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 morning, Babes!

Practice makes the master, Ruby! Sometimes people tell me their first opinions of me when they know me better (). I still find this unbelievably rude even if they think its a compliment.
But I do my pf really well. Even if I'm crumbling inside.

Freaky Friday, Babes! What is everyone up to today?

I'm having dinner with a group of girls and I'm absolutely looking forward to it. Have decided to drive myself although new fella has offered to take and pick me up again. Yes, you know why.

Later, babes.

Sweet hugs, darling. Really miss you.

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Sorry to not have been around, I'll read back later and catch up..... things have been a bit busy or sleepy here! xxx

Morning Mouse - how are things with your arm/wrist/cast? Hope all is improving and that Nemo is looking forward to half term xx

Hi all, just checking in. Last day at school for my dcs, one sixth form so leaving 4EVA and one year 11 so will be back in September for A levels but once these exams are over we will be school uniform free! Woo Hoo.

Ds took a sharpie to school so they can write all over each other and dd took a packet of tissues

Hey babes. Catching up - doing last bit of freelance work before kids finish school today.

Meeting with useless boss yesterday was, well, useless. He talks the talk, but there are no permanent posts for us and he knows it. They will be seeking to open another VR scheme next week and I might have no choice but to take it. Scary to think that I might have to have a freelance career for a bit, especially as no backing from WB. . But Baby, thanks for you kind words but I do have the kids to love me. And there are plenty of single parents out there and for them that's enough. It's different of course because you can't lean on your kids for support. And I do miss having support. But FFS I am 47, not 7, so I'm going to have to get on with it, and try to do that without the crutch of alcohol . I just wish I could get rid of the grumpy, bad-tempered nuisance WB from my life. Although Khalisi has offered to come and give him his marching orders so might take her up on it

So feeling a bit tearful and scared today, but it's half term now and kids will be home and we will just try to have fun together (when I can drag them away from their tablets and x-box, and their friends!)

Got to drag myself away and do the last of that work now. Got a meeting with them on Tuesday next week too so may see what else might be in the offing.

What are we all doing for the bank holiday weekend? Any nice plans?

hope just start making plans for your 'one day', keep the idea alive in your mind. The more you focus on a life without him, the more it will seem like a realistic possibility. When the time is right there is a lot of support here on mn for women trying to make that split and so many stories of how the journey is worth it in the end.

I'm just hoping the rain holds off this weekend and I've got lots of home and garden jobs I'd like to crack on with. Just pottering around stuff but it's nice to have the windows open, washing on the line and no time pressure

I'm aiming to walk a lot too. Am successfully back on the diet and realising what a difference just two or three pounds make when walking up hills, etc. Lots of friends are doing 5k runs or fun runs/night walks, etc. but I don't think I'm up to that yet.

This time next year...

Faire, we just had a company run and so many people who are absolutely not runners walked the 6k and of course they were exhausted but they managed it. Don't let others running put you off if you can walk the route, babes! Rome wasn't built in a day!

Hope Have a lovely time with dc! Faire is right, just concerntrate on your future without him. And do remember you have the right to kick him out. What will be will be. You are still young and fit and can really build a life for yourself in advance of the dc moving out!
(I know the internet is full of nutcases and I probably am one too but honestly, don't feel like you're alone!)

Just found out DD can't get the school bus when she starts high school in September (despite the fact the bus stops outside our bloody door!) because of new rules the government has brought in. Apparently the school the DC's go to (and which is the catchment school from our primary school) is 3.8 miles away and there is another high school (not catchment) 3.7 miles away. There is no school or service bus to this school anyway. The council have very kindly suggested DD walks 2 miles to the next village and then gets a service bus which will get her to our high school. In the meantime the school bus will still be stopping outside our door with empty seats on it. I'm bloody furious!

Also DS has had 5 years at high school with 100% attendance, no sick days, holidays or anything. I thought he may have got some sort of certificate in his leaving assembly today but no - nothing. I think that's awful. Needless to say I'm feeling a bit pissed off

Rant over. Hope everyone has a great weekend. We're having a Eurovision party tomorrow with the kids and a couple of friends (DH is being miserable and watching a film in another room) and on Sunday we're going to a festival that's made up of tribute acts! I will try and go for another run at the weekend. Faire I did a charity run last weekend and jogged/walked. I'm not a runner but still felt great at the end of it (and ached for days after!). Even if you walk fast it's still great exercise.

Hugs to Hope . Have a great weekend with your lovely DCs.

Have a fab weekend Babes xx

Hands that is a nonsense. You should phone your local paper about it. I am in PR (or was when I had a job ) so have a bit of a warped attitude to how to complain (ie embarrass them in public and force the issue), but I once forced the council to grit our street by taking a photo of it and sending it to the local paper. This was when repeated phone calls to them had been totally ignored. (God I sound like a nimby there but I live on a hill and it was really dangerous, almost crashed my car twice!)

They might want to come and take a cheesy photo of you standing by the bus stop, arms crossed, angry face, but worth a try?

(My friend also had similar success (on my advice) getting a slower speed limit on the road near her kids school. Also involved cheesy shot of her glaring indignantly at a road, haha but she did it!)

Off to cook dinner now and then take dd to gymnastics. DS got an event tomorrow, then no plans Sunday or Monday but will find something. Possibly the Moomins film. Nobody wants to go with me because they think Moomins are weird but I will find a friend...

