The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Walking In A Winter Sober Land!

[Mouseface]

Hello Brave Babes, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to the 'Bus Of Fun' (now you've come of age!)

This is a thread for those who want to give up drink completely, or are maybe thinking about doing controlled drinking, or cutting down slowly, with a view to quitting or not... it's up to you.

You know your limits, you know what is required, it's in your hands. And only you can make it happen.

Whatever your goal, you'll find support here. Always.

There will be talk of drinking and those who fall off the Bus (arse over tit) will post about it, so if that is going to jeopardise your chances of complete sobriety, then maybe the DRY thread would suit you better, as they are complete abstainers. :)

That said, this Bus is happy to have you no matter what, as long as you can cope with chat of drinking, nights out/in, failures, cyclical drinkers, etc......

Everyone has always been welcome here and shall remain to be.

No-one is ever turned away. EVER.

There are no hard and fast rules, other than the support here is unconditional, it may be in the form of tough love at times, but it's always meant with the very best of intentions.

There are two sayings that we like here -

1. • The Vulnerable Need Our Support, Not Our Judgement
2. • Alcohol Fosters Inertia

The rest kind of happens as the posts appear.

I hope that's okay with you all.

You'll find the last thread HERE, THAT WILL LEAD TO THREADS BEFORE IT, SOME HISTORY

And the original and real, truly heartfelt reason that we are here in the first place is HERE. A VERY SOBERING READ

The Bus may be 'mythical', but the support is real, honest and will help you to achieve what it is that you seek, as long as you are honest with us, but mostly, YOURSELF

See you soon. x

Welcome cherry and well done for being brave enough to make the first and hardest post!

babyj thinking of you, hope you're doing okay

I've had a pretty good Christmas, in fact feel quite proud (although not smug or complacent!)

Office party last Saturday - drank nothing
Sunday I had a couple of glasses of wine; Monday & Tuesday - nothing

Christmas Day - did not start drinking till after the evening meal; in fact it was 8.30pm and I tried very hard to alternate water and wine. Maybe ended up drinking a bit too much, but on the whole MUCH better than in previous years.

Boxing Day - nothing at all!
Last night, I had a bottle of wine that someone gave me, but made sure to share it with DH, and diluted it with elderflower.

Feeling so chuffed. Wednesday was the first drink I have had at my in-laws since.... last Christmas !!! It's been a struggle, but I've done a whole year of controlled (mostly) drinking and I'm going to reward myself by.... buying a new dress

Welcome cherry and well done joey you totally deserve that new dress!

baby I'd second the recommendation to read drinking a love story, I read it last Jan and I'm going to again. I love reading and it's one of the things I lost with daily drinking - I got loads of books for Xmas so I'm hoping they'll keep me distracted during Jan. If you like crime/thrillers I'd suggest nikki French, tess gerritsen, minette walters

Can I re join not doing well with the drinking in fact I'm doing terrible x

Venus what a great idea couch to sober January is. I'm going to go a bit longer, all the way to half term. Probably. I did it before Christmas so no reason why I shouldn't if I want to.

Joey well done, a whole year, go you! I remember you posting about those visits and how you didn't want to drink at your inlaws and then one day, you just didn't. Shows how important those small steps are, they lead to big achievements.

Hello to new babes and welcome back to those that haven't posted for a while. Good to hear from you all.

This do you want to try for an af day tomorrow?

Welcome to all new and returning babes.

Just checking in. My head is melted. So many things running through my mind.

Thanks for all the support through the Christmas period. I literally dread to think where I would be without the bus.

Welcome cherry. Its a bit quieter than normal on here at the most but sure all the Babes will surface soon.

Just in from out visiting friends. I offered to drive so a much needed AFD for me. Why the hell am I so back to front? No problem going out,socialising and not drinking but I would have sunk a bottle if I'd been at home! Got to find a way to crack that.

Hi babes and welcome cherry

Im always cheers me to see you post, hope all is ok with you x

Hi to you lovely babes why, Faire, Ma, Anne, guggs

this good to have you back babe.

joey your post was very uplifting, you have/are doing brilliantly and I hope you rock the new frock

baby I liked the shedding the emotional skin description, I feel a bit like that. The beginning of a new year is freeing, the opportunity to start afresh and I also have plans to shape up physically as well as spiritually. I had a little practice go at the 30 day shred, level 1, today - I found it on you tube and it looked pretty easy....... Well, I am apparently not in the shape I thought I was

Also, books, I just finished Marian Keyes, this charming man - it was a good escape book with a few alcohol issues thrown in. I enjoyed it.

spanna how are things with you? Any progress with the house?

All the readers who I haven't named, I hope everything is as good as it could be xx

Morning all welcome back this how are you today?

