Brave Babes - Wrapping up for a Wonderful Winter

[venusandmars]

Hi, I am venusandmars and I've been on these threads for many years.

It can be tough at this time of year when the adverts are full of families cheerfully opening bottles of wine and good cheer, when work parties are alcohol fuelled, when distant friends call round with a bottle in hand.

Maybe you're trying to cut down a little in the pre-Christmas weeks, maybe you are struggling to know how to continue with a longer period of abstinence, maybe you are waking up after a Christmas Party feeling sick and covered in shame (or even feeling shame and covered in sick).

Whatever, whenever, if you want to stop, or cut down, or simply share your struggle with others who also feel the tug..... please join us.

Usually our lovely mouseface opens these threads, but the poor mouse is sick in hospital and so I am overcoming the technophobia that a 50-something feels.... (well done me ). Our last thread is here if you want to read the last few posts

And if you want to read the story from the beginning (you'll need a few weeks) HERE is where it all started when Jesuswhatnext posted in May 2010.

Welcome one and all x

Hello lovely babes. I’ve been lurking in the background this year as I have been away so much with work and then MN got hacked and I didn’t really get round to re-registering. But I promised myself I would come back in the New Year. Thanks lovely lovely ma for giving me a regular shout out, it made me feel that I was still part of the bus and meant so much. I’ve been in the sidecar trying not to sit on indie and reading about you all. I’ve been good and bad over the year, my job is pretty stressful and I travel a lot but I still kept up with the bus. Happy New Year to all babes old and new!

Great to see so many babes checking in - big hi to JWIM and the belle ladame. How's your vegetable patch these days?
I have just been for a walk. Two miles and it nearly killed me but feel virtuous.

Hi ma and faire My veg patch is calm and fallow at the moment for the winter months. Nothing much disturbing it these days. I have the occasional rummage around in it, I had a fair few courgettes last summer which was good and I even grew some coriander in it which spiced things up a bit - really lovely fragrance especially when it was really hot

How's your triangle ma ?

lol

Well done ma, I'm not even dressed yet

Dh is taking down the Christmas tree and I'm going to take dd to stock up on basic foodstuffs to take back to uni. I'll pick ds up from his girlfriends and find out how he got on last night at his NYE party.

Then we're back for a healthy roast and more tv watching. Did anyone watch the Agatha Christie 'And then there were none'? It was very well done I thought and has tempted me to start reading her books. Any recommendations?

Also, the Paul Potts story, 'One Chance' I think it was called, was very good too and we're definitely going to watch Sherlock tonight. We're trying to cram in all the things we like to watch together before she goes back tomorrow.

My triangle is in fine fettle thanks
faire all the shops are closed here pretty much. Scotland has a hangover still.
I watched the Agatha Christie but was a bit disappointed in the ending and how it had been done. However, gorgeous chap in towel in episode two made it worthwhile....

Another one checking in for dry Jan, I have overindulged and am ready for some cleaner living.

Lovely to see you all here

Got any snow yet? It's boiling here.

I know ma, there was a thread here and people who had read the book said that it didn't really tie up the loose ends as well as it could have. I've downloaded the book on my kindle as I want to read it knowing whodunnit. Also dh didn't watch it so he'll like to read it too.

No hangover here. Did have a couple of glasses but as I'm used to stopping at one or two now, I don't get drunk and am free of those horrible, hideous, sickly, hate inducing hangovers that drove me to pack in the drinking in the first place

Big news today is that experts are recommending at least two AF days a week. I'm well beyond that so it definitely sounds doable

Watchng the Miranda stand up show recorded from last night. Quite funny. I really know how to live it up

Hey all - clambering back on happily and reporting for Dry Jan duty. So lovely to see so many of us back aboard. Am sleepy, overindulged and can't wait to get some clarity and calm back.

Sorry, just lost a big post and am too tired to recreate it, so will just wave to all and snuggle up towards the back of the bus for a nice nap (I am so much fun these days).

I haven't really read back but did just want to say to Hope that i wish you all the strength and positivity possible in a horrid situation. You are so clear sighted and so articulate about it all, and that just makes it all the harder to deal with. I just wondered - have you had a chat with a lawyer or someone who understands about asset division etc - I love your forward planning but can't bear for you to work so hard and keep everyone together just to have to shell out for WB in the future? I guess there may have to be a bit of that, but just wondered the extent to which you'd scoped it out and whether there might be any way of protecting yourself cash-wise? Sorry, hope you don't mind my sticking my oar in - am just so so impressed by how amazing you are being and can't bear for it to be any harder than it has to be for you.

See you all tomorrow. Who's driving, by the way?

Hi Faire, we have actually got snow and my weedy arms are already weak at the thought of shovelling for the next few months. Thank goodness we get blue skies to balance things out. 2 af days a week sounds so manageable (in theory) but when on a roll it becomes such an issue to even manage one. On the other hand, with a bit of sober momentum, the af days are so much easier. (holds onto that thought) Hope you enjoy your dd's company tonight in front of the tv before she disappears back to uni

Hey small, cross posted but agree on looking forward to some calm and clarity. I vote Spanna drives, she has experience driving a vintage camper and a very warm smile - perfect qualifications!

I second you, Beaches - you got the keys, Spanna? Big thanks, and safe driving.

Where are we off to spanna?
Have had a long chat with the wonderful hope today. She is amazing.

Yo indie you old tart! Good to see you again.
How the DTs?

Driving me? Beaches I'm chuffed that you thought of me I think we should go and pick some of the Babes up. Wry & Baby up in Scotland, Sweet from the sarf somewhere, Rural from her farm, who else shall we collect on our journey? Oh hold on let me make sure I've got the right glasses on Hold on tight Babes we're off.......

Nuff I love your posts, they always calm me down. I watched the Agetha Christie thing but missed the last one, so who dunnit? Did the nanny survive? and was it the chap that killed all those people in Africa? I do like a who dunnit, I've always fancied going to a stately home for a murder mystery dinner thing.

isinde hello lovely, glad you're joining us for Dry Jan x

Bit pooped - fell asleep at 7.30pm yesterday, only to be woken by DDs shouting at each other at 11.20pm, calmed all that down (DD1 had blocked the toilet - again!) and then I couldn't get back to sleep. Did watch London on the TV always looks amazing not sure I'd like to stand around for that long though.

Hope you are all ok x

Don't forget to pick up mouse from her mousehole, and me and Venus while you are in Scotland! Could we find thurso too? She hasn't been here for ages.

Sorry Ma thought you were onboard already, is that not you scoffing green opal fruits at the back? We'll swing by and collect Mouse & Venus. We're on our way Babes.....

Will you stop shouting in my ear ma and stick that thing out of the window!!

Spanna don't want to say in case it's a spoiler for anyone but I think you can get it on iplayer. As long as you got to see 'the man in the very low towel' you didn't miss too much

Sorry faire forgot you were up here!
Mmmmmm, man in very low towel..........

So low...

So very, very low...

There you are Ma

Haha spanna, love it. Get yourself up here on the roof rack. It rules