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

Lovely to hear from you, Mouse, hope you have a lurverly day tomorrow, 40 is not so bad, it's the new 39 .

Welcome aboard Small (or would you prefer Fox?) The Bus, is indeed full of love, wisdom, and support (and silliness). The DJ thread is clearly working for loads of people, but I think the difference here is, not just that we're here for the long haul, it's that we are all here for the same reason, we are all painfully aware that our relationship with alcohol went wrong somewhere along the way. On the DJ thread, it's clear that there are lots of different motivations, and sometimes, those differences mean very diverse approaches, and reactions.

So, buckle up, grab an opal fruit and tell us a bit about yourself (we don't mind if you talk and chew

Welcome back, Sharp pull up a blanket and make yourself comfortable.

Not a green opal fruit though small. You're welcome, but not that welcome!
< hoards green opal fruits muttering "my preciousssssss!">

Ma, play nicely with the new babes, you can have green opal fruit monopoly tomorrow, for your special day

Snot fair......

There's a good girl!!

Now, about this meeting on Friday, i presume it's one of those 'special' meetings, the ones you keep the stockings for . You need to look fresh and lovely for that.

Ooh, matters arising. Do you have Any Other Business on there too?

Ma the symbolism of the green opal fruit has always eluded me but I am truly honoured that you might relinquish one for me, and so graciously too . That means a lot! But I wouldn't dream of nicking it, that would be way too presumptuous - red or orange are fine for me if there are any going, and thank you!

I'll try not to talk and chew simultaneously in only my second post (and I'll take Small or Fox - whatever you all choose) - seems a bit forward. Bit about me as requested - I've had too close a relationship with a variety of cheap and cheerful white wines for many a year now (I am just a teeny tiny (weeny) bit older than the lovely Mouse) and it needs to change. Simple as that, really (if only) - I'm sick of being controlled by it, of having to factor planning for it into my days, sneakily weaving it in without anyone noticing (ha), of not being properly present for my kids or patient with DP. So, sober is the new me, and its ok so far, if a little dull around the edges - but I'm well aware this is a long haul and I'm still feeling a bit euphoric about the novelty of it all, about all the new kit I've bought (Fitbit and nutribullet and all of that January new-resolution malarkey) with all the money I've not yet saved from not drinking. It will really hit home if I manage to keep this going into February and see if it can become a way of life - I haven't yet figured out quite how I feel about that.

Ma I have seen you on the DJ thread and it is funny - I have lurked on this thread for so long it felt wrong seeing you over there, like you had left home for a bit. Glad to see you were just popping in. It is a lovely group but has a sense of impermanence about it, almost by definition. I have realised over the last two weeks (nearly, not yet counting chickens) that I cannot spend January simply living for my first February drink or that pretty much defeats the object, nothing has changed - I need to try to believe it is for ever, but I need the idea of the side car too, in order to give myself a break as/when/if needs be.

Sorry to ramble on, thanks for the welcome all.

ma stay off the grog tonight. You want to go to this meeting with a translucent skin, no baggy dull eyes, having lost weight, newly freshed up purple hair and feeling on top of the world. If we don't hear back from you for a day or so, we'll know you're on top of other things too. Have fun....

Welcome fox. This bus is a pretty special place.

babe I also love yours posts. Keep writing.

And where is wry

Sorry to not nc everyone. I tend to just try and fly in and out here otherwise I get caught up in the lovey black hole that is MN and 8 hours later I emerge.

BUT I did get on the bus first this time. Just a reminder. In case not everyone has noticed.

sweet you are damn right I do!
small the green opal fruit is the Holy Grail.they are not awarded lightly, i am glad you are suitably grateful.

soc i'm on it!!!!!!

I've microwaved a heat pad for the rabbit, another for the cat, I've got DH to snuggle up to, and I'm checking out for the night. See you all tomorrow babes, for day 14 (or day 1, or 2 or 240).

smallfox welcome. But the red opal fruits are all mine. While the others squabble over the poxy green ones I quietly snaffle the pink ones

ma I'm sniggering at all your plans for Friday, just be careful of your heart x

Small - I like that, as I'm Mouse we'll be good friends being of a similar size

You only have to post when and what you feel that you can sweetie. There are no 'rules' as such here, just no judging other posters for doing what they do..... each to their own and all that, you know? Not that you would, I'm just saying.... erm,

Ma - is tomorrow a memorable/large one for you ? I can never remember how young you are

And what the Holy Jeff is this DJ Thread that you've got going on? Part-time job?

I must be away to my bed, hello and beaches, Soc, Wry, the gorgeous babe, Sweet, et al' goodnight to you lovely Babes

I've missed this thread but my head and heart have been aching of late.

Tomorrow there will be no happy, smiley call from my late Mum to wish me Happy Birthday and call me an 'old bag' which makes me sad and yet happy at the fond memories of years gone before...