Laters taters

And yes, Faire, Khalisi, I have a plan. I even have a codename for it! One day...

Hey hope. You and me both....
Empty house this weekend. Absolute bliss and as sore arm means I can't do the painting, I am slumming on the sofa eating Haagen Daaz out of the tub and doing fuck all. The single life is fan. Tomorrow I can do exactly what I want. All day. And all night. And I will.....

Good for you Ma. Just watch a bus full of babes doesn't pull up outside and join you. I am very tempted by running away at tge moment

hello babes what are we all up to? BTW has anyone seen sweets lately - don't tell me we've lost another Babe?

ma sounds like the perfect weekend...!

Sorry not to NC everyone, I'm too tired and would probably forget somebody... sleeping better though, I think the HRT is working, still get some night sweats. The patches are a bugger though, they keep falling off

Beautiful sunny morning this morning. Have slept for a!most 12 hours!!!! Now coffee in bed with a pain au chocolate and MN to get the day underway. So bewildered to have a full day and night to myself I'm not sure what to do next! Although there is the painting,visiting dad,shopping........

Good morning babes,

ma squidge up, I'm white 2 sugars!!!! Seriously a beautiful day to be free, enjoy lovely lady xxx

I'm off cycling with dd1 with dd2 whizzing alongside on her scooter, we literally back on to the cycle track so there's no excuse.

Happy to be sober and a teeny weeny bit boingy.

Ps went a bit OTT with the fake tan last night, look like I'm just back from Barbados instead it was Costa del Fake Bake!!!!!

Also looking forward to a sober 44th birthday on Monday, where did the time go???

Love to all xxx

Just look what I got in the post today babes!

Ooh Ma get you! What are you going to wear?

Feck knows! I dont do dresses or heels or girly stuff and I have to wear a hat!!!! I cant even control my hair, let alone a hat. You will all have to help me find something. I emailed lovely boss to see if he had got his invitation and actually asked him if he had got a stiffy today! He replied "Yes, nothing quite like a stiffy first thing in the morning!" I'm going to miss him when we close....which is looking ever more likely despite our best efforts.

Evening, tis ms, Mouse

Hands - we have the same dilemma with dd and her free bus pass. Because were outside of 3 miles from the school, she gets a pass but once July comes, that's that.

Ma - oh, sorry, I mean Ma'am - how exciting for you!! How does one get ones' self invited to events as such? What will you were? Is it just you going? I'll carry your bag if you like!!

Hello to ALL other babes. I wanted to ask if any of you had heard Graham Norton's radio show on BBC Radio 2 about a caller's friend/DH/something and their drinking this morning?

I found myself screaming at an inanimate object and then just put Radio 1 on.

Apparently, if you stop completely for 3 days, you'll not want to drink again.

There were all sorts of theories, some were genuinely helpful advice givers, people who had been there but the one thing that stood out for me wasn't AA, or community projects, or their GP etc... well certainly not a as a "cure"... it was that this person had to WANT TO STOP DRINKING COMPLETELY FOR GOOD, FOR EVER!!

Yes, take the help out there, but you have to want to stop more than you want to breathe!

How do you get to that point?

You'll know. it will be your 'light bulb moment' xxx

Wow, this bus is quiet this weekend (stares round silent empty bus strewn with Opal Fruit wrappers and empty tea mugs ). Where is everybody? Hello? Hellooo? ...

Happy Sunday anyway .... Wherever you all are ....

I think everyone is out making the most of the sunshine hope.

Now, babes, I have just realised that in one week's time this bus will be having it's 5th birthday.

Yes, that's right. Five whole years of support, advice, battles won and lost, people forging ahead, people being carried, love, laughter, hope, despair - we've had it all and we are still together, stronger than ever.

So, what shall we do to celebrate? Big birthday bash, balloons, fireworks, cake, disco? Who can do what?

(Ma you can leave your triangle alone )

Maybe a reunion, massive roll call for all babes ever?

What do we think?

ma I went to the Garden Party once - it was a splendid occasion. However those who were 'regulars' (the clergy and their wives) pushed in and snaffled all the strawberry tarts! When I went, one was still permitted to take unmarried daughters under the age of 25. I didn't bother, neither of them were likely to snaffle a Prince

hope I have been freelance for 13 years. When I first started (in circumstances not dissimilar to yours) I thought it was a stop-gap till I found a 'proper' job. Wouldn't swap it for the world now. Will send you a pm.

faire 5 years is amazing. I sometimes wonder how many threads there have been. I don't post so much, but I always, always read.

Ooh, please do Venus. I have been continuously employed for the last 23 years so this is a big, scary step for me and any advice welcome.

Faire I will be in charge of bunting for the bus party, and we must get a playlist together for the bus stereo. Any suggestions? (wanders off humming I Will Survive in a deeply timeless fashion).

Timeless? Tuneless more like ....

Ooh a bus party! 5 years??????. We need Jesus as guest of honour and thurso and pink and ladame and wry and the wonderful babe whose name escapes me but who got her baby back? And all of those sober, semi-sober,and pissed.
rural - we need rural.
Barrie needs his tank cleaned out, and there is spirit and a camel to be sorted.
If I can't play my triangle may I contribute a Salvation Army band and a military flypast?
Who is in charge of invitations? We need a spreadsheet!