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

Good afternoon and a very happy Sunday to all the bus Babes,
Mouse - you have not whinged or moaned at all!! I cannot believe how self effacing you are - with everything that you have going on, you are still asking for updates and giving thought to everyone else. Wishing you the very, very best of luck with the tribunal - may there be some justice in the world for those who deserve it

Thinking of all those who are missing their fathers on Father's Day too - I have spent today until now with my parents, who are nearly 91 and 85 and just back from a week in Rome and I know that we are lucky in many respects. However my father is very remote in general - a German musician and feels deeply, so was unable to speak to me for five years after ex H left when I was pregnant, as he was so upset. Or so my mother says. On the other hand, DD's father has never had anything to do with her and I know that she finds this day tricky - he is overseas somewhere with his second family.

OK, update .... I'm on day 30 today and all OK. Seeing my GP tomorrow as requested by my unintentionally circular ("pass the buck" or rather "the lobster") psychiatric assessment team - then seeing the third agency (?) on Tuesday for some kind of psychological assessment (first two said I was too complex for them - love it!) and then an interview on Wednesday. I need to get back to work - I have bits of contract work to do at home but I'm a creature of habit and need routine.

Waving and sending happy thoughts to ma (hoping for a miracle for you and your boss), khalisi, Isinde, Faire, looking, trooper, spanna, baby, noapril, smallfox, sweet, popcorn and beonit and profuse apologies to anyone whom my little mind hasn't yet managed to absorb and include ... I will get better at this and stop cheating by giving cop-out greetings to one and all.

xxxx

Hey mouse always lovely to see you posting. My update is that I am busy being a grandmother I now have 2 lovely grandchildren - what a joy! When I was a Mum to little children I was so busy worrying about what they'd eaten / hadn't eaten, worrying about their sleep / lack of sleep, worrying about their timidity / lack of fear, worrying about their lack of speech / their non-stop chatter, and of course dealing with the relentless-ness of daily life and work and family and responsibility and money. Now I can just notice and enjoy and love them. It's great.

However, inside I still think that I'm about 30 years old - so how can it be that I'm a mid-50''s gran? Next I'll be getting grey hair, or something.

Oh just looked in the mirror.

faire so sorry to hear about your Mum. There seems like such a lot to do in the immediate aftermath, and I trust that you are surrounded by people who love you, and who also knew and loved your Mum, and that in the midst of sadness you can still share those glimpses of happy moments and quirks of family on which stories and memories are built.

ma such a horrid time you are facing at work. I went to see my friend this afternoon, and her department have all had the threat of redundancy hanging over their heads for 3 times in the last 4 years. Now it is happening and she finishes next week. She said that in some ways the certainty is better than all the uncertainty. I'm never far away if things overwhelm you.

Lovely to read all the other posts and to see how everyone is doing. I know that I'd never have made it this far without the support of everyone who has posted here over the years. What a great place.

Morning all. Another cold grey and rainy so called summers day in Scotland...
Have a day off today so going out with sis to sort out some stuff for dad and then look for a dress suitable for a clapped out old trout to wear to a garden party!
Have a good day all

Good morning, Babes,

Darling Faire, many hugs, babe. Really sorry to hear about your loss. Thinking of you and sending you strength.

XXX

Morning babes,

I'm feeling really down this morning!!!

My crohn's has been relentless in the last few weeks and it's left me exhausted and snappy, also throw in PMT and it's a crap mix. I guess my ongoing battle with depression makes me live in terror of a relapse so I'm always looking for signs, even when they are red herrings. It's normal to feel low after a week of constant runs, bleeding, piles and pain and PMT doesn't help but I must keep reassuring myself that I'm just down in the dumps NOT depressed. I guess it highlights my constant fear and that I'm still very vulnerable. I hate feeling down, it doesn't suit me and it confuses me. As I'm typing this I feel a bit sick and all at sea and I can't be bothered with anyone or anything!!!

Anyhoo I will just go through the motions and ignore the gremlins on my shoulder, I also dreamt I drank last night so that uneasy yet unecessary (only a dream) feeling of dread is playing with my emotions.

I just wanted to say to our lovely newbies, it's really satisfying to see the turnaround from those first frightened, unsure posts to the confident, strong and determined ones I so love reading. I've been on here a long time but I take reassurance of my only sobriety by watching you guys fight the same fight with such confidence and good grace so thank you my new friends.

I wonder how long if ever it will take to know and trust my own mind and have a sense of peace, I worry it may never come, so it's ODAAT for now, maybe forever.

A useful point for all of you, my mood has deteriorated as I have been to unwell to excercise, I have no doubt there's a very strong connection so if you can, go for a nice walk, make time for a swim, look out those running shoes or bung on some music and have a boogie, I promise you'll thank me!!!!

Hugs to everyone xxx

Oh darling baby
Really sorry to hear you're down in the dumps! I know how the lack of exercise worsens things. Especially if it is such a regular part of our lives like it was with you. The time will come again, babes.
In the meantime, sending you lots of hugs and taking you with me whenever or wherever I run.

I did decide (well, had to, really), in the end. DD really wanted to meet NF. She didn't say so, but by the third sms saying she would not mind I thought, oh well.
He joined us for supper on Sat and lunch on Sunday.
It was really lovely.
He's been approved!

