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

and another one! (I was really desperate to conquer my stress and nausea)

Tisserand pulse point roll-on (orange blossom) I quite liked this too

to anyone who managed to read all of that

I read your list Joey and am really interested in the CBT part, did you just download an app?

Hiya. Been lurking for a while, but today I went to my first AA meeting. I've finally done something to be (semi) proud of, so feel like I can board the bus, if you'll have me?

Joey, I'm with your DH. It sounds like fair play all round - you knew you reaction was OTT, (and I bet your boss respected you for 'fessing up' to that) but the truth of the substance has been recognised. And you stayed AF {hugs}.

Welcome Fluff you can join the bus anytime, stick with us. Tell us as much as you feel comfortable with and well done for taking first steps.

Hiya Fluff welcome on the bus. How you feeling after the meeting?

Joey glad all is fine with you and that you dealt with the situation well. We knew you would. Thanks for all the tips too

Sweet obviously I can eat when asleep. . Yes, I'm all ready for Khalisi love story.

obrigada The app is one I got on my Kindle - it's called 'CBT Diary' by Excel at Life. I haven't been able to find any free ones on my iPad; there are some but they're paid and I don't know how good they are. I have got another app on the iPad (basically by doing all these things, I'm not giving myself TIME to get stressed!) but it's more a a tracker, it doesn't really teach you any techniques. I've found reading about the CBT techniques very useful and would recommend it.

sweets I reckon not drinking is my proudest moment! In the past I might have gone "But I was right - they're bullying me - it's not fair - I can't handle this - I can't cope without a drink" etc. But know I have to actually work through it, even it does mean buying up the entire stock of Holland & Barrett.

Frickin' awesome, Joey {hugs and twirls}

That is an achievement Joey.

Right, off to get dc's. Very nearly bought a bottle from the shop but decided to come home and have a quick snack before getting dc's. I get really tired and shaky during period and like a glass or 4 to make me feel better but hoping food may stop the urge.

Revitalise, Ruby, some where ath the back of my brain, whole grain crisp reads, one every couple of hours equalises blood sugar and hormones. Might be bollocks, but at least it's non-alcoholic bollocks!

Bloomin' auto correct, changed it to ryvita twice!!

alias You go girl! Very proud of you staying cool!
(I'm not managing that well right now. All in all I've spent 9 hours commuting this week - and its only Wednesday. Today I lost my cool and told a parent to stop hovering over their child, for god's sake!

fluff Welcome and super proud of you! What do you mean sort of?! I have no idea if I would be able to say in a room full of strangers (looking at me while I say it! The bus doesn't count!!!) that I probably (see that?) have a drinking problem!
So here!
You have the right to feel proud. Fullstop.

ruby and sweet If I have to be honest, I totally am just plain hot for some action!!! Have not desired a man since February last year. Stayed with ex until September but no action.
Oh, this reminds me of two things. Firstly, I've lost 2kgs!!!
Secondly, so, the other chap (nice but not so hot for) has invited me to go for a walks as he wants to show me places were I can run 5/10k on fairly flat ground.
Now the thing is, I was introduced to him by my neighbour who has become a good friend, really. Anyway. She told me, fairly out of the blue, that she had a short fling with ok-but-not-first-choice-chap.
Why did she tell me? I mean, if we were closer or if him and I were getting it on and he told me or if I said I like him it would make sense. Like this I feel like she wanted to make sure I keep my hands off him. She is very unhappy in her relationship and besides, I don't do men who've been with friends (she couldn't know this).

And I'm having a second (and last) glass of wine. Three hours on the road and missing my running group. Sorry Babes, I really need it.

How very strange of your neighbour, Khalisi, make sure you've planned what to have after the second glass, it's al too easy to pour the third - commuting sucks.

Thanks for the welcome. I feel a bit weepy after the meeting, but I'm glad I went. They were all very kind.

I know that I need to stop drinking completely, because I am wholly incapable of just having one. I don't have an off-switch. It's all the usual (v bad) stuff: making a tit of myself, upsetting my loved ones, taking risks and just generally not liking myself when I'm around alcohol. I've made noises about quitting or cutting down in the past, but if I'm being honest it was only ever to placate those around me. Inside, I was always thinking "it'll blow over and I'll just have to raise my game so I don't get caught". Not nice.

So... Here I am. DH is cautiously optimistic after today's development. He won't take much more of my nonsense - rightly so! I want to get sorted.

Khalisi, lucky you to have a couple of guys on the scene, even if you have been tacitly warned off one of them! I shall live vicariously through your dating/face-licking adventures.

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

Khalisi you appear to have a very friendly neighbourhood . I think your neighbour could just be gossiping and not mean anything by it. If she sees you as a friend she may be just sharing a story with you I would probably do that
Take it easy on the wine.

I've had a bit of wine too - bought a bottle, had a very small glass and then decided I didn't want anymore. V pleased with myself. Dh has just come in and said 'you've had about a thimble full of wine there. Can I have a glass?'

In bed. Stopped at two glasses. Not pleased because I failed at my not drink in the week attempt. But at least stopped at two glasses.

