The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Sipping Super Summer Mocktails Whilst Soaking Up Some Sun.

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse

I'm what some would call a 'controlled' drinker these day, but I wasn't always and I'm not alone on this wonderful bus, Gerald, when I say that.

We have drinkers who drink each day, those who abstain completely and those who are not sure what it is that they actually want just yet....

We won't judge you for drinking, no matter what your reason is, we've all been in your shoes somewhere along the way!! And we have ALL used every excuse under the sun too!

We have some Babes who ride on the Roof-Rack, (clinging on for dear life ) and then we have an expandable Side-Car, which some Babes use, but the bus, well, the bus, our wonderful Gerald, who takes us here and there, to pick up people in need of an unbiased and much needed ear to listen to. :)

There are lots of ears on this bus, and not a single one will turn you away and not listen!

Two things that we do believe here are -

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

If you are lurking and reading this thread, there is a reason for it, isn't there?

Stay lurking or come and say hello! We don't always bite.

And for those who'd like a bit of history, HERE'S THE LAST THREAD

And of course, THIS IS WHY WE ARE ALL HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, A VERY AWE INSPIRING READ

See you soon x

alison YY to leave the chores, feet up my girl! I am watching the football too, I am glued. Nowt to do with the fact I got Argentina in the work sweepie. Oh no.

Hi Marfisa I have no wise words, you put it so beautifully anyway. Have a big bosie (I'm not sure they exist in the world of academia, but everyone should have one, they are good for the soul).

Soc You are flimmin amazing! Huge milestone, wow!

mon Argentina

Penalties.

I give nowt awa me.

Just driving by to say a huge congrats to Soc . 60 days is some achievement, lady. It really, really is. I can hear the change in tone of your posts. You are surging ahead and Im breathless just reading your posts.

A very special welcome to Marfisa. 9 days is a great achievement. Im very touched that you followed my postings here. My mother always told me the best I could hope for in life was to be a cautionary tale (in a joking way). It is indeed wonderful to be reunited with my DS. Every morning I wake up before he does, just to see the smile on his face when he sees me, waiting to greet him. And with every smile I get, I dance on the Wine Witches grave. She can Kiss My Grits. 10 months sober and going from strength to strength. Youre in the right place, babes.

thanks why and bloody well done to you too. What you've been through and achieved is amazing.

Anyway, going to a house warming tonight with a particularly boozy bunch of woman and I have no qualms at all. I shall take my something or other non alcoholic drink and I'll be funny and clever and daft, just as they are. Only difference is I'll come home slightly earlier and I'll remember everything tomorrow. Instead of waking up wishing I hadn't drunk so much/said "this/that", slurred, not remembered getting to bed. Oh, being sober is so much easier.

love to you all xx

soc you are totes amazing and quite correct that your journey to sobriety takes precedence over my Norks. I shall don a burka and henceforth behave with propriety.
But before that could I just say " TITS!"
< climbs onto the roof rack and flashes Norks dediantly>

Oh, and to any new babes, welcome to the bus.

Any new babes have just run for the hills.

I'm all sober. Squeaky clean. I'm so pristine and angelic now.

When I'm in the drivers seat there will be silence in the bus, particularly in the side car. Everyone will wear their seat belts and discuss the state of the economy in quiet, serious voices.

And I won't go out of second gear. We will obey all traffic regulations. We will avert our eyes when we drive past pubs and other places of ill repute.

I think I may be the first ever to be kicked off the bus.

Nobody is ever kicked off this bus!!!

Good morning lovely babes, it's quite a revelation to have to be unsure of the days and have to check, think it's 17, it's sim

Hate when I do that, press send too early, anyway it simply means it's the norm now so I no longer feel pressure building with every day, it's not a countdown to a likely bender coming but a count up to a better life!!!

I've never really been overweight but the extra I'm carrying is really hurting my back when I wake up, bearing on mind my 43 year old body is chasing a 3 year old round every day so I'm embracing my slimming world with gusto. Yesterday I had a new haircut and colour and got some cheap Botox (a fringe) so operation FABULOUS has begun on earnest.

My sleep pattern is terrible, I have terrible nightmares every night and I'm up several times, this is the only thing not improving but I've arranged to see a private councillor today as I don't want to let the sleeplessness accumulate and lead me astray, tiredness and anxiety are my biggest triggers. My thighs have just recovered from my riding lesson and I'm off for another one day, must be aff ma heed.

sweet I'm so sorry I forgot to answer your question re my cockers (stop giggling you lot) they neither work or show, they look cute, eat and sleep and not much else but I love em. I also had a handsome lab and collie but they died only this year. We also have 2 cats and a Shetland pony. When we used to go walks through the village it was the pony, 4 dogs and the cats would follow, what a sight we were..

