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

Good Morning all.

Af yesterday and I feel more sparkly today but then again dh is being nicer too so good. Had an epiphany - stop worrying about what you haven't got and be grateful for what you have. Yes, obvious perhaps but I often cannot see that.
Another one 'stop thinking about the past and think of today'.

There we go everything's solved

Khalisi you have definitely got it with bells on. Just remember that but also look after yourself; we want you to be happy but don't want you to get into something head f**king ( well I don't want you too - I probably shouldn't speak for everyone ). Anyway Auntie Ruby is here with plenty of tea and biscuits.

Mouse sorry to hear you're not feeling good and hope you manage to sleep. Thanks for the brekky.

Spanna I know what you mean about losing the momentum but I find writing it down a good way of keeping a track of triggers and moods. It' very intetesting psychological study of me

Hi everyone else. I'm playing working from home today so will be around here lots more.

Sweet foxgloves and dahlias, how bloody lovely.

I got packets and packets in my Christmas stocking, Ruby. I find seeds miraculous, and gardening incredibly therapeutic (when I'm not too pissed to give up half way through a job!)

Sweet I love the thought of having a nice garden but don't know where to begin. Would need to be pots cos we have a yard paved garden.

I had a lovely courtyard garden in my first house, Ruby - I actually hate lawns - boring waste of time and energy. Get yourself some pots, they look better grouped in threes or fives and larger one need less attention because they don't dry out so quickly). Bog standard red pelargoniums (geraniums) will give you the longest best colour and will enjoy the heat radiated from the paving! (Bit of a garden evangelist, me).

Do you mean get seeds or flowers? When can I plant? Do I need a green house type thing?

Get Plants, Ruby. In about a month, garden centres will have little ones for about a pound each that you can grow on the window sill until there's no more frost. Or you can wait a little longer, pay a little more and get larger plants.

You don't need a greenhouse. if you want to do things from seeds a window, a pot of compost and some cling film will get them started. Cosmos are nice and easy and flower for ages, but you wouldn't want to sow those until maybe early April.

Thanks Sweet I will take your advice. Cosmos are lovely.. How you feeling?

Morning Afternoon Babes, glad breakfast was a welcome feast

I've called the docs, and pharmacy, and I can announce that I my meds are ready!! Whoop whoop!

Honestly, if I don't get my meds, then I drink. To kill the pain. My tooth is still sore from the root canal and what with my housemaid's knee grumbling like mad, I'm ashamed to say that I am drinking, most knights, vodka mainly, but I have stopped again and gotten some Becks Blue in.

Now I know that there are school of thoughts on this; 'why drink it if you want a drink, have one' and then the whole 'yes, it works for me because I think I'm having a drink, therefore the cravings go away.

For me, it's the later but does that actually solve the underlying problem? Does that tell me why I am drinking in the first place?

At the moment, it's pain, and plenty of pain! I hate the fact that I live day in, day out in pain.

Nemo is so wonderful and keeps me going so I have to address my 'problem' for him and his 24/7 needs if nothing else.......

Anyway, I need to apologise for not knowing everyone on the Bus in a more personal way. I've also not been home as much as I wanted to be, this is home

I have to get ready for the school run.... and pop on a smile, fill in some paperwork and pop to the post office. I'm volunteering at the care unit tomorrow so I need to get my skates on.

I'm sending strong and positive vibes to you all!!

Also, if any of you are going the 'the change' or are perimenopausel, would you mind PMing me... I'm having a hell of a time of it.

Thank you lovely, wonderful Babes.

Mouse xxx

Feeling very, very fuzzy, Ruby. I'm feeling somewhat anxious about being away from work. but I realise now it's what I need.

Hi Mouse glad you can get your meds.Surely not drinking alcohol is better than drinking it - if it's not in moderation that is? I don't drink no alcohol alternatives cos I'd rather have the real thing or nothing; I think this is because I love the feeling until I drink too much of the alcohol in my body.

Sweet I guess you will feel fuzzy until your body adjusts to the ad's but I'm sure you'll be feeling loads better in no time. Have work said anything about you being off?

ruby, they haven't, but that's how they operate. Haven't looked at emails though (98 since this morning

Sweet am avidly reading your advice to Ruby re her garden; mine is an absolute disgrace and I would really love to get it in some kind of shape.

Wind me up and watch me go, Obrigada! It's really a bit early for most seeds, and plants, but it's not to early to think about what you like.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

My washing machine is pissing out water from the drawer and the door. It leaked earlier this morning and I thought I'd just put too heavy a load in, it's not even old!! Fuckers. My floor is covered and I have NO MOP as we steam mop.

WTF should I do, DH isn't here, Nemo is at that time of night and DD is out too........

I think I am going to go mad. Thank feck for morphine as I'll have to clear this up again by hand!

Noooooooooooooooooo

Oh poor Mouse. Towels? Dust pan and brush? Neighbours?

Ruby - that's what I mean... it's pointless and I totally agree....... but because I'm stopping again from binging to kill the pain, in my head, I'm not drinking IYSWIM and that works for me, I'll get bored and soon won't bother at all, unless for special occasions and in moderation then.

