The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Shaping Up For A Super, Sober Summer!

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse

This is 'Gerald', our trustworthy, non judgemental Bus, full of a variety of posters who have travelled long and far, or even just joined us a few stops ago.

This is a place where you can be who YOU want to be. 24/7, 365. This lovely place is just like your best friend, there's no slagging off, no judging, just us.

Drinking or not, embarrassed, fed up of the way things are, or just lonely of living the way drinking makes you do, come and take a peek and see what you think.....

THIS THE LAST THREAD WE HAD

AND THIS IS WHERE THE BUS WAS BUILT, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

We can't wait to meet you, we won't bite! Well, unless you ask very nicely.

Take good care until we see you. :) xx

Sorry ma cross posted earlier, any day now you will start to feel better and hopefully make all your coping with seem a little lighter. Your a fabulous mother, daughter, sister, friend and employee and you've done the right thing by everyone, time to focus a bit more on doing the right thing by you. Big hugs and thanks for all your support when the chips were down, your a star xxxx

small right back atcha my lovely friend xxx

Evening, tis me, Mouse

Yep, full moon tomorrow. I took my last HRT/Pill today and by breasts are so swollen, leaking and I'm the size of a blue whale

I am soooooooooooooooooooo tired, grumpy and did I say grumpy?

Anyway - Ma - ADs can take up to 3/6 months to 'bed in as such, sorry to be the party pooper. 2 weeks should give you a perk, then more with each day and week.

BUT!!!

As one who knows, on ADs since my late teens, stay on the dose you are told to by your doc and if you feel suicidal at all, you MUST MUST MUST talk to someone, anyone.

They are a wonderful medication, when used properly. Love you Ma

You can do this xxx

Night all, will be back tomorrow properly xxxx

I'm really sad about Charles Kennedy. Whatever your politics, he believed in his ideology and he did have a genuine philosophy unlike so many politicians, and I think history will treat him more kindly than many did at the time, not least about Iraq and the coalition.

I'm already incensed by the coverage. A slightly prurient, sanctimonious assumption that it was alcohol which killed him. If it was, then poor, poor man. If it wasn't, then poor man again. Maybe his heart was just broken. Whatever it was, I wish the media (social and print) would stop treating alcohol issues as a slightly salacious taboo, as though it is not the industry and the poison itself that's the problem, but the weakness of the individual him or herself. Grr. Fortunately for you I've arrived at work or there'd be a lot more where this came from!

Have a good day, babes.

I agree small. He seemed a good man.

Hi, I'd like to join you please? A bottle of red a night has become the norm. I cant do it anymore - I feel constantly tired, unmotivated, fat, forgetful, regretful.

small that is exactly what the booze industry would care for us to believe,that 'only' people who are a bit flawed will become addicted to these highly addictive products. What a lovely,profitable myth for the industry- that lovely,model type women sip a small glass now and again. See,it's only the BAD people who let themselves get addicted...

ma yeah he did,and honest.it was probably the oxymoron of being an honest politician wot done him in.Poor man.

smother Please ignore the ranting,I'm normally fairly sane.Please join us. Sounds like you're at the sick and tired of being sick and tied stage? What kind of times and things tend to trigger your drinking?

Also- I'm sorry,but I can't call anyone shit-

mouse why the last hrt/pill? Are you feeling a bit less grumpy today? Tee hee! Bloody hormones!

i've been having a little rant (surely not?) on the other thread. I've watched 'Rain In my Heart' on youtube which is a horrible,horrible thing to see but very hard hitting documentary about people in the last stages of alcoholism.I'm banning any babes who are struggling with depression from watching it,but depending on where you are,it is a shocking and enlightening piece of work. I'm too ill to even think about drinking but I'm going to think about taht film when I get to the 'fuck it' stage again.

Thanks Guggenheim! I changed my u/name to that some time ago after a particularly difficult few days with the kids. Now I've forgotten my password so cant change it back!!

Yep definately at the stage you describe. I'm 39, I should not be constantly exhausted. I used to be house proud, now I'm too tired to care. Onwards....

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

guggs - (Slaps guggs with a wet toad and put her back in her place) i

Ahem. In this cycle. The Doc put me on the BCP to start off with to see if it helped and because of the high history of breast and other cancers in women in my mum's (miss you so much mum xxx) side, they said BCP rather than full on HRT to start.

My Doc is ace and said she'd have a much nicer time treating me 'well' than not!

small - (I ALWAYS think of the book "This is how much I love you" when I see your name and my heart smiles) I feel the same! I was shocked that Charles Kennedy was only 55 but I also found myself nodding along with him whenever I had the fortune of watching him interviewed away from the bull pit.

He was a man who believed in all things for all people. Equality. I like that.

Right I better go or I'll not be back for Nemo!!

