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

sweet you are doing so well. I'm pretty much lapsing back into old ways after a good January. Need to get back on it.

My darling, darling Babes!

Just arrived home. As if the last week wasn't bad enough, worked today. Then went to visit a friend in hospital. Very sobering experience.
This is someone who had it all. A very successful career, great looks, money, and he has lost it all. Now his inner organs are failing and it is just very, very frightening. All due to alcohol abuse.

Survived yesterday but am having a glass of wine now. I don't think I feel like drinking in the way of downing a whole bottle, but I am drinking because my body is so exhausted and of course I could have done Yoga but I also want to do this responsibly.
'Normal' people have a glass of wine or two and stop.
That is what I'm heading for at the moment. Ideally of course it would be better not to have the whole discussion happening.

Have to call my sexy builder. He rang me saying he can come do the work tomorrow. I told him I'll ring back because I have an appointment tomorrow. I'm actually really looking forward to my appointment. -just a slow, easy Sunday night in company.

Plus I don't have money to pay him right now and hate debt. but maybe he'll come by for a coffee anyway?

Hi everyone! It is great to have a 'safe place'.

btw, friend is slowly but surely on the mend. According to docs he should pull through if he stays off the juice.
The good thing is now whenever we go out will all not order alcohol to support him.

Wow! This bus makes me brave!
Called my builder and told him that I would prefer next week because I don't want to cancel my appointment tomorrow.
He said he'd need 30 minutes to do a temporary fix and then do the proper one in Spring.
So. I said, well, why don't you come by for a coffee tomorrow, we can discuss it and you do it next week?
Short story. He coming by for a coffee tomorrow!

khalisi hope your friend recovers. My brother nearly died as a result of alcoholism but is sober and well now. It can be done.
Go,go,go with the sexy builder! So jealous!

WooHOOOOOOOOOOOO! Cross posted.
So a temporary fix tomorrow - sounds like fun. We want ALL the details.

[girn] you dirty old woman. ma!!!

Me: I still wanted to talk to you about the price. How much is it going to be?

Him: A very small amount. It won't take much time and I can do it in half an hour. And then we can have a coffee and discuss the work in the Spring?

Me: OK, but how much will it be?

Him: 30 euros. (very small money indeed!)

Me: Ok. But can you come for a coffee tomorrow and we discuss it and you come do the work next week?

Him: Great! I'm looking forward to it.

(the only thing that worried me was his disappointment when I said that he can't do it tomorrow because I have an appoinment in another town. It just sort of reminded me of ex-WB voice falling whenever I told him I was going somewhere without him. Now I know it is ok and usually a good sign when someone feels and expresses disappointed about missing an opportunity to see someone they like without it meaning they are abusive or controlling, right?!)

God, I'm damaged.

Yes, it means he likes you and wanted to spend more time with you filling your crack doing the plastering or whatever.
Ooh, I'm so excited for you.
My "person" is away overseas and God knows when/if I will ever see him again so will just have to live vicariously through you.

fevv I wanted to say something to you but I have forgotten it, sorry.

Fox I actually clapped my hands and yoohooed and I'm sure I looked very crezzee but I don't care!!
Well done, my love! Well done!!

isinde, babes, whazzup??!

(I might be tipsy).

ma I hope so too. Its sort of the last chance, really. And he's in an abusive relationship. He's long term boyfriend is a dick and an alcoholic too! So much like my ex WB that I cannot talk to him anymore. I freeze and just look at him.

But my friend can't get away from him!!
I wish I was wealthy enough to rent him an own flat, you know?!

OMG!!! ma, filling my crack!!! Really!! I'm howling and hope no one is passing my house cause they'll think I'm a witch!!!

Yep. First he's planning to fill your crack. Then he's going to give you a damn good grouting. Then he's going to run his big, hard rod through your pipes until you squeal with joy no wait, that's plumbers. And he'll finish off by having a jolly good squint up your chimney - possibly with the aid of a head torch - to see if you've got any bats roosting

OMG!!!! face burning Get

He'll need a long time though as these pipes have not been used in a looong, long time!!!

and the chimney, jesus wept on a rainy day!!! the chimney I shall not talk about!!!

Hee hee hee hee hee

Bow-chicka-wow-wow!

Evening all. All this talk of crack filling and flue reaming.

I'm home.

