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

Babes

Morning Babes
Sunday morning check in here. So the good thing is that each month I have more AF days than the last month according to my 'drinking diary'. It's quite encouraging to see that.

Went out for dinner with some girlfriends last night. They all had a few drinks (but not many), I drank water. It was fine. Treated myself to desert which I'd never normally do, because I'd be on my second bottle of wine and my entire existence would be focused on drinking as much as possible, without actually just pouring it down my throat.

Drove home, rather disappointed NOT to be breathalyzed because I would have passed with flying colours!

Sorry not to NC. Hope you're all having a good Saturday night.
xx

Hello Babes

I just wanted to drop in and say hello. I haven't been on the bus for a while and tbh I haven't even had time to lurk really.

The bus is never far from my thoughts though, and I hope everyone on board is doing well and kicking the WW's butt. It helps me just knowing the bus is here.

Last time I was posting I was in a good AF spell, I did 40 days in the end and then had one drink and that was it, I was on the slope to drinking again and it increased very quickly. One drink was all it took and then I was back in the deep pit of regular/daily drinking and every time it is so hard to drag myself back out.

I have managed it somehow though and am now in a long AF run again (will be 5 weeks tomorrow). Everything in my life is better when I don't drink so I am just trying to gear myself up to have a sober Christmas. I feel if I can get through Christmas I won't look back and can try to make 2014 a dry year. I hope I am not being too ambitious.

So anyway thank you again to all the babes on the bus for the inspiration they have given me. I am going to try and catch up on posts today sometime and NC but forgive me if I don't, I will do it soon.

Love and wishing you all a sober and serene Sunday

Pink X

I'd like to mark my place please. After last night going out and vomiting all over work colleagues, the taxi and dp. And I knew I had dd today. She has gone to mil's. Am thoroughly ashamed. I realise now I cannot regulate my alcohol intake and I need to stop.

I went travelling recently and didn't drink for 2 months (never felt better) so I know I can do it.

Dancer well done on your week, and Soc massive well done on your sober night out. I have had 2 leaving parties this week, and drank at both, but very moderately (for me!) Was an effort though; I do find it hard to stop. Will be relieved when Christmas over and I can try for an AF January. Where you were last night iswhere I want to be Soc.

Hi to rural, Spanna, anne, beaches, isinde, fanta, why, pink, ma, baby, venus, mama and all babes. Love to I'm and mouse.

Sunday morning and had series of anxiety dreams about work all weekend. Have got the unions involved too, but there is such a culture of fear, overwork and blame right now, feel tense all the time. This is all sinceSeptember, it has got us all in a state, and I have worked there 10 years. It will be hard not to have a glass of wine tonight, already feel sick about going in tomorrow.

Well, got dd's friend coming over soon so better get the housework done first! Off to a Christmas fayre, so happy 1st December to all babes

Welcome tossedsalads are u a Frasier fan by chance?
Someone will be along soon with your ticket and breakfast

Oh, missed you there salad. Been there too, in previous job. Be kind to yourself today. Everyone here will support you. I am being a bit weak at the moment but this bus is helping curb my excesses. Stick with us and good luck on your day one xxxxx

Thank you demented. I need a McDonald's one. Thankfully I have just received a text from a friend who is equally worried that she was pissed. But it want this to bethe last time for me. I have just startedon antidepressants so that may explain my state, but is equally an indication that i really should not be drinking.

Morning all [tchsmile]

Haven't caught up with thread yet, been busy getting lots sorted. I completed dry November, wow that flew past and I didn't miss drinking at all. Sure, there was the odd moment but there will always be those odd moments and we have to learn to circumnavigate them.

Keep at it, babes, it does get easier.

Well done faire [tchgrin]

Well done faire [tchsmile]

I made it too, a dry November. It was (really) hard at times but waking up this morning was fucking brilliant! And the emoticons have got hats on! Sorry about the bragging and the language, hope you you all have a good day babes. [tchgrin]

Welcome salad [tchsmile]

Hello isinde i had 3 days of drinking in a row last week and it really made me feel like shit. I think after a taste of sober life, I can really feel the difference when I'm back on the bottle. Day 3 AF done here and it was hard. I always find day 3 - 5 the worst.

Totally jealous of pink. I've never stacked up more than 16 days in a row. 5 weeks is awesome

Hello tossed welcome

Hello looking I was thinking the same just this afternoon. Can't wait for January. December just feels like it's going to be hard.

Hello demented what's this breakfast and ticket? Are you trying to impress people? Gerald ain't posh is he?

Dead jealous of faire too. A whole month.

Crikey, I've got to do better. Though I think I'm just going to have to white knuckle it through December. ODDAT....oh yeah, I forgot. I don't actually drink....

See ya all tomorrow.
x

beaches well done. I'm so impressed.

Hello Brave Babes

Isinde you've had a tough week and you got through it Day 1 for me too again

Soc Babe you did so well last night, where are those policeman when you want them to pull you over

Hi Pink 5 weeks tomorrow that is awesome and 40 days I'm impressed. I hope I can get there

Tossed welcome, this bus is a strength to us all I have a friend who's on ADs and when she drinks (not that much) she gets legless, she puts it down to the medication

Hope Hello well done on the moderate drinking, it's bloomin hard work in a social situation where you know everyone (I would always be the heaviest drinker ) Try and resist the wine tonight, think about how much better you'll feel in the morning. Clear headed to deal with all that's going on at work

Beaches Congratulations Babe Wooop Woooop that is truly amazing

Nuff Congratulations to you too Babe truly inspiring

I learnt a word from my DD1 today - C.B.A (can't be arsed) new one for me

Hi to Ma Mouse Why Rural Baby and all you other lovely Babes xx

Right, I've caught up now [tchsmile]

Hello and welcome to salad. Stick around, you will get loads of advice to help you through those tricky times.

Hi spanna x post with you there.

I would name check everyone but, you know, I cba [tchgrin]

Hi all
There's good stuff going on the bus beaches I really admire your atchevment honey I hope your proud of yourself, AF for a month is out my league in my future

Hello salad stay with the bus you will get great support here x

nuff you rock my lovely your on a pedestal in my book ,one day maybe ... Ill do that too

I'm babe how are you?

Xpost I'm glad you're here. how u doing?

Nuff

spanna I'm a bit but better than I was yesterday x

I don't mind chatting over pm about stuff but ya know how it is not wanting to put to much here

I'm drinking ATM not huge amounts I need to have another bash at it I'm in awe at the babes that have done dry November.

How's things for you lovely?

Day 1 here I'm feeling tired and eating myself stupid to stop the WW from whispering as Soc said earlier Day 3 to Day 5 are the worst for me. Once I've done Day 2 and get to Day 3 I think, right I've done 2 days surely I deserve a drink . Only to then start feeling shite for 2 days The bus is definitely a huge support it has made me think about my own drinking habits and how I behave when pissed etc
Anyway onwards
Take care I'm

Im if you get a chance to read back through old threads, you will see that I was just the same as loads of other babes, trying to cope with drinking pretty much every day. This bus has changed my life.

Anyone can stop drinking. It's staying stopped that's the problem. But just do the best you can. Stop for an hour, a day, a week. Each time you 'fail', learn from it. Learn your triggers. Learn your limits. And try again.

That is all we can ask of ourselves, imo. Be kind to yourselves babes x