MWAHS to you all.

shitmother - contact MNHQ, they can help with your name change if you explain why. Especially as you're not and never were, a shit mother. Shit mother's don't ask for help. I remember you from another time and told you that then too xx

Welcome smother (see we've renamed you and you can use your new name as you like - to smother you dc in kisses, to smother your toast in chocolate spread, to smother your dh / dp when he snores ). Anyway welcome. Do you know what you want to do. I don't really drink these days but sometimes I still feel tired, sometimes I'm still unmotivated, I'm certainly fatter than I was at this time last year, I'm forgetful if I get too busy, and sometimes I'm regretful. But when I wake up in the morning I never regret that I didn't have a drink the night before, and the tired-ness, or lack of motivation are occasional rather than constant.

Alcohol is a depressant AND it depletes vitamin B from your body (ooh, I haven't had a vitamin b rant fro a while....) - vit B is essential for repairing nerves, for proper functioning of the nervous system, for repairing skin , for hair growth, and it helps to release energy from other foodstuffs - no wonder we feel crap when it's depleted. As you stop / cut down on your red wine you can take a big Vit B tablet, or you can try and cram in as much natural foodstuff as possible - leafy green veg, broccoli, kale, eggs, liver, whole grains, tomatoes, fish, soya beans, poultry, cheese, chickpeas, spinach, fresh fruit, dried fruit.... and absorption is helped by vitamin C... all that is bound to make you feel better and more energetic and livelier.

[vitamin b rant over]

What are you aiming for? Let us know and someone will be around to support.

mother sorry babe, will not say shit before because it's clear you are not!!!

ma also said your sick of being "tied" up which conjures up a very odd image of you tied to a chair or a bed, one not so good and the other a bit raunchy!!! Seriously, first of all a bottle a night is a wee bit of a problem but not a huge one, I was on 2 and on a depressive binge, well that was merely an aperitif!!! I suspect your drinking had become a coping habit and a reward for a hard day with the kids, that's the case for most of us. Remember drink is a depressant so most of your feelings are a come down from last nights bottle. The great news for you is that 2-3 days after you stop, everything will prove, it really doesn't take long to rid yourself of the poison but the habit maybe a bit longer but you sound ready to make a change and have taken the first and hardest step by posting. Looking forward to getting to know you better, your safe and supported on here xxx

guggs that bloody model we see on the "Stowells" adverts is probably snorting coke between takes and hasn't eaten since 1994 That's what I tell myself anyway xxx

Must go but I'll check in later xxx

Love to all xxx

Welcome smother. We all know that feeling!
Vitamin B tabs make your pee neon yellow by the way.
Just want to boast that dd2, despite all her health issues recently, has passed all of her second year exams. Proud mama. She worked bloody hard for it too.
Dad has been moved into care home and is bewildered, stressed and frightened at all the people "in my house". Its very hard.
Waves to all Babes. Had lunch with a very nice military chap today. Navy this time. Thought I should spread myself about a bit more rather than just the army
indie where are you chuck? You ok?
hope you ok?

Yay, Ma congratulations to your clever daughter, obviously takes after her mum.

A funny thing happened tonight. I went to a work do, all big rooms of people I don't really know, the kind of thing that usually has me hiding in terror or reaching for a bottle to down my fears and put on my bright social face.

And you know what, I was there for 3 hours, I really enjoyed it, I talked easily to lots of new people and - and I've only just realised the magnitude for me of the and - I did not once honk about alcohol. Not only didn't I want a drink, the idea didn't occur to me.

Am going off to ponder that one in wonderment. I've got four more of these events over the next few days and am not kidding myself they'll all be this easy - this is not a linear process, I'm acutely aware of that -but I feel quietly astonished for now.

For those of us starting out, the idea 5 months ago that I could ever write something like this was unreal and absurd. Please, babes - hang in there - it is hard and scary and tough but this bus will help you like it did me. I don't kid myself I am home free, I never will be, but this has been a really symbolic evening for me and I hope it helps any newbies to believe that it really can be possible. Maybe not the first time or the second or third but one day, something may make it stick. Hang in there.

Ha - honk about alcohol. A lovely slip! Think, obviously..

Evening, tis me. Mouse

Smother - see? Now that is a better name. You smother your children in love because you CAN. They need you. You need them. You're not shit, and we'll not let you call yourself that, okay?

So, until you come up with another name that MNHQ will help you change with - just message one of them that appears on the many threads and they'll help you. :)

You have taken so many big steps by posting here, talking about yourself. Your feelings are hard to share to friends, easier to talk to us, the crazy lot! :D :D :D

So, Vitamin B Complex is an absolute Godsend. It will help your major organs to recover. Also Milk Thistle. It's very good for reversing the damage your liver has been through.

Take your time. One Day At A Time sweetie, Milk thistle daily and Vit B Complex are your new best friends. Get rid of anything else... alcohol wise.

You can and will make it through the shittest time of your life, I promise. I did, so did countless others too.

WATER, WATER and more WATER. I keep a pint pot by my side/computer/or a 500ml bottle filled with me at all times.

My meds make me thirsty but you should drink as much as you can. Cut down on additive things - tea/coffee/sugar/cigarettes/ etc.

