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

Here, back in a bit xx

Me too! But watching recorded Gogglebox on Sky +

Evening, tis me, Mouse

Nance - (can I call you that?) you have just made me rolf as I am HOOKED on Gogglebox!

I LOVE the posh older couple who scoffed about the report on alcohol consumption that was on the news. It went something along the lines of, "Well, we're fucked then aren't we!" and the two gay chaps, they make me howl. Although I found the dog thing hard to watch as I'd avoided it when it was on because I hate animal cruelty.

They were going on about that new pill - Selincro - and that any woman who consumes two or more glasses, half a bottle of wine per day/night is a perfect candidate for the drug and can get it they choose. Men can get it also.

They then showed a chap who had taken the drug, he had three to four pints a night in the pub, but since he's been on this new wonder drug, no longer "enjoys the drink or sensation".......

Watch out GP's surgeries!!!

Thurso - my darling lovely! How fast has that time flown!! It's great to see you post x

I am drinking tonight - half a 125ml glass of red with our stake dinner, and a glass of cava as a toast to our lovely friend who died last weekend.

I actually don't want more. I'm happy with a milky drink and my meds, bed and a snuggle with DH.

So my lovely Babes, I've not read back still, but tomorrow is a whole new day.

Love to you all, stay safe whatever you're doing, wherever you are tonight.

Take good care of yourselves. xxx

PS - JWN, if you are out there, could you pop in and let us know how things are? We miss your posts and shopping expeditions!

In fact, there are a few Babes who have been MIA of late..... I hope that you are all okay out there.

Night xxx

Hi BBs

Deep joy in this house regarding periods! DD has just started - and not coping too well! And I'm just finishing - and not coping too well! Neither of us is 'regular' so it's all proving rather stressful!

I'm very curious about the new drug too Mouse. It will be interesting to see whether it's effective or not. Wonder how different it is from Campral?

And so sorry about the loss of your friend Mouse. x

Ooo! The Dr Who Tardis is new! What is that for? Going back in time? Hmmm, now that could be useful......

Just checking in to say "hi" - I haven't caught up on the thread yet.

Sorry I've been MIA for the past week or so. I've been down with a bad cold that turned into a horrible chest infection, so just laying low and sleeping as much as twins and dogs will allow. Not quite better, but I still need to go back to work on Monday. Bleurgh.

Anyway, I've resisted the call of hot whiskies - no matter how much my illness told me I "deserved" them!

Starting into day 15 today. I plan to not drink alcohol.

Morning all. Lazy Sunday here, have tons to do but procrastinating. Need to buy new car and in light of recent redundancy news can't decide between cheaper now but costs more to run, or more expensive now but will last forever and be cheap to run. Hmmm.

Fed up today as put on the 3lb I lost when I began SW. Not surprised as have been eating like a pig all week - disgusted even myself. Need to get back on it next week (ie tomorrow) and hope no more nasty shocks derail me.

Baby how are you doing on SW chick? I need a kick up the arse tbh. If only the bread allowance weren't so tiny. Who buys 400g loaves ffs? I've eaten bigger communion wafers

Nancery on the subject of soft drinks, I recently discovered Bottlegreen Lemongrass and Ginger Cordial. It isn't cheap but it is strong, you don't need much in fizzy water or diet tonic. And also Belvoir Ginger or Lemongrass varieties (do you sense a theme here?) Proper grown up drinks!

Still in sidecar at moment but so longing to get back in the bus. Need to have a word with myself, everything seems insurmountable at the moment. Someone slap me with Barrie please! (not Barryina, obviously)

Emo well done on the 15 days and resisting even with a cold! That is often an excuse for me to crack open the medicinal whisky and have a hot toddy. And I don't even like whisky much

Mouse and Nancery - fellow Gogglebox fan here. I watch it with the kids and we roar laughing. Was so excited at the beginning of the series when gormless boyfriend bloke who never speaks had a haircut. I said, "oh, that's the highlight of my week" and then realised what a sad bloody week it must have been. I need to get out more

By the way, Ma little bone to pick with you here. Please don't kill spiders. I love them!!! If I hear of any spider murders on this bus I will be vair, vair annoyed . I hereby pronounce myself Spider Saviour of the bus, so if any arachnids hitch a ride please alert me and I will ferry them to safety at the next stop. Thank you.