Waves to all you lovely lot! What are you up to?
xxx

Got not one dress, but two! Now how to decide which one to wear. Debenhams have a massive sale on women's Wear - one dress reduced from £50 to £15!
baby sorry you are so down. Crohns is horrible and you must feel awful.

ma - I have a very similar dilemma . I went out last week to look for a dress for "an important event" and had a dismal time. I looked so fat and frumpy and odd-shaped. But one dress looked possible (and was the right colour for me) so I bought it. I wore it at the weekend with a jacket I already had and I looked quite passable, and more importantly - I felt quite good. And dress was in the sale. I also found a dress I already had in my wardrobe. I had forgotten how nice it felt to wear - but probably too casual for said event, covered in mother of pearl sequins (in a casual boho way) don'dt want to upset Her Maj.

Next stop is a damn good hair cut.

baby keep posting here - ESPECIALLY if you are feeling a bit down. And doubly so, if your gremlin make you think that picking up a drink would be a good alternative.

I know that some babes on here moderate, but I also know from your posts that you're not the moderation type. So whatever our own preferred methods are, we will rally round and support you moment to moment to remain abstinent, to feel that you can let your mind out freely here, and to feel safe.

Sherly Sandberg wrote a lot of crap book called "Lean In" which is all about helping women to go the extra mile and achieve their ambitions. I'd rather write a book called Lean ON which encourages people to stop being so damn self-reliant and to actually ask for the help they need. (I say this as one who finds it immensely difficult).

Hey baby how are you now? Rubbish isn't it?

Music is a good idea,when I can't face anything else then music/ radio really helps. About 18 mths ago I was having a really hard time at work and just stopped listening to the news. Changing to a music channel helped to lift my mood. And the news is always fecking awful

I've had several BIG things to do this month- all to do with ds so I'm being a bit vague. I've been mostly sober and have finally got over the zombie flu. I drank last night which I'm not happy about but I know I always react like that when the big,scary things are over. Nice sober night for me!

I am going to award myself a pat on the back. I thanked a person today who actually gets right on my fecking tits and whom I could cheerfully push off a bus. Through very gritted teeth i can just about recognise that she is 'doing her best'. And for the sake of future harmony,I needed to behave like a grown up. It nearly bloody killed me.

Venus yes, desperately need a haircut but God knows when I will find the time. Big problem is shoes. Not good in high heels at the best of times and think there will be a lot of standing around. Think flats will be too casual. Need comfort, class and cheap in one pair of shoes - probably nude, pink or black, depending which dress I go for. Anyone any ideas?

Oh guggs, that made me laugh! (The bit about the person, obviously=.

Hi ma, why don't you try to find a wedge pair of pretty sandals (or closed shoes)? There are really beautiful ones out there and you can stand in them for hours!
www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_3?url=search-alias%3Dshoes&field-keywords=wedge+sandals&sprefix=wed%2Cundefined%2C288

I'm logging off, my dear Babes. Am exhausted. A little early but I'm off to bed.
Good night!
xxx

Ooh, I like those ones by Salt and Pepper. Stop making me want more shoes Khalisi.

Ma why are you taking and old trout to the garden party ? Better company than Dh? (And ionosphere what you meant but refuse to even acknowledge it, I have a picture of you in my head as a glamorous thistle haired Fox)

Baby sorry you are unwell. . Sending you love and support...

Sorry not to nc all, on phone in car waiting for ds as ever

Got dilemma re: job situation, and WB being even more annoying and useless than usual. Will post more when I get time

On plus side, did a Metafit class and swam 1km today. Day 22. Though really really want a drink atm. Thank God I am driving, by the time I get home and eat it will be too late to pour the 'vodka of frustration'

Ionosphere??? Meant to type 'I know'. Good word though....

Hi to all ..... I'm not stopping and have only checked in for a nanosecond but cannot leave the message counter on 666 xxx

Day 22 hope? Awesome. Not even on day 1 here.
Maybe wedges would be OK but they look kind of clumpy to me.....I will have a good look at the link. Thanks khalisi

looking Day 21 is fantastic! Well done you.

I'm back to day 1. Again. I really need to just quit.

babyj hope you feel better soon - is it time to go back to the doctor?

Good morning from the other side of the Ionosphere!
Go Hope! Now we FINALLY have our own sphere!
Sorry about the shoes! OMG, I had to go to bed before going crazy on Amazon. Love, love shoes. SIGH.

Oh I had a question I've been meaning to ask for a few days now (since the rabbit/hare-gate).
Have some of the babes here met in RL? I honestly would love a bus get together. Although we probably all would have to abstain from alcohol. Even the moderators!
Wouldn't want to get arrested for flashing Pippin the Rabbit on a country lane!

ma I have a lovely pair of vintage Marni peep-toe wedges with a buckle.
DELICIOUS!
OMG, just googled vintage marni shoes (and bags). OMG.

Ok. I have to work.
Muuuuuuh!
xxx

don't get the shoe thing either..I have trainers and trekking sandals and a pair of boots and flat, boring work shoes.
Oh and one pair of sparkly sandal thingies for posh do's which get worn about once a year.
will post a pic .....

2 pairs of walking boots, wellies, black kitten heels for funerals, brown posh sling - back kitten heels for weddings, sandals for every day, 2 pairs of ankle boots for (black suede and red suede) for winter (about 9 months of the year, and these...... which I am wearing now.

I don't suppose that people even say sling - backs anymore