The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Getting Ready For The Golden Sights Of Autumn In Search Of Sobriety.

[Mouseface]

Hello everyone, I'm Mouse :) and this is the Bus I've been on a while now!

It's filled with a variety of drinkers. Those that do, those that don't, and those who are desperate to STOP but hide it, or embrace it and get the help they NEED.

'Help' in whatever form works for them, your friend or you. Be it AA, a Local Community Alcohol Counselling Group, your GP, your family/friends, this thread or even a combination of all of the above!

You have to want to stop drinking more than wanting to breathe.

I know that right now, that may sound like a ridiculous goal.

They got sober, One Day At A Time then came here during the process to chat about it, discuss their feelings, but more than anything else, their experiences HELPED OTHERS TO BELIEVE that they too could get dry.

They might not get dry and stay dry, sometimes they'll be lying about their consumption, fooling themselves as well as others

BUT when the posters do get dry for good, come back and post to help others with their tricks of the trade or just to say 'I did it!!' my heart jumps for joy because that person, poster, Brave Babe has gone through hell and back, lived to tell the tale and now wants to share that with the rest of the Bus to see if one simple trick or technique will put them on the track to recovery, sobriety, to the life that they want to lead :)

There's two saying that have appeared to stick with us -

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

We all have our own reasons for starting to drink 'too much', we all have an excuse don't we.... we all have a "but....."

Well, as I say to Nemo (who you will get to hear about ) - goats butt!

And for those of you who want to know a bit more -

HERE IS THE MOST RECENT THREAD

AND THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, OVER FOUR YEARS AGO!!!

See you soon x

Bloody well done Blondie

blondie well done you, sounds like a great week, your coping really really well, go blondie xxx

Hey babes, just checking in.

baby lovely to hear you so upbeat honey. Having a toddler 24/7 must be so draining, I loved those years but come 7pm I knew I would have a few hours to myself. I am sure it kept me sane and able to enjoy it all. Perhaps your parents could do a regular night each week? I wonder if your little one might go to bed earlier and listen to some audio storieso some nights? Anyways, thanks for the support yesterday, I really appreciate it. I have put down my beating stick now

Ma God, I think I forgotten what flirting is! But I do remember the thrill of it, feeling desirable and playful. Enjoy yourself (but be a little careful)

Spanna hope you are having a good weekend flower. Xx

Sorry to hear you are so poorly isinde hang in there and try and be kind to yourself x

Right, off to tart up the old house ready for a tenant. Haven't managed to sell it yet so have arranged to rent it out for the winter. Hope you are all as good as you can be. Lots of love xxx

Even he asked for wine on his death bed Inde

Ma the only acceptable option is...
Strict low carb and no booze until Monday so that you're all flat tummied and glowing.
Sexy buttoned up business outfit as suggested above to get him thinking about ripping it off you all through the meeting.
Lingering looks and flirting. Shagging in the loos Drink/cuppa somewhere afterwards optional.

You know everyone wants you to you want to.

Fuck it just told DH I couldn't take it any longer... I mean yeah we have good moments (cf. salted caramel ice cream) but we are so miserable. Told him he was sucking out all my joy. Is this the end??

Can't drink tonight as I'm supposed to be giving the dog a haircut.

Sorry about the negative post. babyj you sound very upbeat for someone who's been up since before it was even daylight! I hope you can get your parents to babysit regularly.

Oh alias my heart goes out to you. Can relate. Was this a row, or a serious declaration of the end? Are you OK?

Posted to soon. indie my snot ridden buddy, sounds like time for medical intervention. Get thee to a physician.

Off for a calorie burning walk in the hope of fitting into too tight blouse for Monday. I feel the honour of the bus is at stake in the forthcoming flirt-off so need to use every weapon I can.

{{{{{ Joey }}}}}

Not an actual row, more like a drip, drip, drip of misery. Interspersed with the odd moment of 'yeah we're okay really'

We can't afford a divorce!

I've taken the dog for a long walk. Bought some wine and chocolate, but left it in the car. Not seen DH since, but I notice he's been to sainsburys for tonight's meal.

Oh joey. The drip, drip, drip of misery....I know it so very well.
Eventually you have to get to the point where you stop letting it erode you, and start planning the rest of your life. You may not be able to go just yet, but one day. One day you will. Start thinking long and hard how you can move towards that.

Thanks ma we nearly split up once 7 years ago, today I burst into tears thinking maybe we should have done, then I could have had more kids (DH didn't want anymore ) have I wasted the last 7 years?

