The Brave Babes Battle Bus - A New Year, A New YOU!

[Mouseface]

New Year Resolutions Anyone?

Welcome one and all, I'm Mouse, nice to meet YOU. :)

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, it's all up to you.

You know your limits, you know what is required, it's in YOUR hands.

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

There will be talk of drinking quite often and those who fall off the Bus will post about it, so if that is going to jeopardise your chances of complete sobriety, then maybe the DRY threads would suit you better, as they are complete abstainers, but EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE :)

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 rather like here -

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

For those of you who'd like some history, here is the very first thread and the reason that we're all here now. FIRST THREAD

And here is the lastest thread, which you can scroll back through to see the other JOURNEYS SO FAR

The Bus may be 'mythical', but the support is real, it is honest and it 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

Edit: 24 days AF in November, but not in a continuous stretch.....

Hey Soc I hope you managed to get off to sleep eventually . 24 days out of 30 is brilliant by the way! Does it get easier? Not sure, somedays maybe - the last few days have been more difficult for some reason but because I have this January challenge AND I now have a straight run that I want to keep, I have more reasons not to. Not drinking at all has the advantage of just the ONE mental battle - that first drink. All the 'how much, when shall I start, is he having more than me, have we got enough, can I get away with one more without feeling awful tomorrow, and so on' is not there. Not succumbing to the first one is still a struggle at times though. Another funny result is the fear of a hangover, I know it will follow the next time I drink so if I have plans, that puts me off! (This was not a concern when drinking daily) Others may have found it gets easier and I would be interested to hear.

hi angry and welcome . Sounds like you are doing really well getting some fizzy alcohol free wine in for the dinner party sounds like a great idea. Would your girlfriends relate to 'detox January' or something like that? At this time of year so many people have resolutions to live a more healthy lifestyle, you could use that? They may ask if you are pregnant though! Good luck with it and hope you have fun.

joey I related to your sadness over nytol. On the news this morning the headline was ' Canada bans marmite' . I rushed out to the store and bought 5 jars in horror! Not sure of the full story but it sent me into a panic . (I checked for nytol but there was none)

Hope all you other brave babes are safe and well xx

Oops joey karvol NOT nytol. (The do Sort of rhyme though)

beaches

had a wobble, was wandering in a daze round M&S (looking for chocolate) and drawn towards the wine. I managed to resist, but only because I have been on this Bus for NEARLY TWO YEARS and it has taught me some magical things.

Like how at first it's so hard, and you keep relapsing and ending up in the sidecar. But you have to pick yourself up and try again (think about it - if you had a night of insomnia, would you say "Well that's it then, no point in ever trying to sleep again!" ? No, of course not, you just try again the next night. And the next.) well sobriety is like that, we have to accept our failures, maybe work out what went wrong, and try again.

And gradually it does get easier. And the AF stretches become longer, and the times we do drink are more controlled and infrequent. But it does take time (for some people longer than others, I guess it depends what other issues you have going on) but the Bus keeps trundling on.

And today, when I felt miserable with the cold, and my resolve was low, those many months of being cheered on by Babes Old & New really paid off. I feel like I'm finally in control of it (although will always be aware that I have my trigger points) I love all you Babes, and don't ever give up. If you lapse, just pick yourself up and try again.

Here Endeth Today's Lesson.

Yay for joey, what a fab post

I totally agree. Never, ever give up trying, it does get easier and the idea of going without gets less scarier.

Well Done joey!!!! Very inspiring post x

faire you are right about going without being less scarier the thought of a week without doesn't have the same impossible feeling about it.

Joey

Kids are such ungrateful gits aren't they?

