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

Evening babes

Fit Feb? Love it! I love this awesome bus too.

Life is hard at the moment,just till I get a situation sorted. on the pointy end of my DM'S I had a bit of insight into anxiety though. Anxiety is vile and at the moment it's keeping me from sleeping but it's there for a reason and right now it's prompted me to make a decision because then I can have some peace from the fecking anxiety.

Having had my little whinge, all will be well with me in a few weeks time but I can see some babes are having a really rough time. So I hope that it passes quickly and there will be good news in the Spring. Appreciate that it's a little different for mouse.

High fives looking thank you for your kind words. Us short babes can be a force to be reckoned with.

joey I bet you look beautiful in your gown,hope it's a great evening.

Hi there ma and isinde - hope it all works out- no distractions and lots of coffee. rural I can't imagine what it's like to help lambing,is it amazing?

Anyone else imagining faire flouncing about aka Scarlett? Can you post in a southern drawl? Pleeeese!

Well done to annie and beaches and if and soc

Fingers crossed for why and I'm

Why they really have screwed you around haven't they? Hope they are ashamed of themselves- a bit more listening and kindness and a bit less blind rule following from ss might have saved a great deal of heartache.

mouse look after yourself as best you can.x

Well done everyone!
I am reading a book I got in MN giveaway called Drink by Ann Dowsett Johnston. It is really easy to get into and looks at the relationship between women and alcohol. It is based around the authors own experiences with alcohol as well as research and there are lots of other stories. It is probably the best book I've ever read on the topic so just thought I'd mention it :D

Great summary hope.
WB (wankbadger) back tomorrow but have enjoyed my weekend. Need to hold on to this sense of freedom and identity. Have a gut feeling I'm going to need it.
Despite my failings in "dry January" I have managed to lose a wee bit of weight and bought two shirts today ( with my hoarded birthday money which usually goes on bills) in a size 14!
6 weeks to the awards dinner - I WILL look fab, I WWILL!

You know, if dh was here there would be football on the TV, girls retreated to their bedroom and a feeling of stress all round.Ok, on my part.
Instead, dd1 and dn who is visiting are watching g a DVD of Coco,avant Chanel, in French with subtitles. Dd1 speaks some French, dn is bi!ingual.
All is calm. This is the life I want. I am javi g a glass of wine because I am relaxed and enjoying being with dd1 and watching the film, not grimly knocking back a bottle to blot out the evening.

I completely get the alcohol fosters inertia statement, but it's the alcohol fosters euphoria (albeit, of the temporary variety) that I can't resist. It's so enjoyable while it's still under your control...

Thank you for your lovely posts and for the summary hope!

Fantastic about Why and I'm :)

Hi Chongo - totally agree with you about that, 'while it's still under your control' bit..........

The rest is horrific. The long, drawn out yukness that is excessive drinking, Not for me thanks.

Right, I'm shattered so off to bed.

Night all xxx

Thanks hope that's a brilliant update!

Well we had a really good evening, and I looked fab in my new frock I did end up having 2 spritzers, but not until 11pm. And it was mainly boredom and tiredness that triggered that, but I didn't have the guts to just go to bed. I also need to find an AF drink I like, I was fed up with water.

The great part was because I'd waited so long, and only had spritzers, I wasn't drunk and that was really nice. It felt good to be in control, especially as I could see others (mostly women - isn't that strange?) losing the battle...

mouse it's good to see you, you're a real inspiration!

Worst news on Friday morning, my friends 3 year old son didn't wake up I have been looking after his older brother and my friends DC (and mine) and trying to console (you just can't) his mum and dad. A parent's worse nightmare. I fell off the bus on Friday night, drank fizz. Drank today (having taken all of the kiddies to film club) whatever I could get down my throat, I did and now I'm awake feeling like shite but I had to numb myself. I am now back on the bus for Dry February and I need to be clear minded and there for my friends. I don't know how they will get through this. Thank God they have DS1 as I know Mum would be wading into the sea now and not coming back
Sorry to bring this sad news to the bus Life is so fucking cruel

spanna that's terrible terrible news. So sorry for you and your friends. xx

Oh god Spanna, that is just the worst news.

