The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Driving Through A Sober Winter Wonderland.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Bus, he's called Gerald.... he takes us up and down and this wondrous land, searching high and low for Babes in need of some support, a warm place to sit and chat, and to have someone to listen to them.

So, grab a seat as we swing by your way. There's lots of hot drinks, food and fleeces, places to just be and places to sit around and chat if that's what you want.

We don't judge, because we've all be in your shoes, be they stilettos, wellies or crocs!...

We're just us, we're just honest and we just do what we can to help, if we can, when we can. Let's try and have a Merry Christmas without getting off our faces this year.

Here is the very first, emotional thread if you would like to see where this all started

And the last thread if you want to keep up!

at hope

Sense of occasion proper big snort on the bus, not Gerald but t'other bus.

What other bus wry? Are yer hallucinating on them pills?

Thanks faire. I know. But sometimes I feel all sulky about it.

A wise sulky old bag!

Just watched "love actually"
sniff

Oh, look everyone, it's Christmas Eve

The Nativity must be today surely....

Adjusts tinsel halo, straightens wings, and clears throat

Ahem....

On the first day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Support from the babes of this bus

On the second day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Barrie the squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the third day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
A dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the fourth day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the fifth day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!!
Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the sixth day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Too many camels, GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!!
Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the seventh day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Reindeer on the roof-rack, Too many camels, GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!!
Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the eighth day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Help in the sidecar, Reindeer on the roof-rack, Too many camels, GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!! Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the ninth day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Weapons for the Wine Witch, Help in the sidecar, Reindeer on the roof-rack, Too many camels, GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!! Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the tenth day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Tonnes of compassion, Weapons for the Wine Witch, Help in the sidecar, Reindeer on the roof-rack, Too many camels, GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!! Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the eleventh day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
Far too much tinsel, Tonnes of compassion, Weapons for the Wine Witch, Help in the sidecar, Reindeer on the roof-rack, Too many camels, GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!! Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

On the twelfth day of Christmas good fortune gave to us
The world’s maddest panto, Far too much tinsel, Tonnes of compassion, Weapons for the Wine Witch, Help in the sidecar, Reindeer on the roof-rack, Too many camels, GREEN OPAL FRUITS!!!! Midget Obama, a dog called Spirit, Barrie the Squid
And support from the babes of this bus

Happy Christmas Eve everyone xxx

Happy Christmas Eve to you too, sweetpea!

Our very own Babes Christmas Carol! Oh it's fabulous!

Big bosie for you hope that fair made me smile! Xxx

Oh hope that is sheer bloody genius and has made me roar with laughter. That will be the grand finale of tonight's show for the full ensemble of wonderful, wonderful babes! Bloody brilliant!

hope that is fantastic, you clever Babe you!

at the twelve days of Christmas, perfect!

This non-beardy shepherd is ready with crook and teatowel for tonight's show. Found a nice cutain tie back rope thing that should secure the dressing gown as my knickers have no sense of occasion!

If I don't get back later babes, I really wanted to send you all my very best Christmas wishes. You are my little corner of lovely on the computer [big heart with Christmas hat on]. Xxxx

Hope all Babes are having a good day. Dh has gone to pick up dd2 and then mayhem will break out when she arrives like a human world wind. Thinks the Dcs plan to watch Frozen this afternoon and then Carols from Kings....

Not sure I'm in the right place or not. I've been debating giving up alcohol next year, but the idea terrifies me. I don't drink frequently, but when I do I tend to binge, whereupon my judgement is impaired & I do stupid things. (Am 40 so really ought to know better).

Also, I suffer from depression & know it's worse after a binge.

I binge maybe every 2-3 months.

I definitely have a problem but am not sure where to go or if going teetotal is the answer. I just keep thinking of excuses why I can't give up alcohol.

Welcome tinsel. It might be a bit quiet today and tomorrow but I'm sure you will get lots of help from the Babes

Hey Babes did you know there is a queue outside, going right around the block - all people waiting to get the best seats for our nativity. It's shaping up to have all the mumsnet nativity issues.....

