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!

I don't want to be Joseph because I am a girl and Joseph is a boy. And I don't want to wear a beard.

I want to be the donkey (girl donkey)

I also want to be the star cause it's shiny.

Me,me- can I be the inn keeper? I look exactly like Mrs Doyle if I put a tea towel on my head* and that is a good reason to be an inn keeper. I also possess a mean scowl and some Dm boots. Please,please...

• I am the kind of woman who puts tea towels on her head to admire the effect. This is why I work with children.

As you were. Heading back to sidecar.

Hang on..is Herod available?

Don't know what to ask for now..

guggs of course you can be the innkeeper. Nice teatowel
joey stop sulking. You have a boys name so you have to play the boy. You can get to lead the donkey though OK?

Oh no wait, changed my mind - I want to be the innkeeper (more lines than the donkey)

DHs Christmas present which I ordered 2 weeks is not going to be here on time because the crappy company has messed up. Getting stressed now.

The star isn't played by anyone of us. It is an amalgamation of all of us, of the love and laughter and kindness and compassion that fuels this crazy virtual bus and all who are along for the ride. The star guides us all and leads all those in need here. We are all stars!

Too late joey
guggs is the innkeeper. Now, do you want to be in this play or don't you?

I don't WANT to be a boy! Boys are yucky!

I bet it was a boy (probably one with a beard) who is in charge of the "payment gateway" at the stupid online company. It's a geek company, so pretty much sure to be a beardy hipster with a casual attitude towards time, customers and guaranteed deliveries.

Hope you get the parcel in time joey
Now, erm, man up and learn your lines!

Can you imagine that in the stable at Bethlehem?

King 1: what have you brought? I got a great deal on gold.
King 2: mine hasn't arrived! They said there was a store error, it was supposed to be a funky t-shirt but the store is totally disorganised! I should have just gone with myrrh...
King 1: oh, we used Amazon- free next-day delivery!
King 3: oh god, we used yodel - they've said it won't be here till January...

I actually have some frankincense resin. Proper stuff from Oman.

Barrie can conduct the orchestra. Ma and Ladame can polish their triangles in readiness...

I am happy with being an angel, but please can I be rigged up on one of those zipwires so I can fly? And can I play the trumpet? And can I sing 'Sparkle and Shine' from the first film of Nativity! before it went crap?

Right, I'm off to dig out my gold glittery eyeshadow now. And make tinsel halos for me, Baby, Thurso and anyone else who wants one.

Ma can my our camel have a part please? He is really excited and I have made him a crown so he can give the 3 kings a lift and look the part....

I love this bus !!!!

Ma, MA, MAAAAA! I know my attendance hasn't been very good this year, but can I be a penguin? I'd be ever so good. I could do a tap dance like the ones in Mary Poppins. Pleeeease

Penguins in the Nativity?

Horridbabydoll should be Herod

Slightly more seriously. Faire I know you're right about just saying no. My mum doesn't actually drink much, and it was me that put the order in ; they will still have DH to drink with, and all our neighbours, but oh, all that champagne! I guess I have to decide what is most important to me.

All the cool schools are doing it these days, Faire, and Santa, and Jane Bond (genuine one I overheard this week at a leisure centre near where I work - in a very pretentious city)

Is there somewhere you can store it for 'later' (possibly never). You might think it a waste but putting it in your body is worse than a waste. It's still gone and it will have used you as a toxic route to going.

I would put it somewhere where I would not be tempted to open it and gradually give it away as gifts or something. Could you do that?

Or, if you are not sure if you want to stop forever, but just don't want to drink for now, put it away and take each day at a time. Have you got an awkward cupboard, loft, murky shed, friendly neighbour, space at work, anywhere really where it would be a faff to get it out on a whim?

Does this marvellous production have a name yet? or a choir?

And we seem to be lacking a baby- anyone up for producing one?

sweet maybe get in a good stock of mineral water /soft drink? Might reduce temptation a bit.

I'd cry at not being Mary only last time I was I punched Joseph for not letting me ride on the donkey, I was 4.

I've got a hell hole of a garage - I'll try that Faire. Guggs my AF drink of choice this Christmas is Laimon Fresh - basically a mojito without the white rum. It has to be drunk with excessive amounts of crushed ice - otherwise it's a bit weird! And Blood orange tea, in industrial quantities!

But wry and indie are going to be the camel..I KNEW this would get complicated. So now we need another camel so the wise women have one each.
sweet you can be a sheep. We need more sheep.

I am definitely NOT being Joseph if there is risk of being punched!

Is Santa still up for grabs? (I don't mean that in an "ooohh! santa !!" way)

Santa is NOT part of the nativity! Now, if you could all pay attention and gather for rehearsal at the back of the bus, it would be much appreciated. hope if you could just clean up after that camel.......