The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Waving Goodbye To Summer Nights, Sipping Mocktails.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse Welcome to the Bus. :)

Well, it would appear that Autumn is on it's way I have the heating on and can't wait to use the log burner.... shhh!

So, who are we? We're just like you. Married, single, divorced, lots of children or no children, working or a SAHM, it doesn't matter, we all breathe the same air.....

We're just trying to live our lives on the Bus, like you do each day. Well, except for one thing...

I know don't start my day with a swig, or seven, from a litre bottle of vodka (choose your poison) any longer.

And that's what has kept me here, for years now. And no doubt many more to come. Reading the stories of others struggles, wanting to say "I feel like that" or "I do that too!" but being to ashamed to be the first to put your hand up.

Well, let me reassure you here and now, there's not much that we haven't read about on here or done ourselves over the years.

We've laughed at stories of haphazard nights out, we've cried at the loss of loved ones and we've shared the pain that only an alcoholic knows when all that they want is to STOP!

Push the pause button, get off the ride, shut the door, bury yourself under the duvet for days. We've all felt that sickening feeling in our gut that makes us want to curl up and hide forever. And we've shared it all on here.

You see I don't know you and you don't know me, so we're just words on a screen to each other. Eventually, you'll get to know me more and I you, and the other fantastic Babes too, some will stay, some leave us, then some come back.

One thing I can PROMISE - here you are safe, here you won't be judged, turned away (unless you're not genuine) and we even have a huge stock of Opal Fruits but that's all down to Ma.

So, if you think we're you're kind of lovely bunch of people to help you stop drinking, slow down, hold your hand while you decide what to do, then come find a seat!


OUR MOST RECENT THREAD

AND A VERY SOBERING READ, THAT LEAD TO THE BIRTH OF THE THREADS THAT FOLLOWED

[Mouseface]

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Sorry to ignore you all but I'm in bed again, feeling awful. Week 1 of school and we're suffering with germs.

Those who kindly asked about the Tribunal, long story short, we are to remain at the same rate, but at least now we understand how they came to the decision that they did.

It was still very upsetting and I did cry before they made their decision because it just all got too much for me. DH was fantastic, an absolute star, I couldn't have done it without him!!

So thankyou so much to those who have been thinking about us. I hope you are all as ok as you can be.

I'm hoping to feel more normal tomorrow so will try and catch up then.

Remember Brave Babes - One Day At A Time xxx

Love, Mouse x

[evilpopstar]

mouse big hug to you I don't know the background but it all sounds really difficult.

I'm working in avoiding the gin and tonic on the train have had coffee might have a tea. Love drinking when in transit. Think DP will be delighted to have me home and share the childcare! My dad back on a drip in hosp on the very day I've had to leave

[Fairenuff]

Try just having the tonic pop n&t (nothng and tonic) is a popular choice for some babes (especially if you can get fever tree tonic water, you barely miss the gin.

Mouse, phew, so glad they didn't cut it but what a trying experience for you all. Take care, those back to school bugs are rampant at the moment x

[evilpopstar]

Thanks faire. Having tea. Unimpressed with UHT milk but ho hum.

[catl1tterinmybra]

Mouse - sorry to hear you're feeling rough - those back to school germs are crap, aren't they?
Popstar - railway tea is a law unto itself. Scalding water, not enough tea in the teabag (how do they manage that?), and naff milk.

I'm just back from seeing my artist friend. I was actually surprised that they were about to get ready for cooking for a large number of family members, as I'm never sober enough in the evenings to do such a thing, and had assumed everyone was like me . Well, I guess I can cook for a tribe in the evenings now - what a change a couple of weeks can make!

[Fairenuff]

Quiet here this evening. Everyone ok? I'm going to be organised and make my packed lunch for tomorrow.

Riveting, my life is

[evilpopstar]

I was also thinking how quiet it is! Me and DP are watching This is England 90 which is amusing but a bit of an imitation of the original. Enjoying the silly 90s rave references.

[Mouseface]

I'm desperately praying for sleep, so logged on! Thank you for all of your kind words xxx

Be brave Babes xxx

[aliasjoey]

Salut mes Braves

You okay wee mouse ?

