The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Starting the New Year in Fine Style

[venusandmars]

Hello, I'm Venus, and standing in for Mouse (who usually starts all our threads)

This is a safe and welcoming place for anyone who is facing up to a problem with alcohol. It may be something you’ve known for years, or it may be that struggling with dry January has made you re-think your relationship with drink.
Anyway, welcome old and new, lurkers and posters. It can be a weird thread at times – travelling on a bus 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 been 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. If you find all the banter off-putting just jump in with a cry for help.

And HAPPY NEW YEAR xxx

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

Our most recent thread, if you want to catch up

thanks, sweet. You know when I ran on Saturday I did well and didn't need to stop to catch my breath. But of course its something else in the group. And I find it so embarrassing to have to stop. I know, I shouldn't. But its really hard starting from scratch again! I keep telling myself I'm not doing this again. Get 100% fit and throw it all away. If I can keep running, I'll control the booze.
Very [sceptical] but optimistic!
How are you doing, babes?

Saturn I'm afraid you'll have to steel yourself for the weekends, my dear! If you live in a party town its going to be really hard avoiding your usual watering holes.

Sleep well Baby, we love you, too.

Sleep well, Baby. Sending you lots of love and warm fuzzy thoughts to accompany you in dreamland:
Love you, babes.

saturn welcome babe, listen honey it ain't over til the fat lady sings and I ain't singing yet!!! Well done for posting, and we'll support you all the way xxx

Baby That made me laugh!
My gogo used to say that a lot!

Good night, babes. I have to be up very early again tomorrow. And all this running like a bloody rabbit might be good for the figure but I'm too old! Instead of feeling awake and full of energy I am kaputt.

Saturn hang in there!

You you all tomorrow, my lovelies!

How are you doing yourself, Isinde? Bed soon for you, with your early start!

I'm just microwaving the heat pads for the animals, then taking myself up the wooden hill. Sleep tight all.

Sleep well, all lovely babes.

I am feeling quietly smiley inside after a lovely evening out for dinner with a friend, where I didn't drink, didn't feel the need to drink and...didn't notice I wasn't drinking. I can't tell you how nice that was, just talking, laughing and being 'normal'. Still a long way to go and i know there will be massively wobbly times too when I'm clinging to you all and hanging on to the bus by the seat of my pants, but for today it was just..lovely.

Hugs all

Who's snoring?

I found myself in WHSmiths after work and had a good old beak at the cards. Now I do love a 'Bestie' card, had me sniggering to myself and before I knew where I was, I'd spend £10 but then I thought hey that would be 2 bottles of white or even three

So imagine 2 dogs walking along - one dog says to the other 'Why did you get kicked out of your obedience class?' and the other dog replies 'I misheard my owner when she said 'now sit' '
simply love them

Day 19 done by the skin of my teeth. I was seconds away from running to the shop earlier after my DD2 screamed at me, because she wasn't getting her own way but I ran through the scenario and thought 'no tis not worth it' and I'd rather drink (if I'm going to) for something like a celebration or something with a 'marked' occasion. That for me is progress my friends.

Wry I'm sure Soc won't mind us nicking the bus to satisfy our lust for Big Tasties Oh yes my dear, I could sink one now, all that juice that runs down your hands, never enough napkins, especially at the speed that I devour them (note to self, made me feel sick last time I did that) Had a fundraising committee meeting today and been given the go ahead to create a sensory garden for our dementia residents, imagine beach hut painted blue and white stripes, grasses, lavender, sage, bright flowers, I'm sure you get the picture Something to get me nashers into. I hope your day has been a good one. Much love and big cuddles x

Beaches tulip, my day has been manic as usual, anniversary of painful stuff coming up, so emotional and difficult times ahead and the dynamics of friendships have changed so much in a year. I've been reflecting alot on my Drinking Career (tis what I've decided to call it) I would like to think that I'm going into early retirement Drink has been part of my life for so long
Stained glass, love it, one of my favourites second to Pewter (my all time love other than beach combing, found a fab bit of rusty old metal yesterday, that really rocks my boat) Take care honey and I hope your day was a good one x

This is turning into a mammoth post, just needed to unload some of my thoughts. Life twists and turns in funny ways.

Sorry not to NC you all - each and everyone of you are AMAZING. Good night x

Evening, tis me, Mouse

Just wanted to say hi to you all and that I'm sorry I've not been around.

Stay safe, stay you and stay true to your heart.

Night Babes xxx

Night guys! its only 5.15 pm where iam. I think iam going out for something to eat with my brother and some friends soon. Will be the first time in this kind of situation where i wont be ordering a drink. Not sure how this will go, especially as everybody else will be. But we'll see. How curious to see how strong ill be. Hope i manage it.

