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

I'm just starting my first non-drinking weekend.
My cravings started at 6:30pm.
When will they start to wear off?

ok. I'm calling it a night. lost the second post and I am so, very exhausted.

ma? hmmm. ok?

Hey Kate! Welcome! I don't know if they ever really wear off. I could swear I tasted my usual Friday night welcome home glass.
But, Day 16, tick.

Sleep tight babes and I'm really looking forward to catching up over the weekend!

xxx

ma what? what? Was it a 'productive' meeting? did you have to change out of into your stockings?

Ma - please, you don't realise how many of us are living vicariously through your stockings (well, not quite literally).

Please?? Update??

Hi Kate welcome. Have you been here before? When you say 'first non-drinking weekend' does that mean you've not had a drink for a few days or is this the first day you have tried to go alcohol free? Not trying to pry and you don't need to tell me if you don't want to, I was just trying to understand where you're coming from.

Everyone seems to have different ways of coping with cravings, I just drink nice soft drinks, have relaxing baths, read and chat on here which tends to distract me but others have different ways of dealing with it.

Hi Greyhound Mouse popped in a couple of days ago to say hi and tell us what she'd been doing for her birthday. She hasn't been on here much because she's busy and shattered.

Hi Ruby, I had planned to try for a dry January having come to terms with the idea that I was drinking too much.

I failed in that attempt as DH decided to have a cancer scare, which was a bit stressful so I started on Monday and aim not to drink until mid-Feb.

I used to just drink at the weekends but it had crept up to every day.

Woohoo! I found you!

I haven't posted for a very long time because I found that I needed some time away from reading about drinking because it was starting to become my new addiction.

I've now been alcohol free since 8th September and in my experience I found that it didn't happen until I really wanted it. Once I wanted it then it became easy and I've not looked back since.

So, all you lovely babes, if you've already stopped/cut down then bloody well done and if you havent managed it yet then keep trying.

You haven't failed until you give up trying x

Hi to new posters, and returners,

Wherever or whatever you've been drinking just keep on trying and posting and being aware.....

ma enjoy that feeling x

mrs you are so right.

Isinde sorry to read about your mum.

Thanks Ruby

Good morning, phenominal Babes!

Wow. Was I knackered last night.

sweet my love, you absolutely have to explain the Dad's Army joke thing! (Lost in translation?)

alias ok, JL is better then that little creep. But it gets better. So much better!

fox at living through ma's stockings! I can honestly agree cause it seems they have a lot more fun that us!

Kate That is how my everyday drinking started too. Initially only on weekends. Then when I was going through a tough time it got to every day. Honestly though, mostly I needed a drink before seeing the ff that is my ex WB!

ma Prost! (even if a few hours late)!

mrs68 Well done, babes! Inspirational!

Wave to all babes I haven't NC'd!

Keep calm and stay sober!

xxx

Oh yes, please do tell me what ODAAT is?!

Morning all. I am so bloody tired, I went to bed at 8.30pm last night, still no energy but at least I've not got a hangover or cringing .

Isinde hope you're feeling a bit better?

Ma glad your meeting went well

Mrs good on you and nice to meet you. Your story gives me inspiration.

Kate hope your DH is ok? How you doing?

Morning one and all.

Didn't check in last night because we had BilL and SilL visitng. They are lovely people, but BiL and DH are SO different! Had a nice night, even though DH wouldn't put any music on in case I asked for Demis Roussos (they are terribly proper - in a 1970s comedy sort of way - play golf etc, DH and I don't really do 'grown-up'!).

Anyhoo, fortunately SiL only drank red wine and I stuck with M&S Fizzy Apple and Cranberry, and Spanish Clementine and Cranberry Presse - both really good AF Alternatives esp if you want something that looks like a wine bottle for a dinner party.

Khalisi here's the clip:

I sad it was a bad paraphrase, there's no connection in the scenario, except that I said "your name will also go on the list" it's very much an unconscious reflex action!