It works for me, it's weird but it works :) xxx

Oh mouse is there a neighbour who can pop over to help?
Re menopause. Last period in October, 4 months off then oh boy, 4 months worth in one go it seems! Hot flushes have been hugely helped by Evening Primrose Oil and Vitamin B complex. Made a massive difference.
khalisi are you ok? Let him come to repair your wall. What will be, will be. Quick wave to all

Washing machine sorted.... for now.

Ma - I take all of those and more supplements as it is!! Vit B complex is wonderful, as is EPO in the high dose, but my hair is thinner, no underarm hair grows anymore, hardly need to shave my legs but a regular face shave wouldn't go a miss!!

Right, I must find my bed. AF tonight - morphine-a-tastic.

Lots of love to you all xxx

Hello babes. Sleepy Hope here, suffering from insomnia. Thought I would pop by and tuck you all in seeing as I'm awake.

Mouse you poor thing. Glad you now have your morphine and a sorted washing machine. (pats Mouse on head and tucks a hot water bottle in next to her). Hope you get it properly sorted tomorrow. My worst ever thing was when an undetected bathroom leak resulted in my ceiling falling in - and as if that wasn't bad enough, a shard of plaster fell in such a way as to wedge itself between the window and ledge and crack that all the way up too! So hopefully that makes you feel a little better in a 'thank God it wasn't that bad' sort of way

Spanna, lovely. Thanks for your concern. How's it going with you?

And lovely Wry, you sound a bit more yourself. Hope you are getting in lots of horse riding and Columbo, and Big Tastys.

That sounds a bit innuendo-ish, or is it just me and the tone of this thread at the moment? Want to namecheck you all and send my good wishes, but have had to wade through pages and pages of smut to catch up. Who needs to go and see Fifty Shades when we have the bus? (not that I would. I am a tad prudish in my old age)

Work still awful. Am alternating between angry and demotivated with bits of black humour thrown in. Nothing is sorted apart from we won't have jobs after the end of next month - but might not be able to leave cos they are bleating that they might not have the redundancy money . So can't even look properly for other jobs. Have been offered an interview at a fab company but what can I say? I have no idea when I will be free? So it's just ridiculous. And in the meantime people are talking to us about projects for next year that we won't be there to do and it is so wearying. Yet I can't sleep!

WB is still being useless. Fed up with him. But unlike the gorgeous and desirable Ma and Khalisi nobody is beating a path to my door, so no danger of me running off with a hot man. Very jealous. Khalisi, your little episode sounds positively bodice-ripping! Like Lady Chatterley but with a builder instead of a gardener!

Whereas I am just looking old and grim these days. I don't think anyone (WB included thankfully) has found me attractive for years apart from the odd drunken old grey git to be avoided at works dinners . All of a sudden my face has given up on me. Somewhere in an attic there will be a painting of me looking gorgeous, like a reverse Dorian Gray. Honestly though, I look like a cross between the crypt keeper and a dinner lady from my old sixth form. A few years ago a friend used to say I looked like Sheridan Smith (though I think she meant as scruffy Janet in Two Pints of Lager rather than the glamorous version she turned into). Well, I'd take that now, because these days I am turning into Mel Smith Any good beauty treatments you can recommend??

Right, going to try to get some rest. Take care all - sorry I am only popping in and out, but am a ropey old bird atm. (not drinking much, but Dry January seems far away) (Wedges arse in sidecar and tries to get some sleep)

Norktastic Ma

Irresistible Khalisi

Me!

Helloooo Nuthouse. I'm just checking in. 9 months sober today. Last time I was sober this long I had a baby at the end of it.

Anyway all is well. Life gets better and better and I am just getting stronger. Really recommend sobriety.

Love to you all
Xx

Morning Babes.

Hope, it's good to see you around. Work just sounds horrific, but at least you know that your skills are valued else where, even if it gives you a terrible dilemma. The best beauty treatment will be the lifting of some of your stress, but I know that is easier said than done.

Soc that is bloody amazing. CONGRATULATIONS. And this time, after nine months, you get to sleep like a baby instead of being woken up by one.

I am still feeling rubbish, I know it will lift once I adjust to the ADs, but I feel woozy, headachey and I've lost my appetite - if you think MFP judges you if you go over calories, you should see what it does if you're under. It refuses to show you additional functions like blog posts and estimated weight loss!

I am having to face not going back to work for some time at the moment. I thought I would just give the first effects of the ADs a chance to wear off then go back. But letting go a bit has made the feelings ten times worse. So I need to do some planning, starting with the cbt referral the GP gave me, but that's easier said than done. not one day at a time, one thing at a time.

But one bright spot, is that today is day 42 (and specially for Spanna) and the app says I have saved £497 and not consumed 30084 wine calories. I am beginning to get to the point where I don't actively have to resist WW. I can't say I don't think about it, but it is definitely less of a pull.

Have to go, Puss is in a particularly naughty mood and has been stealing hair bands from the bedroom - I have to go and rescue them from under the fridge where she stashes all of her swag!