Mills & Boon, sweet?!?! If only you knew how boring my life usually is!
I would have thought she was just gossiping, Ruby, if it didn't come out of the blue! He probably said something about liking me because he sure was making a case for himself the other day, I thought. And her DP is terribly jealous of him although he doesn't know they did the dirty! Oh yes, I live in a small village. This is where the shit goes down!
Anyway. I'll stay friendly with him and keep my eyes open open for the other one
I know you Babes understand. More than anything, I just crave for someone to hold me. Just hold me tight.

Well, a very good night from a tipsy me.

Luffs youse!

xxx

I'm for bed too. Night babes

Good morning, babes!

Hope everyone had an ok (if not good) night's sleep.

I don't know if I had a nightmare or not but I woke with a start at 1am hearing footsteps upstairs. I stayed awake for a long time but nothing. So probably just a alcohol induced nightmare.
And I have a hangover. Amazing how the body adjusts. I have not had a hangover after two glasses in years! That's not even warm up, usually.

Have a good one, my ladies!
xxx

Morning Khalisi - is the disturbed sleep and hangover enough to keep you AF today?

Morning everyone else.

Fluff it's good that you have a supportive DH and support from AA too. Was yesterday your first alcohol free day? How are you feeling this morning.

Need to get DS up, so catch you all later.

Morning Brave Babes

Day 5 getting slight whispers on and off throughout the days from Saggy Tits, just ignoring her for now!

Welcome to the bus Fluff

Joey really good to hear that it went well at work, at least boss is aware of your colleague now, which can only be a good thing. Loved your list of stuff especially the orange blossom thingy, sounds lush. Have a good day babe and don't let the bastards get you down

Sweet have a good day babe. What does your app say today the bit that seems to excite me when I read your progress is the money saved, quite amazing Have a good one honey, are you lecturing?

Khalisi I hope your journey to work isn't too bad today Drink lots of water and eat sweet things, are you going to drink today?

Ruby Hello lovely, hope your day is a good one x

Ma you ok hon? how you doing?

Wry so good to hear from you and such a lovely photo of Little. Wrapping you in a mohair blanket that smells of horse xxx

Venus great post the other day, I always appreciate your wise words

Beaches and there I was thinking I would always be one month behind this time round. Well my love, we both know that 'reward' feeling, such a hard one, and the 'have I had my fair share' or the lions share because they don't need it and I do Day 4 for you today, me thinks. How's the glass coming on? Be strong, it seems to be getting easier I have added advantage of not having DH or DP who may come home with booze, so I can keep my fridge clear of fizzy white goodies evils

Baby you rock x

Obrigada hello lovely

Hope so good to have you back lovely one. Seems like you're coming to crunch time with DH. I think for what it's worth that you need to plan his exit from your house (it is yours after all and YOU paid for it) even if you give him the deposit and first months rent on a flat? I promise you, you will feel so relieved when he's gone and you may not be able to see it now, but your DC will be so much happier, because you will be so much happier. Time for a leap of faith, scary as it is, life is too short to be this unhappy

Have a good day y'all must get up, very late now

Hi Spanna, well done on day 5. The app tells me I have saved (gulp)

£425

It's terrible because I rarely if ever drank anything less that an £8-10 bottle, but I didn't really stop to properly taste it, so it might as well have been Thunder Bird! .

Yes, Sweet, mine says £320 which is awful, awesome and shaming and amazing. Of course, I have spent it all several times over on essential treats... Worth every penny!

Small, it is all of those things !

I haven't come close to spending it though - I don't really get time to do much more than food shopping during term time - but I in need to some new glasses, (all the better to examine those pores with!) so I might push the boat out on those!

I got a little glimpse of Spring this morning. The first of the seeds I sowed at the weekend have started to come up. We've broken the back of winter (at least it feels that way down South, even if it did snow this morning), and it will soon be time to start enjoying those posh cordials in the garden.

How is everyone else doing?

Hi all. I'm sat with a small glass of wine whilst waiting for a train - I'm off to see a friend for the eve and I'm so tired. I'm sure I'm totally pathetic cos I seem to get far more exhausted than anyone else I know. Think I need time on my own to relax. I read somewhere that introverts find being with people exhausting.
Yesterday I was up at 5 to take dd to the toilet as she won't go on her own and then dh felt ill so I had to do nurse duties for a while, then kids up and ready, get me ready, off to work, home, pick up dc, put plaster on dd's knee when she's decided which plaster is appropriate (mickey mouse bad, peppa pig good - we don't bloody have peppa pig blah blah )do tea, play/talk with dc, get them ready for bed, read stories to dc - one each. Put them to bed. Wash up, go to bed, read, talk to dh who has had 4 pints about why I've not bathed kids, why not got kids to read to me AND the footy game that's on downstairs that I do not give a damn about. Let me read my effing book and shut up.

Rant over

-sorry- just thought i'd write that down. I v rarely lose temper, let off steam. So you are the lucky ones .

Back in a while just off to get train.