The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Kicking The Wicked Wine Witch Where It Hurts! Mwahahahahahahaha!

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse, welcome to the Bus (aka Gerald!)

We're a mixed bunch of folk, some have been here for a while, and of course we have some new additions too. It matters not one jot how long you travel with us, as long as you get something from it.

No matter your story, your needs, your fears and hopes, you CAN come on here and talk. You can cry, scream, rant, let it all out and not be judged for anything. Ever.

We've all been so very low, some have hit the very bottom of the rock, rubbed the bruising better and picked ourselves back up again but sometimes, you need a helping hand or someone to listen too.....which is why we're here, sharing our experiences, or just reading each other's and nodding as we click along.....

The support here is unconditional. :)

There are two banners down each side of Gerald, our super duper Bus saying -

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

We have lots of food on board, but mainly Opal fruits!!! They tend to be anything other than green, as they get snapped up vair fast indeed!

If you would like to know a bit more about how we got to where we are today, you can read these threads.

THE PREVIOUS THREAD

THE START OF THE JOURNEY

Hope to see you soon :) x

Wow Soc brilliant post :) -

wardrobe welcome!
Did you manage to get through today?
I didn't get in from work until 9 tonight so have managed to be AF. I just need to keep working long hours. It seems I only feel the need to drink when I am at home.

Hiya joey, no hrt for me due to having history of blood clots. This is why I was so excited about waiting for this menopause management clinic, to explore possible alternatives etc, ain't that just my luck

Never mind, just 3 more months and this brain foggy (though might be the lupus) misery might be on it's way to being a mere memory. If, in fact I can remember it...

I think the reason I'm feeling my colleague's departure so keenly is that she knew about me. Supported my strengths and failings without judgement. She knew I came in every day, painted my big smile on and did the best I could. She knew she could place her trust in me. That meant so much, she willed me to be the best I could be.

I love sage, will definitely give that a try, thank you. I have a very precious half full bottle of Boots Original Beauty formula Clary Sage bubble bath. And perhaps could manage chicken with sagey stuffing at the weekend. I finish at 2 on Saturday afternoon so could nip to Grampian Health to see if they have sagey supplements... xx

Just away to watch 24 Hours In A&E. Just the ticket. Even though I cry buckets. Oh jeeze. Weeping already.

spanna darling, I have downloaded every single thing of Bettye Swann's, just love her voice. How's your job going sweetpea? is it still making you happy? miss you, xx

70, day 18!!!!!!!! Totally agree with you re the alternative drinks, it pays to make an effort, find something different, give it the bells and whistles with a gorgeous glass. My current favourite is Fentimann's rose lemonade. I heap it with crushed ice, a sprig of mint and a sparkly pink straw. What's your favourite at the mo? xx

Oh god, some poor young lass on this programme, her poor grandparents. This is what I can't bear, the injured people are unconscious, on pain relief etc, but the pain of the relatives...it tears me to bits.

Faire thank you for letting me beal on and on, it helped enormously, always does. I avoided the bottle of the bottle, thank you ma quine, xx

baby how's my sweaty tack coming on? ah, it was the best thing, lovely clean, shiny tack hanging from the clothes airer, door handles, blissful. It beat ironing! Who knew? Hope you are okay darling, I hope you've managed to get out riding, you and I know that's our own little AF heaven, right there. Keep looking between the ears, love ye, xx

ma what's worst wi ye ma quine? Are you okay? Is it just the sheer relief of your job being saved? Get yo ass back in de damn sidecar innit. Braaaaaaaaaaaaap. or something.....

hooooooooooooooooope. not nagging or owt, but tell me about your haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiirrrrrr. And your new car, I want to live a little of your glamour.

Will post before BatPhone eats this. Oh the way it sounds, oh god I can't bear it, I hope this lass is going to be okay.

hello wardrobe, how are you? Ignore all my self indulgent wittering from yesterday, I swear you will find love and support on here, just keep posting, the words of wisdom and hope will buoy you up before you know it. we are all here for the same reason, we just do the best we can. isn't that all we can ever hope for? xx

soc wise, kind, helpful, supportive and encouraging words as ever. Keep driving this here bus, I imagine you keeping awd Gerald steady, like Father Dougal driving the milkfloat in Father Ted. Slow enough so we can hop on (or fall off) without hurting ourselves but always moving forward, towards our new horizons. One day. I bank on that. This is a shitty time of year, so many parties, so many temptations, so many people going 'just have the one...' having no idea that it's like giving water to a gremlin for me. And then I complete the disaster by eating after midnight. soc you are amazing. Keep on keeping on. xx

hope xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and a bosie. I am not glamorous today. I am in thermal leggings and a miffy nightshirt. And bed socks. I love my linen jammies but thermal is called for tonight. it is very cold. Little has made an igloo shape out of her bedding. We shared my mushrooms on toast. Her and me always. She's my sunshine.

