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!

Christ is it too early for a gin? Parents are ranting about the 'good old days'

Ps am joking about the gin but I may have to kill someone

joey lots of deep breaths and if it all gets too much, take the dog for a walk xxxxx

afternoon all! joey take meeeeee for a walk! I don't pull on the lead and I carry my own poo bags

Well I haven't had a drink still, which is fab but something very curious has happened. Despite me guzzling my not inconsiderable body weight in all things fat/sugar/calorie coated could anyone tell me how the bloody hell I have managed to lose 6kg in 12 days?!?

Is it the meds? I would understand it if I'd had a drop in appetite but no. Tis a puzzle but ain't complaining. Long may it continue - no desire to be a waif but def could stand to lose much, much more.

Oh marfisa it's lovely to see you back on the bus, I've missed you! Wise words as always, chum, wise words. My Christmas was incident free and calm, and possibly due to a combination of my meds and being AF, I did not spiral down to my normal level of sad for this time of year. I feel, well not happy exactly, but kind of level. I'll settle for that!

Hope you are all keeping fine, sorry not to NC everyone, at work keeping busy... Will try to catch you all later if I don't get home too late. Xxx

Ha ha! In hindsight, I think they were probably getting it another family member- but we came home not a moment too soon! Lovely to be back in our own house.

I'm AF now til New Years Eve. And I'm no longer going to tell myself that it will be difficult to achieve, because actually it's NOT, but if I convince myself it is then that's what happens (I hope that makes sense?)

wry alcohol has tons of calories you know?

Hi, I'm a newbie here, I posted on the dry thread, and they say all of the babes are here on the bus, so I'd like to join you.
I managed 1 day on Sunday, today I have slipped, going back to work was too much today, I think trying to quit before NYE was a bit ambitious, but Thursday is going to be my day.
So hi, I'll see you on Gerald.

Heyweary great name..
Welcome here. Lots of us gearing up for Thursday....you will get lots of help and support

Hi ma,
I was seriously thinking about changing my name, I chose this years ago when going through early teenage years with my DD, I thought it was not reflecting me now..but I guess it is!
Wave to everyone looking forward to Thursday

weary if it makes you feel any better I AM going through the early teenage years with dd1 and have had a "menopause" baby now aged 4 who is wild and needs virtually no sleep!!! I also have Crohn's disease, am going through a horrendous bout of depression triggered by the birth of dd2 and my anxiety levels are through the roof!!!!! Hence the reason I ended up a raging alkie!!!

The silver lining however is finding this magical bus and the friendship and unconditional support I have received on this mystical, magical bus has quite literally saved my life. I'm so glad you found us and look forward to sharing your journey.

Your in the right place girlfriend, welcome to the madness xxxxx

Whoaaaaa! Mumsnet just changed on my phone! Anybody else?

Different icons, bar at the bottom, font... Anyone else? Xx

Right. Freaked out now. It's just changed back.

No wry it's just you

Sorry about my earlier post, I didn't mean to imply that staying sober is easy - I know sometimes it's the hardest thing in the world...

Just that, for me, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy and the last few months have started to get easier so I need to start thinking positive. I hope no one was offended.

Not at all joey xxx

You could never offend us lovely Joey. Am still drinking but not so much I get drunk. However am overeating big time. Have decided to join you all on Thursday rather than waiting for return to work on January 5th to go AF, as will end up with gout if I don't get on the fitness wagon soon. Glad to have you all around for Dry January and brilliant to have some new babes boarding the bus ready for 2015 (waves ) Has anyone seen Mouse or Isindie lately? (peers under seats)

I am definitely in for Thursday. Anxious and relived in equal measures to have an end date to all this overindulgence. Have got a bit of a feast or famine attitude and am currently in feast mode. However, I know that if I push through the first week then mentally and physically I will be feeling stronger and brighter.

Love to you all xxx

Hungover and sad. Hate this time of year.

Morning all, back at work this morning so I have computer access.

ma that's brilliant. I need to get back to walking as apart from my alcohol issues I need to lose about 3-4 stone.

babyjane let us know how you get on with SW as it might be something I could consider rather than just myfitnesspal.

ma - sorry just realised my computer had defaulted to a previous page and I was looking at an old post . All you can do is think today is another day and stay with the bus.

ma I hear you babe, this time of year is sad, I miss my Gran, more so than any other time. Don't look backward, look forward. A New Year, all shiny and new, I daren't drink cos if I start I'll never stop so my plan for New Years Day is to go for a huge long walk and cook a nice meal for my parents to say Thank you for their continuous faith in me.