Have a good Sunday all. Going to eat breakfast now. though judging by the scales there is no need. I could fast for about a year before I was in any real danger of starvation

I don't squash spiders either, though I'm getting tempted. Not the big meaty buggers - there aren't many of them and I have a grudging respect for them - but the house is bloody infested with these practically see-through spindly efforts that look a bit like a daddy-long-legs on a diet. I CANNOT get rid of them. They hang around on the ceiling making great skeins of grey woolly web that I have to hoover off all the time. They specialise in hanging off the ceiling in the bedroom right above our pillows, so at night you have to get up and corral them into a glass before you can go to sleep.

Next door says they live in the loft (we're in a semi) and there are millions of them up there.

I hate them. I try not to kill anything but these things are really bugging me.

The biggest spider I ever saw, by the way, was in a holiday cottage we'd rented with my SIL's family. I was nominated to get it into a glass and chuck it outside. Thing is, it was so big that even a pint glass wouldn't cover it. I had to use a soup bowl. eurgh.

Evening luscious Babes

So 5 months and 1 day sober. Ran my second half marathon today. So tired, but obviously really elated.

Tis loverrrly here in sober-land. Get out the sidecar and come and join me. So worth it. Especially the emotional side. I'm so much stronger and getting stronger all the time. And more peaceful. It's a powerful combination. Like getting upgraded to a happy meal at McDonalds. With a toy too.

Too tired and dehydrated to string much together.

Am always grateful to you all on this magical bus for helping me get to this wonderful place in my life

BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG smooches all round........

Love that book. I bought it as I didn't want my wee niece to be as feart as I am. Made me see them in a whole new light. I'm still feart at the massive ones but can catch them. I put them in the shed, small ones get to stay in the house. Big improvement for me. hope I do feel bad for relocating the big ones, but I was bitten on the foot in bed by a big one last year and it took 2 weeks to heal. This year's spideys look like they eat weetabix and chew on dentastix. My shed is nice, honest.

mouse problems started when I was 41 or so. Flushes, fogginess, flash flooding or zero for months on end. I hadn't had a period for almost 1 and 3/4 years. Blood tests agreed menopause. Then out of nowhere I had a major period. My mooncup wasn't coping, it was constant. My doctor suggested mirena as she thought it would help. Cue weight gain, sore breasts, fog, weeping, bad thoughts, hormonal flip outs and so on and so forth. First 6 months was a disaster. Short term pill use was ruled out due to my blood clots. I am due to see the consultant at the menopause clinic next month, so hope will have more answers. I had a bone scan after I broke my leg, bone density isn't as great as it could be, my hair is breaking and thinning, my skin isn't happy. They are certain that my lipus is interfering with things but it's so hard to get the consultants to agree on treatment. I have to repeat myself every visit as the notes never seem to be transferred, and they don't communicate between themselves.

I get they are busy, have massive caseloads etc, pressure on pressure on pressure but...I feel like the last person to find out anything sometimes. I have to push, if it wasn't for my lovely gp I would have given up. It took years to diagnose my lupus, but understand this is often the case, it's the disease with many faces. I was told I had it 9 months after my positive bloods/biopsies etc. I am living this, and for so long I felt like I was a malingering moaning Minnie. One derm consultant made me cry, said I was wasting his time. It was such a relief to know I wasn't havering.

I have had to wait 18 months for the menopause appt, having an expert opinion and suggestions re management will be a relief. Sorry I can't help more, having other conditions does seem to complicate matters re management, I hope yours will be more straightforward lovey, x

Fab post Sober, very inspirational. Bloody well done you!

Checking in. Nice to see you again purplewolfe

We also love Gogglebox - not seen this weeks episode yet, though. Are there scenes of animal cruelty? I won't be able to watch then...

hope stick with the SW it works, preens self in skinny jeans after almost 4 stone loss have you tried subbing the bread for Ryvita? you can have 4 instead of one measly slice of bread. I have them with low low cheese spread topped with sliced egg, tomato, onion and ham, makes a huge yummy lunch, much more satisfying than a one slice sandwich.
day 14 but I am weakening, DH is home tonight after 2 weeks away and I fancy a couple to celebrate, thinking I may open a bottle of red as I will sip that, not guzzle like I do white or vodka and lemonade too early to decide just yet so will stop thinking about it and see how things go.

Morning joey oh lovely, don't watch that gogglebox bit with the dogs. I can't unsee it in my head. I flicked over fast, just not fast enough.

I would rip the fuckers who steal people's dogs for the food industry limb from limb. I'm aware different cultures, different attitudes but not the cruelty beforehand.