Spanna,how tragic.so sorry...

spanna that is so awful. poor little boy- it isn't really a situation you can make any sense of so I can understand wanting to numb yourself.

Poor family

What awful news spanna, thoughts with you and the family x

Ah no, my heart goes out to them Spanna, what a tragic loss

Oh Spanna, what a devastating thing to happen Poor, poor family. Sending strength to you lovely so that you may help them. Thinking of you and them xxx

So sorry to heard that spanna
How dreadful!

spanna terrible news. Tragic. So sorry for all concerned xx

Hello all, big hugs and well done to all who did the whole DJ. Fantastic :)
Hand holding and very much understanding of those like me who've buckled a little in stressful situations. Hello to newcomers, too.

Been off for a few days, so bear with me while I catch up. I'll try to name check as many as possible. Sorry if I miss anybody out.

Spanna - so sorry to hear of your friends little boy. So sad :( At least they have some comfort in knowing you are there for them xx

I'm - happy to hear about keeping the non-mol order until May's hearing. That's fab. Keep your head held high, you are being so strong xx

Dementedma - sounds like you've had a great weekend. Good for you xx

Lookingfor - 28 days is a fantastic achievement. A couple of drinks isn't too bad, hope you enjoyed your Chinese takeaway xx

Faire - 8lb is a lot to lose, you should be proud xx

MrF - day 34!! Wowsers. Hope one day I'll have the courage to go that distance, well done xx

Mouse - sorry January hasn't been kind to you. Thinking about the good times with your Mum is definitely the way to go. Hope February will be more positive xx

Isin - Hope all going ok with your deadline xx

Soc - well done on day 12 today xx

Why - Fab your baby is coming back to you, the relief must be overwhelming. Just the last little bit now xx

Rural- bit like that myself, day 1 here for the umpteenth time. Don't blame yourself, remember it's triggers that make you drink, not you that wants to...(iyswim).

Yes, day 1 again for me. I have bought some AF Koppaberg in, though, so that's a start....

Thanks for support everyone.Feeling upset as sons started copying his dads behaviour I asked him to put his pj's on and he didn't want to, he threw a cardboard box at my face and called me a name, I told him to go to his room eventually he did I was about to walk away and he threw toast at me called me a prick, I shouted at him and marched him over to his bed he layed down and kicked me in my chest and laughed, I'm fever stated that he has so little respect for me I could cry my heart out, I'm posting here as I feel to ashamed to tell my rl mates, my sons only ten years old.everythings so fu*d up in my world feels like.

I am completely sober today just in case any one wonders

Hi there it's well done on day one

I'm I guess that children do imitate what they see. Sorry to hear it though,it sounds as though you coped really well. Some people would have lost their temper,by dealing with it firmly you have shown him a better way to deal with things.
I think I would tell school and friends, you have nothing to be ashamed of but he may need to understand that friends and school will not be impressed by him.Ask the school senco if he can have councelling.

You have so much on your plate. x

Im children will imitate but they really don't understand the impact of their words. Some of the SN children I work with call me terrible names and I know it means nothing, it's just words that they've heard spoken in anger and when they are frustrated they repeat them.

Try to ignore it and talk to him when he is calm. Maybe tell him that if he shouts at you or calls you names, you won't listen. Or tell him that there will be a consequence for name calling because it's not nice. How old is he?

He's ten, its the kicking in my chest that's upset me I can handle the names etc i know dc do this when their angry etc but I carnt handle physical from my ten year old

Try to stay away from him when he's angry Im. Keep a 'circle of safety' around you so that if he lashes out, he won't make contact. Also, give him space to get away from you, so that he isn't cornered.

Well done for not drinking, has he calmed down now?

Thankyou nuff yes he has calmed down, I have said night to him he came to me for a kiss good night but we've not talked, thanks for advice x