I also wanted to thank you ma, you shared with us your terrible heartbreaking situation with Richard which must have been so hard for you but this week his story resonates so much with me, his courage and his triumph makes me see if Richard can have achieved so much surely I can achieve my own goal of being sober, healthy and happy!!! So thank you for letting us into such a personal part of your life, as I say it's hugely inspiring how strong the human spirit can be.

Ps YOU are fabulous Mrs xxxx

Oh baby thank you. If Richards story can help even one person then it will not have been in vain. Am about to wrap up and myself out for a walk. I have to find the will power to make changes. I have to!

Oh inside I'm so sorry your going through such a tough time, it must be heartbreaking for you. As much as I love our little cyber bus, sometimes I wish I could give my lovely babe friends a hug in real life and this is one such time. We all love you and I'm sending you a big, warm Scottish hug and hope you feel our affection wrapped around you like a warm blanket xxxxx

Thanks for your lovely words, sobersoc, baby and wry. Sober, well done on making it through your first dry festive season as well! They say it does get easier.

It's YOUR posts that are wonderful, baby. I mean it. Good luck with the slimming. Weight loss is a big thing on my mind right now too because the scales have crept up higher than ever before. I don't normally do well with diet programmes but I'm really going to try to cut out the crisps and sweets for awhile and the cheese! OMG I love the cheese and biscuits more than anything! and start exercising again. I'm trying to start running again (though jogging or even 'toddling' would be a more accurate way to describe my pace!) but the fact it gets dark at 4 pm is not helpful. The days are even shorter up in Scotland, I'm sure. I'm originally from the US and while I love the UK, the dark winters are probably my least favourite thing about it. In Chicago the days would be freezing cold but also icy bright, and that was much better for my mental health. Bah.

Big hugs to you, wry, and I hope your meds are working. You've just not been your usual self on the bus of late and I've been worried about you. I am a big fan of anti-depressants as they have made a world of difference to me. When I was drinking so heavily I think the alcohol interacted badly with the meds, because they didn't seem to be working any more, but now that I'm sober, the medication seems to be working much better as well. My (unsolicited) advice would be to keep going back to the GP and tinkering with different drugs if the first ones you're on don't work well or have unpleasant side effects. I'm on citalopram and the only real drawback I've found so far is that the withdrawal effects are bad if you go off it suddenly (ahem). Anyway, I'm rambling... I identify with what you say about feeling 'level', as I've been feeling like that too. No big peaks or troughs, just kind of meh. But I'm hoping the sense of well-being will grow...

So sorry you're having a tough time, ma, and isinde too - it's unspeakably hard to be losing a loved one.

Now I want to go back and trawl through old threads to read Richard's story.

marfisa it would have been around May 2013. He was here today. Hoping the Charity he works for will offer him a full time job in January and he can become self-supporting and move out of Sally accommodation and into a flat. The bus was a lifeline for me then, and always.
indie good to hear from you. You have been much in my thoughts. tucks arm in arm and heads out for a walk with beloved friend.

marfisa you are a sweetheart!! You must go back and read Richards story which we all followed really and truly willing him well, ma has proven herself to be an incredible sister and indeed human being because she never gave up on her brother and it humbles me still. It was before the worst of my drinking took hold and I have on a few occasions since Richards experience drank myself unconscious taking my very strong pain meds and frankly I suspect on a few occasions it was sheer luck I woke up, not that I ever wanted to die, just "check out" for a while. I also agree that AD's can be a lifeline but like you I was mixing them with drink and feeling I was a lost cause as I never seemed to feel any better. Since not drinking I too am beginning to feel more "level" which most normal people wouldn't even think about but depression and drink took me to the darkest corners of my soul and I simply cannot go back there EVER, I'm not sure id find my way back the next time.

As my leisure club is part of a hotel I shall spend New Year's Day morning swimming (alone I suspect) in the pool and thank my lucky stars I'm still here and have friends like you beautiful people who continue to save me every single day...

I know it's soppy but it's true and it's New Year so it's allowed.

Xxxxx

Some lovely positive posts on here today ma babyj marfisa

and [hugs] to you isinde and your family

can you still see us wry ?

In the last two days, I have done 5 loads of washing, spent £140 at Sainsburys and called DD a 'brat' (which unfortunately she overheard)

DD and DH are out this evening, so the dog and I are going to spend a lovely peaceful time just watching Mapp and Lucia and eating chocolate Although the fridge is stuffed, I'm not allowed to open any of it as it's all for tomorrow. I shall just have to finish off the tin of Quality Streets instead.