The Brave Babes Battle Bus - The Wheels On This Bus Go Around And Around, In Search Of Sobriety.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

This is the brave babes bus, Gerald. He travels far and wide, to wherever he's needed to offer non judgemental support, advice and Opal Fruits!!

We can tell you about the kind of places that can help, your GP can be the first and easiest place to start, or you can look up you local community addiction centre, or even just come onto the thread and let it all out.

There are posters here who have been on the Bus from the start and those who have just joined us

It doesn't matter how long you've been here, the fact that you have taken that first amazing step in acknowledging that maybe, just maybe, things aren't quite right with your drinking is truly MASSIVE!!

This is a safe place for you to just be and to be as honest as you like, or just to talk.

We'll listen

And if you'd like to see our last thread, you can JUST HERE

Plus if you'd like to see where these threads all began, you can read all about that YOU CAN READ THIS VERY EMOTIONAL AND MOVING THREAD

See you soon,

Mouse xxx

Morning (just about) babes. Still sat on the couch watching a cookery show, eating carbs and drinking coffee, but about to go shopping for food and then embark on a decluttering day. I have been very feeble lately, been cooking good food (mostly protein foods, Sunday morning breakfast is an exception) and attending to the DCs needs (even helping with homework. Recently co-created an amazing Roman costume with DD) but the house is a tip, and my exercising is non existent. So hoping that creating a bit of order will inspire me to a better start next week

Work is a major downer. Have gone from being a very stressed but massively achieving person to someone who goes into work, sits around for a few hours sending emails to the union and surfing the net for jobs that don't exist and then coming home. It is a massive self-esteem drain. . So then I get home and don't feel there is any point in trying at anything else either. Sigh. It doesn't help that I don't have a leaving date or any clue about what will happen next so hard to plan or apply for things. I sound such an idiot when people ask me what is happening and I don't know. About my own life FFS !!!

Soooo, need a plan. Starting with an exercise plan I think, but need something that is not too unrealistic. Was thinking of 20 mins of HIIT / kettlebells or jogging each day. Any thoughts? (appealing to fitness fanatics here - Khalisi????) Anyone want to join me?

Also need to tidy up, sort my papers, work out my finances and so on. Given what Ma is achieving on a daily basis (yesterday's efforts exhausted me just reading about them) I feel ashamed of my sloth . You are amazing Ma. (hands Ma packet of green opal fruits and small crown fashioned out of paper left over from the Romans project).

Small - well done also on day 66!!!! Day 11 here. Not feeling especially boingy but am relieved every day to have one less thing to worry about.

I don't think this will be the month I achieve a full run of AF days but instead of getting hung up on a long run (will be going to London next week to meet soon to be ex-colleagues and we are having a night out) am going to try each month to have at least 75% AF and low-carb days, and to be mindful when I do indulge. Not too worried about the night out as will be drinking at a pace with the others and they aren't huge drinkers so... (will check in with you lot anyway!)

Isindie lovely to have you back babe xxx Enjoy your trip. Know what you mean about drinking on trips (though it's more trains than planes for me, not quite as high-powered!) I plan little 'train home' treats that are not M&S Gin and Tonics, such as mango slices and posh chocolate with sparkling elderflower drinks. Good luck!

Mouse wonderful to hear from you as well babe. So sorry that Nemo is unwell again. Sending the little fishy lots of love and support and strong thoughts through the ether... he is a little fighter, and he has an amazing mum, so you will get through this, but please take some time for you too lovely rodent.

Ruby how are you darling? Also have unpredictably tempered OH, so know how draining it is to be shouted at. Try to do something lovely for you today xxx Even just a long bubble bath with a favourite magazine

Baby big hugs to you - you are such a lovely, lovely lady and a massive support to everyone on this bus.

Sorry if I have missed anyone, but I luffs you all (to borrow Baby's phrase!!)

Looking forward to puppy photos later Sweet

Also, missing Wry and Spanna. If you are out there ladies, please check in and say hello xxx

Small, sorry I misled you. We are actually on day 67!

Joey I meant Isinde, I was a bit all over the place this morning.

And, Baby I watched my parents make that mistake

Sweet - I think I knew that, but my maths is suspect and I suddenly thought maybe I should have been counting from 1 jan not 31 dec! Either way, I am happy to go with whatever methodology you say - the main thing is, however long it is, it's frankly astonishing!

It's great, isn't it Small. I haven't been sober this long since DS was born, and he's 13 in two weeks.

Isinde I have the same trouble with travel, it's always been an excuse to start even earlier.

Hope, sorry, x-posted. Sunday's are for lazing around, preferably in pjs. You're doing really well, in difficult circumstances .

