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

Hi all, Hello to Hermit and Cat (sorry forgotten how to do bold) Doing ok tonight, just had marmalade on toast (big slices!) Had my weekly ration of wine last night, supposed to be Friday/ Saturday so a bit early - I remember the HALT thing & if I substitute stress for anger then that's easily my main trigger. I don't think I even enjoy it now, I've got good (but not good enough) at picturing the whole story, know I'm going to wake at 4a.m. feeling anxious etc.

cat if we had the answers we wouldn't be here.
Some of us go cold turkey and stay dry, others moderate by a variety of means, some go AF for periods and then binge...we are all different.
Stress is one of my triggers too anneb as is tiredness.
But have managed day 1 so that's a big success for me and I'll settle for that for today.
Gnight all. Am off to dream about chaps in uniform.....

To Looking Ltd from Venus Ltd - welcome to the new corporate world Well done for making the leap, it's a good and exciting world out here.

Salem the strength comes a minute at a time. It comes from posting on here and crying for help. It comes from reviewing the experiment of your life and doing the things that work for you (and dropping the things that don't). And it comes from being part of a community where we are all in the same boat bus, and we are all one step ahead, or one step behind, but yet that doesn't matter, it matters more that we are here for each other.

Day 2 scraped in by the skin of my teeth. Temptation was high but then I realised it was tiredness really so I ate the contents of the kitchen instead. For a wee energy burst you know (it didn't work), much as it didn't work last night but no wine was consumed. At this rate it would be more efficient just to wear a nose bag. I don't suppose you could easily drink through one either. It could catch on.

Well done no shame! I'm also eating the contents of my kitchen today. Also thinking my afternoon nap was a bad idea now that it's this time and I'm wide awake. Rookie mistake!

No more excellent idea! (hands out personalised monogrammed nosebags to all the babes, then waves at Venus and wonders if there is a secret corporate handshake to learn). Big meeting tomorrow so off to bed. On day 9 here, thanks to Cadbury and Walkers

Evening, tis me, Mouse

I just wanted to pop in and say hello. It's so hard to keep up in the school holidays and when I'm not feeling so great. I am not missing the booze after that massive blow out on holiday. :)

In fact I feel pretty okay about life, One Day At A Time though, even now, i have to live with that as my mantra. xxx

What a day. Was a weary chicken. Went for a walk with the handsome but gypit Lifebelt. He makes everything better. His quest for rabbit doldies is relentless, his tantrums when I try to keep walking are superb.

He can do forward rolls when in a tizzy. If anyone sees me in the park, I'm the one with The Whirling Dervish. I'm all about the non escape at the moment, he has two leads for extra security so at his best he looks like he's double dutching the lead. Should have called him Skippy.

Faire The Fabulous!! How are you ? Thank you for taping me to the seat, I haven't been at the epilator for a bit, so it will really hurt if I try to sneak off again. I've let myself go a bit, but I'm on my way back. My hair broke off, my lovely hair. It's now short and scrubby, imagine Janice Battersby. That's me that is. A worker for the new bypass let me go first going into the baker. And I quote. "You go first mate. I have a fucking massive order."
I whipped my precious By Terry rose lip balm out and applied it furiously. Mate?! xx

Hello lovely venus! I shall now haunt the train station with me beady eye and man hair a-looking for you! Although I'll spot you a mile off. You'll be wearing an "I beat ma" t-shirt. I'll be the one shaking the pompoms. How are you m'dear? Is life treating you kindly? xx

star have a big bosie from me. I used to be right good at a bosie. Excuse the wool. I'm like an unclipped pony at the mo. With bitten hooves. it stops now. I'm going to be glam again if it kills me. Pleased to meet you, I look forward to getting to know you, and your lovely sleep thieving kitties!

ma, oh ma! xxx

Psst. Venus See you at the train station. I look like this and I will be driving this. Tea, coffee and soft drinks served on board

Oh wry am sitting here grinning like a loon reading your post. Brilliant as always, utterly brilliant! So glad you have Lifebelt Lab to pull you through. I must admit though that happy as I am to see you, you are decidedly letting the side down on this here bus of gorgeousness. Get your haircut, legs shaved and moustache removed and report back on the double.....ooops, sorry. Was back in military land then for a minute.
Salem and shame great idea on the nose bags. Fill mine full of opal fruits please
hope day 9 did you say???? Day NINE? Awesome. Day 2 here
Must dash . don't want to look a mess in the Mess....

Yes ma'am!

Have a good day ma, try to keep your tongue in. Tight buttocks in uniform. Shiny shoes. Short hair. Yum.

You lucky article.

Hi all, just a quickie to remind everyone to change their mn password. Just in case you haven't seen all the hoo-ha and heard about the list on twitter. Also, if you use the same password for anything else, change that one too.

Catch up with you all later x

spanna I've just checked the list and you're on it so do make sure to change passwords x

Hello all, I've been in a dark place. Went back to work, my anxiety went through the roof, I developed a phobia for any sort of electronic communication (couldn't even lurk ) , and worst of all, I let the WW get all out of control in my head. I didn't just get back to old drinking levels, I exceeded them, two bottles of wine was not uncommon .

No, that wasn't the worst, the way I let people around me down was - Khalisi, I am so sorry, please forgive me, I couldn't even open your messages, though I knew they would only be lovely.

Anyway, I am finally getting all the help I have needed for a very long time - I've got therapists and mentors for just about every aspect of my life (no, joke, four at the last count!), and I am on AF day six, good God why did I stop stopping?

