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

Thank you rural - being a victim of horrific abuse and violence can skew your view on the outside world. Being controlled and conditioned becomes all you know and what you start to believe.

Thank you Joey :)

I'm struggling, I miss my Mum singing Happy Birthday to me down the phone I want her to text and stupidly checked my phone first thing this morning, hoping for a text.

DH has bought me the most gorgeous roses, there is pink fizz chilling in the fridge, steak, and strawberry meringues for later on..... My little boy, my gorgeous Nemo has sang Happy Birthday to me all morning, when DH took him to school, he was outside in his wheelchair at the gate singing still

Stay Brave Babes xxx

Mouse, how sad, but also how wonderful for your birthday, Nemo sounds just awesome.

Home from the gym, and working on changing old habits - used to reward myself with a glass of wine (and then another, and another . . . ) for being good and healthy. Crazy warped thinking or what? Today my reward was blood orange and cranberry tea, my fav. I'm even managing to begin to ease myself off the sweets - sure the handful of soft licorice I scoff this morning doesn't count!

Now, a bit more work before I steel myself to go shopping for new trainers with ds

'Scoffed'

Huge happy birthday to mouse and ma
As a relative newbie I am not sure of the ins and outs of your situation I'm but I can see you are in a very difficult and distressing situation and there has already been some great advice up thread. Thinking of you.

im you definately need a 3rd party to represent you, someone to protect YOUR interests? someone who can officially log events and is objective to any "processes" and knows how the System works. ma happy birthday lovely lady, 50's the new 30. .mouse if we could take a share of your hurt we would, all I comfort you With is that your Mum would want you to be happy and have a good life, you will honour her with that, I feel so much for you today, I hope you can salvage some happy memories today, happy birthday my friend xxx

Hi babes,

Wow, what a lot of great posts to Im, hope you are ok today honey

Mouse your birthday tea sounds delicious! I am glad you told us all about it and I hope your day is as good as can be

sweet soft licorice surely doesn't count. The tea sounds good, I haven't ventured into new tea's yet but think this week I will give it a whirl.

MrF good to see you, how are things?

Waves to Isinde who I spotted on the other page.

Well, I am on day 14, along with a few of you and I think old saggy spaniel tits is getting quieter here! Last night I poured a glass of wine for dh while I made myself a cup of tea and I didn't feel bad about it at all. I know she has a tendency to pounce out if nowhere but it feels so good to notice less internal chatter.

Hope all babes are having the best day possible xx

less internet chatter - I like that beaches :o
I have recently twigged that the end of DJ coincides with my local being shut for a refurb which is appallingly selfish of them unfortunate.
The funny thing at the moment is that I don't want a drink (and if I did I have that delightful Becks blue waiting for me ) I remain a more patient person which is lucky for DS as I may have actually killed him today had I still been drinking, instead I gritted my teeth and carried on. I am also sleeping better, as well as getting up better as I am a chronic bed slug at the best of times.
sweet I have a peppermint tea pig sample in my cupboard that I have been eyeing with deep suspicion for the last few months. You have inspired me to try it so off I go :o

Happy Birthday Mouse!

I am now on day 7! This time last week I think I was "treating" myself to my first glass of wine of the evening....

Took DD out today, felt quite tearful. Not sure if its from giving up the fags, the booze or just being a bit hormonal (its sort of time of the monthy for the me) - actually its probably all 3 isn't it...

at you crotch and hooray for ds living to see another day! Have you decided on what we should call you yet? Slap? Or tickle, or slapntickle? (although that is a bit long and wants to auto correct)

dancer. You are probably right babe and it is a combination of all three, hold tight, it will pass x

baby I meant to congratulate you yesterday on dropping a dress size!

Beaches there was a programme on Radio 4 this afternoon (human zoo) that was all about the psychology of will power and making change. what particularly struck me was the part about changing context in order to break habits - distraction like not going into the kitchen if that's where you take your first drink. And that it takes 14 days (or I guess 14 occurrences if its not a daily event) to build a new habit - that might explain why WW is definitely quieter!

Teas are very hit and miss, Crotch/Slap ( "That sounds wrong", as ds would say), I like strong tastes - and some of the smell great but taste of nothing, mints are usually ok, oranges and mixed berries are good but strawberry can be blargh - or maybe that's just me? And I am finding more patience with DS too .

Well done Dancer that sounds like a perfect storm of temptation. but onwards to week two

I feel ike a total mess at the moment. I don't really have a lot of emotional support in RL. I have a couple of friends who I would consider I'm close to, close enough to tell my deepest darkest secrets to, and some friends who are more socialising friends types. I'm NC with my parents, they would be hopeless anyway. I'm a single mum. I just feel like I really need a hug right now!

Oh that's interesting Sweet, would definitely coincide with day 14. I might see if I can stream it and have a listen to the programme, that sort of subject fascinates me.

Dancer here is a very comforting, you are doing so great cyber hug ((())). It is ok to have a good cry, you are being so brave and strong.

Thank you beaches for the hug! I really felt it too

You are very welcome - we all need a little squeeze every now and then

Brace yourself dancer a 5ft 8 scottish woman is hugging you right now with a big smacker for you MMMWWAAHH, your never alone you hear, an army of amazing loyal babes have your back, always xxx

(((hugs))) for Dancer

Thank you too baby and sweet !

Hugs here too, Dancer, hope you're feeling better xx

I wanted to wish the birthday babes a wonderfully happy day, and many more healthy rewarding birthdays to come !

Sorry I've been in and out recently. Dreadful turmoil in the world of why . My life was never this crazy. Anyway, a massive congratulations and well done to the DJ ladies. What an achievement. You should all be very proud of yourselves.

And Im: I am going to be here for you at any hour you need until you get yourself and your kids to a safe place and rid of him. Post here, PM me, I will give you my cell number, whatever. It's a tough road ahead, but the destination is worth the work.

Happy birthday to the birthday babes from me as well. I got a tad emotional earlier, and it's so silly really compared to what others have been through today but DD was rude to me when i was picking her up from nursery and i was gutted. OH has now gone out to buy red wine for him and has promised not to get me any white.

I'm almost halfway through reading 'How to change your drinking: a harm reduction guide to alcohol' and completed its cost/benefit lists to carry on drinking at harmful levels or start drinking at safe levels - re-reading my list of reasons every few hours is helping my resolve to get to the weekend without alcohol. But it's only day 2 - i hope my resolve can be as strong 3/4 months down the line and it will be habit by then.

One interesting thing i read today was that more than half (55%) of people who think they have a problem with alcohol succeed in overcoming it on their own, either by moderating or abstaining and that's excluding people who go to AA or similar groups or seek medical group. That's quite positive odds.

Anyway I hope everyone has a lovely safe evening.

Just dawned on me that I am absolutely shattered so am going to have a very very early night tonight. That surely is not helping things either, being absolutely knackered....

Oh and thank you too Itstheonlywaytolive for your hug!

I don't really do hugs but I can offer you a comradely slap on the back dancer :o
sweet the tea pig reminds me why I don't drink herbal teas. It was merely ok with sugar in, which surely negates the whole "get me, I'm drinking a herbal tea" effect.
And I think I quite like slap as then I will know who you are talking to still breaking in new name

Happy Birthday Ma and Mouse
All my love
Txxxx

Hello all you lovely babes. I'm away at at a shack on a beach with interminent coverage. Happy birthday to ma and mouse and huge hugs to those who need and like them! I'm in one of my long foreseen challenging moments and doing ok. That will have to be good enough for the time being. I will catch up to you lovely people soon. Soc x