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? :)

Hello babes. Back on the bus. Day 1 finished.

Hi babes. Just back from holiday, checking in. Will message properly later but just wanted to send hugs to Mouse and Ma today, and to cheer Spanna into her new home. Got to dash now,dd needs waking up for sleepover, only got in at 3.30am, yawn.

Thanks for the welcome. Well I'm definitely going to keep AF for my 6 months - the theory being that if I can make it through birthdays, holidays, etc. without then I will bring in a new "normal" which will mean that I feel comfortable with some days drinking, some days not. Ha! If you believe that, you'll believe anything. BUT... it is just so ridiculously hard in a world awash with alcohol. I went out for a drink with a colleague on Thursday who when I asked for a lime and soda said "Oh, do you not DRINK?" in the tone that someone might say "Oh, do you have two HEADS?". Anyway, each time I go out and don't drink and have a nice evening I feel I've scored a new sober experience. Have done 1 sober birthday, 1 sober holiday with four kids and a mad dog in tow and several sober Friday nights in the pub. Does anybody else find it particularly hard on a beautiful spring evening at the end of a long day at work when the garden is sparkling and the white wine is in the fridge?

On the subject of being able to do some occasional moderate drinking: I did have a couple of glasses of champagne last night as it was my wedding anniversary, and DH made some fantastic prawns and it just seemed right. But I did NOT progress, as I normally would have, to the red wine, and I am back to AF now. I think I have managed to at least start to achieve my goal, which is to be an occasional moderate social drinker, on my own terms and not the terms of the ww!

I definitely feel less healthy today and am keen to get back into the AF/beetroot juice lifestyle, but I did have a super evening I have to admit (it was just me and DH). I am very determined that this will be an occasional treat from now on and not the constant default behaviour every night, as it used to be.

I have a function coming up in two weeks, which will be, hopefully if I can manage it, the next time I have a drink (and I mean just a drink, not a booze up). How am I achieving this? Well it is early days yet, and I don't want to be smug, but I think I can do it by reminding myself that I can and have done it for several weeks, felt just fine and so guilt-free, and much healthier!

Yes those spring/summer evenings, back from work, sunshine on the lawn and the barbecue on the go....they are coming soon and are going to be a challenge (although my problem is red not white wine!). I am determined to do it though!

I do like that idea primeminister, of seeing it as establishing a new normal where you have the choice whether to drink or not, it's not your automatic behaviour. For that to be the case for me (and probably for most people I imagine) I think would have to only drink occasionally (definitely less than once a week for example). So that is what I am aiming for.

I was wondering how you were doing Silver, sounds like you are feeling really positive and healthy - good for you! Also the fact that a couple of glasses didn't trigger the desire to empty all available wine stocks is promising.

Prime I think I have been that person, the one whose eyes pop out their head when someone chooses NOT to drink probably because it highlighted my drinking and made me feel I would have to keep a rein on myself. It may be the same for your colleague. It is great that you are notching up lots of good sober social experiences.

Im great to see you honey! I was thinking you may have been advised to stay off internet chat or something. Get comfy in the sidecar and dig in to all leftover bags of mini eggs

Soc hey babe! Have you finished your month of reunions? You may be feeling a bit deflated now but it is definitely good to have you back on the bus.

hope hope you had a wonderful holiday and are relaxed and recharged

baby are you all yoga'd and stretched?

Spanna how are you today babe? I have four boys here today, both have a friend over and they have just started a nerf war - oh joy!

Love to the rest of you motley crew too xx

To my great shame I have also been that person who rolls their eyes when someone asks for a cup of tea, or a water, when they arrive for a party/at a pub etc. Not nice and no more!

Doing well thanks beaches, have also started an exercise programme (on a exercise bike in my own home, not a going-to-gym kind of person), which is highly unlike me, so surprising!

Sending best wishes to everyone. Spring is coming and every day is a new day....

Well done on Day 4, go on get Day 5 done then you'll be over that 5 day bastard milestone, you know you can do it pickle

Hope welcome back Babe I hope you had a lovely relaxing holiday x

Silver sounds like you've got a handle on things Babe. Keep going babe you're doing really well

Ma keep posting babe, we're all here to support you

Baby sending you hugs

Rural how are you Babe? up to your arms in Lambs

Mouse hope you're ok Babe x

All Brave Babes whatever you are doing, have a lovely weekend x

ma so sorry, that is very worrying for you, I hope something turns up. Have you checked out what benefits you can get?

prime welcome to the bus and well done on four months! I don't know about moderation because I guess everyone is different. Something must have led you to stop in the first place, are you willing to risk going back to that?

Im lovely to hear from you.

Drinking or not, please keep in touch babes. Just a wave or a will do

Hi, I've not been here for ages, having another go, am going to look at some of the Women for sobriety stuff to try to help me.
I don't want to loose my evenings and weekends to blankness any more, and I want to stay conscious.
I've been working on a lot of past issues with a lovely therapist, and I am hoping I am ready to change my ways of dealing with them (ie drinking to numb them). Yesterday, she reminded me I deserve better than this.
I've a pretty responsible, busy, brain demanding job, a lovely hubby and two boys entering terrible teens. But I drink so much every night. DH away for next ten days, and am going to need to keep my wits about me.

