The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Soaking Up The Warm Sunshine, Instead Of The Warm White Wine!

[Mouseface]

Hi, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to The Brave Babes Battle Bus.

A place for pouring out your heart without being judged, mostly because a lot of us have been exactly where you are right now, or somewhere similar.

We've been around for a while, so there's not much that we've not seen..... or heard.... or been through ourselves.

Some of the Babes are newer to the Bus, some of the Babes have been here on dear old "Gerald" (The name this Bus was given by one of the Babes, I forget who now!I suspect IsinDe or Silver) for a little while longer!

EVERYONE is welcome here. Drinkers, those who are complete non drinkers, and those who are somewhere in the middle of all of the above. :)

Some Babes are in control of their drinking, some not so much. It's dreadfully hard some days, days when there is nothing going around your head except thinking that you MUST have a drink and you sit there trying to work out when, what time you can have that first mouthful of ice cold poison.

Whatever your goal here, or why you're here, we'll all help you along the way, YOUR WAY.

There will be one of us on here that can relate to your life story as if it were a mirror they were looking at, someone to hold your hand if you want it, catch you if you fall, which you may or may not. Positive thinking, just One Day At A Time.

No one Babe is better than any other, we've all been addicts. We've all suffered, yes some more than others but it's not a competition (and no-one gets turned away) but if you rack up shed loads of sober days, you will be a winner on the thread!!

So, if you want somewhere safe to sit and enjoy the warming summer sun, come find a seat, have a chat or just sit and listen to the rest of us yakking on!!

Nice to meet you :) all.

Also, here is the latest thread -

THE LATEST THREAD WE'VE SHARED OUR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES ON

And this is the very first thread -

AND THIS THREAD, THIS THREAD IS EXTREMELY SPECIAL BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE JOURNEY STARTED, AND HAS SINCE EVOLVED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS

Hope to chat soon, Mousey x

Thanks venus It was bloody horrible, I was laying in bed, dripping with sweat and trying not to be sick, refusing to go to sleep because I was convinced I wouldn't wake up. I've never, ever been so frightened of the effect drink has had on me.

I'd gone to the walk in centre earlier that night because I was so scared, I was injected with anti sickness drugs and diazepam and told to go home and have a little bit to drink to help me withdraw. I burst into tears and howled that I never, ever wanted to drink again.

I'm determined to stop, for myself and my family, but the terror I feel for my health right now is unbelievable.

Ma, hang in there!

So it's 5pm, how are you doing? Feeling tired? Well, why not open the door, walk downstairs, go outside and have a walk - anywhere - a park, the streets, the beach, just walk and enjoy the feeling of being out.

OK, maybe it's raining. So what? point your face up to the rain and let it fall on you. For once, let it make your hair go into a mess.

Maybe it is hot and feeling sticky... so put your arms out wide and let as much air circulate as possible (ignore the people who are looking at you oddly). Or maybe it is noisy and polluted and rush hour and busy, busy, honking, braking, ... well that is OK, it is how it is - each of those people who are driving or passengers, or looking disgruntled, well you know what? they are looking forward to getting home too, and to sitting down with a plate of macaroni cheese, or an avocado (depending on your preference). You know - when it come to getting home at the end of the day, yes we are all in this together....

So...heading home, we've got a choice. There is something that might look like the simplest choice (I think you know what I'm talking about) or there are several other choices - you could rant at your kids, or you could look in the mirror and feel shit about how tired and old and dishevelled you are, or you could count how many minutes late your dp is (meanwhile imagining him sitting with cool glass of beer or relaxing on his train chatting companionably) - while you are busy holding everything together at your end. Or you could laugh with your kids. Feed them nothing but tomatoes and broccoli. You could take them on a walk with you. Have a picnic (tomato and broccoli). Have your picnic on a concrete bench in a town - it's still a picnic.

Whatever, whatever, go outside.

