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

Always room for one more Popcorn, you ok?

70 well done on 30 days! (hands 70 the Smock of Smug)

Joey - how can anyone not like tea? I love a brew, me! Maybe you could make it a special thing ... buy a nice teapot and a nice china cup, experiment with different teas (if you don't like PG try Chai or some nice herbal ones. Fruit teas are grim but Teapig do some lovely exotic blends) and make a ritual out of making the tea and pouring it. You can feel like a Jane Austen heroine, imagine yourself in a chintzy sitting room in an elegant frock. I try to do this on Sundays with a nice bagel and the Observer, but usually get interrupted

(Waves to Faire and Ma, looks under the seats for gorgeous Daniela Nardini lookalike Wry)

Welcome to you Popcorn. Like the name. Are you OK lovey? Grab a seat, have a hot chocolate and a hobnob (we have all sorts of food on here, it's a low-carb nightmare, but it's also virtual therefore calorie and sugar free, so win-win!!!)

Baby you are going nowhere tonight so you may as well bed down on the back seat and let us look after you.

I shall drive this evening... we are off to the hills to look at the stars tonight babes. Night night all xxx

Thanks for the namecheck lovely Wry. Just caught up with thread. Not much to say at the moment as been feeling pretty shite but still reading and lurking and cheering you all on.

Morning All

Day 3 here usually my downfall off on Wednesdays and I've got a list as long as my arm.

70 31 Days today, you are AWESOME Enjoy the 'smock of smug' wear it with pride, you deserve it Keep going flower, it is well worth it

Baby lovely one, I hope you're OK honey, it's lovely that you're back on the bus, been away myself and really pleased to be back. Hugs to you lovely one, be kind to yourself, one hour, one day at a time.

Wry darling how are you? thank you for your warm welcome back. I need to get over the Day 3 mark and I will feel like I've achieved my mountain. Have a good day Mummy Bear

Hope ditto about Lianne whatsits books, I didn't really take to What Alice Forgot, not nearly as good as Husbands Secret and Little Lies. Hope both DCs are recovering from their injuries Have a good day lovely one x

Soc YOU ROCK it must be hard with the party season and all BUT you are 'doing it' and succeeding - I want to be you and I am very Keep going lovely, you are my inspiration

Beaches pumpkin, hope you're ok sweet thing, sending you loads of hugs xxx

I find it wrong for me to post when I've had a drink, hence my absence. Getting used to working full weeks again has been a shock to my system pathetic I know and the whole routine of a 'nice' glass of wine when I put my feet up at the end of a long day, is such a hard habit to break. I am determined to get another month AF under my belt, so may be on the Bus posting quite a bit

Nuff thank you for your kind words x

Have a good day y'all xx

Need to keep the radio in my car off today, listened to 2 Children in Need campaigns on the way in the car and had sobbed twice before I'd even got to the school yesterday Why is life so fucking unfair

Morning, I do like the sound of this bus, lots of munchies and no weight gain although how does everyone like the green opal fruits? No-one likes them at home but they're my favourites!

I have a big problem with the ww, she's a bully and I want to stand up to her. So many things on these threads I've been nodding at. I've got to go to work now but will come back tonight, I'll need to! Thanks for saving me a seat.

Can I jump on?

I ditched the wine for good 3 years ago this coming new years day.

It had always been a crutch in my life and o knew I had a problem even though I always had professional jobs.

After redundancy and a breakup I turned to the old faithful but decided new years eve 2012 that I was done with it.

Almost three years on I will next year graduate from college in a field I have ways wanted to work in. I have ditched toxic friendships, quit smoking and met the love of my life.

Life completely changed for me when I kicked the drink and stopped looking at it with the wooly wine brain.

Best decision I ever made!!! Good luck all.

Good morning everyone, I'm still hanging in there.