Hello beaches thanks lovely things are tough here, I did not drink yesterday mainly because I have no money and that continues today and Monday too at least I will get a few AF days.

Hi to mouse joey Anne why ma spanna guggs baby nuff this pink isindie soc hello to all babes x

The dress is off eBay, so far I'm the only bidder, so pleased that I am not using alcohol as a reward!

ma I am the same, managing not to drink when out but overdo it when at home. I've learnt to only have in the house what I can drink in one evening (in my case, 2 mini-bottles of wine)

If I intend not drinking, I don't have any (or leave it in the car for 'emergencies' !)

Of course this may not work for you if your family for drink. My DH knows he can only have beer or whisky.

Hi, can I board the bus please?
I've had issues with drinking to excess since a break down in my late teens. I have managed periods of being totally dry or managing it really well.
But after being so ill I nearly died a couple of years ago I have slowly sunk into depression. I am in constant pain and have recently talked to my GP and gone back on antiD's.
We got a box of wine in for Christmas and I have found myself drinking every day. Last night I had 2 bottles because I was fed up with myself. I dare say the neighbours didn't enjoy the loud singing or sex that followed. I know my husband didn't.
I need to knock this on the head again now and just give up alcohol. It's not really advised with the meds I'm on/the medical conditions I have. I just need to be with people who understand.

Also, is there a way to skip to the first unread posts because these threads are epic!

Hello mercury welcome to the bus

Morning all. It's cold, calm and frosty here today. Dh has already been out striding across the fields. Me, not so much. A good book and mug of coffee is more my thing right now. Any recommendations on books?

Hi and welcome to MrF, it sounds like you are in the right place for some support and good advice

Did you mean that you wanted to go over the threads from the very start? Now that's an epic read! It's here and our lovely Mouse puts it in the OP for easy access anytime.

Btw, huge wave to Ladame who I missed earlier. So fantastic to hear from you.

Hi to all babes, are we gearing up for a healthier new year?

Thanks for the welcome :)
I have been reading some of the other threads - epic indeed!
What I meant though was if there was a way to skip straight to the new posts on this thread rather than go to the last page and then try and scroll through them till I find the newest posts.

Not too bad but of on the sick with my anxiety I'm scared I'm goin to loose my job nearly admitted my self fri I was that bad no one gets it ;(

MrF I don't know if there is a way to do that, the only thing to do is log in every single day to keep up!

Welcome, by the way.

MrF you can bookmark a post so that when you come back to the thread it will open at the last post you read, is that what you need?

Move the mouse over the bottom right corner of this post (or any post) and you will see the word 'Bookmark' appear out of nowhere

Click it and it will turn to 'Saved'. Try it.

Hi babes, was going to say morning but it's afternoon and I haven't been up two hours I'm so annoyed with myself, I've had the week off work and I've fallen into drinking nightly and lounging around in bed. I don't even have a hangover as an excuse, I feel fine, just totally lethargic, I'm just moping around feeling anxious and guilty. I know from when I've had af days that wine really adds to me feeling like this. So I'm going to try and pull myself out of this pity party and take the dds to soft play, which I hate, to at least get us out doing something.

Faire I'm trying to prepare myself for a healthier new year, I've put on a few pounds and I'd like to lose at least half a stone. I was eating quite well yesterday, did a fitness dvd - beaches I think the Jillian dvds look deceptively easy - and then I blew it by staying up late, having another glass of wine and eating cheese and crackers :( I think someone said a while back about it being easier not to drink if it's part of a diet, I hope that's the case, otherwise I just see me self sabotaging....

Hi mrF. You could just click on the "last"button and it will take you to the latest posts.

faire not too windy up on the roof rack is it?

Brilliant. Thank you :)

Hi mercury welcome aboard. This bus will help you so so much, we have all been where you are now and there's lots of help and advice here so stay close and I look forward to getting to know you better xxx

Anyone else bored rigid? This holiday goes on way too bloody long and still a week to go!
Am actually going into the empty office tomorrow to do some work as am sick of death of being stuck in this cold flat while the wind and rain batter the windows and the kids eat me out of house and home.
Whatcha all up to?

Tumbleweed.....

I am in bed feeling yucky.

Some kind of bug thing but on the plus side I am on day 3 and dh is off work and able to take over. Thanks Anne for saying Jillian's workout is harder than it looks - it really is! But I will try it again when better. this keep posting, sounds like you are feeling fragile. . Hi to all xx

It is a bit breezy up here ma, shall I join you and Barrie under the blankie? I suppose we could make a start on tidying up. Who's idea was it to go so mad with the tinsel anyway?

(I blame Isinde)

< passes sick bowl to beaches and retreats to a safe distance >