The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Springing Into Spring Like Super Spingy Springs On A Springy Day!

[Mouseface]

Hello everyone, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to the Bus, Gerald. Of course it's an imaginary Bus, and we're all aware of that, but we've been on this Bus for a bloomin' long time now so this place kinda feels like home.

See, the thing is, we're a mix of drinkers, non drinkers, total abstainers, and also posters that are or have been, somewhere in between, around the block and back again!

There are no hard and fast rules here, just No judging, No bitching about others and most certainly No expectations of YOURSELF.

No-one can say what will or will not happen whilst you're posting here. You just have to take the ride, One Day At A Time.

There are two sayings that we have painted down either side of the Bus :-

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

You've started to read this thread for a reason, and you'll either carry on and maybe Name Change (or not) and post, walk away, or realise that this is all about YOU, cry for a bit, and then come and take a seat :)

For those who would like a bit of our almost 4 year history, have a read of THIS TRULY INSPIRING THREAD

- AND THIS IS OUR PREVIOUS THREAD TO THIS ONE

We're not a quiche or a clicky group, four years is a long time and longer when you're pissed for some of it, so whilst the threads may look 'clicky', I can promise you, it's just that we all 'know' one another because we've been here for a bit but you'll soon get to know us all, who loves what (CHEEEEEEEESE), but we were all 'new posters' at one time, weren't we? :)

Yay! Bus is filling up. Sunday almost done for me. My last record of sobriety was five weeks. I'm going to better that. Full of vim and vigour at the moment. Feels bloody amazing.
Soc xx

Hey all

Right- today will be day 1. Rest of the bottle went down the sink this am and I'm going to a meeting this week.

My face is all puffy and I'm fed up of not being able to sleep. Last night was the final straw because I was awake for an hour worrying myself sick that ds might get ill one day- nuts!

So,I'm beginning again and I know how tricky the first 3 days are- all itchy skin and reestablishing proper sleep etc. But I need to get my self respect back and I need to do something more fulfilling with my life then pouring wine down my gob every night. I can't afford to keep drinking.

Phew- I don't know how long I will stay sober this time but I'd be very grateful for even a few months free of wine.

Big wave and best wishes to all today.

hey Guggs - sounds good to me - I hate the first few days too - however I am going to an event in 2 weeks and have promised myself eyelash extensions if I can make 2 weeks - fingers crossed - feeling determined though this time - REALLY DETERMINED !!!

Morning babes, well afternoon for most of you . Woke up from a deep sleep, a bit disorientated and headachey but without that horrible guilt/regret so all good.

guggs I get that escalating anxiety about stuff, things that haven't even happened and I am sure it is a side effect of drinking too much. Shiney new week ahead, those first difficult days will soon be history.

70 eyelash extensions! You are indeed a glamorous babe. It is brilliant to have a reward to aim for, good luck.

faire I am also relieved to see uncle Tom Cobbly, where has he been?. Nice planning ahead on the lunch drinks.

Soc vim and vigour! I could do with some of that - keep blazing the trail and reminding us how good it feels. I know I appreciate the reminders.

Squeeze to the rest of you wonderful bunch. X

guggs gonna try for day 1 tomorrow so will be your buddy. Sick of looking and feeling like this.I want to be slim and vibrant for summer (or what passes for summer in this rain soaked country) and wear nice clothes!
Am like a wine sodden shapeless blob.

Hello babes

Not read back but popping in to say hello. Have been on the low carb thread desperately trying to lose weight, and I have to say it has moved my focus away from drink. I think I may be an all round obsessive sort, because at the moment drink = carbs for me, and have been able to go out to dinner and drink one or two glasses of wine and not want any more because I'm too busy resisting dessert and looking for low-carb menu choices. Weird, but true.

Am still several pounds overweight bloody fat though - only lost 4lb in 3 weeks. But off to make cream of mushroom soup now and snack on celery!

Will try to catch up this week - work still utterly dire, but off for a couple of days for half term (was a whole week but evil bitch boss cancelled half my leave because my colleague is on paternity leave).

Going to see Little Mix tomorrow with dd and some friends - her first concert, she is utterly obsessed with them and SO excited, can't wait!

Waves to all babes on the bus / in the sidecar / on the roof rack. Leaves all my carby treats on the dashboard for those of us who are not raging sugar addicts and can still indulge

Hope everyone OK xxxx

Just about to go to bed to watch TV before bed - another day done - feeling great :)

It seems like the bus has been grinding up a long a difficult hill recently. For many of us.

It reminds me of a night years and years ago - we were rained out of our campsite in the Lake District and the final straw was when someone trampled over our tent in the dark and broke the ridge pole (that shows you how long ago it was - none of these modern geodesic tents!). No option other than to leave at 2am and drive home.

It was the darkest night I have ever known, the rain was torrential and we had to drive over Hardknott Pass - the steepest road in the Lake District. The wipers were on their maximum speed, and it was still impossible to see out, the road was running with water as if we were driving up a river, even in the lowest gear it felt like we'd slip backwards at any moment, there was a distinct sense of treacherous drops on either side of us, we were scared, it was the middle of the night and every bone felt exhausted. All I wanted to do was lay down, give in, and give up.

Anyone feeling like that?

But do you know what? teeny, tiny creeping millimetre at a time, on that dark night, I moved forward. It didn't matter how slow my progress was, it didn't matter if I stopped altogether for a little while, and it didn't even matter if trying to change gear made me roll back a little. All that mattered was that I knew where I wanted to get to, that I knew I wanted out.