Welcome Kate, as Ruby said, it's often helpful to tell us a bit about your triggers and drinking patterns - there ain't nothing that can shock us - we've all been there, and occasionally go back there if we're not careful. And as for cravings, well, it depends what you mean - there are physiological responses and psychological ones, and it very much depends on our own histories and circumstances. I am finding, (17 days in, after 8 days AF before Christmas as well, but between one and one and a half bottle of wine a day for some considerable time), that I am not feeling the need to drink like I did - I have begun to build new habits - putting the kettle on instead of opening the fridge, but I know I have to be vigilant - it still has to be a conscious choice.

This has turning into a bit of a novel, so will get on with my AF day and name check (revise my list) later on.
(ODAAT is One Day At A Time). Today, I will not be drinking.

Bloody Hell I really should proof read my posts more carefully 'said' not 'sad', 'turned' not 'turning', 'bottles', not 'bottle'.

mrs you haven't failed until you give up trying I LOVE that, it's perfect!

khalisi JL is better than who? What 'little creep' ? Not Tyrion ?!

Morning babes, will check in properly later, huge fabby do welcome to our newbies, the bus is chugging along beautifully this last wee while, so proud of everyone xx

I'm off sledging with my girls today, something I could never even contemplate with a hangover, only hope my lardass doesn't break the sledge xx

The other day I brought down from the cupboard my extra gorgeous pale grey suede boots to continue with the "new me" theme and to my horror I couldn't reach down over my kangaroo pouch to put them on!!!!! Granted I was wearing my fabulous pale grey skinny jeans which proved to be ridiculous as skinny is not the first word that springs to mind when I'm hurtling towards you on a sledge (not with my fabulous boots obviously).

My dh used to play ice hockey at national level so tomorrow we're going skating and hoping dd2 shares his talent to remain upright and not my downwrong.

Anyway onwards and stay upwards

Luff's you all xxxxx

Wow baby listen to you! You sound so upbeat and boingy.
Am paying for my drink last night by feeling crap. I genuinely hadn't realised how much of a depressant booze is and how low I feel the day after drinking, compared to the day after a sober evening. And I used to feel like that every single day! What an idiot!
Hopefully today will be day 15 of 17.

You know, ma, that is exactly one of the things I thought of yesterday. That it would be so much harder to go for a run because of how down I would feel. The last couple of months I felt really sad and lonely the morning after. The funny thing is I only just realised that there is a connection!

baby I have to thank you for my run today. I managed 1h10 and not only did my horror hill without stopping, I took on a second one and I imagine you had walked up and was waiting at the top!

alias Oh God no! I LOVE Tyrion (would totally do him!) I meant Joffrey, that freak of nature!

I was going to say 'morning' then saw the time , so good afternoon all.
I coped OK with an AF Friday but Saturday is going to be harder.

I don't think I'm physically dependant on alcohol as I managed without whilst in hospital for a month last year and in September I was on Metronidazole for 3 weeks so couldn't drink.

My consumption has increased steadily since then and wine o'clock became a daily feature.

I'm going to struggle tonight as would usually sink over a bottle, white first, then red. My DS has AS so we're a family of routine. We always share some crisps early evening on a Saturday and I'll have a glass in my hand.

I've bought some sparkling Rhubarb I saw in an newspaper article about AF alternatives so will try that tonight with the crisps.

DS usually has a small glass of red, later in the evening on a Saturday, from my bottle. I've just thought maybe I should have bought him a mini bottle but then I don't want him to get into to the 'habit' of alcohol, he's only 18!

DH is fine thanks Ruby, we're just waiting for histopathology results from his latest surgery so it's an anxious time.

Afternoon all.

sweet I like the sound of those M&S drinks, I will look out for them when I go in to town.

Kate I hope the results are the ones you want when you get them.

Thank you for the laughs, sweet! Too funny! I don't know the series.
Don't tell him Pike!

Ooh, yes, Joffrey is horrible!
Tyrion is seriously sexy. It is the attraction of intelligence, wit and charm that does it!
Its bloody freezing in this house, even with the heating on and everyone is annoying me!