Oh her granda, I can't bear it. I hope she pulls through. I shouldn't watch these programmes, but they can teach us so much. We need to see the people, not the injury. Yes it can help to detach, until we fix things. But we are so discouraged now to give hugs, when that is all a patient really needs. Some love. Someone to care. Someone to make sure their family is okay.

And I'm rambling.

And apparently I can't do capitals. baaws.

I want to reach out and bosie Mo the Ortho Reg through the screen.

Crying. Time for a hot chocolate. And a good bubble. Love that programme.

Day 19 - will be back later :). -

Well done 70. That's awesome

wry. I wish I was your neighbour.

Xx

wry I have the Sage tincture, which has an alcohol base but honestly you can't taste it, and there isn't enough to make a difference (unlike Thorntons rum liquers - was I the only person buying those for the rum???)

I knew you lived in my home town. I knew you were a nurse. But I've only just put 2 + 2 together (cause I'm a bit dim ) to realise that means you probably work at... [hospital] Which department/ward? Half of my family have been in there. My brothers kids were born there (his wife may have had something to do with that) My uncle was in and out last year, though they never found out what was wrong with him (mainly because he kept discharging himself before they had a chance to slap the electrodes on)

And my grandad passed away in there, a few years ago. Do you recall an elderly gent who used to grope the nurses and then claim he didn't know what he was doing as he was blind? Technically he was registered blind. But he could spot an arse half a ward away, bloody menace he was. [girn]

Wry thank you for your interest in my hair and car! Wankbadger has hardly noticed either (until the kids embarrassed him by saying 'why don't you want to see mum's car?')

My hair is now long and blonde with scarlet streaks through the back so when I put it up it is a veritable kaleidoscope of colour! Age inapproprate for 47? Maybe, but it cheers me up when I look in the mirror, and I am practising for when I am an old lady that wears purple and a hat that doesn't suit me .

My car is a lovely high spec second hand hatchback, it is silver and it is huge (drove a beat up tiny car for 15 years before this). I have sat nav and bluetooth and dab radio and - everything! It feels like driving a spaceship! It was second hand and a real bargain from a trade car place but it's only two years old, low mileage. I can't back it into the garage in less than 30 minutes but am working on that. I have never bought myself a car before (had a lot of family hand me downs !!) and can't believe I spent the money, with my job being insecure, but just had a f*ck it moment! Less for wankbadger to borrow off me, and I work bloody hard at the moment .

Joey your story about your grandad made me laugh out loud! My Uncle Mick was also registered blind but we wondered how much he could really see. He could spot a pub from a mile off ...

Ma sorry about the spider . But they are lovely, honestly...

Lovely to hear about Richard too - you must be so proud of him. I hope he is proud of himself...

Soc loved your post about sobriety. I think that would be me if I am ever strong enough to get to your position. I am fine when I've not had a drink for a few days, don't think too much about it, but then when I know something is coming up like a meal out or a party I obsess about how much I will drink, try to impose limits on myself, fail - or sometimes succeed there but then have one when I get home to 'make up' (!!!???) and the next day have to really fight the urge to start drinking again. Sometimes I don't and have a few days drinking on the run till next time. I am the same with diets - either rigorously good or bingeing on junk.. or exercise - twice a day, or nothing for weeks!

70, Spanna, Crabby, Baby and all other babes lurking or posting ... hugs to you today and Happy Halloween. What are we all doing? I am going to a party with the kids and some friends. Dd is trick or treating on her own with her friends this year instead of coming with us, but has promised to come to the party afterwards... nervous about her being out on her own, but she has her phone and I'm only in the next street at my friends, she knows most people on that estate.

Ma I hope nobody comes to your door dressed as a spider (takes down spider halloween bunting from the bus with a sulky face )

I just came back from a lovely Halloween party. 600000 kids and a few parents. Most of the parents drinking. Me on some super duper look at me organic fruit drink.

But again all those mums drank maybe 3 (max) glasses of wine. Some of them even had a water inbetween. Wtf. Are these people aliens??

Hi babes, just been catching up and always smile when I read all your lovely, warm and funny posts, you guys are truly awesome!!!!

I've lost track of days but I'm sure it's around the 2 month mark. It's only now things have settled a bit, first I was eating, then I was buying all sorts of crap from the internet, I even started smoking again, just chasing a buzz from something and a way to alleviate the stress of life's challenges... Only now people are starting to say "you look really great these days" or "have you lost weight?", I haven't really but the bloating has gone and the few pounds I've lost have got me back into my jeans instead of the black leggings and various smocks I wore. When I was drinking I didn't think I deserved to wear nice things or buy nice makeup or infact deserve anything good at all. I now go out every day dressed nicely, wearing makeup and nails, tan and hair done. This is mainly due to having lots of empty hours in the evening, I've adopted the mantra, "if life throws you lemons make lemonade". My life may not be terribly exciting and my journey through recovery after a whopping nervous breakdown and nearly drinking myself to death is still a work in progress but the free time at night lets me take better care of my skin and smother myself in lotions and potions bought with the wine money.

