The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Wading Through Winter Blues Without The Booze!

[Mouseface]

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. And of course all addictions, so if you are taking drugs of any kind, prescription or otherwise, you're very welcome here too!

You know your limits, you know what is required, it's all 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 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 EVER THREAD

And the most recent so you can work your way back through time IS JUST HERE

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

Mouse xxx

I'm soooo grateful for the bus baby. How's it going baby and beaches?

I've been really crap at posting and saying hi but I always have a little lurk and read.

guggs I'm sorry for your uncle. I know what its like to have an alcoholic relative.
Right, I am done thinking and worrying about my alcohol problem.
Here is the plan: I am going to do 5:2.
Not drinking for 5 days Monday to Friday,then "allowed" to drink at weekends. I will count down from 5 as it seems easier to count down to a target than up. I have agreed to pick dd2 up from rehearsals on Monday night at 11pm so I won't be able to drink. That:s Monday sorted.
I recognise my triggers are tiredness, boredom and habit and I am on the way to becoming an alcoholic.
Babes, I need your help with this. Indie are you in for the next five days? Just five.
Venus thank you

anyone?
indie?

What's up ma, you ok?

ma I'll join you on 5 days, counting back is a great idea, tomorrow kicks off the "new me" so feeling hopeful that getting to Friday should be doable, good luck xxx

I am in too. Spent far too much time this afternoon contemplating going to the liquor store, a 20 minute drive away. Anyway, didn't go but feel deprived even though I know I will be glad about it later/tomorrow. Bloody WW and her whispering ways.

It's Motivational Monday!

The past is the past, we can't change it but we have a whole new day here babes. Forgive yourself, get some treats in for yourself and plan your non-drinking day. It's just one day.

Ma is striding out in the front there, (leader of the pack, vrmm vrmm) venus has a camp all set up ready for us (hopefully it will be full of her excellent choices of non-alkie refreshments), Isinde will no doubt bake something delicious and Ladame might even pop over with some lovely French cheeses.

We can do it babes, let's crack on

Mouse are you with us? We can take you along in the sidecar if you're on the train today x

OK, who's ready for VENUSCAMP?

Forget punishing yourself, forget brutal regimes, forget tough love. The VenusCamp regime is all about being nice to yourself.

So VenusCamp starts with a challenge: Your challenge today is to do one thing for your self that is really nice. It might be to buy a lovely fruit smoothy, or to eat a delicious fresh chicken salad. It might be to sit for 5 minutes listening to the birds, or stroking you dog/cat. It might be buying a book or magazine to read, or treating yourself to a new mascara. It doesn't matter what you choose, just find something that is about being kind to your self, and loving yourself.

Then come and post about it - either what you've planned, or what you've done (or both).

I think I know what I'm planning, This afternoon I have to go to a meeting which is really close to a lovely park/gardens, so I'm going to leave home 15 minutes early and enjoy walking in the sunshine in the garden before my meeting. I'll look at the spring flowers.

Morning babes Sorry I've not checked in lately, the wine witch got away with me a bit: had a drink last Wednesday, Friday (a lot) Saturday and Sunday. So now trying to put it all behind me (especially Friday night ) and join Venuscamp

ma you sound very determined! You go, lass!

Venuscamp it is!
my nice thing today will be to get out from behind this desk at lunchtime and do the 20 minute walk around the building in the spring sunshine.
Day 5 and counting down......

I'm in for Venuscamp.

I've just come home from meditation which was awesome as always and had to stop for chocolate on the way home - it was essential. So feeling all lush and heading to bed sober and very, very happy to be sober.

Day 8 done.

Another one here for Venuscamp:) This evening I will treat myself to a long, soapy bath!

Venus camp for meet too, bubble bath and new kindle book for me tonight, love it xx

have done my walk in the sunshine, breathing deeply and looking at the buds unfurling and listening to the birds singing. This poem by ee cummings came to mind:

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

ma what lovely poem, sometimes we need to stop amidst the chaos of life and appreciate life itself... Xx

I have just made a luxury salad with Brie and prosciutto, which is delicious. . Thanks for the inspiration, I think I am going to enjoy this venuscamp!

Poetry isn't usually my thing, but I love the idea of being grateful for today.

Love to everyone xx

I think that may have sounded a bit dismissive about the poetry, I didn't mean it to be . Really glad your walk inspired you Ma

Afternoon babes trying to get myself prepared for work tomorrow. I was sort of looking forward to being back and in more of a routine again, when I got a call telling me my shifts had changed and i should have been at work today...

I wouldn't care but my day had started quite well, hour and a half in the gym, shopping done, lawn mowed, and a slight upset and I feel over anxious again :) anyway I won't have a drink tonight, I had stocked up on healthy food. Somehow I need to pull healthy eating, exercise and moderate drinking together. Happy motivational Monday :)

Bonsoir mes petites bebes fortes!! I am for Venuscamp too!! Too much worrying about work over a bottle most nights. I'm in and out of the side-car so much I should be on elastic. Hello to all of you, too many to mention, too precious not to!! Old friends Indie, Ma and Babyjane and Guggs and Faire and Mouse and all babes far and wide (even further than me). I'm sending virtual brie with cranberries ('spesh for you Indie) and hazlenut coffee and croissants and the tiny new strawberries that are here in the spring. I'll picture us all round the table in the sunshine enjoying Motivational Monday xxxxx

Thanks for all the grub lovelies. My treat today? Fever tree tonic water in a chilled glass with fresh lemon and half an hour with my book while dh cooks dinner. Bliss

Enjoyed a laugh earlier too as ds tried to teach me how to take a selfie. Pout 'n all

Hello all,

I have just got in from being incarcerated during daylight hours my newish job, and I'm nearly at the end of my second term!! Cue balloons and streamers!

The nice thing that I'm going to do for myself (as, obviously reading this is the first thing) is to get dinner ready for tomorrow, and make Dh's lunch, it may not sound the best thing, but, Dh has been such a support these days, and I haven't made him lunch since September!

Dh is out tonight, and so an early bath, with lavender beckons, and a "pink book". That's just for me!

Reading harrowing stuff during the day just makes me me long for a lovely happy ending one!

Much love
T xxx

Have done another walk before dinner,and plan a bubble bath once dd2 has been dropped at rehearsals. Then it will be time to pick her up again and then bed. I can do this!
Bonsoir ladame ca fait longtemps!

ladame I'm so pleased to see you, well see you? Hear you? Read you!!! I can think of nothing nicer than sitting you garden enjoying the tender days of spring the wine witch tied up close by so we can use her for target practice with all of our empties and my home baking which is equally dangerous as a weapon.. I've missed you girl xx

Thurso I was going to count this bus as one of my treats too

Am loving hearing about all these small moments of peace and happiness, great idea venus for us to seek them out and treat ourselves.