So it's a bike ride this morning, counselling at lunch and riding this avo, if I don't sleep tonight, I never will.

Anyway you'll all be sleeping after reading this so I'm off.

Big shout out up our brave marisssa and heroine why

Phew, wipes brow xxx

Morning babes, Day 1 for me again. Had 2 bacardis last night in friend's house (not toxic friend), wasn't planned but while I was up in her house having a coffee there was a knock on her door and standing outside was my eldest daughter home from Australia after 2 years - she had arrived as a surprise .

OMG obgrigada if that's not an excuse for a few genuine celebratory drinks, I don't know what is. My eldest dd been at her dads since Monday and I'm do excited about seeing her today but 2 years and to surprise you like that is utterly fabulous. I think we should permit a 2 drink grace on account of the circumstances and I hope you and your daughter have a superb day, feel all happy inside for you, life can be mighty good sometimes xxxx

Thanks so much for all the lovely replies. Had a horrible evening last night as DH and I had a row (we've been going to Relate on and off for what seems like 500 years, ha). He's been being extra nice to me lately because he's so thrilled that I'm off the booze but last night he was clearly in a bad mood and just completely lost it and starting blaming me for absolutely everything under the sun (well, that's my version of the story - his might be slightly different, ha). I was so, so close to drinking. Normally we have no alcohol in the house because what we have, I drink straight away, but we had a huge unopened bottle of Bombay Sapphire that a friend brought us as a present (duty free). 10 days ago I would have drunk half that bottle but instead I texted my sponsor in floods of tears and she sent back a ton of supportive texts. So I made it through - got the DC to bed, had a long hot bath and went to bed early. This morning DH actually apologised. I'm so pleased to have made it through and be out on the other side without a killer hangover. I think rows with DH are my main drinking trigger, along with work and writing deadlines.

I still quite fancy a drink this morning though. Coming on here and reading all the words of support really help.

Oh, and I made DH take the gin out of the house to store in his office. I just can't have the booze in the house at the moment; I'm not strong enough. I already told him that if he wants to drink, it's fine (he doesn't have an alcohol problem), but he has to buy a mini-bottle or half-bottle or whatever, and get rid of anything he doesn't drink that same evening. Again, this is a temporary measure I hope.

obrigada, how brilliant about your daughter! Two bacardis seems pretty modest under the circumstances.

Sweet, you're right about the particular pressures of academia. Not an excuse, but there's a huge drinking culture at my university. By the way, teaching is not in any way less valuable than research - au contraire. I have sometimes wondered if I should abandon the research career because that's what gives me the most angst. But when it's going well, I do love it. I couldn't do without the teaching though - that's what keeps me going from day to day.

guggenheim I know exactly what you mean about the scary aspects of sobriety. It feels like you have no defence against all those dark things that you were drinking to avoid. Like you, I have to believe that it will be better to open the cupboard doors and let the light shine in onto all the demons from the past hiding there.

Thanks for the warm welcome baby and well done to you for making it to day 17 or whatever! I'm 42, also have a three-year-old and am finding glamour hard to achieve.

Why, I am so happy for you and all you've achieved. I actually thought last night, look, why managed not to drink even in the face of truly horrific trauma, and you want to crack open the gin just because DH said some mean things to you? Get a grip.

Thanks too to demented, alison and wry. I have already added the word 'bosie' to my vocabulary. Now off to give some attention to DS1 who is thrilled to be off school (bloody strike).

Seesh- ma will you put them things away before you have someones eye out with them! Honestly. Am a bit jel of women with proper sized norkage.

marfisa yes,that is what I wanted to say but garbled my way through. Well done on not drinking. It is awesome to receive an apology from a man,when I was drinking I knew I was in the wrong. With a clear head I know what the bloody argument is about.

baby wow,all those exciting things to do. I'm going to take up your suggestion and have a hair cut/nails done/facial. Think the last time I got something for me was a rather lovely new blue anaorak-

now visualising soc as a nun.

marfisa Good for you for resisting, and for being able to hear an apology from your DH. I think in many ways, the horrific trauma of what I went through, lent itself better to giving up alcohol. It takes greater strenght, I think, to change utterly in the face of the everyday, the ordinary. To be taken far by a tidal wave of change is different to swimming it yourself, if you see what I mean.

Good luck for this evening babes. I will not be drinking today.