• there are people asking to video it (when they know that it is forbidden to video the babes)
• lots of people have brought young toddlers who will shout and scream all the way through and annoy other people
• there are some people trying to bagsy all the best seats at the front
• there are some teachers who have seats booked in the front row even though the have had nothing to do with the nativity play

I wonder if any of us will forget our lines, or wet our pants .

Oops MyGast apologies for all the drivel..... 'tis an exciting time of year.... forgive us.

For me, saying that I would be 'teetotal' put me in the same place as you - fearful of what it meant, scared of what it would mean if I couldn't go teetotal, full of excuses for possible scenarios when I might feel the need for a drink, and putting off actually doing anything about it.

None of us can tell you what is best, but what we can do is encourage you to tell your story - when you drink, why you drink, what motivates you to do it, what are the triggers, what happens if you try to control your drinking on a 'binge' occasion.... So really the first step is analysis, of yourself and how you drink, of others around you and how they drink (or stop after and glass).

Then experiment. If you have 'a binge situation' coming up try something different to your normal behaviour (it doesn't have to be forever, just try it once and see how it turns out). There are lots of us around here to give to tips and hints to approach any situation, and how to avoid or minimise your alcohol consumption.

Then, depending on how you experiments went, work out a plan and implement it. That's the point when you might decide to be teetotal. Or you might decide to carry on just not drinking, without even giving it a label.

Then after a period of time, observe what happened - how did you feel? has it been easy or difficult? has anything changed?

And then finally, understand some of the things that were triggering you, or pushing you to binge drink in the first place, maybe get to understand yourself better, or those around you.

So, that's my a,e,i,o,u of advice: analyse, experiment, implement, observe, understand.

Oh and welcome, btw

Welcome tinsel and well done for being brave and posting - the first post is the hardest!

I'm still here babes - love it looking - have lapsed and am planning on drinking tonight - but defo doing sober January

Have a good Christmas Eve babes x

Curtain up in 5 minutes.

Hi babes, still sober and feel quite calm as I have decided on a totally sober Christmas and New Year, maybe even relieved.

My mum bought my girls a tiny kitten yesterday, it's absolutely beautiful and my girls are in love with it. I guess no matter how hard life gets, joy is never that far away for any one of us whether it's a good book, galloping on a horse (wry that ones for us) a new Yankee candle, some bright red lipstick or just looking around us in this moment at our kids, dogs, friends and of course kittens. And in a little corner of cyberspace there exists a little band of brave babes who are soul mates, who laugh and cry together, believe in each other when no one else will and will enter this New Year full of hope and a spirit of unity that will remain unbroken forever...., AND YET these sisters in arms have never even met!!!!

Now that really is magical!!!!! HAPPY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS xxxx

Merry Christmas my wonderful, wonderful babes. Thank you for this crazy, supportive, non judgemental mad place. I'm so grateful. Love been sober despite the constant challenges but after this Christmas and new year period I'm going to feel fucking invincible. Have the best Christmas ever all of you. Xx

Whoops, did I miss the show?

I guess no matter how hard life gets, joy is never that far away for any one of us

I love that baby, so true. It's hard to find sometimes but if we keep looking, we will find it.

Wishing all babes and lurkers a peaceful and safe Christmas, whether with loved ones or just getting through it x

Joey you are just in time for the encore (spits lametta out of teeth, grabs Joey's hand and heads out onto stage)

I love you all on this bus. Baby, your post was spot on, and had me all emotional. You lot are the best friends I have never met.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night xxx

Merry Christmas to all of my wonderful friends on this bus. Have a fabulous day and pace yourselves!

Merry Christmas lovely Babes

Ha. First sober Christmas in a gazillion years. Done and dusted. May the rest of my Christmases be this fab
Good night babes

Didn't drink last night (had a bath instead) and I'm intending not to drink until 6pm tonight. Every year it gets easier to do that

I hope you're all having a lovely day