The Brave Babes Battle Bus - In Search Of Sobriety, Sunshine & Survival!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to the thread, or our mythical Bus called Gerald!

There is room for everyone. Always

There is help for everyone who wants it. Always

There is unconditional support and kindness. Always

We have two sentences that we believe in here -

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

No matter what it is that you drink, how much, how often, we've ALL been in your position at one point or another...... so most of us WILL know exactly what it's like to be YOU

If you'd like to read the last thread, it's below -

THIS IS THE PREVIOUS THREAD

And if you want to read a pretty sobering thread and the history behind these many, the reason why we are all here, fighting to stay/get sober is here -

FIRST EVER BRAVE BABES THREAD

Hope to see you soon :)

Mouse x

Good grief Venus that is an ALMIGHTY link. (Leads to a blank page as far as I can see, unless our parental control has censored!!)

Isinde That quote , it rang a bell way back in a long forgotten corner of my mind! I have now spent 15 minutes googling Worzel and his TEN different heads!!

Margaret Eden is great and the weather doesn't matter too much either. Dairyland may suit you too but I know how these trips soon add up. Sometimes the local papers have vouchers. It is making me nostalgic for Cornwall and for the boys being little again. I also relate to hair issues, mine is long enough for bun/ponytail too and I revert to that choice far to often. Good for you going for the new image.

Wanted to thank all babes for unknowingly motivating me earlier. I took the boys out on a 6km bike ride along the trails - long enough for me my 9 year old and then we went and explored the Mall and bought candy! Left my gloomy drawers behind.

Lol venus....

beaches No, I've never been much of a runner. Always too hungover. I used to shuffle about 2km sometimes. I started running at the same time as I gave up drinking (this time!) and would often time a run for around 5/6pm as another tactic to keep WW away.

My recommendations are run very, very slowly and just don't worry about how little or how slowly you are going. And music I find vital. I'd plod along and slowly but surely built it up and suddenly I can run 15km. I think it's been hugely helpful in keeping me sober. I get into that zone and just enjoy the time out. And also I get home totally exhausted and thirsty and wine is deffinitely not appealing. Just go for it. Good shoes are a must.

Maybe i should become the bus drill sergeant. Fluorescent head bands compulsory.

soc I already have fluorescent leg warmers, am I in?? Can we have a 'running tracks' playlist?
I'll start with 'the dog days are over' as I always find it inspirational. But for fun I'd also like salt &pepa Push it.

Yes, just Actually let's make fluorescent leg warmers and head bands compulsory. We'll look bloody amazing.

I have a dreadful comlication of 80's music which has been made into a work out thing..god I don't know the terminology. But it's all pumped up and works quite well. I'll add your two to my list.

Couple of mine (don't judge me):

Eye of the Tiger
Enola Grey (has a great rhythm for running)
Gloria (I sing to this. The park is empty and if it isn't empty it empties pretty fast when I start singing)
The heat is on (also good for running)

**Disclaimer - I don't listen to these songs other than when I'm running. Cheesy songs work really well when you're running.

I use mapmyrun app on my iphone. I love it.

You got the love, candi staton though not Florence.

I love eye of the tiger!! Classic!

Morning All

Day 17

The snail finally delivered my book and my nose has been resting on the pages!!

First day of training for new job today, quite nervous. I confess, I am so bored and de-motivated. Beaches I'm so glad you got the boys out yesterday when I originally read that you felt the same, I gave myself permission to stay in and have a pajama day yesterday now feel a bit Your bike ride in new area sounds really interesting, glad you've started to explore. I figure I'm not going to worry about filing, paperwork etc until my DCs go back to school and even then it probably won't get done

Wry I hope that you had a good pamper yesterday and that you're ready to knock them dead, did WB turn up yesterday?
Anyway, I just wanted to say, have a fabulous time at the horse trials, eat loveliness, head up, tits out, smile and flutter those gorgeous eyelashes Have fun with your friends, I expect that you are the perfect person to be around when one is feeling anxious and flippin terrified, your friends are so lucky to have you for support Report back we I want to know every detail

Ma I hope your DS had a good first day back
purple thistle

Margaret Cornwall, I am I love it down there. You have great places on your visiting list, I cannot recommend Heligan Gardens enough, it is truly beautiful. And your new hair do looks fab, good luck with that. Have fun down West x

Isinde glad you had a good holiday awesome weight loss, well done babe. I wish you motivation for work, come on, just get it done, you'll feel so much better once it's out of the way don't you just hate it when people say things like that

Hope how are you lovely? I expect DDs room is nearly there?

Baby darling, where are you? I miss you, can you say a quick hello so that we know you're ok

Rural how are you? I hope you're making a speedy recovery and not murdered WB yet

Soc keep posting babe you are such a motivator, I love it and you I now have a vision of you in your headband and leg warmers

Just have a good day honey x

Have a good day everyone

oh dear god spanna that's quite a vision. And belting out Gloria with absolutely and utterly NO tune........

Soc

can I add to the running playlist - Adamski (can't remember name of song, his big only hit) and Pump up the Volume (think that was Basement Jaxx) x

oh and Talking Heads anything from Stop Making Sense album

Road to nowhere by Talking Heads would be a goody sorry you've got me thinking.......

Thanks for all the Cornwall recommendations! I'm really looking forward to it. Determined to be as wine free a week as I can make it.

Off for a run. Bought fab new running shoes yesterday as I'm sure my old Nikes contributed to the sciatica. New super bouncy neon trainers have got me motivated.