Obrigada, I saw your post yesterday but my ruddy phone kept skipping every time I started typing and I kept losing my messages. Congrats on day 5! Are you doing okay? xx

soc aww lovely to see you back in the driving seat again, albeit it for a moment or two. The girls at work are having a cocktail afternoon this Sunday, I may get there early, speak to the barman to make mine look like they've got the bells and whistles but don't contain any alcohol. Some of the younger ones won't get it and will badger or make me feel uncomfortable otherwise. Just the one won't hurt etc...I might just say I'm on a tight budget so can't do the big rounds. I sound pathetic I know. I agree, it's a rotten time of year, and it will be hard going, but I'm determined. Any hints for me, O wise one? xx

hope Yoohoo, I'm here! I cannot express just how proud I am that you stopped at just the one. How good did that feel? thanks] Not only that, it sounds like something positive may be afoot for you on the employment front! So chuffed for you, this bus has magical properties! I love looking at the stars, glad you're driving, keep swishing that hair and poop-pooping along life's road, xx

baby Oh sweetheart. Can we help? Right missus. You will never be lonely, we will be here. No matter how bad it gets, how low you feel, it is our job to lift you into the sunshine again. And we will. What happened, sweetpea? Can we do anything to help? I am counting down the days until I can go riding again. Book yourself in for a ride my lovely, give yourself a beam of light to aim for and we will be looking between the ears, going forward strong and true before you know it. (((((((horsehug))))))) My friend is giving me some of her tack to clean to keep me busy and to let me still smell of horse and saddle soap. She is an angel. As are you, haud gaun my wee soldier, xx

joey at Quentin and his canapés. It's how I see myself, but the reality is usually so very different.... Besides, I'm one of life's spillers. If there's a mouthful to be had, usually half of it will be decorating whatever I'm wearing. It is all about the mental, that is so true. xx

ma woohoo on your AF evening! Keep thinking the happy thoughts! xx

70 Day thirty!!!!!! A month!!!!! That magic month!!!! Keep going, that is amazing!!! xx

faire wise words, there. Wise words. xx

popcorn hello there! Grab a seat, you're in for the magical mystery tour! Laughs, tears, support, arse kicking, opal fruits, it's all here! Strap yourself in honey, tell us a little about you, xx

crabby how are you doing lovely beclawed one? Hope you feel a wee bit better soon, Keep waving your big claw, have a better day my darling, check in tonight if you can, xx

spanna Climb ev'ry mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow Til you find your dreaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam..... You will climb your mountain. Lemme be your Sherpa o lovely spanna, I might get a bit out of puff but I'm stubborn and a good holder of hands, xx P.s I am going bear/barefaced on Friday with my pawprint. I suspect a flurry of relapses and possibly a few frightened horses when folk see my au naturel fizzog.

bluebell, that is amazing, a fantastic achievement, a ray of hope indeed. Thank you for your positivity, for me it certainly comes at one of my stickiest points xx

*beaches, guggs, inde, Margaret, mouse, phrase and everyone, sorry I've run out of time, gotta go to work, but thinking of you xx

Will check in after work, may be quite late but I'll be reading during the day where I can, xx

faire thank you for your words of wisdom. Thank you! You're quite right. It's all just bullshit. I know I don't want to go back to that awful way of life.

And I don't want to post on the Dry thread because they were rude about my bus in the early days and I am like a faithful dog to this bus because without all of you I would not be coping. Just like these replies from you and spanna. It so helps to keep me going. January will be here in a flash and I know I'll feel better then. And probably even stronger knowing I can do a party season without succumbing to the evils of ww.

Thank you lovely, lovely bus babes

6 months and 1 day AF. It's quite something. I haven't been that long without wine (apart from being pregnant) since I was 18. 27 years of alcohol abuse.

Yikes. No I definitely can't afford to slip up even once.

xxxx

wry you do make me smile. I hope babyj gets her 'horsehugs'

wry we just have to be at our worst, most stubborn, most difficult, mad woman that we can be I think to get through this.

It's nice to have bluebell. Imagine 3 years. That's amazing.

Must go to sleep.xx

You lot are so lovely, I've wept. Not quite sure what happened to me but will share later... For now I luffs you all sooo much xxxx

wry for your cocktail afternoon - plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. Have a look at their cocktail list in advance and see if they've got a selection of fabulous non-alcoholic cocktails that you can try, then decide in advance what you're going to have for your first drink. Or goggle and find some mocktail recipes and give the barman instructions. Plan something important for afterwards - something that you need to be sober for. Practice your excuses too - be prepared to say that you've got a bit of a headache so you're sticking to the mocktails for a couple (your colleagues won't notice after the first round)... And if you're looking for something to strengthen your resolve have a read of the thread in chat about things that people have done when drunk...

