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

Watching the rugby. Go England!

Did not even make it to day 2.

However, I am determined to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Usually when I've been drinking, even if it's not very much, I end up going to bed really late. The other night I only had a few glasses, finish drinking about 11 PM but didn't get to bed till after one! it's not even as though I do anything worthwhile or interesting, I'm just surfing or playing stupid games.

Same here joey. Mind you, I didn't even try!

Drank too last night. And stayed up til 145 watching movie. Feel headaches and exhausted. Big day today looking at houses. Yeuch .

It's that kind of thing that made me want to stop drinking/cut back pop, hideous hangovers. Bleurgh!

cat we're on the same day (Day 19 today) and I've also got a cold. But it's not too bad at the moment. I'm taking dd to university today and will probably get straight into my pjs when I get home.

Morning All

Still sober 172 Days and not spent £1500 on booze not actually put the money aside but I have had more money around IUSWIM. I can't say it's been a breeze without the 'mask' of vino callapso. I've not been about as I had a boob scare, which lead to mammogram but am pleased to say that I am 'all clear' and there is nothing to worry about thank Gawd I have spent the past 2 weeks questioning my own mortality, what would happen to DDs if I croaked etc etc not a very happy place.

Anyhow, DD2 has her first gymnastics competition today (she's so nervous, bless her) so I'll be there for most of the day and then off to feed the old man that I visit at the weekends

Siren you are doing so so well. Similarly to you, I started out with the aim of being AF for 100 Days and when I achieved this, I just carried on. Just keep going one day at a time.

April sweetie thanks for the mention. Day 13 today, keep on keeping on babe your boing will arrive, that I promise you x

Ma the gov.uk website has some useful info about PAYE employees and how much it will cost in National Insurance etc you should get all that you need there for cost of employing people etc.

Hope how's it doing babe?

Khalisi lovely one so good to see you back. Divorce finally sounds like drawing lines under the past and looking to future sounds very positive and will allow you to move on - mind, body and soul. Must be lovely to spend time with your DD and I'm so glad it's going well with DP xxx

Baby darling so so glad you're getting the support that you need. Please be kind to yourself - you are an amazing mum, wife, daughter. Your girls are lucky to have you lovely. Keep going darling. How's you're week been? are you back at the fitness classes yet?

Beaches my little turnip how are you?

Joey hope you have a good weekend babe and tis peaceful between DD and DH x

Fox are you ok darling what's happening darling? hugs to you x

Sweet how have your DMs held up this week, I hope it's been a good one x

Babes I struggled so much to get over the first 3 & then 7 days, then the next 7 Days but I can promise you, if I can do this so can all of you! Alcohol is like any addiction you just have to keep trying. that WW puts obstacles in our way continuously but we just have to keep fighting!
I am not a babe that can moderate her drinking, that is a fact, so it is total abstinence for me. Yes it's boring. Yes it's fucking tempting, Yes I'm gagging for a drink (not daily anymore ) BUT I am a much better person, mother, daughter without alcohol and that is what I have to hold on to, even if it's a white knuckle ride

Have a good Saturday everyone and I'm sorry I've not NC you all

ps I've not consumed 14 cases of wine

Blimey spanna £1500

(Not saying you used to drink a lot, btw just that it's surprising how it can add up over time. Hope you've treated yourself with some of that money saved x

Faire - day 1 I got bored...DP got home from work & went straight out on the lash, and I thought "Fuck it". Hey ho, I know I can get back on it, so back on it I am. We're off to one of my bridesmaids for a Dr Who party this evening. Huzzah!

As you may know, cat, I usually moderate rather than abstain completely. (You can usually find me on the 'roofrack of regulated drinking', otherwise known as Roger ). But this September I'm firmly inside the bus because I'm doing dry September.

Anyway, what I was going to say is, when I was moderating, I found that if the pressure to have a drink built up to the point where I was thinking about it more than I liked, I would just have one glass. That seemed to relieve the pressure and stop my mind nagging at me. I don't know how it worked for me, I don't know why it didn't trigger something but for me it is ok to have the odd drink during a dry spell, if you see what I mean.

Everyone is different. For some that would be disastrous and send them spiralling back into a several week long binge, so I don't recommend it unless you know, for sure, that you can stop at one.

It took me a long time to be able to do that and I had many false starts, but now the dry spells are getting longer and the occasional drink is just that. What I'm trying to say is, one slip up doesn't have to damage all the positives that we've already acheived. They are ours, they're in the bag and can't be taken away.

Glad you're back on it and have fun tonight, sounds like an interesting party

Nuff I know!! shocking isn't it Hope all goes smoothly with DD today x

Cat Dr Who party sounds fun, enjoy x

spanna wow, you are amazing for remembering everyone's names and what is going on with them! I struggle with my own dogs name sometimes...

Thanks for your kind words, Faire - I think that moderation is something I can actually do, I just need to make sure that I don't slip into bad habits, and if a slide becomes noticeable, it's time to take a couple of weeks off to reset the booze button.

Hi all. I have had a nice day. That's all I'm saying

Spanna my little ray of sunshine, I am so happy to hear that you have come through your scare with an 'all clear', that must have been a roller coaster of emotions. Well done on your fantastic 172 days

Ma your day sounds more than interesting!

Love to all xx

Good to hear ma , you deserve it.

Had a fab day yesterday. Dropped dd off at university and she's loving it. Her room is lovely, great location and she's making new friends already. We skyped this morning and she's looking great (well as great as you can still in your pjs after a late night out).

Room is still a little bare. She has a huge empty noticedboard and nothing at all on the walls but it will fill up no doubt. So, no tears, no worries, everyone is happy. Yay

Nice to see some of the old guard back. Spanna - amazing!

I can't seem to keep the AF-I got going beyond Thursday. Grr.

In other news my dad may have finally turned a corner today. Not out of hospital, but eating independently for first time in nearly two weeks ......

Typo! Meant to say AF- ing

Christ This is hell

In-laws are here and its like the third inquisition

My sympathy joey. Hard to deal with sober. I sometimes go into kitchen and put on loud music and leave them all to it.

Hello darling Babes,

What a weekend! Need a weekend to recover from it!

spanna OMG new fella is my DP now, isn't he?
He was so fabulous! DD was also so proud of him. They are quite similar in temperament, so they get on really well. Thank God.
And just bloody WOW at ALL THOSE CASES OF WINE!!!

Was very proud of my moderating this weekend. Though to be honest, I do feel like getting really shit-faced.
Only thing keeping me from doing it is knowing all the problems will still be there AND I'll feel shitty, paranoid and panicky.

ma what did you do?!

Another bloody Monday.

How is everyone?

XXX

Sorry, alias.
Hope they have left?!
God, the thought of my mother-in-law makes me wanna drink!