Great post Venus
Have had a horrible day. Dd2 managed to upset a customer at her work by saying they couldn't support his charity event (company policy). He then filmed himself on Facebook having a rant about "the cow who works at xxxxx". Called her a fucking c*nt, a stupid bitch, a whore etc. Exhorted all his friends to get involved and 72 posts later of vile abuse and threats, her company have called the police. She is terrified. She did absolutely nothing wrong but the guy is calling her for everything, saying he hopes she does and that they will go down there and " name and shame her". It's awful.
But I am so proud of her. She turned up for her shift tonight( albeit scared shitless) and is going to press charges so no other woman has to put up with being made to feel the way she has. She totally rocks. Her work are being hugely supportive. This guy is a dick and a coward. Social media at its worst!

Hopes she dies!

ma that's awful! Glad to hear the company are supporting her

Hi, I am on day 4 of no alcohol. I will lurk, but wanted to say hi.

Alcohol needs to be consigned to my past. (self medicating)

My off switch is faulty. DG

Good morning - hope you don't mind if I hop on the bus? I've brought my own Opal Fruits :) Long time lurker on this and the dry thread - I think I prefer the decor here.

I need to get a serious grip - I'm on a week off from work and have been pissed every day, culminating in being pissed in front of colleagues yesterday evening. Urgh. I get the feeling that moderation isn't going to work for me. But not drinking forever seems like a seriously strange prospect, although I do have family members who are dry, so it's not completely unheard of in our family.

My big issue is that all of my social life revolves around alcohol - I'm not sure how I'm going to remember that I'm not drinking if I do go out! DP will lose his drinking buddy, he doesn't understand why I can't just stick to halves.

Anyway, I'm holed up in the living room, furiously drinking tomato juice, starting to think about making some lists... onwards, and upwards, as they say.

indie thank you. Dd is being interviewed by the police now. The guy has already taken it off his Facebook so is running scared. Lowlife scum. You will be back with your DTS soon and they will be learning from you about hard work and commitment and that someone has to earn the pennies.
goat 4 days is excellent. Well done you.
starburst how very dare you come on this bus with a name like that?. But seeing as you brought your own supplies.....will DP be supportive if you tell him you are serious about it?

I think he'll be supportive when I tell him - want to get a few days under my belt first. Need to prove I can go out & see friends without drinking, which will be odd to start with, especially as the times I've done it in the past, I generally want to leave early because everyone gets really boring after a while!

I think I alarmed him quite a bit yesterday with the state I was in, and have managed to get myself in with greater frequency these last few months.

ma your DD sounds epic - no nonsense being taken and all that - would have turned me into a quivering wreck (and running to find a bottle to sink into).

Oh, and Starburst in my circles means a really stinky fart . I'm currently munching on Opal Fruits. I needed a physical reminder of what I was intending to do today to keep me on the straight & narrow, and they seemed appropriate. I've now eaten enough to make me feel rather queasy - I don't have much of a sweet tooth, so they should last. DP jokes that when I drink, whatever I drink has to be dry as sandpaper - so tomato juice with all the worcester sauce & tabasco is working nicely.

Quiet on here. Where is everyone?

Hey Ma. I'm here, between bouts of frantic last minute packing - we're off on holiday tomorrow for a couple of weeks, so I will report back periodically from the Cognac vineyards....grrrr....on which note how unhelpful of MN to have a link to 'boozy lollies' next to this thread.

Feeling ok, bit better and less likely to lapse than during the last couple of weeks, so that's good.

Spanna, Sweet - you ok guys? Mousey, how's things?

Big welcome to Starburst (well done for getting that name past Ma) - you sound really determined and self aware, welcome to the bus. We've seen and done it pretty much all (which is definitely not a boast) so we'll be right behind you all the way. Don't hold back (well, only on the starbursts - now I know what they are!).

Ma - your daughter sounds amazing, and you must be so proud. Since you won't say it to yourself I'll say it for you - you a wonderful mother to have given her such strength and integrity of character. Course, that's nothing less than I'd expect of you, but really - amazing.

