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

Oops marfisa forgot summat.

xx

There, that's better!

Hi Wry, you write such chatty and inclusive emails, I love reading them.

Venus please keep glowing, I am loving the global warming across the Atlantic!

hope thinking of you sweetheart. Xx

baby the more you write, the more it becomes clear what a tough time you have been through. The way you have turned things around is really wonderful. And, it suits you.

Spanna hey lovely. Half a cigarette - I remember those. A stinking half smoked roll up was a prize indeed when I thought I had run out. Have you tried one of those E-cigs? My mums husband is trying them with some success apparently.

joey are you back behind the prison doors tonight? You do make me laugh!

Sorry not to NC fully but there are ALOT of babes! Love to you all xxx

I have just woken up from a horrible dream. I was at some kind of party with my boozy mates and was told to get myself a drink. I took two bottles to the kitchen - one was a spirit and the other a soft drink. Both were some unknown but vile sounding concoctions.

I struggled to find a big glass to make a tall drink. Then I made it too strong so I poured most of it away and diluted it more. Then I took a sip and didn't like it. Then I woke up feeling all panicky that I had just broken my AF period.

Oh the relief to realise it was just a dream.

Day 11 now and things are looking good. The only blip is that I am not sleeping at all well. I felt sure once I stooped the wine I would sleep for a solid 8 hours every night but I stil find it hard to get to sleep and I wake up a lot.

Hope you lovely babes all have a great day. It is supposed to be lovely again but an east coast haar rolled in last night and it is stil hanging there making it look damp and grey.

I remember lucky fatties wry
Well I have the hangover I deserve after polishing off the whole bottle last night.
When I sabotage progress I really do a good job.
Back on the straight and narrow today.
Want to keep losing weight for meetingwithdistractedchaponfriday myself.

Morning babes!!!!

First day of hols today, DD has only just woken up and DS is still in bed, and so am I. Bliss!

The wine witch came a-calling last night, and I had planned to go to the shops to buy some household bits. So I got DH to tell me not to buy any wine and after a brief flirtation with the idea of buying a mini bottle and sneaking it in I forgot all about it in the supermarket and bought chocolate instead. Yum!

I'm normally good for nothing in the middle of the night because my body is processing the 1/2-2/3 of a bottle of wine and I feel rough and my mouth tastes rough. Yuck. But there was a massive cat fight outside last night at 4.30 am and I had the wherewithal to go and deal with it and suddenly realised I didn't feel awful. It was a mini revelation!

Have a great day everybody!

Hello Bebes. 'tis I Ladame Back after de-registering and being away a lot. I have kept up with the thread though. Ma OOoh Downing Street - tres posh etes vous avez perdu les pounds too !! I wish I was perduing les pounds. In the side-car (I think Indie is here, can't see her though through the gloom) I'm doing the week off, Fri and Sat on type of thing. Works for me after looong time trying to find a balance. Bonjour all nouvelle bebes, can't namecheck or I know I'll forget someone, but must say hi to Babyjane you're doing so well and I'm always thinking of you and ((hugs)) to my lovely Mouse - always in my thoughts too x

Ok a tout a l'heures brave bebes from Frenchy old France xxxxx

Lolling at "lucky fatties" ma Sounds like an apt description of me!

Lucky tatties I do remember though. Did they have a little charm in the middle and cinnamon coating them?

That's the ones little!

Marvellous inventions they were, but they don't seem to taste the same any more

littlewhitebag I'm surprised that my sleeping hasn't been better. Quality is good but I too wake up during the night. Maybe it's the heat?

Day five here and feeling good. More energy and patience. Feel generally calmer about life. My scales suggest 1.5 pound weight loss but I'll see what SW says tomorrow. I feel less bloated and my skin is improving too. Eating much more fruit and veg. Not missing meals to allow for wine!

Ive got stuff coming up - anniversary meal out, holiday booked etc. I keep wondering if I can do those and not drink. Like so many others have said on this thread, I thought abstinence wasn't for me but I can't control my drinking once I start. So, for now, I think staying dry is the right option for me.

afternoon babes
so - i have no wine in the house. tonight is the AA meet and im feeling very nervous.

after the meeting i intend to go and buy something soft and non alcoholic, like raspberry lemonade, which i will make nice with ice and lemon....so today i am not drinking.

after the meeting, and the quick trip to morrisons for something soft to drink, i think i will keep busy by walking the dog to the park.

i fear i might struggle a litte because i was working nights last night, so slept for 5 hours when i got home from 9am till 2pm....that means i will struggle to go back to bed tonight and usually thats my tipping point....i stay up and drink wine.

i wonder if the AA meeting can help me work out what to do with myself....(there is a tiny voice in the back of my head telling me i have gin and tonic in....but i want to see how long i can stay off anything alcoholic and once i drink anything im on a slippery slope....)

i will pop back and let you know how i found the meeting.

