Brave Babes Battle Bus - Holding our heads up like thistles

[MaryMungoAndMidgies]

I bit the bullet - Come on in, excuse the faint whiff of dog!

The last thread

elba hugs. If it's any consolation, Lala pup insisted on eating a half eaten piece of toast that she found lying on a broken glass strewn piece of pavement. I tried to take it off her and she proper went for me, the little bitch (I can say that as she hasn't been spayed yet). Probably not much of a consolation.

I know it sounds extreme, but have you considered rehab? Not just for alcohol, but for the whole well being thing as well? Hope you are ok, darling.

Elba do you have any family in RL? Anyone who can help you out?
I made it to the beach and got some great glass. Hope you can come with me next time. It was bliss to be on the beach on my own, just lost in the sea and wind and space . I also found an old junk shop and scored an ancient copy of Matthew Arnold anthology and 4 Kipling's in pocket edition which apparently were given to George Cummings for Christmas in 1931. Lovely. Beaches and old books. Perfection

Not really ma, I do have my parents but I see my father as little as possible (my choice) and my mother seems to of completely shut herself off from everyone. I have tried so many times with her but she can't seem to speak to me without throwing some sort of insult or horrible comment at me. I get why and she's hurting more than I am in sure but only so much I can cope with. Extended family either barking mad (his side) or abroad (mum is Canadian). It's all a huge huge mess to be honest.

Have some lovely friends though. And I'm usually quite good at being independent, just feeling sorry for myself and wallowing in it all today.

lala can't afford rehab but if I could I think I would actually go for it. lala pup seems to be turning into a proper diva!!!

She is a proper little diva. Just took her out for a proper long blow out with my friend and his gorgeous collie. She will hopefully sleep well tonight...

ma I reckon you could make a mint making brave babes jewellery out of that! Glad you had a good day.

Oh and pictures of where we went this eve...

Hang on in there elba. And you can apply for rehab, as I believe, on the Nhs? Granted it might take a while, but worth a shot??

Home

It's strange being here. I feel differently grown up. No longer have to worry that walking down the street I might bump into my drunken alcoholic father (he died several years ago) Or wondering if I'm going to turn into him. Or just the whole screwed up family dynamics.

And Aberdeen has changed too, now it seems to be all Starbucks, Nandos and something weird called 'Dr Noodles' I was determined to buy some rowies and ended up walking miles to find a place that sold them (I blame wry for putting this idea in my head!)

But we took the kids and dogs down to the beach, and that was lovely

Sorry to hear about the bad associations joey but by feck that looks absolutely stunning! What a view. I can't google as walking and typing (and knowing my luck I would walk into a fecking tree), but what are Rowies? And I know need to know what dr noodles is...

Trudging off to riding, been advised that I can 'lightly' work my girl, which is code for 'hahaha yeah you are going to fall off and break many a bone'. Oh and I am late, been dithering and I think it demonstrates my reluctance. Almost feel like I am over the riding thing, it feels more like a chore these days...

On the plus side, whilst walking across the bridge over the river, I saw a teeny tiny mouse baby. It scampered off before I could take a pic. Makes a change from the horrid massive rats that normally hang out there.

Where iswry by the way?

Morning! Any room on the bus for me? I've been reading through the threads and thus looks like a good place to be.
I've been drinking far too much for far too long, and have had a few unsuccessful and short lived attempts to give up / cut down over the years. I had a bit of a wake up call last Thursday, when I went to hospital for a minor procedure, but they wouldn't do it as my blood pressure was way too high. I'm convinced that my drinking is contributing to this ( I was quite hungover when I went to the hospital I'm ashamed to say), and since then have made a huge effort, I haven't stopped but have limited myself to 2 glasses of wine a day and feel so much better for it. I'm sleeping loads better, my skin looks better and it's bloody wonderful not waking up fuzzy headed. So the week I'm planning at least 3 AF days, starting today.
So that's me, hope there's a seat on the bus, TIA for support

Morning crochet you are in the right place, the babes on here are wonderful - lots of support and sage advice, and best of all, not judgemental. I am a relative newbie on here and I have had nothing but kind words, great tips and encouragement (and hopefully have contributed myself).

You sound like you are going the right way about it, well done for cutting down. That's a great start. I think we can all agree that waking up with a clear head and looking bright eyed and bushy tailed or feeling like a normal human being is the constant reminder why we shouldn't drink/drink as much as we should...

Hope the procedure wasn't too serious. And I have been hungover at early morning hospital appointments more than I care to remember

I will join you on the three AF days this week. I am planning today, Wednesday and Friday (to coincide with social events that I know I will drink at - despite my best intentions ).

Anyway, long and rambling post. elba, ma, hope, joey, claret, baby, wry and everyone else - how are you all doing?

Woke up to a beautiful day and then unexpected surprise of mr Lala bringing me breakfast in bed, after he got off his flight back home. I must be doing something right! Lovely day yesterday in the sunshine with the pups and my friend's baby, after riding my girl. Would have been perfect, had I not had a perfectly sensible one pint in the pub, and then went home via the shop... Anyway, onwards and upwards. Today I shall be AF.

Love to all.

Thanks for the welcome lala.
Beautiful day here too, have been out for a coffee with some friends this morning, and plan some gardening this afternoon, and a dogwalk when it cools down a bit. My H is away for a few days with work, so a good opportunity for me to have some AF days without him trying to sabotage. Have lots of knitting/crochet to keep my hands busy and my brain occupied, that worked for me when I stopped smoking over 25 years ago now!

Welcome crochet
Babes,I am off out to the Tattoo. Supper in the Castle first then VIP seats. This is going to be extreme soldier ogling...there will be hundreds of the blighters in kilts. Gonna be a tough night.