I read it expecting it to be lightherted tales of things that had happened when people were mildly squiffy, but it is a series of posts predominantly about shagging, shitting, vomiting, and some pretty horrid accidents. People are thinking it's hilarious but it's far to close to reality for me and it just makes me feel

babyj glad you keep on coming back xx

soc always good to see you around, and 6 months (and 1 day) is an amazing feat. Well done you.

comingthroughthewry thanks, a little about little old me, I'm sure I'll spout off more over time (I do like to waffle) but I'm a 30 something mum with a lovely dh and 2 lovely kids. However I have a wine devil sat on my shoulder at all times whispering to me, you've earned me, you deserve me, you need me, let me comfort you, let me celebrate with you and on and on. I don't want it there and 9 times out of 10 it is stronger than me. It's there now making me false promises of happiness and I know they are false as it makes me stupid, lazy, forgetful, tired, grumpy, it's ruining my teeth and my skin, it's made me fat (the love of popcorn and nuts with it is the double whammy) and I need some guidance/support in being stronger than it. I can't say I never want wine again (although that would be sensible) but I can say I don't want it today, yet that is such a struggle to achieve. I've been trying for years, this isn't my first forum but this one sounds so much lovelier than the others have. You all seem so kind and understanding and supportive of each other, I'd like to buy a season ticket to this bus, I am happy to bribe pay with opal fruits

Evening babes, plan for this evening is bath and early to bed so no wine for me tonight. That will be day 5 done and dusted. Waves to everyone!

Hey Popcorn your ticket on this bus is for life. You can jump on and off whenever you like and you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave

Just keep posting, whatever you want, we find it helps sometimes to just talk nonsense about life in general. Same goes for Bluebell, welcome to the bus

Isinde usually hands out the tickets and plumps the cushions whilst offering soothing poetry. Where the heck is she? And that pesky Mouse too... I have broccoli and stilton soup... mousey mouse, come out, come out wherever you are...

Wry just ask for the cocktails 'virgin' and they'll leave out the alcohol. Tell your workmates you have antibiotics for a tooth infection and you can't drink right now but can still have a good time.

Hi to everyone, back later x

popcorn welcome to the bus.mostly I ride in the sidecar as I am a pisshead, but I love this bus and the babes. I loom after Barrie the Squid and am in charge of the Opal Fruits.
I also have triangle which I expose from time to time
wry my advice is to shag the cocktail barman

I don't loom after Barrie, I look after him!!!!

Venus - where is this thread of which you speak? I have a horrible compulsion to look at it and see if anyone has worse stories than me which they won't and to remind myself why I need to be sensible and mostly abstinent over Christmas

Obrigada sounds like a good night - well done on day 5! Tonight is my trash telly night, me and dd will be watching Waterloo Road and the Apprentice, no booze

Waves at Joey, Crabster, Faire, Soc, Ma, Beaches, Wry, 70, Popcorn and Spanna

Welcome Bluebell, nice to meet you. Your story is inspiring, especially as I am facing redundancy and would love to meet the love of my life!!! (I am married but not to him unfortunately ) Well done you! Stick around

Right, off to watch telly ... with a donut! (bad, bad me!!!)

Sorry if I've missed anyone out - love you all!

Baby - especially big hugs for you lovely

Thanks everyone, waving back at all you lovely people

fairenuff thanks for the earworm for the evening I don't want to leave, I will be hopping on and off as I don't think I want to never have a drink again, just I want to decide when!

dementedma Barrie the Squid and a Triangle?? Well that's worth the ride to find out what on earth at least!

So I'm sat here chilling with diet coke after busying myself with housework, this is normal reward time for all the cleaning, and they're drinking wine on TV grr! I hope their head hurts tomorrow as badly as mine did on Sunday, I forgot to say, ruined precious days off is one of my biggest grumps!

lookingforhope it's a pretty grim thread, nc or not there are plenty of confessions on there that I would be mortified to be the owner of but some seem quite proud!