Hi guys, hoping all my beautiful babe friends are doing well today? I've got so many NC's to do but as it's hard to read back on my phone I'm doing it from memory so if I get muddled with any

I'm too hot to do a proper NC,I'm just going to rudely jump in here :)

baby massive hugs and love to you. If life starts to get tricky again (hope that doesn't happen) I want you to tell us. There are lots of mad babes here to offer support and love when it all gets too much. You are well on the path to recovery though now!

somethingvicar if you don't get the chance to say anything during the meeting,perhaps due to feeling shy or because people have lots and lots to say,then talk to a friendly face afterwards. it still counts as being part of an aa meet and is a nice friendly way to get to know people. Report back please.

ladame oooohhh! hooray- good to hear from you. How's it all going across le'channel? Is it very hot?

I'm doing awriight today. Much less cravings. Even beginning to think about reducing my very fat tummy and maybe a career change for the future. May need lottery win for that though.

(Take 2) with anyone please excuse me.

little you doing awesome, dreams about drinking alcohol are very common and oh boy the relief when you wake up and realise it's a dream. Your daughter will be dead chuffed at your progress, stay strong missyxx

looking how are your stress levels babe? I've been worrying about you and my doctor had prescribed me with ignatia as a stress leveller, it's homeopathic and maybe worth looking into. Dr bach's rescue remedy might help when your feeling overwhelmed. I hope your getting some relief babe, thinking of you.

viccard good luck today with AA, very courageous and your daughter must be proud your trying so hard, let us know how it goes.

joey thanks for your lovely comments, meant to say be very very careful in the sun as the chemicals in the peel cause skin to burn very quickly, worth it for that dewy skin of yours xxxx

mary well done on going to AA, your super duper brave and I hope it's helped you, I've always been too scared so keep us informed cos I'm really interested in the dynamics and characters that go along.

margaret 20lbs is bloody brilliant, you are a bloody star, just kick that wine witch with that super lithe leg of yours right in the crotch.

beaches a big ole hug for you cos your fabulous, I luffs ya xx

spanna your posts ooze warmth and kindness, your a lovely kind word for everyone, bet your dead nice in RL, your an angel on here.

70 hours your doing brilliantly, I'm loving your posts sooo much.

annie your defo making very positive changes, I think your really making progress, your not a heavy drinker like some of us so don't be too hard on yourself or overthink things, you sound like me, a worrier, boy does that first big glass dull the stress, I so get it, your still cutting down and posting and that's what's helps us all understand each other's methods, you sound lovely.

wry your recent post about working late had just reaffirmed everything I thought I knew about you. That daft man doesn't deserve you, every post makes me smile, so funny and smart and always a nice word to others when your having a shit time, your just a lovely lovely soul, I'm so so glad your here, hearing about little lab reminds me my recently put to sleep big Lab, he was 17 and the kindest dog I ever knew, I miss him everyday but your lovely walks and your descriptive posts take me with you, for that and the laughter I thank you, your a gid yin.

ma fantastic weight loss, I'm thinking of starting a "save the norks campaign" if you lose too much, I'm following your example hoping my norks would grow big like yours but alas not yet! Xxx

guggs thank god for you, your so kind to me and were one of my first friends on here. When I was in the gutter, you held out your hand of friendship and helped me up.

venus your simply beautiful, do you wear long floaty dresses and flowers in your hair and have a beautiful garden and wonderful poetry books? If not you should, your posts calm us all.

ladame I'm so glad your back, I was ready for marching to France to seek you out via insides house so thanks for saving my legs the trouble, love ya beautiful lady xxx

I'm sorry if I missed anyone, I'm a little sad, my relationship with dh is crumbling day by day, like venus said, sometimes we mourn the relationship we wish we had, the man we wish they were but he's had me with the lights on and no one home for 3 years so he's detached and I believe his detachment led to my spiral I depression, loneliness is a house full of people is the worst type of all.

Anyway I need to be patient and keep these hormones of mine in check and leave the bigger decisions for the right t

eccles how could I forget you, my slimming world charm, your doing soooo well and you've rubbed off me, channelling that Yoda fair helped, 5 off last night xxx

ladameyour back!
Tu m'a manque mon amie!
Est ce que tout va bien chez toi?