Night

Hi Saturn (another from Canada - east coast .) I hope your dinner went to plan, it will be eye opening just noticing how you feel in that situation. Come back whatever. X

Spanna oh dear heart, it was your friends son wasn't it? is it a year already? I can't imagine how it has affected the friendships but i doubt anything is as it were. Hugs to you xxx. I was wondered about pewter but thought a glass on glass mosaic may be easier for a novice and I so love the way they bring warmth and colour into a space. Have grand aspirations, hope I can pull it off

isinde

small Wow! Glad you had such a lovely evening, it sounds like you are really enjoying your sobriety. Go you!!

sweet my 9 year olds favourite - why is tiger dirty? Because he was playing with poo. Ok, I will stop now!

Sweet dreams brave babes

wondering not wondered (about pewter)

tigger not tiger.

I did it! I underestimated how hard it would be. I really don't know how I managed it.
As soon as I walked through the door of my brothers house I got a beer thrusted into my hand. I declined, said I was really cutting back on the beer, and my bro actually thought I was joking!
For offered beer around 3 more times before we even headed out for food!

Went for food, had a Pepsi and a water.

And hi beach!
I'm in banff, alberta

Morning All.

Saturn, that is Awesome! Really really well done. If I'm going out I visualise going in and what I'm going to ask for - otherwise the first words out of my mouth are "Do you have a Pinot Grigio Blush?" So I practice in my imagination saying "Large lime and soda please" - it makes things easier - you're only avoiding the first drink. Of course, unhelpful hospitality from family is more difficult. You are also going to find that your sleep will take some time to settle down - it's normal. There will be lot's of little changes over the first few weeks, come and share with us - whether they're good or bad.

Spanna good going resisting, and what a lovely project - there are lot's of Silver birches behind our house (I know you are probably on a smaller scale), and the noise through the leaves is fantastic - download the great British Garden Revival Programmes on IPlayer - there's a good one on grasses from last week.

Beaches (poo!)

Right, into the shower and on with the thick wooly tights; a day of lectures and tutorials for me.

Today is day 22, and today, I will not drink.

Good morning, Babes!

Isinde No way near fit but totally flattered anyway! Thanks, babes. How are you doing' otherwise?

Wry I second Isinde. You should write! (Imagine how we can all boast about that! )

Fox You go, darling girl! So proud of you! OMG! I know we shouldn't be all too smug but its a good feeling though, isn't it?!

Spanna Well done! Very proud of you! Ag meisie, big hug and hope you don't get (all too) down.

Mouse Hi babes! Always smile at your greeting! I just love it!

Pom Poms, everyone! Gooooo - SATURN!! Well done, babes! Well done!!

Hope you have a good one, my lovelies!

Morning

Well done Saturn and welcome on the bus.

I'm spending time sleeping or cringing at my behaviour in the past (also working, childcare and chores so not completely self obsessed yet )
Someone posted a Socrates quote and it really made sense to me something about using energy on now and future rather than wasting on the past.
Actually, i've decided to be kind to younger me because I'm not a bad person just didn't seem to be able to deal with what life threw at me and decided to self medicate in alcohol. Alcohol didn't work and mostly made me some crazy woman

Anyway I shall stop my musings and sign off.

Hugs to all

Good advice, Ruby, now if only I could apply it to my gnawing anxiety . . . they're only bloody students after all, and I have a nineteen year academic career that says I know more than they do!

The young Sweet was mostly a good girl, it's the early middle-aged one that behaved badly

BUGGER!!

That means today's class were born the year I began my research degree and took my first classes - no wonder I am looking haggered. (auto-correct wants that to read 'shagged' - I guess either would do!)

Isinde, not much chance - my office has huge windows and zero sound-proofing!

D'Argh!

Have just been reminded (by my ipad, iphone and desktop - whose stupid idea was it to sync my diary so comprehensively?) that I have a colleague's leaving 'do' to attend this afternoon. I have to be seen to be there, but there will be wine (God-awful university wine, but that has never stopped me before), and social anxiety. I know I can't drink because I am driving (and because I"M NOT DRINKING), but it has shaken me a little - I can't remember when I have ever come away from one of these sober

Go on Sweet you can do it, just plan what you will be drinking so you don't panic when you get there. We'll be here waiting. Oh and you'll defo know more on your subject than your students.

Oh and when I am talking about younger me I'm referring to younger than today not 20 years ago

Then we could have been embarrassing together, Ruby!

Unfortunately, the only alternative to wine will be warm orange juice (yuk) since it's catered rather than in a bar (like any normal person would do), so I will take a bottle of water and make my excuses to leave early - How does this sound . . .

"Good luck, and keep in touch {oh-lucky-bastard-who-is-getting-outta-this-place}, I have to go now because my cat is down to her last tin of food, and the only place I can get it shuts at 5.30."

Packing up my stuff, see you all on the other side.