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

Evening mouse. Try and eat something, even if it's something tiny. xx

Wednesday done and dusted.

My plan for December is to check in here all the time and mindlessly bore you all with my updates. December seems like such an impossible task. I have social stuff lined up for the next three nights (work related) and summer bbq's, Christmas etc. etc. End of school year mother's drinks. It seems like one monumental battle. My intention is to not drink. If I recall (as much as I can..!) some of the past work social functions, staying sober seems like a really, really good idea. So I need to keep playing that mortifying movie again and again.

Have a good day babes xxx

Morning Babes. Will be thinking of you and your family today mouse

venus so very true about the 'go on, have one, it's Christmas' pressure. And again, I may have said that to someone else in the past, or encouraged others to drink who maybe didn't actually want to.

mouse love and strength to you today my friend xxx

Hi babes, I'm reading Caroline Knapp's a Love Story at the moment and the number of passages I can relate to is bloody scary, I could have written pieces of it myself!!! It's a great book and a sobering one (pardon the pun). I'm on day 3 here and don't miss it at all, never do during the week, it's 6.30 on Friday my alter ego will descend I will itch for wine and the weekend looms long and obligation free for time and duty. This weekend I am planting little hurdles, pictures with dd on Friday, play date on sat and meeting a friend for coffee Sunday am. I will let myself down on any day if the week but not my girls so I will use all my tricks to get through this weekend AF, sorry for rambling just wanted to mark my intentions out loud xx

baby that sounds pretty smart. If not letting the girls down is a motivator then use it absolutely. Friday night is the biggest hurdle and seems to influence the rest of the week for me. If I drink Friday then I have no reason not to drink on Saturday too and then, well just a quite few on Sunday night to round off the weekend....and on and on.

Your weekend sounds nice and will be so much nicer if you aren't dragging a hangover along too. . I think I need to make a plan of my own x

Hellooooooo?

Anyone out there?

How is everyone this evening? Hope all is well. How are our newish newbies getting on?

Hi all
In the sidecar and AF today.
Hope you are all ok

Wow, look at that - you wait four hours for a post and two come along at once!

Hey faire
Happenin? ......as ds would say.

Sup?

Jus hangin.

Sick

Hey ma how come you're in the sidecar and AF?

You got one leg on the bus or what?

Blood.

faire been on a 4 day stay to london and done some serious drinking so need to detox. AF today as still hungover!

Don't know anymore yoof speak innit

Ah, that makes sense. Glad you had a good time with your dsis though. Did you get the see the Christmas lights?

Yes.....so pretty
And visited Highgate cemetery which I LOVED!
Atmospheric and a touch creepy but very peaceful

Hello Babes
Another dry dull, white knuckle day here. Going to a work function tonight, but I'm driving so that's safe.
Have a good day all
xx

Hope you are feeling okay mouse.

And thank you to all who have sent me love and support these last few trying days. I see my son in about 48 hours. The big family court date is 12/12. Those of you who believe in religion, or luck, or positive thoughts, or karma, please send it all my way for that date. I don't know how I could mentally hold it together if that date goes badly. My lawyer has been screaming at social services, but has told me to be as calm as I can. The psychiatrists social services sent me to diagnosed me with PTSD. I am now in social services ordered therapy for the events in my life engineered by social services. The better I get, the less I get to see my son. It doesn't make sense and it isn't fair, right or legal.

Sorry for the emotional dumping when there are so many worse off than me. The bereaved, the ill, those with sick children, the homeless, the impoverished: the list is endless. All I need is a little hope. You Brave Babes have never let me down, and for that I thank you all.

Hope everybody has a good day.

Hang in there why. It will end and you're doing so incredibly well.
12/12 is a lucky date. xx

why I really hope all goes well on 12/12, but the most important thing to remember is that however much luck you have (and we all wish for you) you got sober through your own persistent efforts. And that is just brilliant. It hasn't been 'lucky' that you've stopped drinking, it's been determination and strength. Hold on to that whatever happens. You ARE strong and determined and more resilient than ever, and you will get through all of this.

mouse thinking of you yesterday & today. After the funeral felt more hollow to me when I lost DF iykwim. Sending love.

why loads of love and light beaming your way, as the wise venus says, it's your incredible strength and steely determination that has got you af odaat. I'm so sorry you have been so badly fucked over by social services, I'm so relieved you will get to see your son soon. Will be sending all the positive vibes I can muster for the 12th.

Hi to all of you. Day 2 again here.

morning babes,
Wise words as always

mouse and why thinking of you both today and wishing you both safety and calmness and best wishes.x

soc keep up the good work lovely. Christmas parties start off as a good excuse to let your hair down but I bet that before christmas is actually here that there will be threads from people who have had a vile time at the christmas do - anyone really fancy telling the boss what they think of them? Vomming in the bogs? contracting an std from the guy you've had a minor flirtation with all year?- followed by the walk of shame when monday rolls around again. Obviously,I wouldn't dream of engaging in ANY of the formentioned activities. Ahem. Gosh,no...
Just doesn't hurt to remember the kinds of things alcohol likes to bring along to a christmas do.

Hi there to venus and mama and faireand isinde and maand beaches and baby

baby so good to read your posts lovely. Think I'll get the caroline Knapp book on your recommendation. I'm re reading the Tania Glynde (can't remember name) and finding lots of new things to think about in the recovery part of the book. I find some of the other sections depressing because they are very honest.

I loved,loved the poems btw.

Ha ha gugg. Read that while I was out and had a laugh. Thank god (or rather Gerald) no walk of shame for me. Was fine. A bit boring but boring is a fabulous alternative.

Love to all you babes. How much nicer my life is even tho I am battling with staying sober. It's still better.

Sorry can't nc. Am in bed on my phone.

Have a good day. Xx