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

Joey good luck at your do. I go to quite a few with work and hate them - but the last time I got drunk at one to relieve the boredom my mortification and paranioa lasted days. I like the idea of retreating to your room with a 'headache' to read a book and have a bubble bath. That sounds lovely, then you can look forward to gorgeous hotel breakfast without a hangover! Let us know how you get on

Sorry not posted much - have had a lot of with work, dcs etc and am so tired at the end of the day I can't get out the laptop - and typing more than 3 words on my stupid phone ends up in disaster! Have been reading your posts though and taking strength from them

Guggs I loved your post. First, teachers have my 100% admiration, managers do not. Second, the way you are coping is just the way I want to cope with my workplace situation, and I am beginning to think without the refuge of drink I might just step up one day and do it. So thank you, I will be re-reading and thinking of you, well done babe! You are fab. (Might take you up on your offer of support though. Would love to see my self important boss squaring up to two tiny 5ft babes in dms, haha.)

I'm - how are you doing babes? Have been reading back and admiring your strength with everything that is going on. Same for you Why. 2014 is going to be your year, I can feel it

Rural you finished lambing yet? Would love to give a hand, when I was a kid used to visit my uncle on a farm in Ireland and LOVED it. Dream of retiring to the countryside one day... Can you lock your wankbadger partner in a shed and I'll come and stay instead? I will definitely cook for you - love making a good stew, me!

Need to go to work now but will check back over the weekend. I have decided that Dry January will morph into Fit February for me. So I am not saying I can't have a drink after Saturday, but from Monday will be calorie counting. And given what I can put away wine-wise, will have to go without food if I want to drink, which I won't do, being greedy! So if anyone wants to join me I will be up doing the 30 Day Shred on Monday morning.

Sorry not to namecheck everyone but I will at the weekend. Love you all so much, I can't believe I have had almost 4 full AF weeks despite varous problems, and I know I could not have done it without you. My liver thanks you

Given myself a day off the gym today and am going for sushi with my lovely niece - hope you all have some nice treats lined up for this weekend too.

PS thought I had linked to a Chinese site when I saw the MN logo just now, then realised it is Chinese New Year. Kung Hei Fat Choi everyone x

Thanks looking The thing is, I want to enjoy it, to feel young and flirty, I've bought a hugely expensive frock and I want to dance the night away! but only seventies music and not too loud

I had a tiny twinge when I read 'champagne reception' WTF I don't even like champagne! I guess it is just the feeling that you are being valued, welcomed, honoured - it's the same when my brother in law pours me one of his large gin & tonics. Maybe it would be the same if they offered fancy hot chocolates, the kind with whipped cream and sprinkles. And dainty wee biscuits. And gold-dusted-chocolates oohh ambassador you are really spoiling us.

Just checking in. Day 33 here and still loving it :)

Wow you are all doing so well. Here I am on day 2 for the umpteenth time.
Only myself to blame
hope well done you.. Have to get more days AF under my belt before any diet and fitness attempt. Have found I need to eat constantly to avoid being caught by the ww and even then she still gets me too regularly. Sure need to lose weight but one thing at time for me. Sure you will get some babes to join you on the 30 day shred.
Will start Lambing in March, my posts are probably confusing. At the mo as within 8 weeks of lambing the ewes have to be fed more often and have cake(sheep pellets) every day to help with lamb growth and milk production. I am always in charge of this and also checking them more often in case of premature birthing . Love lambing tho, hard work but so worth it. (smile)
Im Hope things go well today lovely.
why Hope today is the start of getting your family back together.xx
mouse Know you will be back when you are ready. Thinking of you my furry friend xx

Hi babes just been lurking the past few days, I've had three killer shifts at work and have been too tired to post. I've not drank though, despite getting home at 10pm the house being a tip, and H sat on his arse watching tv One thing I've got from Dry January is some insight into my triggers - being tired, frustrated.

Anyway I'll join you hope in fit February. I'm trying to calorie count and up my exercise, gym twice a week and I have some Jillian dvds that I'll try and do on the days when I'm at home with the dds. I only really want to lose about half a stone, but at 5ft it takes forever and every extra pound shows!

Good luck today I'm, and glad you are sorting things out with your dh Baby :)

Thanks for all the good wishes ladies. Lawyers for SS dont want to end this over the objection of their own social workers who want this all to end. So we have to go a different route. Court next Friday could be one big bullshit session to another adjournment.

Staying strong and sober as even SS now saying this all got out of hand. My baby will be coming back to me soon, its just all over bar the shouting at this stage.

Checking in. Enjoying a wank badger free weekend before hitting fit February on Monday.
Dh and ds have gone to *" for the weekend to go to the football and dh has posted on his Facebook how happy he is to be "home" for the weekend.
Wish he would fucking stay there!
I have had a lovely day having a facial, shopping , coffee shop, M&S ready meal.
This is what it must be like to actually have a life.

Night babes on my way to bed after a long day, got another hearing in may I get to keep the non mol till then, he glared at me today as I entered court but my head stayed high, iv drank a little tonight intending to carry on my sober search on Sunday as this seems to be a day iv noticed easer in a pattern as my day one ? Eh ? I don't know why.