Oooh enjoy ma, nothing like a good soldier ogle!

ma I am jealous yet again. I am in the garden with a hot and sweaty dog, after a lovely lunch with my oldest friend and her 9 week old baby. I can officially pronounce that iced lattes are far nicer than alcohol.

Saw the saddest thing on the way home, some guy collapsed at the station, can in his hand (this was about 3pm), he looked about 70, he was probably younger, and he was clearly pissed off his face. No-one was helping him. Just stepped over him with a look of disgust. Really made me think. I don't want to be that person... Going to focus on the sunshine and puppy and horse. Oh and mr Lala.

Is it mad to have a bbq just the two of us this evening? Having a bigger one at the weekend, but thought it might be nice to do a trial run (and surprise him) plus I want sausages and burgers

crochet I take it you have Labradors? Sense my powers of detection...

Well spotted lala! I have one 4 year old yellow lab bitch now, the other old girl was put to sleep 3 weeks ago.
I'm now sitting in the garden with a sparkling water and lime slice - like a G&T without the G!

Oh no! Sorry to hear that. I have a six month old shih tzu, and the other babes have various other fabulous pooches...

I am off to waitrose to get dinner. I am going to stock up on the raspberry lemonade stuff, that shit is the shizzle. Oh and guiness for the mr Lala (can someone else think of something else to call him as mr Lala sounds completely and utterly mad).

Just tried on a pair of shorts from last summer... Oh dear god. Think I might bbq them. Hideous. That coupled with my scabby eczemary legs and I am quite the looker. Not.

elba where are you???

Bbq shorts lala
Delish!

Welcome crochet and well done for being brave and posting

We've now left Aberdeen but had a fab few days seeing friends and family. Who asked about rowies? They are a sort of morning roll, dense and heavy, made with lard instead of butter. They are about 900 calories apiece, and wry had got me so worked up over them that the day we arrived I bought a dozen and ate 2. And a half.

We're now over on the west coast- the weather is glorious and we're going to do nothing but take boat trips and mooch about the harbour

That was me joey, sounds like the Scottish equivalent of soda bread... Tastes so good, but is basically like eating a brick. Mr Lala brought loads back with him, how do I break the news that I do not wish to gain another stone?? Although they are bloody nice with jam.

joey sounds fab!!! Can you sail? Or will you be a passenger??

Been in the garden and then for another dog walk, Lala pup is having crazy puppy time. Not bbq'd any shorts yet... But the night is young!

Hey all,

Went back to work yesterday in the end and probably feel better for doing so. Thanks for the lovely posts during a not so good shit week and sorry for being so persistently whiny!

crotchet welcome!

joey boat trips and mooching about a harbour sounds lovely, hope you're having a great time.

ma that sounds fab, hope your having an amazing time.

lala hope the barbecue was good, and your shorts are in tact!

Last week was a write of, alcohol wise, and I've failed at being af tonight too. Whenever I do well, I make up for it by totally fucking up, and vice versa.

I was thinking today, and if it's a shit idea ignore it, is there somewhere we could start a little motivational thread/link/page alongside the side the bus. Was thinking along the lines of random benefits we've noticed after controlled or af patches, maybe little 'real time' reminders of shit hangovers/ why not to drink, links to books/documentaries/songs, our personal motivations for trying to be af/moderate, etc.... Anything really, but somewhere things will move slower so we could make it into a little 'toolbox' that can be referred to when struggling. I've tried to do this for myself by diaries etc but for some weird reason feel far more self conscious than posting it on the Internet for all to see...

Going to stop talking crap now and go to bed. Night all xxx

Thanks for the welcome joey and elba.
Well I didn't quite manage AF as planned yesterday, but only 2 glasses of wine, which is so much better than the 11/2 - 2 bottles I have been drinking. Planning AF today though.
Sleeping well and waking up with a clear head is truly wonderful.
Quiet day at home here, but with lots of housework to keep me busy (Deep joy!)
Dog is whinging to be walked so need to get up and out.
Have a good day all

I'd love to join this thread. My drinking has been getting out of control gradually over the past few years. We try and go Monday to Thursday alcohol free but I never manage it. I tell myself it's just going to be the one glass then by the time DH gets home I've done the bottle in, hidden it and opened the next and I'm pretending I've just had a glass, he knows and I know but still I say it. On weekends when drinking is allowed, I am starting earlier and earlier one or two o'clock, this is fine for DH, he has a couple of pints then doesn't have anything else until the night, once I start I carry on until I can't drink anymore . I hate the waking up early hours of the morning with my heart racing, palpitations and not knowing wether we've had a row or not. DH is anxious all the time as he never knows which way I'll go, I cause arguments over stuff I never would if I was sober once I've had a drink.

The thought of never being able to have a drink again doesn't exactly fill me with joy. I wish I could just have one or two and leave it at that, but no, once the bottles gone, I invariably walk down to the shop and get another one

My dad is a fairly heavy and it's always been there in my family, so I guess kind of normal. I would love to be able to change the habit.

DH is going away to work today and my first thought was least I can have a glass of wine without him meaning at me. If DH was behaving this way, I'm not sure I would still be here.

welcome hammer you will get loads of support here. the first post is the hardest to make!
soldier ogling last night was exhausting - excuse the crappy photos..

Afternoon. I'm not new here, I've just missed the bus for a very long time. I was here some time back then something happened that set me off on a massive wobble. I got some wonderful support back then and hopefully if I chuck enough green Opal fruits on (they're still currency, right?) I might be able to snaffle a seat? I love wine, wine hates me and I need to get a grip on life again now.

Welcome hammer and welcome back Popcorn. I'm very new here, only scrambled aboard yesterday, living it already.