I too found myself lurking in M&S, went in for my 3 for £10 meat and slid up to the meal for 2 for £10 and eyed up the wine that's so neatly stacked at the end of the fridge on a whirly display stand. Anyway I chose yumminess for dinner, triffle for pudding and prized my hand away from wine and chose 2 bottles of fizzy elderflower presse (get me!) Anyway, my point....I cook dinner, take it to both DDs in their various places in the house (meals on legs) and get from DD1 'we've got an oven now do we not have a proper chicken pie' to which I replied 'thank you mum' and then DD2 something like 'I don't like this' ANYWAY neither of them are going to see any of the triffle (they don't know of it's exsistance) I've already eaten half of it, lovely DD1 has polished off her 'this isn't a chicken pie'

Beaches I have found the AF for this long REALLY hard. It's been a daily struggle, sometimes (more recently) hourly and the whole 'what do I do when I get to 31st, do I have a drink? Hell I really want one. But I've come this far And actually without this bus I wouldn't be able to say 23 days

Currently drinking elderflower thingy out of wine glass and I'm knocking it back and realising 'no dulling effect' and I keep needing to pee. Time for tea.

Good evening all Brave Babes

Spanna [Grin] at you and the trifle!
I have already had "what's for tea....I HATE stew" the only time everyone is happy here is on pizza night
I am also wanting a drink, so much so that when dh asked what we had planned for Feb 2nd my response was "DRINKING" the thing is I know I feel so much better for not drinking, it's just.....
Anyway, I am determined for tonight. You are doing brilliantly by the way

We have, "What's for dinner?"

"Chicken surprise"

"What's the surprise?"

"There's no chicken in it"

Nuff

Checking in. What is the name for the place you are in when you are beyond tired? Spent night on sofa thanks to snoring wankbadger and couldn't sleep. So many things buzzing round in my head, plus the night sweats which wake me up constantly.

Lovely boss and I had very important meeting with some very important people who insisted on using corporate jargon all the time. I did fine until, when talking about prioritising, one woman said " well obviously, one deals with the crocodiles closest to the canoecanoe first" and I hears the tiniest muffled snort from the boss. I just kept repeating to myself " don't look at him, don't look at him" because I knew I would corpse if I made eye contact. He has since managed to get it into conversation in two other meetings and trying not to giggle is agonising. I swear I will kill him one of these days.

Tonight I baked a cake for ds birthday and by tomorrow it has to look like a Minion! Give me strength....

A minion cake!!!

Faire love the chicken surprise!

So, Friday night TKD session was a real effort but at least I can enjoy my twix now without blowing the calorie count.

Hope all you other lovely babes are ok xx

Enjoy your twix Beaches you deserve it Babe

Ma I hope you get a better nights sleep tonight x

I'm how are you babe?

Good to hear from you Soc

babes what awesome posts. I do love this bus. Day 3 and feeling strong. Can't nc sorry. Am at work on my mobile. Multitasking as I'm driving too.

spanna hello lovely how you doing?

beaches Twix are my favourite are you snow free now honey?

why I loved your tattoo, sounds just perfect I'm planning another two.Hope your ok x

mouse thinking of you lovely x

soc hello good to see ya

ma sending you strength and patience for your cake your a better woman than me good luck with it I wouldn't know where to start to bake a cake and make it look anything like x

nuff hope dinner was a success

joey well done on resisting the wine x

I have been doing rubbish with the drink, iv not even tried and drank more, I need to get this together.
I went to court this week and got a non molistation order out against him so that's helped with children's servises.

Stay strong lovely people's x

Good Morning I'm that is good news about molistation order, well done babe. You are going through so much please don't beat yourself up about drinking, one day at a time. Some AF days in between, you can do it Babe, you know you can

All ok here Day 24 wooo hooo I've got 2 craft clubs to do this morning, an hour each in local church hall. I've not got enough kiddies to even break even financially (not sure why I decided to do one in Jan, seemed like a good idea at the time, but of course no-ones got any money in Jan, Doh) Anyway we will be making egg box flowers and some Harold the Haggis'.

