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

Evening, 'tis me, Mouse

Just wanted to pop in to say hello and goodnight to you all.

Take good care those who have the dreadful weather to face.

It's been an odd day....... I'll explain soon.

Love Mousey :) xxx

Hope you are ok Mouse

January is all done, I made it . Feels good but what feels better is that I am heading into February without a plan to drink, no deadlines just keeping on. It is such a weird relief to not be planning a drink. I couldn't have done it without the bus of crazy ladies

Well done to all, those that have continued to abstain, those who have racked up big chunks of af and any of you that keep trying.

I am shattered tonight, sweet dreams to you all, oh and may each and every babe have an auntie Derek come into ours lives.

Morning Babes.

it's day 32 chez Sweet and I'm not sure what to do with myself, i feel a bit, twitchy. I have half a plan to paint my garden fence but it's a bit cold. But since it is Feb, and some of my seeds say they can be planted now.

How's Feb looking everywhere else?

I didn't finish that sentence did I?!

some of my seeds say they can be planted now, so I might get going on project garden.

Morning all.

Very cold here too and not sure I would be thinking of painting fences. Actually I know for certain that I will not be painting fences .
Although Sweet I love to hear about your garden, it sounds wonderful

Oh and I had a glass of wine last night but that was all and then went to bed.

Well done to all babes for their af achievements. I am 49/51

Good morning, my friends!

Sweet you are right, about my friends. The reason why I avoided them most of Jan is because their are the drinking types. I think I'm going to pop in during the week (when I can say no to a drink due to work the next day) and ask them to please support me in abstaining. They are both very heavy drinkers so from their point of view I don't drink much to start with!
But I do need to do something about it.

alias darling, hope the night didn't go as bad as I fear it did. When you feel ready, we're here.

One of the things I really love about this bus is not being judged. I think that is what causes all of us anxiety in RL. Knowing people are keeping tabs and are judging, even silently.

Have to start cooking and cleaning just a bit. My village mother is coming to lunch (the praying one).

Go Ruby!!!

It's not at all wonderful at the moment, but it will be, Ruby . I was a little disappointed when we moved and didn't get a big garden, but everything else about the house and area was brilliant so it was a compromise worth making. And right now, small as it is - it's pretty much a blank canvass, so it will keep me busy for a long time!

49/51 is brilliant, as is having just the one. do you have a specific goal for Feb, or just ODAAT?

Ooh, ooh, and I just weighed myself, 9st 8lbs. I lost three lbs (1.5 kg for you young whipper-snapping metric bunnies) Yah!

'Village mother' Khalisi?

Thanks babes managed to pour the final glass down the sink. Thinking it over, my mood wasn't so much because I was drinking, but just because I was fed up. Alcohol made it worse as I felt I should have been tackling my mood instead of hiding from it.

I am dreading tomorrow in case there have been any repercussions from last week. I will do some CBT today.

mouse I hope everything is ok with you

Hey all. Have spent the day de-cluttering the bedroom. Less stuff there is now, less to deal with in the future.
Have taken 3 bags of crap to the dump and have a huge bag of books for charity. It feels as if I have done something positive. Told dh I will be out tomorrow night as am starting sign language class. Something for me? Tick box!

ma you're sounding very determined! Good luck with the sign language, I took classes a few years ago and it is a fascinating language.

I'm feeling a bit more positive, have walked the dog and done my CBT. Was getting apprehensive about tomorrow, and looked in Sainsburys for something to help. I've already got tons of herbal stuff, but wanted something that would work instantly- I found some ginger & chamomile lozenges. They are for pregnant women, but I tried them and they're nice! and also they reminded me that I've got lemon & ginger tea.

Alias, I'm sure if something was going to be said at work, you'd know by now. Pleased your feeling more positive now

Thumbs up, Ma, some good stuff achieved .

Thanks sweets I'm sure you're right, but worrying is what I DO. My boss was busy last week, our paths didn't cross, so I wonder if he's waiting to see me in person to give an official warning.

Babes, I've had a message from wry she hasn't been on the Bus because her beloved dog passed away and she is obviously devastated. Life's a bitch, isn't it?

oh alias that is so sad , if you are in touch with her please send my love and let her know that she is always missed here.

Oh no!! Poor wry. Her beloved Little....... That is so shit for her when she was already so low.
Give her a huge bosie from me.

Oh poor Wry. Love and bosies from me too.

Poor, poor Wry. Had been wondering where you are, love all your posts and missed you of late. So sorry about Little.. Take your time, be good to yourself, and know there are a lot of babes thinking about you right now and sending you bosies

Wry I am so sorry I know what great friends you two were and how much she meant to you. We are here if you want to talk x

Wry I've sent you a PM x

Oh my lovely, wonderful friend wry I'm devastated for you, I am desperately sorry for your loss. I know how much your beloved Little meant to you. I can't say anything that will console you but Im thinking of you soooo much at this horrible, terrible time. A thousand hugs for you and sincerely sorry for your loss.

Why is life so fuckin cruel??? Xxx

Wry, darling, so, so sorry.

Sweet I call my elderly neighbour who is very motherly that. She is a bit out of it with all the praying but otherwise a really nice person.
We went for a lovely walk after lunch. Towards the end of it there a hill where the whole village lies below. It looked so beautiful snow covered. Anyway. I stop to admire and she says 'I always pray for the village here and proceeds to!
Oh, and I really need to send out the stop giving me booze message. Remember I had my chimney fixed a while back? Well the gentleman who did it came to get this money today and brought me two (fabulous ) bottles of wine for my b-day!
Of course I accepted and thanked him with all the 'you shouldn't haves REALLY meaning you SHOULD NOT HAVE!

Good night, babes.
xxx

Oh Wry, I am so very sorry to hear about Little . Sending warm and sincere love to you xxx