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

Sorry I don't mean "just" as of course your DDs happiness is important

Well, FWIW, you all sound like the least monstrous people I've anonymously lurked around for a long time.

I came on here for a teary rant (cider in hand, I should come clean ). I did one day of not boozing, and it only made it all the more appealing. I'm not sure I really do need to cut down after all. Perhaps I was just blaming drinking a few extra units for the fact that I'm not actually very good at life.

Right. Rant over.

By the way, thurso, I think the very fact that your DS can seek and access help with what he needs to talk about indicates that he has had lovely parenting

It is rather cosy in this here sidecar isn't it passes ma a mince pie? I haven't got a decent excuse for being in here other than making an complete balls up of a job interview for a job I really really wanted, oh well, it was a practise interview, I will find my confidence again (a decade of it being squished by the lovely folk that make sure my lack of penis means I will never progress) and apply for lots of jobs in the new year. My CV suggests I should be an asset as I have a good degree and loads of experience, however I'm a blithering mess who can't even string a sentence together properly, those poor interviewers must've thought they got the wrong person! Sorry for the bad language but I feel a right twat. In the grand scheme of things I really feel awful moaning as I have a job.

hope I'm coming to the party a bit late tonight, did you apply for the other job? I have an appalling memory forgive me, but if you're offered your 'own' job do you have to take it or forfeit redundancy pay? can you 'throw' the interview if you so choose? On a bus-ier note, we could do with a bus pup to minesweep the crumbs - we could ask wry but I'm concerned about us being gassed out by Little - how's she doing now?

mouse hope Nemo is better, I'll have to try the Aldi hot choc once I've got rid of this wine

I started this reply with great intentions then DH phoned for directions to his hotel (he's out in my home city and rather squiffy) and now I've finally verbally walked him there I'm shattered so sorry about the lack of NC, waving to and thinking of you all, I'll be back Sunday, I need sleep!

Night night Popcorn. Sorry about your job interview. I hate interviews, don't you? I've had three in ten years and am shite at them but I am really good at my job according to clients - just can't do that bullshitting and blustering and coming across like a crazed Apprentice candidate that some people seem to like .

I was once rejected for a job for being too 'laid back' in the interview, but I was actually really nervous and keyed up, just can't seem to work up that fakey OTT persona that goes with the industry I work in. I make the mistake of thinking my CV and professionalism will see me through but so often it doesn't.

I did apply for private sector job but who knows how I will get on? Don't have experience in the relevant sector but do have the transferable skills. I don't think I can throw my interview at work as would affect my job chances elsewhere in the public sector but can probably be unbending about the travel arrangements to rule myself out. It just gives me a headache! Thank God it's the weekend (and am squeezing my fat arse into the sidecar with you all as on the wine tonight, though stopped at 3 glasses. Which is still counting as binge drinking according to the NHS but to me on a stressy Friday is not abnormal

Venus - this all sounds like either a) girlfriend very insecure and projecting insecurities on to you as the bad party in all this or b) ex portraying you as monster to minimise his own role in your split and make himself look better, therefore girlfriend taking issue with you over something that is a lie. Either way, you are not to blame and I am sorry you find yourself in this position. I would hope DD can see that, but at the same time she is a young girl who probably just wants a nice housewarming party and wants it working out no matter who is right or wrong. So sadly I have no advice, but just love and reassurance that it is not your fault. You so definitely do not sound like a monster to me!

Thurso have no advice I am afraid as my dcs just entering into teen stage. However for a boy that age to seek help to talk about his emotions seems pretty mature to me and a sign he wants to deal with things and come out the other side. And maybe he doesn't want to talk to you as he wants to protect you which is noble (when I was at Uni I went through a promiscuous phase which did upset me but would not have talked to mum about it, not because I didn't love her, but because I did, and didn't want to upset her). You are there for him, and he knows that. I hope he works through it, but we all had struggles at that age and no doubt my dcs will too and their kids and everyone else's. You sound a lovely mum

Beaches - thanks for chipping in with advice! As you can see, I took it. I do value what you ladies say, despite putting in an EOI for current horrid job because I just can’t be the one to sabotage financial security for the DCs

Baby, how are you my friend. ODAAT is indeed a good thing, even not in abstinence. So my slip tonight will not count towards the ‘fuck it’ element of tomorrow. Though tbh am not going to be out of the sidecar till Dry January now but at least want to keep the drinking down to no more than 3 times a week

Spanna, Soc, Wry, Anne, Mouse, Isinde and all lovely babes, I wish you all the best for the weekend.

