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

Night Night all, Day 16 done

Night night spanna. Well done babe

wry I love love love Mariska Hartigay, Special Victims Unit is my favourite show of all time. Bet your an amazing lookalikay. Detective Stabler was dreamy. Sigh xxxx

spanna I love your posts, so glad your here.xxx

Big squishy hugs to all of you xxx

I'll NC properly tomorrow, so many amazing posters and newbies, you are a breath of fresh air, the sisterhood on here is AMAZEBALLS, keep on keeping on xxx

ma well done! Another day - if may feel tough and dull but often January feels tough and dull anyway - better to save the calories, the money and the guilt for something that is really worth it.

spanna oh I love bobotie - mince, onion, raisins, apple, curry powders, with a topping of eggs and milk and flaked almonds. A South African dish, I think. Guess what we'll be having for tea tomorrow. ...

khalis since I was in my early teens I drank so that I could be sociable and fun. 35 years of that behaviour had me convinced that it was the only way, and that without drink no one would like me. Even worse, I thought I'd not like myself. But quelle surprise I am actually pretty good fun as I am. Who knew.

Oh ma you are doing so well! 14/16 is brilliant - that's a nearly 100% success rate! I bet you feel so good too.

I just can't get into it - I managed 10 weeks before Christmas , but since then have lost my drive. I need a personal goal, something to work for but nothing appeals. Am sticking to just 12 units a week at least.

Feck me lass, I am aboot burstin wi pride. Always, always proud to know ye. keep haudin yer heid up like a thistle, xx

Fit like joey quine? I see my GP again on Wednesday, I'm almost at the 6 week mark, perhaps it all starts to get better soon. Got to say though, much as it's nice being able to sit on the bus or walk round the park without crying, the no crying at all thing is weirding me oot, I guess I just need to find the right balance. joey, you did it before, and you will do it again, when you're ready. You'll see. less really is more for us, eh?xx

baby eeh I'm glad you made memories today, playing on stuff in the park. I loved our park, some o the things were not child friendly looking back, but I adored the cheesecutter, the massive chute and more than anything, the horse. They pulled them all out when I moved to Lincoln and I was heartbroken they weren't there anymore. Remember to keep your mouth closed when looking up to the sky though, eh? Remember the seagull story... I am going riding next weekend, I am looking slightly better in me jodhs than I did, and all I can say is thank feck for my riding hat. It'll hide me hair. Love you chicken, I'm right chuffed your life is happy, although I misread your post and was that your dog is fat cocked. Might have to scrap ye for Det Stabler though, unless you fancy sharing? He is one of my all time crushes. Oooh. Picture it. Detective Stabler in a stable. On the hay and straw... xx

sweet I am soooooo of your cinnamon buns. A lovely coffee and a cinnamon bun.

For lovers o the more vintage playpark. if you want me, I'll be on me horse.

Sweet dreams everybody, xx

Remember when getting a cheesecutter or a swing up to the 'bumps' was thrill enough?

Those were the days.... xx

soc nae forgotten you ma quine, keep on keeping on, you are my lighthouse, foghorning me off the whatever on the rocks, xx

Hey everyone, tis me, Mouse

I'm so very sorry that I've not been around for anyone, life has been bonkers here and also a bit sad. Nothing major, but I'm a bit sad that DD has split with her BF and my MSBF (Male Second Best Friend) is heartbroken too. I feel like I want a magic want to stop their pain.

I would just like to say I have had the BEST DAY EVER, all thanks to my utterly wonderful husband, plus all of my family and friends, who came today to celebrate my 40th Birthday.

I had NO idea just who would be there, and I spent most of the afternoon crying as more people or families arrived.... it was like 'This Is Your Life!!!'

Seriously, the day has been so utterly amazing and totally brilliant. I did have a little wobble about my Mum not being there to share my big day with us all..... but, then I pulled my big girl pants up (now I'm 40, they're bigger, no longer 'eye patches' on the washing line!!)

For weeks, my husband has been planning this with my friends and family, some couldn't make it due to illness or other issues, but the fact that they wanted to be there is more than enough for me and fantastic!

All in all, I've have the best day in such a long time, and I owe it all to everyone who managed to keep it a secret for so long, and my amazing DH.

I hope that you are all okay and I'm sorry I've not been around much but life has been hectic, as you may have guessed!!

Ma - I hope you had a fantastic birthday sweetie! I think we need a list of Birthdays so we can all celebrate with non alcoholic drinks! Today I had three single vodkas and three glasses of fizz, I'm not on milk to settle me down before bed, I had lots and lots of water too in between the booze. It's been spread out all day so I feel sober and happy.

So, off I go up the wooden stairs.... be back soon to catch up, same as always, I try my best to catch up and then life gets in the way!! Grrrr.

