a safe haven for you. Can you get some kind of injunction against him to keep him away? Would that even work?

I can see why drinking would seem like an escape but it won't last and then you will have to cope with a shitty hangover on top. Try and stay strong babe, you are doing so great. Keeping my fingers crossed something comes up for you and the children today. X

Hi all - just checking in. Day One (again :( )

Sorry to those who are struggling. (((Mouse))) Sorry things are so tough for you right now.

Am currently watching the Tonight (ITV) programme that was on the other night - 'Britain's Secret Drinkers'. I definitely fall into the bottle-of-wine-a-night dangerous territory :(

The programme is quite good - concentrates on the rise in 'at home' drinking. Ugh - I am going to fight the Wine Witch with all my muster, despite feeling down all day that I won't get my nightly 'treat'...

Good to see you again Paw

That show sounds really interesting, I think chopin mentioned it too - might see if I can find it on You Tube later, home drinking is definitely my thing too. Good luck for today

Thankyou beaches I feel guilty now as iv had a drink today's been a bit to much to deal with I have had someone round today to help us so the ball may be rolling slowly I know I need to be sober for this cos I get hurt when I'm drunk hes killed my rabbits

Luvs to all my brave babes that keep me going x

Don't feel guilty Im, seriously. You are doing such a great job in the face of awful pressure, I am sure you are doing far better than I could. What a bastard killing the rabbits. I am so pleased to hear you had someone over who may help you though. Sending lots of strength to you xx

Thanks honey, feel glad to have you and the bus here tonight got to gather strength to tell the lady In morning exactly what's gone on I might right it down, how do you say those horrid words you can not say

You say them with a whisper first Im. Then you reach deep down into yourself and say them a little louder and then let the pain you have been suffering act as an amplifier until the horrid words you have to say come fast, loud and clear. The only things that you have to silence is fear or shame. Think of yourself and your kids.

You can do this. You don't have to do it alone, but you MUST speak up, lovely.

I'm here all evening. Write them at first if you can't croak it out. Reread them over and over until the lady comes tomorrow. Then don't let her leave without being heard or getting a promise of definite action from her.