That is what I see on this bus. Some progressing at a steady pace up the hill and able to see the beautiful view on the other side, some coasting downhill only to find another unexpected rise ahead, some taking 2 steps forward and one step back, some still walking around the base of the hill trying to generate enough momentum to make even the first step. But everyone who is posting or lurking on this thread has done something momentous. We have recognised that there is a mountain there. It may seem like the easier thing is to turn our backs on the mountain and enjoy the tiny patch of grass on which we stand, but all of us here know that while that can be a (very good) temporary stopping point, it is not the answer. The answer is to get our boots on, to rope ourselves together, and to conquer the bloody mountain.

Come on. I've heard that the views from the top at dawn, are glorious

Hi,
venus that is a lovely post. The bus is amazingly supportive and just there when you need it and also there when you think you can get away with drinking also known as falling arse over tit

Day one done. Have eaten stupid amounts and got stuck into cherry coke.
But for this day alone,I am sober.Tomorrow will have to look after itself.

I want to begin to be sober again but I need to make some changes- I need to make sure that I stay happy. It's not good enough for me to just use will power I have to find some fantastic replacements for booze or just accept that I will be sober/drinking on and off forever.

ma yes please. Lots of handholding please.
Hi to looking and 70 and beaches and soc
I'm feeling terribly serious tonight so off to bed with a book.

Great post Venus and you struck a chord guggs with finding a way to be happy. I think that is the key change which needs to be made otherwise we are caught in the same endless loop of day 1s and getting pissed.
Day 1 for me tomorrow......
Where is that dratted mouse by the way?

Venus Brilliant post. xx
guggs your post could have been mine you have put into words just how I feel. Never was any good at the words thing LOL. Well done on day 1. You know you can do it. Go girl .
beaches great to see you posting missed you x

Yeah, I visualise us each standing on a little tiny tuft of green grass (the current illusion of our drinking). We look only downwards at that tiny patch, mesmerised by its greenness and lush colours, and totally ignoring the bleak landscape all around.

Yet we know that there is no long term happiness in that green tuft. It is small, it is trampled and it is course and rough. We know that if we step off the tuft, and make even one step on the path, it feels more hopeful (even if the ground under our feet looks grey and stoney).

Those of you who enjoy exercise (count me out of this!) will also know that running on the grey and stoney path bring its own endorphins, a sense of joy and peace. And then for those who have been on the path for more than a few days, suddenly you look down and see that you are not on a grey and stoney path, you are running on grass - a whole wide pasture of happiness. So much bigger than that tiny patch that you were scared to leave just days before.....

Go Babes! Walk, or run, or crawl on your knees. Get off the tuft. It's an illusion of happiness.

Great post Venus. Goodbye green tuft!

Morning babes

Lovely post Venus.

I'm feeling great. It's perfect to start a week having been sober all week-end. I've being reading all sorts of 'self help' books. Can't stand them, but in terms of what guggs was saying about staying happy, I've being trying to work on all of that too. I need to fix my head space as well as stay sober. And so far it's feeling good. I keep having to remind myself that I'm a nice person. Simple stuff and maybe easy to other people, but it's hard getting rid of all those feelings of guilt and self-doubt/loathing which is probably why I drank in the first place. That lovely numbness that alcohol provides. I need to get rid of the desire to feel numb. Anyway, not sure this is making much sense.

I'm driving so seat belts on...... love to you all.
xx

Wow some inspirational words on here - day 3 for me and today I will not be drinking :). - Thanks ladies - good luck to you all soc, Ma. Venus, looking and Guggs - ps when do I start feeling better ?

Any minute now 70. Hang in there. First few days suck. Day 3-5 are the worst so just get through those. Xx

Thamks Soc - determined to do it !!!!!

Happy Bank Holiday Monday all. 70,Soc,Beaches,Guggs, Venus,Ma,Purple -have we strapped out seatbelts on for the ascent?
Purple, sorry to hear about your tests. The liver is a wonderful regenerator though. Hope your next appointment was ok.
Ma - what news on the job front? Any progress? Mouse - big hugs for you. We are always thinking of you, you are the heart and soul of.this bus.
Anyone seen I'm or Why?

Well, that post looks bobbins. Bloody phone

Great posts venus, motivating stuff. I'm definitely keen to climb that mountain.

Getting off the tuft of grass is the hardest part. One small step for most, one giant leap of faith for babekind

Do it, babes, make that leap of faith. Get off the tuft and start the journey. One step at a time. It really is worth it.

Day 1

Fabulous Faire

God I love this mad bus.

Day 1, drank regular full fat wine last night, about half a bottle. I can't even say it was a 'mistake' as such as I knew I was going to do it. I'd spent the day feeling pissed off and bored so intended to drink. I don't know why I'd even think it would solve anything, I knew it wouldn't.

Guggs I so get that need to find a way to be happy - I can not drink or drink moderately if I put my mind to it but I'm not happy. I'm miserable at work, bored at home, I spend all weekend with the dds and I just don't really enjoy it. I have no adult company, so called best friend doesn't want to see me if I have the kids, so I need to find a way to somehow make this better.

Anyway Happy Bank holiday babes, I'm going to try and find some sort of motivation to get out and do something!

day 1 and trying not to project to this evening.
All this talk of tufts makes me want to get my triangle out......

Didn't realise you were musical demented