Missed you guys, xx

chicka-wow! Get!

wry yes, babes!!! On a Saturday night!! Welcome to the party!!!
I did stop after two glasses and am now having a loud party by myself with some bad-ass missy eliott and lil' kim rap music!

There's nothing that says a woman's in charge than dancing in underwear, literally, as if no one is watching!!!

The best is, I know that right now, I'm perfectly happy!

Wry welcome home, lovely to see you, I'm waving an AF Erdinger merrily in your direction.

Khalisi thank you for your lovely encouragement - it means a lot and since I can't ask anyone to pat my back in RL I am so delighted to have a pat here! So proud of you and being brave with the yummy builder, too.

Sweet just to say I hope the ADs don't make you woozy this time round - keeping everything crossed for you. And I am sure the fact you are not drinking must help in that respect and will let them get on with their job uncontaminated by wine.

Ma you have done more efficient stuff in a day than I have managed in about the last two weeks. Hats off to you, and give yourself a hug, you sound a little bit flat. Anyway, budge up so I can join you and your cake peering out of a steamy window to live vicariously through Khalisi and her builder?

Hugs all.

You know, I have my issue with rap music.
But after being called very horrible things by a crazy weak man, I do appreciate strong women deciding the terms themselves.
It was very liberating to shake off the hatred I remembered on Thursday.

Moving on to happy music now. (Neighbours will now KNOW I'm crazy!!!)

can I join? I'm trying to do something about my binge drinking. I don't tend to drink often at home, & when I do it's only 1 or 2. But when I go out with friends I basically don't have an off switch, and I struggle with social events sober. Woke up this morning with pounding head, bruised wrist & no memory of getting home, DH said it was 3:30 - I'm 35 & don't want to be doing this any more. Have resolved to have a dry month which includes a wedding & a funeral....feeling v nervous!

Ach, Fox, mein Schatz.

Taking my dimply (where the hell does the cellulite come from?!), naked, cold thighs to bed. Its been a long time since I danced so much (by myself) that I needed a shower before going to bed!

Good night, my darling babes! I am now ready to crash and want to go out on a high with parental guidance required thoughts about tomorrow!

wry so good to see you back. Have a super Bosie and snuggle in.
khalisi so excited for tomorrow. Is everything in ....ahem...order?
slummy you are very welcome. Under the hilarity and nonesense we are all fighting issues with alcohol abuse on many different levels. You will not be judged on here, only helped. You have made the first big step. Well done.

Welcome, some!
Of course you're more than welcome! This here bus ia like an swiss bank - always space for more!

I hear you on the missing off switch. I must say being on Gerald (the bus) is helping me stay in control. A night like tonight could easily have ended in one and a half bottles. But knowing I can share everything without apologies, embarrassment or humiliation, means I can try every day.

A wedding and a funeral! Fuck! I don't know which is worse. Either way a test.
We're here, babes.

Aahh, ma! *slummy is of course much better than some.

Well, I am not getting anything in umm, you know, order.

No mowing of the grass (its been a loong Winter! ) or any such thing.

A coffee. I think I really want to just enjoy the flirting!

Fit like joey? Have you seen what they are going to do to the Art Gallery? It will be shut shortly until winter 2017. It's one o my go to zen spaces. I will be haunting the place until it shuts. Sooking in the atmosphere and the art and storing it in my heid. xx

ma I wis that chuffed to read that you got your funding, I hope your boss remembers to give you a bap bonus.

We know your norks got that that funding. xx

You are some dame. Or you ought to be. I reckon the next time you get a funcy posh invite it'll be for an honour. You're well in with The Royals now.

Khalisi Enjoy your flirt, it's good for the soul! xx

slummy hello petal, have a bosie and welcome aboard. The good thing about this lovely bus is that we are a right mixed bunch. I'm a binger before a day off as a rule. I can't stop at one if I start. This week I have been numbing a fair bit. Some nights it has actually just been the one, because I've been very weary and my safety cut out switch kicked in and I've zonked out.

We are all at different stages, we all have our different triggers, but we all have each other. And now you have us too, share your good news, sad news, trials and triumphs here. And by the sounds of it, Khalisi will have some slightly more exciting stuff to share very very soon. And it will be over a coffee xx

I am going for a ride tomorrow. I feel the need....the need for speed. Or at least a wee canter. Blow some cobwebs away.

Ye coming along baby? How are ye me darling? xx