The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Battling The Wicked Wine Witch, One Day At A Time!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm mouse, one of the Babes who have been on this lovely, rickety bus called Gerald for some time now!

There's no judgy pants worn on this bus, nor hoking of bosoms!! It's filled with every day life, love and laundry. As simple as that. The rest falls in between.

We're a welcoming, supporting thread, filled with a mine of information from many years of experience, from those who have consumed alcohol day in, day out...hidden the 'habit', the lie, disguised our drinking with many an excuse. So perfected over the years or new to the guilt of drinking more than you think you should.....

Anyway, old or new, lurker or not, come and say hello to us if you feel the need. We'd love to meet you if we haven't already :)

Thank you for reading this, find a seat, hide green opal fruits if you find any, they're like gold dust around here! Aren't they ma!!

See you soon, I hope.

Mouse x

And, if you'd like to see where we all began, sit with a cup of tea/coffee and have a peek at this - the beginning

And our latest thread that will take you back to many others enjoy your read!

looking I'm a long time lurker but have just been moved to post. I had a similar biopsy in Jan, done via hysteroscopy. I had a local anaesthetic, didn't feel a lot after that, a bit sore and cramps afterwards, but nothing too bad. Tests all clear, thank goodness, but it was a very stressful time. I hope things go well for you.
By the way, can I just say I've lurked on here for ages, with your help I've cut my drinking back to weekends only. Can't do better than that, but definite progress. The kindness and support offered to everyone is just lovely to see. I'm sure there's lots of others like me, watching from the sidelines, taking the advice and cheering you all on.

Lovely to hear from a lurker cashmere, do feel free to post again whenever you like and thanks for your kind words about the babes and their experiences on this thread

Ma that beach looks like the kind of windswept place you could run into a Mr. Darcy or Heathcliff. Glad you managed to get out there to try and clear your head for a bit.

I had a lovely time with my parents. Mam loved the presents, and had a little cry over the message I had wrote to her inside the card, so it's been a lovely day in all now. Am a bit tired, and friends who's uncle died is being very snappy at me today. NOT her fault, and I completely understand why, but at the same time I don't want to sit there and be snapped at cos I'm afraid I'll snap back and that really isn't fair on her, not today. So I've excused myself (said I am going to finish my downton abbey episode and might see them later) and shut my door, although it is unlocked if anyone wants me. I think that's a good step, distancing myself so I won't snap. It's better than the alternative . I feel a bit homesick after seeing my parents. Ridiculous - you'd think after living away for 3 years I'd be more used to it but for some reason feeling a bit down now they (and the dog) have gone. I know I'll cheer up soon (tomorrow hopefully) but for now just missing my parents. When we were out, I had no worries and it sounds daft, but I felt safe. It's hard to explain. I think the last few days are catching up on me and again I'm getting a little bit emotional.

I think I'm going to have a shower, pamper myself by putting on body butter, and then put on jim jams and watch a bit of TV. I'm going to the gym tomorrow morning, also going to start my essay tomorrow too. How is everyone else doing? I hope the wine witch isn't bothering you too much!

Good Evening everyone. I am a part time lurker. Fox asked upthread about seeing their GP about their drinking habits. I did mention my Gp's reaction previously. I've always thought of him as a bit uptight, and 'It's a virus' type GP, but when I went to him about stuff that ended up including drinking and my efforts to moderate he couldn't have been more supportive. He did offer me support groups, drugs etc but I declined and mentioned the support I get through this thread. He did however give me relaxants, not quite sleeping tablets to take on week nights. They are gentle and lovely and it is worth not drinking to get that good nights sleep. I have always been a bit worried about 'sleeping tablets' but on these if the children have woken so have I.

Elephant, that is so good and useful to hear. It's made me decide to make an appointment. I would love something to help me sleep but definitely don't want anything addictive. Do you mind me asking what it was you were given? How do you all bold the names by the way, I can't figure it out!

Cashmere thanks for de-lurking to offer me reassurance, that is so very kind of you . I hate gynae procedures with a passion and always clamp up in terror, plus am scared about the results but will have to brave through it I suppose. My mum had a hysterectomy at 52 so am scared its hereditary.

Made glad you had a good day. Getting homesick does not sound silly at all, I often felt the need to go home and recharge.. Enjoy Downton.