Back to the heaps of washing - now working on the basis that it will be much easier just to wash it when we arrive. Assuming there is some means to do so - I tried an experiment letting DP book the first week of the holiday and have determinedly left him to implement all the planning and arrangements. Pray for me. This is an unprecedented experiment in Not Over Engineering things and Letting Him Do Stuff for himself (he is perfectly capable, just does it differently from me and is therefore Wrong). I feel beyond anxious...control freak, me? Hmm.

So far so good - I'm binge watching things on Netflix, trying not to strangle poor DP - he's got a really annoying cough, and has been off work for the a goodly proportion of my weeks holiday. Harrumph!

Thanks for the welcome SmallFox

small thank you. Enjoy your holiday and have a fab time.
starburst keep at it. You are doing really well.
faire can you post and let us know if you are OK?

Day 10

ma how is your DD? How are you ?

Well done on day 10 joey. She is better today. The tosser has taken his post off his Facebook page....running scared now he knows the company have involved the police. The police were supposed to see DD today but they didn't turn up and are going to see her on Monday. DDS lovely boyfriend is with her and being very supportive. It's been a bloody horrible experience.

Feeble wave

I tried to post a few days ago, spent ages name checking and then my sodding phone lost it so I took a huff (with my phone, not the bus) and it's taken me another week to come back.

ma, it sounds a little more positive with your job, fingers crossed it improves and lovely boss comes back. Your DD sounds so strong. I remember getting a horrid, explicit phone call when working in a shop and went to pieces.

smallfox and spanna, you're amazing. You've fought the witch and won on so many occasions. You are inspirational.

sweet, where are you? I'd love to hear what pup is up to.

hands, I'm in a similar place to you. Decent run of AF days, then think I can handle moderation. I can't.

Hiya to all newbies (apologies for the informality, my toddler's favourite word is hiya so it's entered my vocabulary)

I had restarted, was on day 5. But now tomorrow will be day 1 again. But it probably won't. BecAuse I catching up with old friends and drinking is the easier option.

Love to all, have a good sleep, khalisi, I'll be snapping at your ankles soon! Running is on hold while I move house but then there will be no stopping me.

And I forgot but this is important enough for a new post anyway

isinde your comment about nobody ever regretting not having a drink really struck home with me. It kept me sober last night. I think it will in the future. Maybe not every time but I think it's a really powerful message so thank you.

Urgh. Just been woken up by a police siren, and now DCat is loudly playing with a weeble under the dining room table. At least I'm not grumpy from the booze, which I would have been a couple of days ago. And I can sleep later. Technically, this is day 2

Hi April good to see you back and starburst hope you managed to catch up with your sleep.
Plans for today include a massage with Auntie Derek - he who has hands kissed by angels and an endless supply of filthy one liners to make me laugh. Won't be able to afford this little luxury once reduced pay kicks in so shall savour it.
Raining again. This has to be the worst summer ever, made worse by the blazing sunshine everyone else is enjoying.

Morning Ma - sleep was not my friend last night - DP was up coughing at 2, then up for work proper at half 3, then the cats started up at half 6. On the plus side, I'm showered, 2 loads of washing done, and dishwasher has been given a good scrub.

Ma that sounds like a real treat - can't beat a good belly laugh :)

Gosh where is everyone today?

I'm here waves. Felt really discombobulated this morning, finally realised it was because I needed sugar and carbs - something which I seemed to be getting from wine rather than actual solids more recently.

Picked up DP from work, he wanted to go via the pub, so I offered to take the car back rather than pick it up in the morning, which is what we'd normally do.

Had a major wobble in town as it was sooo warm & sunny, but distracted myself by mooching round M&S posh food aisle.

We're currently watching the curse of the were rabbit like the grown ups we are :)

Hope everyone's had a lovely day - will check in when I go to bed (to actually read a book rather than conk out snoring). Ma - how did your massage & belly laughs go?

Sx

**Space undo yes here

MEEyes cracked on DD Day 11

I am trying out dictation feature on iPad. Space no undue.it is not really working.warning about strange text although it has understood this sentence? Exclamation mark! Space no great

Bugger! This is tricky. Control and enter.