It was shocking. I'd never go there on holiday, if I saw it in front of me, or unwittingly ate it at a street food stall, I'd be struggling knowing I'd contributed to such a cruel trade.

hope you can rescue any arachnids on the bus with my blessing but any if those creepy fuckers in my house --get murdered and on not suicide.
soc I want to join you in soberland but I fail all the time and have given up. I have to see a doc this week about my boob, will hear on the 20th if we have won the contract which keeps me in a job, and I miss distracted chap so much . I am irritable and weepy and should be counting my blessings instead of being such a misbod .....

Bollocking strike out fail. Should say commit suicide.

ma I'm crossing my fingers that your poorly boob is going to be fine. I know it's easy to say, but try not to worry.

Right, first things first on your road to happy... Where did Monsieur Distracted go? I'm due holidays, and definitely need to get me Batman knickers back on. I shall find him, lasso him and bring him back. You need the distraction. and someone who loves having a cheeky peep at said boob/s

Eccles another ryvita fan here, haven't met a variety I don't like yet, when I'm being sensible I like a big plate of food, it lessens the blow somehow. My favourite at the minute is tomato, watermelon, feta and mint.

I've popped a toe on the stair of the bus, I think I'm going to make it through today...

I've spent the last couple of hours preparing Marcella Hazan's ragu and only another 4 hours low simmer to go. I didn't fancy a traditional Sunday, but it is my day for Making An Effort. It helps fill up the hours, not allowed to ride at the mo, gentle walking only. ma have just downloaded Findo Gask so looking forward to a good giggle, and A Time Of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor, one of the surgeons recommended it as a very good read.

soc you give me hope. And hope. And hope. That is all, xxx

Hello to all other love Babes, hope you are keeping fine, off to babysit me ragu for a bit, xx

wry you will love Findo Gask I think. Made me crease up.
Distracted Chap is away somewhere not very safe. I can't say where or why but tis to do with his job. If you can't lassoo him and bring him back, then keep him safe.
Its ridiculous. I make myself read all the relationship threads about OW and the destruction it causes and reassure myself that I have Done the Right Thing!
It just, hurts.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I have just lost a massive post that took me ages to write out and it was really funny in parts, emotional, enlightening, the works and then it just stopped letting me type and went poof!!

I know others have had this, do you use Google chrome per change?

I'm livid because some of it was really hard to put down in black and white.

Tw@tish buggery.

I'll try again.................... xxx

mouse it is so annoying when that happens! How are things with you? How is the wee fishboy?

I lose posts written on my phone, especially since the last two updates, Mouse.

Shitting thing. Soooooo frustrating. More so because I never ever remember to copy it before I press post.

Hey wry fits like?

Nae bad quine! My ragu wis divine! Watching Guy Martin making a Spitfire and getting all hot and bothered

I watched that too Wry, Dh big fan of them as his family for generations were all in the RAF (not Dh though).

Peaceful night here. Dh gone to bed, because he has a really bad cold, Dc2 up in his room as his Gf has been here for the weekend, and he's missing her, bless him, I can (barely) remember what that's like.

Ma you have brought back thoughts of my Edinburgh man, do you remember? It was the time I met Venus and missed you by a day, I'd forgotten!

Mouse I don't use google chrome except for work, but, I still lost a big post the other day, I just thought maybe it wasn't meant to be, I did write pretty much the same thing just afterwards though.

I saw "Girl gone" last night, wasn't overly impressed really, but, Gf told me that the book is much better....isn't that always the way.

Anyway, you can see now why I don't post much , v boring!!
I do love this bus so much (kisses)
Txxx

Who is Guy Martin?? (ducks in case Wry throws something at me. I really don't know, sorry)

Eccles, bloody well done on the 4 stone ! You are my new hero . My SW bete noir is finding something to eat for breakfast. Fruit doesn't do it for me, can't survive on tiny toasts, and don't have time to cook anything. So any SW brekkie ideas to replace my usual bacon barm or two (normal sized) toasts from the canteen are welcome

I have just made a mahoosive roast dinner and if I say so myself it was blood gorgeous. But also made a fat free SW beef and vegetable casserole ready for after work tomorrow, so I am serious about losing this lard.

Mouse sorry about your lost post . Annoying when that happens. Hope you and Nemo are doing well (computer glitches aside).

Right, off to watch TV - been washing, ironing, cooking, food shopping and running kids about all day. Also tried to buy a car, a beautiful, lovely dream of a car, but the dealer wouldn't drop to a price I could justify, even with my Paddington Hard Stare and haggling script from t'internet. Ah well, start the search again next week!