Think back to when you were eight.

You didn't need anything to make you get up in the day did you? No stimulants... no promises, no bargains...

Go back to that time in your life, assuming it was a great time and back to basics.

Sure, one you're dry and have realised what drink has done to you, you can maybe reach a place like where I am now...... 3/4 years on!

Rule number 1 - BE HONEST. With YOU and your family. If they offer you booze, decline. You don't have to tell them why, you can tell the that on a Wednesday your toes turn green id you drink. Whatever!!

Seriously! This is YOUR LIFE and only YOU can stop drinking. IF YOU WANT TO. And we are ALL here for you. Step by step, day by day, bit by bit..... however works for you. Believe in yourself sweetie xxx

Hey babes are you all sleeping? Or maybe the sun has come out at last and you're all on a picnic?

I'm here. Interesting day at work...might be on the verge of pulling off a deal which could help things a lot. Just got to get it all in order and write a paper outlining the proposal....am a bit out of my depth but winging it. Need some thinking time

Hello babes and welcome smother

Sorry I haven't been around, I'm just feeling a bit crap

ma good to hear about your DD, and as for your dad it sounds like he's finally in the right place for him and well get his needs met. Can you take a breath now? And as far you spreading yourself around the various armed forces - well that's a lot of men to keep you going! Will you be to busy, as you've got so much to do at work...?!

I'm here, kind of. Also feeling a bit crap and have nothing interesting to say.

Love you all though!

Evening babes

I'm feeling crap and a bit bored too! I'm getting over a horrible mutant virus infection thingy- probably Zombie Flu.

Looks like a dose of the blues here on the bus tonight.
Time for bed.

Night all. Just want to boast that I swam a whole mile today! In small lengths, with in between breaks in the jacuzzi, but still, a mile! I swim like a labrador at the seaside with my head poking up out of the water, so it wasn't elegant but I feel better for some exercise

Day 3 here. Met some friends for lunch (salad and coffee! No wine!) and then went to gym and popped in to work to steal some paper for my printer erm, see who was about, and spent an hour chatting to an ex-colleague and still sort-of friend, but there is that embarrassing distance between us now as she's employed and I'm not...

Also just tried to fill in job application online - I don't really want it but wouldn't hate it either as a stopgap - and totally ballsed up the online application form, pressed 'complete' before it was completed and it wouldn't let me back in. So they just have evidence of my name, contact email and the fact that I'm a bloody idiot! D'aaaagh!!!!

Smother - how are you getting on babe? You are so not a shit mum, hope you got the name change sorted!

Ma - good news about dd's results, and about the job - things looking up? . All you need now is for Midget Obama to reappear.

Small well done on the sober work do. Those are often my undoing too. Find them often unbearable sober, but being pissed at them can also be a Very Bad Thing so it's lose/lose for me, try to avoid them. Well, at least that won't be a problem for the foreseeable ! Five months is awesome (if I can be permitted to use that word at my age. Probably not).

I am also annoyed at the coverage on Charles Kennedy. See the Mail and Express leapt in with the prurient stuff right away, the others will save it for the weekend supplements maybe. Also annoyed me how everyone from Cameron to Liz Kendall leapt in with the social media comments right away. Some tributes, like Alistair Campbell's and Tim Farron's sounded sincere, some just smacked of a PR exercise. Wonder how many of those were mocking him two months ago on Question Time?

Venus and Mouse - health tips duly noted, have been dosing up each morning with Vitamin B, Milk Thistle, my Citalopram, plus Evening Primrose Oil for my manky dry skin. Will let you know when I begin to feel a boing.

Guggs - ignored your ban and watched 'Rain in my heart'. That is bloody scary, especially the guy who died long after giving up alcohol cos his liver was just gone. The middle aged lady was the one who got me the most. I just felt so sorry for her.

Baby thanks for your kind words xxx Hope your Crohn's is getting better and you feel OK tonight xxx

Waves to Spanna, Joey, Isinde, Khalisi, and apologies to anyone I've missed

Off to sleep now and in the morning we are to clean up properly after Sunday's bus party. Has nobody else noticed that Gerald is still strewn with party poppers, paper plates and balloons??? Place is a tip

looking I knew that someone would watch it if it was banned -tee hee! Yes,poor Vanda. She wasn't able to do anything about the gemlins because of her drinking,she just re lived it over and over again. I really hope that she made it to recovery.
looking you sound more chilled - well done on the job applications. I hate getting my CV together but once it's done you juts have to tweak it for new job applications.

ma I was on citalopram and it did nothing for the first 2 weeks,then I had a bit of a surreal moment when it suddenly felt better,all at once. Not wonderful,just a bit better.

Zombie flu is buggering off. Now I have to deal with the large quantities of weight I've put on because I ate crap.Think I need to start swimming or running once I'm properly better.

Morning all

Morning Guggs, haven't been around much but will make more of an effort .

Waves to all babes x