My greatest achievement so far is without doubt being a better mum, my teenage dd is a million times happier that I'm sober, look less embarrassing and don't spend days on end weeping in my bed. Maybe I'm still discovering my sober potential but while I'm hardly changing my life in any radical, life affirming way I'm calmer, steadier and more content and that's reverberates through my parents, my dh and my kids so for me for now that's the biggest gift sobriety had given me and my god I'm grateful for that.

Huge hugs for everyone, this bus has saved me in a thousand ways as has every one of you.

Mwah xxxxx

What a wonderful post baby ,you sound so calm.

I didn't make it to day 3 but I have just taken my first ad today and I'm hopeful that it will give me a fighting chance.

I've had some insight into why the situation I'm in bothers me so much (not being listened to,my input about my child not being taken seriously) and I'm glad that I've managed to pinpoint what is going wrong. It's a start.

Today I will not be drinking day 1 again.

Soc you have made me laugh - there was a thread on here yest from a woman who downed a bottle of wine on say and sun and loads of people commented in her 'excessive drinking'. - I suddenly realised how skewed my thoughts were when it comes to the WW

BabyJ go you - I bet you look gorgeous !! 2 months is amaze balls
Looking you swish that hair girlfriend ;)

just been into town and saw a lady who I have seen a few times before and always looks worse the wear for drink - she also smells strongly of it whatever time of day I see her. Anyway today she looked the worse I have ever seen her - bright red face - dragging her leg behind her - felt so sorry for her and thought 'There but for the grace of god........'

Laters babes - keep safe and sober xxxxxx

So dh went to the heart clinic and now has to go to hospital and have a stent put in to open his narrowing arteries. Idiot told the Dcs who are all now really worried about him so I have their fears to deal with, plus his hysterics.and yes, I'm a selfish bitch, but if his appointment clashes with my much longedfor conference in December in....whispers..Windsor Castle, I will kill him with my own bare hands!

babjy so great to hear you sounding positive! Do you still get cravings, and are there any tactics you have to manage them?

ma think positive, they might keep him in hospital a few days, give you some peace and quiet. As for the conference, you can't ignore a summons from the Queen!

Its a day treatment t joey although you would think it was a triple by pass to hear him. I don't want to miss my conferencd at the castle. I get to stay overnight!!!!!!!!

Day 20 - :)
Found Friday night hard last week - was easier this week :)

That was an inspirational post baby... I wish some of your wonderfulness would rub off on me, am hopeless at the moment Going out for lunch /drinks today and it feels like a duty... Partly cos dd is being a pre -teen bitch today. We went to a friends Halloween party last night and she came with her friend and was vile and aloof and bit my head off every time I asked her if she wanted to join in. She hates me going out. I examined my behaviour to see if I may have been drunk \embarrassing but I wasn't... She is just at that age Makes life unpleasant though.

Ma don't you dare miss Windsor Castle! We will drive you there in the bus and put a red carpet down specially... Sounds fab!

Keeping it short as on phone at gymnastics atm. Hope everyone else is doing well today. I'm not really... Keep having anxiety attacks about work and wb is being his usual negative self. Eating crap, not exercising and utterly tired all the time so dd's moodswings not helping as she is usually my little ray of sunlight

Awesome baby and 70. Well done. It's so cool to hear people sounding and feeling good.

And well done the rest of you mad woman for just hanging out on the bus, side car, roof rack. I think some of you may even be in the luggage lock up underneath. Please come back. It's quite safe. Only ma bites. The rest of us are perfectly nice.

Except when it's full moon. And various other moments when stars are not quite aligned. There seems to be a shortage of green opal fruits. Maybe they are in the spare tire.

I'm back! Had a lovely time. Missed so many posts on here that I can't NC everyone but hello all and welcome to all new posters!

3 month scan on Monday. Nothing untoward has happened, but I feel absolutely fine physically. No sickiness, no tiredness, no sore boobs (though they're a full cup size bigger now!) Dreading it a bit to be honest. Just can't imagine it being OK.

Still AF!

x

Hi Babes
just checking in to celebrate my 4th sober anniversary, all thanks to this wonderful support thread.

Please keep on keeping on, all you amazing babes! You can beat the WW into submission.

It is so encouraging to know that Gerald keeps motoring on, I don't post any more, but I know you are all there to support and encourage at all times - truly amazing!
xx

Bproud brilliant to see you! You are one of the success stories of this bus, up there in the pantheon of legends. Well done you.
soc I do not bite! Much...just don't get between me and the opal fruits.

We'll done Bproud. 4 years awesome x
Good luck for Monday Phrase.

looking I have a Pre-Teen Bitch as well, I feel for you. She also would sneer if a parent embarrassed her by talking to her in public. She once made me walk 3 feet in front of her in case she was seen by any friends.