And then there is you lovely lot. I've only read back a little way, but it began to make me realise how much I loved and missed this crazy bus, and you fabulous lot.

Wry, we need pictures of LB Lab, 7 months is just a baby, he'll soon get the hang of things. I know what you mean about those untidy boy bits swinging around, Pup is a hairy bear of a dog (also 7.5 months), but when he rolls over for a tummy tickle, they are very much there .

Spanna, my hero , Small, don't beat yourself up, you're amazing, you'll soon be back to your old, wonderful self. Ma, Hope, Mouse, I have no idea how you amazing women are still standing, but you are, and that's an inspiration.

There are so many old names and new names, can't wait to catch up with you all (but I'm terrified of losing this post!).

sweet I am so pleased that you came back and posted, and glad that you are getting some real life support too. Day 6 - well done that is huge progress, 6 whole days of it.

Thanks Venus, I am trying to be very assertive about help, because in the past I have asked quietly, and not pushed when nothing happened.

I've got to the spotty staged, but I am beginning to get just a hint on boing

Hi everyone!
Thanks for everybody's warm welcomes! Nice to meet you guys
Well i made it through last night AF! my first AF evening since i can remember!! It was bloomin hard and tbh really didn't want to do it but having come on here and shared with you guys it gave me a kick up the bum to just get on with it! i would NEVER have done it otherwise so thanking you all... i drank loads of peppermint tea and was very quiet with the family so they probably just thought i was moody/ill as just didn't want to really announce it like a big thing... but of course everyone noticed i didn't have a drink immediately. I could smell everyones wine and boy did it smell good!! :/
Today was a tough day as i spent it going through my Dads things and dividing it all up between my brother, sister and i, lots of emotions - he had every letter/note/postcard/card i'd ever written him from when i was tiny to now... so lovely.
spanna thanks for all your advice, it was really helpful - and to answer your question my family are indeed all big drinkers (welsh/irish/pub landlords/such a cliché) and its quite normal to drink every day and heavily, and i know what you mean about besties - lots of friendships are formed and cultivated by going on the lash it becomes routine i guess!
and congrats on the AF holiday - that is seriously impressive!
hope thanks for your kind words too, and sorry to hear of your loss aswell - the death was a trigger for me too - a step further down the rabbit hole - trying to face up to things now which i guess is why i'm here babbling on! also MANY CONGRATS on your company - thats HUGE!
hi sweet day 6 is amazing and more than admirable! well done
anyways thats it from me and hope everyone is feeling good and has a lovely evening :)

Hermit, I practically have TeaPigs Peppermint tea on a drip! You did really well to get through such a tough day . Will your family be supportive, or will it be "Oh go on, one won't hurt"?

Big wave to babes old and new.xx

Sweet I am so, so excited to see you. Have been missing you hugely. I am in the middle of both my supper and Bake Off but had to pause both to give you a massive welcome back. (Wry - what is the equivalent of a really big T'interbosie??). Oh, I am so happy.

And Ma you magic lady - see, just a few days ago you were - rightly - querying the spirit in the tank to keep this bus going. And look what you did! This is a special place. Our brave and brilliant babes are all streaming back on board and I am bursting with joy to see old faces and new. Welcome to the latter - I am soldered to the side car right now so not best placed to offer wisdom but you are in the best place possible, and one day soon (1 Sept!) I will clamber back to give my tiny tuppeniworth of proper support.

Erm..right, back to my rather spartan salmon salad. Sorry for getting over excited. But Sweet, you are so worth it! Huge love to you for all you have endured, and massive congratulations on where you have got to. How are pup and puss? I am so pleased you have proper support in place. Are work being ok? You know you are in the right place, and I hope you know by now how happy we are to see you.

sweet is back!!!!
and rural!!! My dear friend rural. How are you dearest. Have you ditched WB? You must meet hope and share wankbadger stories
Oh, everyone is coming back....tis lovely. Where is indie?

Small, I was off watching Bake Off myself, big {t'interbosies} right back at you .

Pup is turning into a beautiful looking, mostly well behaved dog - although there are occasional moments of excessive character, and DH (who could take or leave dogs before now) is completely besotted, and allows him to get away with murder. Pup also now has his own name plate and picture for my office door for when he comes to work with me. Puss has turned into a very effective mouser, yesterday morning she left one for me in the kitchen - today, probably because I threw her 'gift' away, she gave it to Pup instead !

Cheers, Ma

Yay! More lost sheep returning to the fold

Sorry, I got all biblical there, don't know what's come over me. Well done all those who had a(nother) AF day today. Sleep well babes x

Nuff thank you so much for your post. I got back from hols and just read your post, opened my emails (first time in a week) to one from MNHQ informing me. All changed smile

DD1 GCSE results tomorrow. She's worked herself up into a frenzy (I've woken up at stupid o'clock so I think it's rubbed off) I've got home and my car's not starting (this happened on the morning of friends wedding a few weeks back) it's all very well having bangers but no bloody good if they don't fricking work, my camper won't start either [angy] This would have sent the old me into a bottle of vino collapso

Sweet my darling so so good to have you back. I've not read back properly, only gone into mild panic about me password and results tomorrow. Who knows if I'll get back to sleep It is so good to see you. Can you post pics of pup and puss? Big love to you honey x

Right back to zzzzzzz

Morning all. Hope you managed to log in again everyone. This password malarkey is a pain.
Speaking of pain, I am never doing an exercise class again. My legs won't work.....