[Sirenetta]

Hi friends. Was great to get home and read your posts. I know it's early days (15) but I feel some really good stuff happening to my mood and get up and go. I have been reading Allen Carr, which I'm guessing a lot of you have. I'm not yet sure if i buy all of his points, but I do buy what seems to be the bottom line - that the whole drinking thing is a con of sorts, normalized by the vast majority of people buying into it. This is supposed to feel good when this penny drops but today I feel sad about missed potential in the time between university and now. My best self was spoiled by booze.What do others of you think of his book(s)?

[catl1tterinmybra]

Good morning Babes, Sirenetta - I've not read his alcohol book, but I did read his tobacco book, and I'm sorry to say it didn't stop my smoking at the time. It sounds similar to Jason Vale's book, which made some good points. I've found a good few books & blogs, but none of them have caused a turning point. I've found that once I made the decision, though, this thread, and lurking on the Dry thread when this one's a bit quiet has been helpful. Interestingly there have been a few alcohol related threads on MN recently which are to do with a loved ones' problem drinking and also the flip side around how people manage society's obsession with drinking alcohol when you are tea total.

Day 14 here, which was due to be my last day AF, but I'm extending it until I go on holiday. Turns out it's only going to be for 4 days, 2 of which we'll be mostly travelling, so I'm not so concerned about it as I was.

Mouse - I hope you managed to get some sleep, lovely. Hooligan cat decided 3:15 was a good time to be getting up, then DP was up at 3:30, then Elderly cat shouted the flat down for food at 5 - could be worse, at least I got an hour of sleep in between the shennanigans! Sleep is coming much easier to me, and I do value my nice quiet early mornings. I went into the kitchen this morning to make a cuppa, and my soul sang. You know why? One of my countertops was lovely & clear, because I sorted out one of my kitchen cupboards yesterday evening.

If I carry on like this, the flat will be clean as a whistle, which will really help with my anxiety. I'm working on getting my working environment organised too - 4 office moves in under a year is not conducive to getting the paperwork organised the way I need it organised, and getting the people organised the way I need them organised!

How's everyone's week shaping up?

[SweetLathyrus]

Morning.

Wore myself out yesterday following Cat's example. Cleared out all of the kitchen food cupboards (embarrassed by the number of 2012 best before dates on the spices, even though we only moved here a year ago), and emptied the garage of things we never quite got round to unpacking . Result is a nice tidy space for all the building materials for the new kitchen we have going in at the end of the month. When we moved here, the kitchen - or rather the kitchen potential - was one of the things that sold it to us, having lived with a 6ft square excuse for a kitchen for 14years.

Pop at coffee machine thread. I'm afraid that our choice is largely dictated by laziness - can't be bothered with grinding and packing and knowing I would be the only one who cleaned it out - much as I would like an eye-wateringly expensive, all-singing, all-dancing job. But also by the fact my parents live in France. We have a Phillips Senseo, because both DH and I object on an ecological basis to the plastic landfill generated by Nespresso-type systems. The model we have isn't available in the UK, and the coffee pods for it are expensive and not very exciting here, but we stock up on good cheap varieties every couple of months in France. Anyway, eventually got it working, but not in time for me to have coffee yesterday - I have have strict rules about not drinking coffee after midday (if only I could be so disciplined about wine ).

Ma I hope the 'substance' works, cystitis is miserable.

Cat are you planning a big wedding? Do we get to witness a Bridezilla thread first hand?!!

Mouse, I hope you got some sleep. We've had years of back to school germs, though DS finally seems to be growing out of it. Unfortunately, we are also subjected to Fresher's Flu a month later!

Siren, I haven't read the book, but I do get the 'normalisation' of drinking. Last time I gave up for a long stretch I got irrationally cross at the amount of alcohol consumed on Coronation Street and the Archers!

How are you doing, Joey? HRT working again yet?

Just realised how long this post is getting, so just going to wave to all the other Babes, and wish you a happy day.