MoveAlong - sincere welcome to our bus. I was / am a cider fiend too. You sound lovely, please stick with us. If you can cope with the dust, the tinsel and the huge illuminated tasteless reindeer I have just nailed to the roof of the bus, we would love to get to know you better.
Night night, and luffs to you all xxxxx

Hi everybody, tis the season of colds, flus and lurgy of unknown origin. We've been a bit short handed but my weekend has just started. It's been a very long week.

mouse Hope wee Nemo is feeling a little better today, sweetpea. I see Christmas at your house when I close my eyes. Warmth, love and peace. If I could find a tutu to fit, I would love to be the Fat Fairy for your tree so I could bask in that warmth and just be. xx

inde arse is it self pitying, me dear. Never. You say it like it is, real life pain, frustration, needs and wants. The mature approach is to come on here and get it off your chest. I love a bit of Auden. That poem? Perfect. xx

hope my darling, my heart is yelling at you to sit tight. I don't know why, it just is. But you can't run away. Not without us. xx

baby hello tootie, imagine if you will...my grooming has fallen slightly by the wayside... I am like a woolly Shetland. I reckon I need a reverse hunter clip. My legs have built insulation. How are you my horsey pal? Hold my hoof during the festive season, dear friend. I'm right here, xx

beaches hello quine, I read your wise words for hope, spot on, that's exactly it. xx

thurso I spoke to my GP this week. It's not that I can't talk to my family, I just needed to talk to someone who wouldn't take on my pain for me. I know my family would want to, but at this moment in time I am scared that it would bring them bewilderment and hurt. I need to get things straight in my own head first, kinda make sense of stuff, know why I'm hurting. I'm not even sure myself why I'm slipping.

I know in my heart if my mam came on here, she would say the same as you. Being a deep thinker? It's a good thing. Your lad will be empathetic, and he will care. You did good. Honest. xx

venus, ah. You are the hallowed one. You maun poop rainbows and fart fairy dust. I agree with thurso, she thinks her jaikit's on a shoogly peg for some reason. xx

popcorn, I am a poetry lover. And a mince pie lover. And a dustbuster lover. My dustbuster is called Little. She is a crumb demon. xx

movealong, I think most of us will have said that at one point. I know I did, and that's when I knew. Stay here, rant, laugh, cry, question. I am a binger, only on days off though because I can't function very well when I do drink. It wasn't the amount I was drinking, it was more the why. I'm a blotter. I need the numb. But it bites you back the next day. Amplifies stuff, somehow. I am trying very hard to get to the point where I don't feel the need to blot. xx

Must go to bed lovely ladies. I need to go to the art gallery tomorrow for a little me time. One of my havens. Perhaps the Breadmaker or Books and Beans. Little may be well enough for a walk tomorrow too, both of us shall wag and smile, xx

You are such a sweet hearted soul Wry and always find a gift of words for us all. I hope you realize how much we all cherish you Bonnie lass.

Night babes xx

I second the words of wise Beaches. We all love you Wry. I always look forward to your wise, warm and funny posts. You are the spirit of this lovely bus. Night night X

Your posts are pretty darn good too hope . You are both so good at remembering everyone and saying the right things.

Right, I really am crashing now xx

A shoogly peg is a shaky coat hook. If your jacket is on a shoogly peg,it doesn't bode well for your future. Shoogly is a great word. Means wobbly as in wobbly tables etc.
I love that poem too. Good for people who are far away

Morning my lovelies, it's a mighty drich day in Scottyland and yet I'm feeling good. Been eating well this week and getting a bit of excercise, taking care of my skin and having a nightly bath. If you could see me mid binge I smell cos I don't wash for days , I don't eat and don't brush my hair or change my clothes, as I sit here now, nails are red and glittery and my tan is on and I look and feel, well, normal.

Now normal may not be very exciting to most folk, hardly dynamic spending sat at the village Christmas fayre but this year has been so tough, fighting depression like a terrier biting my heels but it's nearly over and as I sit here looking into my 4 year olds huge brown eyes I know that anything is possible and normal feels amazing. Love to all xxxxx

Morning all!