I mustn't dwell but hope that I see or feel her tomorrow, as I have in the past when I've been low and unsure of my footsteps...

Take good care of yourselves. And SHARE the GREEN Opal Fruits!!

Night all xxx

Jumps onto bus and grabs a seat,

Evening,

Fabulous work venus on the shiny new fred, looks lovely

Budge up rural, guggenheim, ma & sharp, day 2 and I'm squeezing my bum back in [needs a tossing green opal fruits emoticon]. I decided that running malarky was a good idea again tonight, then the flipping weather kicked in. Now I do like to be beside the seaside, but when that wind picks up you really know about it, and my poor little brain that still associates wine with reward says "if you can run all the way home (into the wind) you can have some wine". Well I did and whilst coming round on the lounge floor DH asks if I need a drink... and the rest is 2/3 history .

I'm not all caught up but before any more silliness, isinde, I'm so so sorry to hear your mum lost her battle. I am thinking of you and hoping you're managing ok, until last month I had no idea what grief felt like (and this wasn't my mum so I can't even compare), but it's (insert lots of swearwords) awful. Really sorry and lots of thoughts to you and all your family

Now, sober, well done for being first, I noticed, the jumping up and down a la donkey in Shrek was nothing to do with it, honest! obrigada hello! Any chance of a batch of soup for all not just a flask, it's finally snowed here (doesn't tend to stick by virtue of the salty sea air) and it's blummin' freezing! baby, I wrote a post this aft then mn had a senior moment and lost it, grr! I'm not sure but was it you who mentioned the person you used to be and the things you used to love doing? If not sorry, but my resolution this year was to 'find me' again. Somewhere in the happenings of the last few years I have appeared to disappear. I don't read any more (which used to be several books a week), I don't do puzzles, exercise, as well as a bunch of things I used to be good at but seem to have lost enthusiasm for (my career for one). I can't believe how hard it is to do the things that used to just be 'me'. I will persevere though, I hope you find 'you' too.

Welcome smallfox to the bus, I'm sure those DJ lot mean well but this is where it's happening, lots of crazy love and laughter and tons and tons of support here every single month, whether you're on the bus or in the sidecar.

A big fat Happy Birthday Eve to ma and mouse, may you have lots of cake and a truly wonderful day. ma, I hope your meeting is productive

Waves to sweet, ruby, soupey, beaches, spanna, crabby, joey the babes I have missed cos I'm rubbish, the lurkers, the hiders and wry - tis not the same without t'interbosies!

Think I have waffled long enought now, off to bed! Night all!

You are a lovely lot!

A big brave babe birthday cheer for our lovely Mouse and Ma

Welcome Small, you are going to like it here . I love that you saw Ma on another thread and wanted to send her home! Fancy her moonlighting

Good to see you back too Sharp

Sweet you must have the best kept cat and rabbit ever - heat pads indeed! Do they get along? I am guessing that your rabbit is a free range variety

rural, guggs, crabby, obrigada, Spanna, popcorn, Jingle, isinde, venus, baby, Ruby, Soupey and of course Soc (who pounces on buses before they even leave the depot!) glad to be on board with you all

My dh mischievously reminded me that we have a bottle of wine stashed away. It was a gift that is much nicer than our usual so put away for an occasion. Just thinking of it in the cupboard triggered the internal debating society and made me really irritable. dry Jan/stubbornness prevailed thankfully but I have really gone off my husband.

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mouse and Ma, happy birthday to you. . Hope you have a lovely day whatever you are doing. Mouse sorry you are struggling and missing your mum. Virtual hugs being sent to you.

I shall be back later looking for birthday cake and checking that the birthday parties are going well .

Day 33 for me . Today I won't be drinking

Morning All!

Happy Birthday Mouse and Ma have a good day you lovely ladies

Love to you all x

Day 12 and I will not be drinking

Happy birthdays Mouse and Ma! And every good wish for the year ahead. Ma, I hope your cake is dripping with green opal fruit icing. May the day bring you both lots of happy things and hopefully some entertaining diversions too.

Swiftly delurking to wish Ma and Mouse a very happy birthday. Hope you both find time in your busy days looking after family, working and caring to just reflect on 'you' - the bright, sassy, capable woman each of you are.

Happy Birthday Mouse and Ma

Where's Wry??

I think I need to read back and do some catching up.

Happy New Year All,

Happy, happy Birthday's to Mouse and Ma who accompanied my first, baby steps onto the bus nearly four and a half years ago .
I wish you all good things in life (be careful what you wish for Ma, eh ? , it might be in danger of coming true on Friday!).
Lovely Mouse I know the day will be bittersweet for you, without your lovely Mum, but I just know that she is looking out for you with all her love.

Take care today Babes, rotten old weather down at the seaside!
All my love
T xxx

Happy birthday ma
Happy birthday mouse

Happy Wednesday to everyone else.