Thinking of all you lovely babes tonight stay strong lovely's

Why not long now honey x

babes glorious babes
I love this bus. I'm feeling so much better today. Day 10 for me. Last week was hell getting kids back into the start of the new school year and my anxiety was sky high. But it's starting to subside. It's all alcohol related. I didn't drink though dear god it would have helped (temporarily).
Sorry not to name check. I will get more active here as I start to feel stronger.
But I'm definitely doing DRY FEBRUARY......I am NOT drinking during February. And maybe forever after, but I'll put that one on pause for the moment.
We're hitting high speeds with Gerald tonight so hold on tight. xx

I'm you're doing incredibly well. Stay strong xx

Evening, tis me, Mouse

Sorry to be awol, will post properly tomorrow, just off to bed.

Hope you are all safe and well,

Mouse xxx

Morning all, just a quick hello and hugs to all.

So sad for our friends. The one good thing to come out of it is that donations made to SCOPE in memory of their little boy have reached £1758. Bloody fantastic

Today is AF day, day 1, hopefully DF.

Will post much more tomorrow xxxxx

Anne I'm only 5'2" and I've lost 8lb so far this year. You can do it! Like you, I share the tiredness trigger, that's a real biggie for me but it's so easy to side-step if you can just go to bed and deal with the mess, tomorrow.

I've turned into a right Scarlet O'Hara these days and if something is too difficult to confront right there and then, I've got in the habit of putting it off til tomorrow. It works for me and keeps me sober

MrF 33 days, wow that is ace! Are you going to keep going through February?

Ma enjoy your 'taster' weekend. This is indeed what it is like, going at your own pace, peace in your own home, freedom to choose what you would like to do. One day, ma, one day...

Morning babes,

DJB's.........WE DID IT!!! A whole sober month. Well Done!!

Good luck if you are carrying on and to those doing dry Feb, go for it, those sober days will soon add up and it feels really good.

Faire 8lb's. Well done, you must be working hard.

hope I will attempt the shred with you on Monday, need to do something to combat all my shrinking jeans.

Spanna how are you babe? I am stepping off tonight and will definitely toast you. Thanks for being there this month, you are fab x

Love to everyone

Well done faire I'd be thrilled to lose that even in two months! I'm going to try to be sensible in February, no faddy diets, simply eat leas and move more.

I have a small bottle of wine for the end of dry january but now I can drink I don't feel particularly bothered to hmm I hope this feeling continues and I can just drink moderately. Time will tell...

Just eaten a whole packet of chocolate covered peanuts and feel sick. And two packets of crisps.
Have PMT and will eat anything not nailed down....

I hope the wankbadgeress is minding the DTS while you work?

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO MANAGED THE WHOLE OF DRY JANUARY, OR EVEN MORE DAYS THAN THEY WOULD NORMALLY :)

If you decide to continue, brilliant. :) If not, now at least you know that you can have a life without alcohol leading it......

I'm ashamed to say that I've not read back, it's been a rather dark January tbh, I miss my mum so much but there's nothing that I can do, other than honour her memory, think about the best times that we had together.

Anyway, this is not a thread about my loss and sadness, it's about the fact that some of the Babes on this Bus have kicked the shit out of the WW - Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopfrickeneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Even if you stopped for just a few days you should be really proud if you are or were an everyday drinker.

I have discovered that for me, life in a fug of grief is actually rather similar to a life with a hangover each day. The only difference really is that grief won't kill me.

So, I'm going to try to keep more busy, take it a day at a time and take some of my own advice for a change!

Sorry not to NC everyone but you are all fab and I miss this place when I don't post....

Can anyone be bothered to give me a quick update? Anything serious missed? I hope you're all well....... safe and well of course xxx

why almost has her baby back and i'm is hanging tough and making a stand for maltreated women everywhere! They rock

Hello Mouse lovely to see you. We have all missed you.

I can summarise the last page or so, but sincere apologies if I miss anyone

Me, Anne and Beaches are going for a 'Fit February' with healthy eating and some exercise

I am hoping Joey is going to enjoy her night out AF in her fancy dress, and have a vision of her twirling madly to Dancing Queen (played quite quietly) and aiming a high kick or two in the gob of saggy tits WW who is not invited to her party

Rural has just explained lambing to me! Ma is having a totally well-deserved and fab sounding weekend alone. Isinde is working like crazy and when she is finished I am tucking her up in a sleeping bag on the back seat with hot choc, marshmallows, a bloody good book and a hot water bottle so she can get some well deserved rest.

Why is on the road to getting her lovely baby back at last

I'm is doing brilliantly

Soc is on Day 10 and heading into Dry February

and loads and loads of babes have done an amazing Dry January or partially dry, or whatever, but hurrah for everybody!!!!

I did 28 days in the end. Am stepping off tonight, having a Chinese Takeaway (I am paying of course. As ever) and a couple of drinks but will be keeping a close eye on my consumption. Then Fit Feb should keep me on track. Want to lose 10lbs and 10 inches by April. I am another shortarse petite 5ft lady so it's a struggle. Am planning to exercise a lot, but if I slip up shove me off the bus and make me run behind Gerald for a bit (no speeding though please, and a please attach me to a long bit of elastic so I don't get left behind)

Work is reaching new lows of horror, overwork, bullying and blame culture, and one lovely colleague has got another job which will make us even more short staffed... think it will be the start of a mass exodus tbh. Didn't get the job I applied for unfortunately but my CV is up to date now, so am on the lookout.

Turn up to Gerald's radio, make sure the traffic officers aren't following, let off the party poppers and let's dance into February - well done babes xxxxx

PS It's fantastic news about the Scope collection, but how sad that it was brought about by such tragic circumstances. So sorry for your friends, lovely that you are helping them through it.