But then I think he's been ill this week, I should be more supportive I've been googling mediation & divorce... (Mumsnet has a brilliant resource!) I don't know what to do...

Its so hard. We came closest to it a few years ago - probably mentioned it on here- but didn't see it through. I wish I had but I didn't. People on MN who just trot out "you should leave" as if it is that easy have no idea of the cost, both emotional and financial. I survive now by being secure in my own head and accepting that it is over in every sense other than we are still living together for Ds sake. Now that I know its over for me and the day will come, his behaviour doesn't really hurt me because I have that inner strength. The Babes on here are wonderful. Look at everyone not judging about distracted chap...and I am confident enough now to know that if I can create a flirty interest in someone else, then hell, I can do anything and I will not be dragged down any more by a controlling wankbadger of a dh. Rise, joey rise....

Well we've made up, but the wine is no longer in the car... The dog isn't having a haircut tonight because he's got a poorly foot, so he's safe from drunken scissoring.

I think DH was a bit shocked at my outburst, as he a) tried to interact with the kids without shouting and b) tried to help me put away the laundry also of course he realised he might end up with custody of the kids while I kept the dog!

(I'm joking but really can't see us carrying on like this forever...)

Hello there Blondie, how are you? Well done on your fab week, sounds like it was a corker for you, I'm glad you drew such positives from it! Nowt like a fug free morning, eh? xx

inde, have you got someone looking after you sweetheart? Someone to call the doctor if need be? You need to rest and be waited on and fussed over. Besides, you want to be well enough to read ma's memoirs doncha? xx

beaches how are you lovely? Did you get your house titivated? Hope you find a nice tenant, xx

crabby at shagging in the loos your post made me laugh out loud on the bus

joey aww sweetheart, another water tortured bint here, (((((((((((bosies)))))))))) I hope you are well down that chocolate, and glad that your dog hasn't got a bowl cut. Your job is to support yourself first, you can't begin to support anyone else unless you are in a good space. One day you will, you will find a way through. xx

baby it was sugar to my soul to hear you sounding so cheery! Day 6 eh? Check you oot Miss Thing! Not to rub it in or owt, but I am of a swishness nae handy after being at the hairdresser. Sending you some o ma sleek through the ether ma quine, xx

spanna my bonny lass, hope you are having a fine weekend, was thinking about you today, hope you can pop on to say hi, miss you on here, xx

soc, biiiiiiiiiiiiig fat tub of the sexy ice cream here, Little is looking more and more like Cujo by the second... xx

Mouse, wishing you love, peace and happiness, enjoy your weekend, xx

This bus is soooooo therapeutic, I love that we can say what we feel and instantly feel like someone is really listening to what we are saying. A friend is there with hope, love, lewdness and laughter, and on top of that heartfelt advice. What's not to love, eh? best post this epic before I lose it....xx

xx for crabby nae being stingy wi the love here, honest,

Hey wry . have a t'interbosie

My day in a nutshell.

Got up.
Walked Little.
Went to hairdresser for 3.5 hours, happy hair again.
Got shitey text from WB standing me up for tonight.
Went to M&S for a bagful of no effort weekend cooking.
Cried copious silent tears on the bus. (back seat, big comfy long journey seats, so fairly private)
Went home.
Walked Little.
Filled my face with runny poached egg Scotch eggs, tow bags of crisps
Now eating ice cream and on here.

ma I am desperate for Monday, desperate I tell ye.... xx

(ta for my t'interbosie, sair in need) xx

We had a bit of a row over the phone last night. There I was, all set for a bit of weekend espionage, getting a bit o my Mata Hari on...

And he announces that he had changed his Sunday and Monday shift so no longer wanted me to come over.

Conveniently leaving it late enough to stop me making plans with friends. He knew about the rota change on Thursday. He gets a cob on when I go out after getting my hair done, as I get the odd flirty comment. The last time he was with me, a fire engine tooted and one of them gave me a whistle. He was incandescent. Having my hair done gives me a bit of a Ready Brek glow for some reason.

So ma, I am living vicariously through you for the next few days, like a pushy pageant/stage mom.

Tow bags of crisps? Hairy big baws. I didn't tow them, I ate them. two bags.

Not greedy or owt.

Hello wry how are you doing? I almost didn't recognise you under your spywry disguise! Is that a fake moustache, or did you forget to wax?

Sorry wry I cross-posted. He really does sound like a twat.