Sweet - he is just gorgeous. You are going to have so much fun!

Eeeeek!!!!! What a gorgeous puppy . He is soooo cute, bet you are having the best day! Give him a big kiss from Auntie Hope!

Have to report that Pup was very pleased withwith the kiss, Hope .

Puss has refused to let him out of her sight, quite a lot of growling from her, but at least she's not trying to leave home. He is being a perfect gentleman to her!

Oh he's gorgeous! I am so jealous

Bloody well done indie stay strong babe
Had another roofer today, fnar fnar. Much cheaper than the other one so thats good. Set about the kitchen with a steam cleaner thingy and it looks tons better already. How could I not have seen how filthy the place was? . Thanks for the opal fruits.
Need to keep up the momentum, need to keep following the plan.....

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray, Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses, For the people hear us singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!"

As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for—but we fight for roses, too!

As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler—ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

Hope I've posted this properly babes. It is International Women's Day.

I'll get my coat....

Thats great fevvers

Ta Ma x

Ma, deffo get loads of quotes for your roof. Go with your guts.

Great stuff, Ma. Are you still on the bus or in the sidecar? You are radiating purpose.

Fevvers, and we are strong Babes together .

How has everyone else's Sunday been?

In the sidecar but trying.... Lots of decisions to make. I dont want another mortgage. If thats the case, might as well stay here. But long term renting probably isn't a good idea either. This is actually a nice flat - period features, big airy rooms, - but is going to need more and more work over the years. So if we sell, use the bit of equity there is as deposit on something else we would still need another mortgage, an even bigger one so we could afford to buy some where, which leaves us in a worse position! Still tied together with a shared debt. Renting means it will be easier to go our seperate ways......
So for now I am decluttering, cleaning, clearing......

I'm sure a way forward will present itself, Ma, in the meantime, you will have a lovely fresh, clear space to be in.

Very sleepy. Night night.

Night all
Sleep well sweet

Night all. Thanks for the song fevvers. Though I spent International Women's Day cooking, cleaning and doing the washing.... Hmmmm

Morning Every Babe!

I got two very ecstatic greetings this morning, first from puss, then from pup.

Aw Sweet, how gorgeous. I get a dd with tummy ache and sad face (now gone back to bed) and a snarly ds who wouldn't get out of bed. Swapsies?????

If it's any comfort, Hope, I got a grumpy DS too! Pup is now asleep with his nose in DH's shoe . Hope your DD gets better soon.

Good morning, Babes!
SORRY! Been M.I.A. but having the bestest of times!!
This might be garbled as I've read up completely so sorry in advance!

Hope , doll. And what baby said.
As for exercising, at the moment I'm really booked out with the running (3x10km last week) and the yoga (2x1 hour sessions!). I can promise to keep mine up if that helps?!

Mouse darling. F- the falls friend. Her f- loss!!! (had to lol at the drinking problem bit! )
All the strength and love with Nemo, babe.

Crutches Well done. So proud of you for coming clean.
If I could just say this. Yes, you did a bad thing by drinking in secret. But you did a very good thing telling DH. So, on the scale of fairness in the universe, you're ok, babes. No need to settle for deserving the bad. It is only bad when we continue with the same old but expect new results. And you aren't.

ma You had me in stitches with 'Khalisi's attitude to workmen'!!!
Hopefully some eye candy there for you too!

Ruby Good god, honey. DH sounds very high maintenance. Bosies and lots of love to you. Being proudly single right now, I cannot and do not want to imagine dancing around someone's moods!

Mouse again, You used to be the gullible friend. You've learned now, so bugger that lot! You are fabulous and you'll meet the right people for you. In the meantime, and later, we are here. Very appreciative of you, babe!
Oh, and really, respect for all the rest you are doing at the same time.

Sweet PUPPY!!!!!
Lots of kisses and cuddles from Auntie K, please?!!!
He is just gorgeous! OMG. So envious right now!

fevvers Thank you for the song/poem? I didn't know it. Will look up the video tonight.
My new friend congratulated me and made me a lovely dinner in celebration of international women's day!

EPIC!

Quick update. Walked/ran for 10km with my Builder (actually a roofer? - ma ) I don't know what the English term is - on Saturday. Worked for a few hours.

Then met up yesterday for a 10k with two girls from my group and that was really sooo much fun! Bloody hard but really, just so much fun!

Happy Monday, my lovelies!!!

Song Khalisi (link is above the lyrics.... don't know how I managed to do that). Sorry Hope I was offering aspiration rather than reality. I also pursued the mundane yesterday.