Evening, tis me, Mouse

I'm sorry that I've not been around. I'm dreading the 23rd of November. It will be exactly one year since my Mum took her last breathes in my arms. I miss her so very much, for all the lack of sweetness and light that there was in our lives, the deeper relationship, the unconditional love and respect I had for her will remain in my heart for always. I'm just sad.

So, to keep busy I'm doing a 3 mile walk on Friday 21st with my crutches to aid me, since new conditions have come to light... my right knee has taken a battering and it crushes me, the pain is unbelievable. it's hard to cope with.

On the plus side I've gotten my full DBS Clearance so that I can work with Neurological patients in a care home, and on Friday (Children In Need) and I have dress up. so, I'm going to be 'Where's Wally'!! Should be a right laugh and hopefully we'll get some funds for the home.

Anyway, I digress.... I don't know if I'm allowed to do this but if you'd like to sponsor me, please PM me and I will give you the details.

Thank you in advance. Sorry to be all about me right now but my mum is my world and all I can see when I close my eyes is her dead body in the hospital bed with me and her sister trying to close her mouth and eyes so she looked more peaceful.

I better go to bed. I'm still sober but I'm not in the mood for food at the moment,

Night all, I hope that you're all okay and I haven't upset anyone. Be Brave and strong.

I'll be back for the cheese left out for me :) xxx Time to try and get some sleep.... wish me luck.

venus I have just read that thread, pretty sobering. If anything will get me past the sticky week, it will be that thread. Too close for me too, far too close. Thank you for my cocktail hints and tips, I will definitely get there early, suss the lie of the land as it were. me dear, that thread brought a few things to the surface for me, and this weekend will be well and truly sober. xx

soc hope you had a fine sleep, not long until January petal, and btw, it's a little more than quite something! It is the full Jaffa cake, and then some! You are past halfway to a year! Amazing! xx

baby luffs ya, I does, me little mucker ooter ((((((((((hairybosie)))))))) from Little and me, xx

ma wanton sexual activity with a barman on a Sunday afternoon? Not without a McDonalds first. (oh bloodyhell, I am craving a Big Tasty, why do I always crave McDonalds after a late shift?) And he would have to look like Guy Martin or at least have the sideys xx

obrigada well done on day 5, so of a bath and an early night, that sound blissful, xx

faire that also sounds like a plan if the wheedling ramps up, they of course know about my ear, I could have an ear infection, and middle ear infections can make you unsteady yada yada so best not upset my unstable face by falling over etc.... You my dear, are brilliant! xx

eccles are you okay me dear? Have a bosie, and know that I'm keeping a seat warm for you, xx

hope can't wait to catch up with the Apprentice, I didn't get home til past midnight, and I am determined not to watch it til I can be sure I won't fall asleep through it! Oooh a donut, sugary, fat filled loveliness. I'm having cheese on toast. Then got to go to bed, I really musn't sit up watching trashy telly but probably will xx

popcorn aah now you sound lovely, you're going to love it here, waffle away me dear, I am a shocking waffler. Sometimes I will post heaps of times throughout an evening, especially if I'm struggling, and it's purely to keep my hands busy. No judgey pants here my lovely. You'll get nowt but syrup on your waffle, I promise. Lovely to meet you, xx

Night night you lovely lot, xx

Cross post lovely mouse, only because I take ages to type. I'm so pleased faire tempted you out with her broccoli and stilton soup.

Oh my, I am sorry that you are in so much pain, in your heart, and with your knee. Your mam would be so proud of you, you continue to help others despite the fact that most people in your shoes would be on a permanent duvet day. I have the utmost respect for you, me dear, I don't hear 'all about me' in your post at all. I hear love, loss, bewilderment and pain, but there is a golden thread of strength of spirit and a tidge of hope running through your post.

Wishing you love, luck and a peaceful sleep, look after yourself, you are an inspiration, xx

Quick wave to all - just to say - Day 32 - wave again laterrsssss