Elba that's what the Samaritans are there for, and I've done that too. You are not pathetic, you are very brave by carrying on in your real life as normal when you feel so wretched. We are here for you, and I hope you have a peaceful night tonight x

Ma change the locks

Going to watch Raising Arizona with the kids now. Take care all x

hi f0x and everyone on the bus. Firstly the important stuff. Bold is done by putting an asterix in front and after the name without spaces. Secondly the medication I have been given is Quetiapine 25mg. I can take one or two at bedtime but have only ever taken one. My GP also gave me lots of B vitamins. One lot was a week of multi B vits, the other is a longer lasting course of B12. My wee stinks of marmite . I cannot commend my GP enough, once I admitted I had a problem and tried to do something about it and became 'unstuck' the care was really great. I have no doubt that if I rang for an appointment on Monday I would be seen straight away. Go for it f0x what can you lose? Oh and the relaxants seem to be ok as he gave me an extended prescription if I should need it. I am sure he would not have done this if I was displaying addictive behaviour.

Ooh I would love to meet a Mr Darcy or a Heathcliff on my windswept beach. It would have to be Colin Firth and Timothy Dalton though...drool.
Sis came round for dinner so have had one glass of wine and am now tucked up in bed (freshly washed sheets dried out on the line today and smelling gorgeous). I could so get used to the single life.

It would have to be Colin Firth and Timothy Dalton though

Now that is plain greedy!!

I think I would like to meet Nigel Havers, on the windswept beach. Could I wear ear muffs to avoid earache? It does show my age, but after reading his autobiography it would be just a brief encounter.

Been out tonight at a relatives house and been looked after and fed (food as well as wine). Felt so much easier to eat when it had been made for me, and have had some hugs and frank chats...in short I have reached out in real life. I'm still up and scared to sleep, but will try and turn the lights out in a minute. Big hugs to everyone, thanks again for being there.

Looking, loved your post, thinking of you today hon.

to all the Babes who are Mums, you rock, hope you get thoroughly spoilt today.

Special hugs to all those who have lost their DMs, I know today is a tough one if that is the case.

morning all
Just wanted to share something which happened yesterday as it has been swirling around in my head all night. I have a large family and yesterday we went out for a meal to celebrate Mothers Day. I had already decided that I would have a couple of glasses of wine but would moderate for lots of reasons but the main one was that I simply did not want to get pissed in the middle of the day
Anyway I was there for 4 hours and moderating - which is such hard work -
when I seized my chance to leave when someone offered me a lift .
I could see that the others were starting to talk about pub crawls and I was glad to leave but as I did I noticed that my Dsis had a face like a slapped arse.
I then received a text later that night asking why I had left so early.
I can tell that she is pissed off with me because in the past I would have been there until the end and probably have drunk more when I got home
Anyway leaving when I did I was able to still function and I got loads done when I got home including spending time with my DD.
The point is I think I "get it " now about not drinking but I think it may cost me some friendships.

Morning all! Wishing all mothers a very happy Mothering Sunday. I've been nicely spoiled this morning by DD and we've also been to see my DM.

sober - hats off to you and very well done. I had a similar conversation earlier this year with someone on a different thread - regarding the reaction of (in this instance) friends when you make the decision to be AF or to moderate. Does your DSis know that you're concerned about your drinking? In most cases, the person/people who are unhappy with the change are those who are possibly worried about their own drinking habits but, as long as they have a partner-in-crime, are able to justify it to themselves. You could be honest ...? Or you could say that for health reasons you've been advised not to drink much ...?

Either way, this is your DSis and I'm sure she'll get used to it. You're definitely doing the right thing. Have a great day today.

So I've spent my entire weekend off either drunk or hungover and feeling ridiculously sorry for myself. Couldn't even get to the supermarket as would have been over the limit, so my poor mum is going to have to put up with the meat in hoping will defrost in time (not showing signs yet) and a card from the co-op rather than the nice meal I had planned. Have achieved nothing at all. So so annoyed at myself.

Next week has to be different. I'm going to restart tracking, which fell by the wayside last week. Have GP in the morning so have to moderate tonight, then back on nights from tomorrow. Need to work out a better way of managing the whole night to day transition as that seems to be when I struggle. Would be so good if I could manage to not drink in the morning after my last night, which is always my intention, but never happens. Feel physically crap, need to eat something other than bananas but can't face it.

Will try harder, and try and stop wallowing in self pity. Sorry for all the negative posts this last week and thank you all again for being so lovely.

Hi Elba and sorry to hear that you're still struggling. I have had more "mornings" after the night before than I care to remember. And for me "morning" just meant "whatever time my eyes happen to open when the effects of alcohol wear off" - it's not a happy place to be. For me it was when alcohol really was calling all the shots.