What an achievement marfisa; you faced one of your triggers sober and with support achieved another day af. guggs your words ring so true with me that when waking up hungover I always know I'm in the wrong. Me and dh don't argue much but if I've been drinking the night before il automatically apologise as I feel so guilty and out of control whereas if is been sober and had the same argument I'd probably feel that I wad right all along!

Another very busy evening for me and I've only just sat down with a cup of tea. Not only am I on Day 5 but I've done those days with a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge - its been years since I've managed to do that, usually if its there I'm drinking it.

ma OMG! From across the water, I think I can see the heat from those norks (or is it Mossmorran?)

It is so good so see such support on this thread, and to read the post you are making - that includes ALL of us, whether you are 60 days sober (Yeah) or even just a few hours in (Yeah), or even just brave enough to admit that things are currently disastrous (Yeah). You see that the congratulations are the same wherever you are - there was a question asked about who was the most sober: answer - whoever got up first that day...

I guess that gives our non-UK cousins the advantage... :)

And isindie please come out of hiding.....

Evening everyone. Tonight I have been drinking. After 20 odd days. Not for a happy reason. Not because I'm angry. I'm sad, heart achingly sad.

I don't know how I got to this point today, even someone I really respect at work snapped at me today. He apologised later on, and me being me said it didn't matter, I didn't take it that way. But oh, I did, it stung, it stung so much.

This is what I was trying to say the other day, I try to spare other people's discomfort. He's so lovely normally, but I wonder if a bit of it is that he sees how my boss speaks to me and it's catching.

I am a bit old school and worked my way up, now they tend to come in with degrees and I can't compete. I'm not clever, or articulate. I know how to nurse, just nurse. I'm not above cleaning, and I will try to keep the surroundings as nice as possible. It's how my old matron taught me. The younger ones look at me like I've demeaned myself. I wonder if that's why my boss shows such a lack of respect towards me.

Anyhoo. That's by the by. I had two glasses of prosecco. Just out in the garden, it wasn't even going down, but I made it.

Every mouthful I had, I grimaced, and it hasn't worked, y'know. Lesson learned.

What do I do lovely babes? I know I have to look at tomorrow as a new day, and I will, I will.

ma tell me the secret of your hypnotic norks, they must be wondrous beasties indeed. In my heart I know they must be leg men. Which is a shame as I have quite decent norks but appear to be blessed with sturdy ankles. Strike that, they are out and out supercankles.

baby you don't need Operation Fabulous ma quine, you're that already. Do you feel better for your bit of pampering? I hope you've had a lovely day, sounds most energetic! Sweet dreams quine. xx

On a less self pitying note, I bought jodhs today, I'm going to ride my pal's Clydesdale next weekend. She'll be up for my weight and I have you to thank for inspiring me baby. I bit the bullet and asked. A shy bairn gets nowt.

obrigada you must be fair tickled to have your daughter home, how lovely! What a fab surprise! I'm really chuffed for you!

marfisa you are doing so, so well! He apologised which I'm sure eased your soul a little. I hope your cupboard doors stayed wide open today, xx

Soc I hope you've had a lovely evening catching up with your friends, I'll try not to let you down tomorrow. I will be strapped in tight, eyes front and focused. P.S I can't discuss economics but I could probably hold my own discussing the merits of supernoodles.

Big bosies to all. xx

ma see ? I'm not articulate.... I meant the men I work with must be leg men.

Pfft. Bed time, I think. Before I stick my foot any further in my big gob.

wry you are one of the most articulate people I've ever read. Don't put yourself down.

joey bless ye for that. och, sorry, I know, I'm my own worst enemy. As my granny would say if she caught me whining, I'm just asking for a hot arse. Shame they're out of fashion nowadays

How's your day been lovely? Are you up to anything nice this weekend?

obrigada how wonderful! Great cause for celebration. How lovely

I have been drinking tonight but my sister arrived with my FIVE nieces and nephews And we all went to mums for a get together. All the wee ones are now big ones, ranging in age from 23 to 11 and we had a quiz in two languages ( her Dcs are bilingual French/ English) with lots of shouting and fun and the wee ones cooried in with the big ones and it was just lovely. Doesn't seem 5 minutes since they were all wee tots and now they are grown up, funny young adults. Mum loved having all 10 grandchildren crammmed into one room and we had a blast.

Update: distracted chap from Norks meeting has emailed saying we need a further meeting! Ho ho!!!!!

Is distracted chap worth a punt ma?

Sounds like a fab evening by the way! Your mam will have been fair trickit!