My thoughts this morning are - I feel like I'm becoming a boring old fart, not drinking, not going out to have a drink and a laugh with my friends. Everything's a bit 'normal' and seems very unexciting. This is 'real' life, I know this, but I don't feel very stimulated by anything and it all seems a bit 'stayed'. Does that make sense to anyone?

Have a good Saturday every Brave Babe

How are you Baby, Rural, Hope, Slap, Mouse, Isinde, Dancer, Joey, Anne???

Today I will not be drinking, even though I feel like a boring old fart

Gets out air fresherner and sprays heavily in spannas direction. There ya go. You're not a boring old fart anymore.

But I do know what you mean. Just remind yourselve of the alternative. Hungover, foggy, grumpy, anxious etc. well for me anyway.

Boring is good. Drunk people are boring. Interesting people are definitely not drunk. X

I think we just have to find new ways of having fun. Remember, alcohol fosters inertia so, although we might have one fun night out with friends, we can't be arsed to do much else.

I like to get out and about and do a lot of my visiting during the day at the weekend, rather than the evenings. We have got together with friends and gone climbing, crabbing, canoeing even. And I've spent quite a lot of time sorting out the house, de-cluttering, making it cosy and treating myself to a new lamp, rug, tablecloth, etc. instead of wasting money on wine.

My evenings now are more relaxed because it's dark, I'm tired from being busy, I sleep well and am able to enjoy just relaxing. Early to bed, early to rise is what I'm aiming for

Im well done, hopefully the support you need will start to come together for you soon x

Why I meant to say that I was so pleased to read your news. I understand that you can hardly believe it will really happen but I am sending every positive vibe I can over to you. When will you hear?

Ma it should be him on the sofa not you! Hope the cake turns out alright x

WELL DONE Im getting the non molestation order has got to be a really positive step. I hope it means you and the children feel safer and his actions will be closely monitored. Keep going babe, you are doing brilliantly. If I hadn't scoffed it all I would share my twix with you . Ps. It is still snowing here, we had a week's thaw but winter has now returned in full force. Still it is very pretty. Are you dc's still playing with their sled?

Spanna you could never be a boring old fart babe ventures to ask - Harold the haggis? Is that even appropriate for a children's craft club Stay strong, 24 days is something to be very proud of, it is easy to forget all the reasons you felt fed up with drinking. Are you sleeping any better now?

faire I would very much like to come climbing or canoeing then snuggle up next to your new lamp and rug befor a good nights sleep. You made it all sound lovely

Love to all xxx

I made a minion!!!!!
Will try and upload pic......

Cough cough

Bloody tablet won't let me upload pic of minion cake! It looks cool!

Posh frock for awards dinner bought on eBay while a tad pissed arrives today. It fits!!!! Family jury is out though - ds says its horrible, dh says its lovely.
Will have to see what the dds think. I like the colour and its comfortable but not 100% sure. Will need some Nork support of some sort as strappy on one shoulder.... Don't want another norkgate!

Hi babes, final weekend of DJ :) Really hoping I don't revert back to daily drinking once it's over. I can't say I've noticed any dramatic changes - no weight loss boo - but that voice has finally shut up! I no longer seem to be planning my life around wine o'clock, I feel more present in the things I do during the day, and I think I've come to realise/accept that I enjoy the quieter things in life and that that is ok.

A friend has bought me some wine, I've put it away, I don't want to fall at the final hurdle. They are mini bottles though, different varities, so I hope when I do have a drink I will stick to just the one, and not every day.

Annie very well done. I did 10 days and am completely back to square one. Pathetic.
Please keep at it, don't let the WW grab you by the ankles and haul you back down.

Hi Babes,
Sounds like most are doing well. Well done all.
I have some sort of lurgy flu like with headache/migraine.
Sorry not to nc but feeling too ill to read back etc.
Wanted to check in and say think its day 13 today still Af and will make it as too ill to think of drinking wine.
Hopefully will feel better tomorrow and will catch up.
Keep kicking spaniel ears for tits into touch
Goodnight from me, party pooper at the mo. xx