Hairy hooves can shine, given love and sparkles xx

Right back atcha my lovely friend and you are absolutely a dear friend even in our cyber world. You are the magical fairy on my tree. Thank god for you lovely wry . Xxx

Hope I think it's good to be honest with them and say that the extra travel is a big ask. Could you work from home at all to balance out the impact of travelling hours? I also think you should go for the other job too. Keep your options open - it's easier to turn down offers than get them in the first place x

venus I wonder if exh is being entirely truthful with you. For all you know, he could be telling her that you don't want her there. Has your dd spoken to her and been clear that she is very welcome and you would all love it if she could come too?

baby I agree, normal is good enough for me too x

I can't cope with menopausal. I haven't slept in weeks because of night sweats and I have the rage.went to doc who wanted to put me straight on hrt - no blood tests or anything- and I wasn't sure so she said get some herbal stuff and try that for a month. So I went to chemist who laughed and said herbal doesn't work, go on hrt!
And the cat wouldn't take his tablet so I hurled it( the tablet,not the cat) across the kitchen and tried to open a bag of lentils for soup and ripped the bag and lentils have gone everywhere so I burst into tears and I have toothache because the fucking filling which was done only last week has come out and I don't have time to go back because of work pressures and TWO conferences to prepare for and if dh doesn't stop fucking sniffing I am going to KILL him!!!!

Why are you eating lentils?

Okay ma okay. Let's tackle things one step at a time.

First kill ignore your DH. Maybe insist he goes to bed cause he's 'so poorly' , then shut the door on him.

Second, fuck the lentils, they would only make your DH fart, and you really don't need that. Toast is the way to go. And chocolate for pudding.

Get paracetamol + codeine for the toothache, and while you're at the chemist, buy more chocolate herbal stuff for pmt. I'm using sage, which seems to help - or try cohosh. But also get the hrt because that will definitely help, and you can always stop it if you don't like the side effects.

The lentils have been turned into soup for tomorrow. Dinner is in the slow cooker but as Ds has gone to stay with a friend I neednt have bothered. Dd phoned to say she and bf won't be staying over tomorrow night after all. Oh good. Glad I cleaned the room from top to toe and changed the beds then!
Dh retrieved worm tablet fro kitchen floor, wrapped it in a bit of bacon and the cat swallowed it no problem. Both dh and the cat had the sense not to say anything. I hate feeling like this.
But thank you joey. The fact I am missing distracted chap is not a factor at all, oh no!

Well that killed it off.
watches the tumbleweed blow through the bus

Now ma.

And there was me putting the tinsel up in the Tardis for ye. Don't take this the wrong way, I wish you would run away. You know to where and with whom. For tonight you have the Tardis. Tonight it is programmed for New York.

In one of the posh suites high above the bustling streets, looking out over the twinkling skyline. With a massive bed, snow white premium thread count bedding, discreet room service, etc, etc.

Bring me back a McDonalds though. A big Tasty, large meal of course. And a pretzel or six. And some cheese whiz. And a Philly cheesesteak. Ta. I'm all aboot the cuisine, me.

Oh wry I would bring you back the biggest Tasty ever if your Tardis was real. I ve never been to New York. it sounds wonderful. But Paris would do equally well. Or anywhere. Anywhere at all. Just a night would be wonderful

It's the lentil soup Ma. People are worried you might be a bit windy after it

I am on a downer today too, the job situation is getting me down and I have an upset tummy and all this exercise is bringing back my plantar fascitis (heel pain for those of you who are worried about contagion).

Also the dcs have decided they are too old to come and see Paddington with me. Got round that one by arranging to go with lovely niece and her little ones though, so that should cheer me up tomorrow.

Feeling fat and old

Any emails lately??? (innocent face)

Anne how's the Shred going? I am on day 14, have missed one or two but will catch up. Four days into Stage 2 - painful! Did my last Stage 1 at a gym and they only had 4kg weights instead of 2.5kg so my shoulders are killing me! Still eating crap though but at least I have some muscles under the flab.

Beaches thanks for your kind words my lovely friend. I love this bus! You cheer me on when nobody else does xxx

Baby - normal you say? With fake tan on in December? That is supermodel status to me. Respect!

Wry - like the hooves! Do you paint Little's claws too?

Waves to Faire and Isinde, Spanna, Mouse and all.

Wish X Factor would end so I can watch I'm a Celebrity. Though I despair of whoever is voting for Edwina Currie. Unless they are leaving her in ther in the hope that she gets bitten by a poisonous spider...

Hope you are all safe in twinkly warm Christmassy houses this evening

Big hugs from Hope

Your inner you is already living the life ma. In that little space between dream and sleep. You're already there. xx

Ooops, Wry, Ma cross posted there.

If you go to NY can you bring me back a cheap Superdry coat for dd? Her Christmas present list is getting out of control, whereas lovely ds has asked for nothing. I keep begging him to give me a hint but he just keeps saying he doesn't need anything

Perhaps you can take him with you actually? A trip on a tardis would be a good present, and he is a polite boy. He won't get in your way much.

Thanks hon xxx