Crikey mouse bloody hell my hormonal head forgot our Wonderful Leader, I hope your pain is bearable, you are the epitamy of greatest question in life "why do bad things happen to good people" your a very brave lady.

rural good luck for Friday, in my thoughts as always and why I keep imagining you and that beautiful boy of yours and your courage helped me find mine, your a legend in every corner of our babe world. Xxx

Good luck at your meeting vicar

Thank you babyj I totally know what you mean about crumbling relationships and being alone in a house full of people. Always thinking of you and really hope things change for the better soon. You always think of and support babes on this thread even though you are going through difficult times. THANK YOU X
Ladame great to see you posting again mon amie.
isinde thinking of you my friend x Where the hell are you
ma well done on the weight loss and so glad you are on this thread you are a support to everyone. .
Everyone else I Luffs you all x

Sorry meant to say big wave to all the new babes. Welcome to the mad house brave babes bus.

Evening all! Watching the Commonwealth Games.

And Soap and Glory foot filing ma feet.

I'll have to phone Soap and Glory CEO. It's nae bad as foot files go, gotta say. Sadly I think mine are more in need of a decent farrier.

Not drinking tonight. Too tired anyhoo. The heat has fair puggled me the day, xx

thank you for all the encouragement babes....

so i went to the AA meeting. It was so welcoming - only a small meeting but there were 3 women including me, and 4 men.

i felt a little bit of a fraud really because people spoke and their stories with drink were quite extreme, but i did speak, i introduced myself, and just said why i was there. i suppose i found it just a little bit....hippy?? but in a nice way, not sure about all this higher power stuff but i will keep an open mind.

i am now on day 2 without a drink. thats more than ive lasted for years.

i have just sat down, i realised that one of the things i do need to do is shake up my routine. the meeting was longer than i expected, but i wll go again. I was advised there are other meetings too if i need one before i can go again.
and - importantly - after the meet the lady who runs it stressed that if i do have a drink not to worry about going back - no one judged anyone and i thought after hearing some of the stories that if they can do it then i have no excuse.

so i am sat with a diet coke. i am contemplating getting a bath with my lovely scented candles but am worried that might be a trigger....(i usually take a glass of wine with me)
so....might give that a miss. got a magazine so might curl up and read for a bit, then might take a zopliclone and try to sleep.

i am missing having a wine. but im not going to have one - anyway - i have none in.

the plan for tomorrow night is to go running. i will deal with tomorrow tomorrow though...

for today - i am not drinking.

vicard I'm very very proud be your sister in arms on this magical bus, you've shown amazing courage, big bosie to you ma friend xxxx

Thanks rural right back atcha mrs, there's no I in team and a team of loonies we may be but your my loonies and I gain strength and friendship from every single one of you, stay strong my lovely xxx

Got goosebumps at the commonwealth opening and very proud to be a Glaswegion tonight and equally to be sober enough to watch it and remember it. Xxx

Gosh this thread moves fast, I can't keep up. The chamois is much appreciated, wry, and so are the xx's. It sounds like you're becoming more and more emotionally detached from your pathetic excuse for a boyfriend - that's so good to see. It must be a massive challenge to think about making big changes in multiple spheres of your life at the same time. But I hope that man and the WW stay firmly locked up together in the same cupboard!

When I'm asked about my drinking my favourite response is "I don't really drink much these days ... great line venus, casual and non-dramatic. I'm going to use that.

littlewhitebag, I recently had a drinking dream too! Apparently it's a Thing. A whole dream genre or something. I've now heard people mention it at a few AA meetings.

Speaking of AA, well done vicar! Know exactly what you mean about feeling like a fraud. You sit there hearing stories of people who have lost everything jobs, families, health and who have had to rebuild their lives from the ground up. My story in comparison sounds so bloody undramatic. But as my sponsor said to me recently, you don't have to prove your alcoholic credentials to anyone. It's nobody's business but yours. And now that I've started reading some AA literature, it says explicitly that the movement began as a way of helping people whose lives alcohol had already wrecked, but that as the movement developed, many members came on board whose lives hadn't yet been ruined. And for that matter, psychological/emotional suffering can be pretty damn devastating in its own right, even if it's not as visible as having the shakes or vomiting blood or lying passed out on a park bench.

You sound great, margaret. Bravo for day 5!

baby, sorry to read about your dh, you're so right about the loneliness.

I feel utterly exhausted tonight and don't know why; maybe it's the heat. Was supposed to meet up with various people tomorrow but I'm feeling antisocial, so I emailed them and cancelled. Spent most of yesterday and today with friends, and had a great time, but the thought of another day of extensive social contact does my head in - I think I'm a bit of a recluse at heart. Vive la misanthropie!