Hi Blue have you got a plan for the 'witching hour'. Get some lovely soft drinks in and some sweet treats.

Yes, better go out and stock up I think.

I have just bought for this evening: coconut water, coconut water with chocolate (delicious but contains sugar), beetroot juice, beetroot juice with ginger. No chance of boredom!

Evening, tis me, Mouse

I am so sorry not to nc you all and read back to catch up but I wanted to let you all know that I'm okay and to thank you for you thoughts.

The funeral was heartbreaking. Watching the tiny little casket being carried down the aisle with her parents behind her was something that no-one, especially a parent should have to see.

We were lucky that our boys were never born IYSWIM? We didn't get to play with them, they didn't develop their own little personalities, or quirks! Losing them was the worst thing ever, three babies gone all at once was so shocking, I couldn't believe it but to watch my 'surrogate' Goddaughter being taken for a permanent sleep was just too much.

You could hear the sobs, such loud sobs ringing through the church, it was awful. Her Dad read a wonderful piece about her, my DH stood next to him in case he couldn't make it to the end......he did her so proud.

She's left a huge hole in my life and her hand print on my heart. I will love her forever.

I did drink, I don't know how much, the drinks just kept coming and I drank them, guzzled each one, one after the other at first and then I decided to slow down..... the same was said for last night.

My only excuse is that I am back home without my gorgeous friend, and without her DD too. Life will never be the same for any of us but me getting pissed everyday isn't going to bring her back. End of.

So I need to pick my arse up and sort myself out so that I can be the support that my friend needs, 24/7, and her newborn son, only 3 weeks old....... and her eldest son too. It's so very sad.

Be back soon. xxx

Oh God Mouse it's so awful isn't it

You are such a great friend, your support will be invaluable to her x

mouse I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss- how awful for such a young child to lose her life.Really shouldn't happen,I can't imagine what her parents must be going through.

Full sympathy and a big hug- pick yourself up when you can and when you feel ready. x

Hi to all especially new comers- you are both very welcome

I'm just going to wave at all and give the ww a passing kick.

ma That's not good,poor you! When you are able,start looking and looking for anything you can do-not as in apply but just start collecting ideas. The work sections on here are brilliant and for someone with your skills and experience there WILL be masses of careers/ jobs you just haven't thought about before. A start up business? Be your own boss.It will be ok in the end and six weeks is a little bit of breathing time to look round in.

Right, I'm not drinking tonight and am available for telling the WW to fuck off. Also extends to crap bosses,crap,abusive partners and of course,Michael Gove. Do one.

Anyone thinking of picking up right now? Might be worth considering the calories and crap sleep which will follow anything more than a moderate amount- not that a moderate amount is ever something I manage to get my head around!

Thank you Guggs I went into the coop earlier to get some dinner and was very tempted by the WW whispering and she's been getting louder as the evenings gone on. I needed that reminder

Mouse darling my heart goes out to you all. Please remember to be gentle on yourself and make sure you are looking after 'you', otherwise you won't have the energy to support your friend and her family.

Morning spanna - the co op has flipping aisles and aisles of wine. more wine than food,well my local does anyway. well done on avoiding the WW- not easy.

Hope you have woken up hangover free and with a lovely day ahead- unlike the people who had a massive party last night in the flats opposite my house. Think they may feel a little unwell today

hello all. can I join you please?
I was on here a while back for a short time (under different name but had to change as was recognised!) anyway, since then I did ok for a while but have started to slip again. drinking several nights in the week again, often at least a whole bottle of wine.
Last night was 2 large g&ts, a bottle of white wine then a beer. Not feeling great today surprisingly LOL
anyway, instead of beating myself up for it I have resolved to get back on the bus and make this day 1 . I'm going AF for foreseeable future. Going to shops in a bit to purchase some nice soft drinks and some ovaltine!
Looking forward to hanging out with you all on the bus for a bit.

Morning hyper and welcome (back) to the bus, you too blue

mouse such a dreadful dreadful loss.

Spanna thanks for the chant and the pickle . You were right, the boys all entertained each other - I just had to throw food in their direction once in a while. Well chickpea, hope you have a lovely day! Counting down to moving day now, just 3 more sleeps.

Im hey babe! all the snow has gone - I think your dance had a delayed success. Hope you are feeling ok today.

I made it through last night with a bit of humpy mumbling but feel relieved the weekend is done.

Wishing all babes some love and laughter today

Hi hops welcome back. It's very easy to slip back into old habits which is why, I think, that decision has to be made first thing in the morning.

Whether we wake up with a stonking hangover, or bright and breezy after a good night's sleep (I know which I prefer), we have a whole new decision to make. Am I going to drink today?

It's just one day. Make the decision and stick to it. When the ww comes calling, treat her the same as you would if your two year old was on at you to let them play with the sharp knives. No. It ain't gonna happen. No way, no how. You can shout and scream and stomp your feet as much as you want, but it's not happening.

It's a decision you will never regret.

< waves to beaches >

Oh mouse how terribly sad and unfair life can be. You sound like a very good friend indeed. Good morning to everyone, and hello hyper, congrats on getting back on the bus.

Doing accounts and tax-related stuff today which I hate and always totally stresses me out, and usually would finish off with a good bottle or two of wine when I finish, but will not do that today. Staying on the bus, one day at a time.