I hope you're all okay? Night Babes xxxx

oh god, wry i love your posts. xxx

mouse so pleased you had a good day. Hope there are many more. I'll never forget your response to my very first post on the Brave Babes Bus (whenever that was). Still warms my toes and makes my eyes water. It was so exactly what I needed right then. Very grateful I am. xx

Morning All. So many lovely posts last night. Wry - the horse! I loved those! - and the witches hat, those were the days - I have been known to jump on a zip wire, every park seems to have one now, but my favourite is an extra long one near the river in Nantes. (Oh and please come and save me from the Honey Cinnamon buns, I was a bit when I looked at the ingredients, and even more when I liked them so much! but DS has promised to leave it a few months before he makes them again).

Mouse you deserve your lovely day - you give so much of yourself to other people.

And Joey, you will get back to complete abstinence, when you are ready - but the moderation is impressive in itself. As the Venerable Venus so rightly points out, Jan is a tough month ANYWAY.

Soc I like to imagine you on a beach twirling around singing 'Everything is Awesome' form the Lego Movie!

Anyway, I've got the usual knotting anxiety about work, but sitting at my desk trying to get on with it. But, the sun is shining, and today is day 19 for me - quite an achievement, I get a new personal best everyday now. (And I have lost my first 1lb).

Morning babes,

I swear to god, there are little bubbles of love coming out of my phone this morning, it's like a wee love in, I feel like I'm in this amazing, exclusive club, it's amazing!!!

I 'll never forget the terrifying moment I typed in "I drink too much wine" on Google and it led me here, thank heavens it did, I was scared, extremely hungover, was hiding bottles and my whole life was spiralling out of control, my own dh didn't know the extent of it, exposing my dirty little secret could have blown up in my face but alas I was wrapped In a blanket, laid on the back seat with hot chocolate and marshmallows and cared for, Thank heavens for the love of strangers, now friends .

I feel a bit evangelical today, may walk round the village with a sandwich board saying "I'm a brave babe, hallelujah "I'm sober" hallelujah , im a believer!!! Xxx

I love this feckin bus xx

Wry glad my pincer nipping at your bum shooed you back onto the thread. I started prozac in December (having weaned myself very slowly off the citalopram I'd been on for almost a decade, and plunged into depression) and it left me feeling very, very flat for the first month-six weeks. In the past I've always felt better within a week or so of starting ADs, but this time just... nothing. It evened out the dramatic lows I'd been having but also any pleasure or moments of hope, just... flat. At the almost six-week mark though, it really was like a veil lifting and I felt 'normal' (what I imagine normal people feel like). I got a range of emotions back, but the anxiety and hopelessness was very much reduced. Stick with it my lovely, and I hope things improve very soon. Xxx

Mouse I'm so glad to hear you had a wonderful 40th. Lots of people love you because YOU ARE FABULOUS! Don't ever forget that.

Phew! Morning done. Lunch at desk again.

Baby, love your little bubbles of love, and you got me thinking about the first time I admitted I drank too much to the bus. I don't even know how I found it. But I spent three days obsessively reading from JWN's first thread before I plucked up courage. The openness and acceptance here is nothing short of a miracle.

Crabby, thank you for nipping Wry back on board!

Feeling very pleased not to have given in to 'just the one' last night, and the longer it goes on, the more I feel determined to add another day and another.

Looking forward to getting home tonight, - really not enjoying work at the moment - even when it goes ok as it did this morning - Parents are with us for one more night before they jet off - hopefully saving me from eating all of the cinnamon buns.

Stay strong one and all, and if you are struggling, come here and let the rest of us lend you some strength for as long as you need it.

Afternoon babes, gave in to WW big style on Saturday night, but am well and truly back on the bus.

obrigada an alien took over your body for that period of time, it wasn't you, ye hear xxxxx

Remember a few wines on a sat night is perfectly acceptable is practically normal in every household in the land its getting back on the bus that takes the strength and you have? So there!!! We luffs ya girl xxxxx

Hi Babes,
obrigada, baby is right. Don't beat yourself up over it.
I feel so so sad and lonely tonight, its scary. If I end up having a drink, then I will. I know it won't take away the loneliness. But shit, I really could have done with a hug waiting at home....
So let it go. Big hug, girla!

V quick message - am on way to a meeting and I don't have time to read back. But I just wanted to send a big big hug to Khalisi - hang in there babe and I am sure others will be along v soon - sorry, this is done in a huge rush but didn't want you to be on your own.

Khalisi hang on toots, on my way home,

Khalisi What's up? Bad day? Are you sure you want a drink? How about doing something else? A bath? Chatting on here? Cup of tea?

Hi Wry

I'm in bed, feel really annoyed not sure what about so think bed is best place for me. Tomorrow will be better

And Wry what is t'interbosies?

T'interbosies are a speciality of wry's. A bosie is a cuddle or a hug. A t'interbosie is a bosie sent over t'internet!
I thought I might care for a glass of wine tonight. Two mouthfuls and down the sink it went! Hope I'm losing my taste for it.
Fecking washing machine is refusing to spin and making clunky noises. That's all I bloody need!

Thanks Ma for explanation, makes sense now. Good on you for chucking wine down the sink. Don't think i've ever done that in my life

Give washing machine a good kick - won't get it working but might make you feel better for a minute..