Music is essential for me too. Has to be mindless house to take me back to the old school 90s. 'Pure Deep House' compilation is my current download of choice but any JaBig DJ mix from his YouTube channel is also ace and free!

Right: run, bath and Grazia skim read, hair chop, shop, make chick pea and sweet potato curry. And don't drink!!

Have a great day everyone x

Oh yes, "the road to nowhere". Very apt.

Trouble is when I'm trotting along with earphones in I don't realise I am subconsciously wailing/singing along out loud...

Ah well, off to sports shop to invest in some spandex...

Hi all

Thanks for the advice Soc and all you other eighties fluorescent clad women! I tried it . Already own some asics trainers, downloaded map my run and dragged the poor dog out onto the trail. Well I did 2.65km in 21 minutes, stopped and started, was gasping for breath and look like a beetroot with frizzy top. I set my music to shuffle so had 9am till I come one minute and opera the next . Can't imagine ever being in a 'zone' but it is a start

Hope you first day is going well Spanna I am sure you will charm the socks off all of them. Glad the snail finally delivered the book too oh and 17 DAYS!!!

Ma hope ds had a good day back yesterday and is feeling more postive about the term.

Love to you all. Xx

OK, I was looking for this thread and ended up posting in another sobriety-related thread. My head is in a mess right now...

Summary - I've done a whole day. Just one. And am on day 2. And have to go to the shops shortly and want/don't want to buy booze.

Basically having a wobble. Scared I can't make it past the alcohol aisles to the soft drinks.

Hi haha and welcome to the bus. One whole day is a big achievement especially when it seems every minute is a battle. We all relate to it here. If you have been to the shops already, you may have manged to bypass the alcohol aisle but if you did buy some then you may not have started drinking yet. Well how about holding off for another half an hour? The babes here will not judge, we are all trying to deal with our own demons and there is usually a friendly someone around. It is fine to post whether you are trying not to drink, drinking, hungover or just want to rant or talk random nonsense

Welcome Haha
just read your post on the other thread (hope you don't mind) I too hope you managed to veer away from the booze aisle. just posting for the first time is a brave step, you're acknowledging that you want to share your feelings, circumstances to like minded people who may have experienced similar things This bus is full of support and advice. You are very welcome, just post whenever you wish and about whatever you want

Beaches Day 8 for you You runner You, go girl, I had visions of you huffing and puffing Your stamina will build each time speaking like I know what I'm talking about Hope you've had a good day babe?

My first day was good, tired now and need to get on with some online training they expect me to do it at home well I suppose it will give me something to do (flipping WW has been whispering in my ear today)

Hope you've all had a good day so far x

Hi spanna, glad your first day went well and equally aghast at homework . Ignore that crusty old crone, I bet she is doing the 'reward' for doing so well today. She is right of course, you DO deserve a reward but a hangover is a really crappy one! Keep going chick, you are doing so brilliantly well.

Get me - after I returned to normal skin colour and regular breathing, I went on a bike ride with the boys. I will soon qualify for fluorescent shoelaces or something!!

Get you - Bike Ride too !!!! you're absolutely right about 'the reward' thang, urgh, what I wouldn't do for a large glass of chilled white or fizz Right I'm off to find the chocolate It does get easier Beetroot frizz

Thank you, Beaches. Made it out of the shop without booze. Why do they all put water by the booze aisle? Didn't dare walk that close to it, figured I have half a bottle of water at home anyway. Whenever I've gone a couple days without drinking, I've said to myself "I'm just going without for a couple of days". So I knew there was a drink a couple of days away. This time it's different. It has to be.

Thank you spanna, you're so right, posting is terrifying. Feel as though I need to be completely honest here, no matter how humiliating. In the past, DH has told me I have a problem, but when I mentioned AA, he said "you don't need that, you're not that bad. Just stop!" And my friend (who drinks wine at least 5 nights a week) said a similar thing.

So I don't really have anyone IRL that I can talk to. I think that's one of the things that's helped me not to face up to things.

Really want to wake up clear headed and sober tomorrow. Terrified of Friday night (and the whole weekend) but it would be fantastic to have a hangover free weekend.

Well done on avoiding the booze aisle! I know what you mean haha the deferred drink doesn't seem as overwhelming as never again. Sometimes the only thing that has helped me get through day one is the promise to myself that i will have one (bottle) tomorrow. When tomorrow comes I am already on day 2 so I bargain on one more day and so on. It then gets easier to wait until the weekend or the next occasion. What I am trying to say is try not to pile too much pressure on yourself, the one day at a time thing is enough to cope with.

Ps Spanna enjoy the chocolate babe. I found toffee bonbons yesterday - guilty pleasure

Haha it is fantastic waking up over the weekend, not hungover

No chocolate Beaches only Nice biscuits, so I had a huge chunk of cheddar instead Biscuits later

Hello folks. I'm still here. I have a lot on my plate at the moment so i haven't had much time to post. I hope you are all okay?

Since my last weepy post i have been to the doctor and had bloods taken. This is good news and also slightly terrifying. I worry that my liver function tests will be terrible and she will know that i was being a bit conservative with my 3 bottles of wine a week estimate. I sort of balanced out my three weeks AF with my two weeks holiday when i drank most days.

My mum continues to make a good recovery but yesterday some little shits put a brick through her front window at 2.30 am. She really doesn't need this stress right now.

Anyhoo, what is happening here? What is the gossip? Tell me some good news!