[babyjane1]

Good morning foxy ladies,

I'm beginning to see the fruits of my labour in the house. It's much easier to keep a tidy house tidy IFSWIM and although I've still got a way to go so I'm going to set a few big jobs a week for a few weeks and I reckon my flat will be really quite nice. What I'm really enjoying is eating at the dining table, it makes you want to cook more elaborate dinners and it's one of the few things all 4 of us can do together as dd1 is 16 and dd2 is 4 so it's a rare occasion to have us all in the one room. I'm also starting slimming world tomorrow and food naturally becomes very important when you start an eating plan so taking time to enjoy and actually savour it will really help me succeed.

I've learned that my mood drops dramatically when I'm alone, there is a pattern of me rushing around for weeks, babysitting, visiting friends, taking dd's here, there and everywhere, scared to stop incase if I do I will have to deal with my thoughts and feelings. It's like a race I keep running but of course I burn myself out, hit a wall and then a depressive binge is free to take me down. How can you learn to be comfortable in your own company?? I cant keep running, my highs and lows are extreme and I'm trying to find a middle ground, trying to learn to like myself, trust myself, not easy.

Anyway tomorrow I will devote my nervous energy to good, healthy food and heaps of excercise and hopefully a healthy body will lead to a healthy mind.

Have a great day y'all xxxx

[obrigada]

Morning babes, haven't been on here for a while, been AWOL due to the death of my ex father in law (who was one of life's gentlemen) and the death of my mother. Just checking in xx

[SweetLathyrus]

Baby, it is so easy to dissolve into yourself and your fears when you are alone, and I recognise the relief of having an organised space, enjoy it!

Right, Pup walked, Doc M's polished. Time to go meet the Freshers.

A tout a l'heure!

[babyjane1]

obrigada I'm so very very sorry for your loss, what a tragic time for you, big hugs and we're here for you anytime you need a friend xxx

[evilpopstar]

Good luck baby you are on the right path! Obrigado so sorry to hear your sad news. Look after yourself. Xx

[evilpopstar]

Ps I got drunk last night

[SweetLathyrus]

Obrigada, so sorry for your loss, but good to see you back.

Evil - any particular reason? It's always good to examine what was going through your mind - even if it was only "Fuck it!"

[evilpopstar]

Definitely fuck it. Day 1 today. Struggling with weekends , clearly .

[evilpopstar]

Ps can I be pop star not evil? ( Please)

[SweetLathyrus]

Pop, I am SO SORRY, I've never referred to you as evil before, and here's your

[aliasjoey]

sweets how were your Freshers? All keen, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? Its so cute, seeing all their naive enthusiasm, bless 'em

My HRT seems ok now, am sure i had a rogue patch, but google says no one else has had a problem, so maybe it's just me...

obrigada so sorry to hear your news

[Fairenuff]

Obrigada thinking of you x

Baby have you ever been assessed for bi polar? Ignore me if I'm speaking out of turn, it was just a thought. Lovely to hear about your tidy table and other projects coming together. Good luck with slimming world, I hear lots of good things about it, people seem to find it an easier one to stick to.

joey my dd will be a fresher as of next Saturday. Gulp!

[Mouseface]

Afternoon, tis me Mouse

I'd just like to point out that if anyone on here is evil, tis I! Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Greetings Sirenetta - I'm not evil.... well, not today.

obrigada - oh my dear lady, you've really had an awful time of things haven't you. I'm so very sorry to hear your news, you have my deepest sympathy. Please keep posting, even if it's not alcohol related, you know how the Bus works xxx . Just let out how you're feeling.

baby - it's good to have you back on board :) xxx

joey - that's my DD you're talking about! And yup, she's all bouncy, enthusiastic and raring to go.... I give it 3 months!

Actually, the sad thing is, some of the students left before they even began!! DD is very happy though and super clever so I know once she settles in, this will be s good life experience for her. And our bloody bank balance! Thank Jeff I'm not buying 3 bottles of white a week anymore - or more/less may I add!!

I've been in bed all day, after being up all night so I must dash as Nemo needs me for a while....

BTW - can any of you see my profile if you hover over my name? I've upgraded to windows 10 and I'm still getting to grips with the very useful (not!) changes it's made for me!

Be back later xxx