Set yourself a time limit for wallowing - we all wallow and feel emotional and remorseful and guilty. Then forgive yourself - that's an important step. You're still a valuable human being, you're still thinking of your mother in amongst your semi-wallowing, you don't need to apologise for negative posts!

I don't know what's worked for you in the past ... but if you have your GP in the morning, can you work out a plan of distraction such that it simply won't be possible for you to fit in any drinking time until considerably later? While typing that, I was thinking "Lobster, you're a bit of a hypocrite because in desperate times you have managed to fit "drinking time" into seemingly impossible timeframes". It's the desire to quit or to moderate that's essential .....

Good luck and sending you

Another day at the coast but better weather today...

Hi everyone.

Hope you've all had a good weekend. Only managed to flick through the thread, so I apologise if I've missed any new members out.

My weekend has been okay. I'm currently watching TV trying to keep my mind off the booze... I don't think it's going to work. I've got half a bottle of wine in the fridge which I want to polish off with dinner.
I'm tempted to just chuck it.

Hi lobster and thanks. Yes my 'morning' today was 3pm, and was in no way safe/sober to drive. Both today and yesterday I've not even showered and got dressed until about now. Been trapped in a cycle of feeling low so I drink, which makes me feel more low, so then I drink more...over and over!

I need to start cooking, I'm hungover and fighting the voice that is saying if I have just one beer it will make me feel well enough to function. I know that it won't just be one, and I have only eaten a banana so will in reality end up hammered and trying to hide it before my mum even gets here. So I'm having a coke and then might have a coffee and try and push it back a bit.

Have proseco chilling which we will share, but aside from that I need to avoid the bottle of red which is open and limit the beers. Will at least be eating a proper meal to soak it up. My GP wanted to sign me off when she phoned last week and I refused as I know I will just sink further without the structure and distraction of work. If I turn up tomorrow hungover and smelling of alcohol I don't think I will get a choice, and will be putting her in a difficult position. So I must must must control myself tonight.

hello?

Thanks to those who asked after me faire venus ma babyj sweets looking spanna

I hope you're all doing okay. I'm alright, sticking to my limits (mostly) yesterday we went out for lunch with some friends we hadn't seen for ages, and I automatically ordered a diet coke... My friend reminded me that we always used to get a bottle of Pinot Grigio, but this time I didn't even think of it

But I know never to become complacent because it's so easy to slip back into bad habits. Strength to everyone.

Been a bit of a mixed day. The actual day has gone well, but this evening not so well. A friend asked if I would go to go to AA, I said no, she got annoyed and stormed out. Me and another friend have had a long chat about it, and I've told her that although I may consider it at some point in the future, it has to be when I'm ready and be because I want to, not just to please my friends. She agreed with me. I don't know how friend 1 is. Friend 2 has gone to speak to her and I'll message her tomorrow I think, give her time to cool off. Thing is, friend 1 is lovely, but very outspoken/say what she thinks, and she seems to want to fix things for me, when it's only me who can fix them. She gets annoyed when I don't do what she suggests, and although I know it's because she cares about me, whatever I do re this problem drinking has to be off my own back because if they're not then it won't work. I hate arguing with my friends so going to bed on a low note. Up early in morning for a course too. Hope tomorrow will be a better day and me and friend can get back to normal.

Hello everyone,

Can I climb on board too please?

I've recently had a long term health condition diagnosed and have to be on antibiotics for at least a year, which means no alcohol - at least for the first few months.

Over the past three years I've been cutting back on my alcohol consumption so feel at least partly prepared... but the thought of a whole year teetotal is pretty mind blowing.

So I hope you ladies can help me through this!

Joey lovely to see you. Very well done on sticking to your limits that is excellent

Elba good luck at GPs today. I hope u r able to be completely honest x

Ma lovely photo x

My laptop has died so I'm on my phone and keep losing my posts (fat fingers) All ok. Bit bored but that's ok. Another day, another dollar. Have a good Monday everyone xxxx

Welcome plant you're in the right place, u will get some heartfelt support here x

cunning welcome, we already have the lovely fox so I'm going to call u cunning or would u prefer Ox?

Thanks, Spanna. Feeling a bit contrite and weepy after another lost weekend, and in that slightly over emotional space where I get disproportionately emotional to be NC'd. So, thanks! New week, new resolution...let's see where we go with this. Love to you all x