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

Back on the lime and tonic so far but not settling to it. Massive fight between dd1 and 2 hasn't helped, with dh wading in on dd1s side without even bothering to get dd2s side of the argument as usual. No wonder dd2 doesn't want to come home. Can't say I blame her.

Hi can I join your bus? I've not had a drink in 33 days, and finding tonight really hard. I made a mistake at work, my mum is very ill, I'm worried about everything and I so want a whisky. I shan't have one, but it's hard tonight.

33 days is amazing! Keep at it. Sorry to hear about your mum

Hi all,
I had a great day with my friend, just seemed to catch up where we left off 15 years ago. No temptation to drink as was driving but I really wanted a glass when I got home, managed to resist so have done day 7!

elba well done you on day 8, and I love the lager in the sock drawer story. I've found stuff in places that I gave no memory of putting there.
You're probably right about Mr C, he does procrastinate ( a lot!) about reducing his drinking, so is probably astounded that I've managed a week.
But as I said, this is for ME.
By the way, what's your app called?

ma hope the dd's argument has calmed down, and that you haven't buried DH under the patio 😬

Welcome to the bus coffee, well done for getting to day 33 and sorry to hear about your mum. The support here is great.

Sorry if I've missed any name checks.
Off to bed soon.

Thanks for your messages. Made it through the evening, did a half hour yoga youtube practice and that helped LOADS. Was what I needed far more than a drink really

And this morning my lovely SoberTime app has 34 days on it, and I've celebrated by changing the photo Little things!

Opened my drawer at work today and saw quite how many packets of paracetemol I used to feel it necessary to keep. I never thought I got hangovers from the amount I drank (maybe half a bottle a night) ; seems I did but just thought they were normal

Failed here and back on the booze. Seems impossible that I just did 3 days AF! Sick of the arguing and sniping going on between DDS . DH has firmly sided with dd1, dd2 is refusing to come home ( can't say I blame her) and living with my mother...it's all shit.

Away for our wedding anniversary and I had a drink last night. Tbh, I didn't really want a drink but somehow stupidly felt that I ought to have one.

However, whereas in the past I would have had a bottle or 2, I only had a large white wine spritzer which lasted me 2 hours, then a small glass of white wine with my meal, which I left half of. I drank a lot of water!

So I don't feel too bad about myself and am back to AF today. We're going home via a rather upmarket supermarket so will stock up on nice AF drinks.

Hope everyone is ok today.

Morning all. Today is day 10 (how did that happen?!). Feeling much better physically, a bit up and down emotionally but on the whole less so than when I'm drinking.

I finished nights yesterday morning, got home at 9, slept till 12 then spent the afternoon on a fishing boat (!) on an impromptu mackerel fishing trip with friends. Went to a friends house in the evening (30 miles away so drove there- no chance to drink), got home at 11 and fell straight into bed without even faffing about with af drinks. Slept until 10 this morning...I have a day off and no hangover!

A few months ago (and actually on and off until a few weeks ago) the end of a run of nights would mean getting home at 9, drinking until 12 ish, sleep until the evening then resume drinking until the early hours. I would typically drink 4-6 pints of lager, and at least one bottle of wine, plus the odd gin and tonic or whatever I had in. So 20-30 units of alcohol over the 24 hours. I would still be asleep now and the day would be spent at home hungover and anxious. This was my normal for many years...writing it down makes me realise just how much I could (can?) drink. Instead of drinking I had about 10 hours out with friends, a much needed long sleep and I'm still deciding what to do with my afternoon as I'm not housebound by a hangover and anxiety. I would not of made plans for yesterday or today as they would eat into my drinking time.

Writing that down mainly to try and remind myself why I'm doing this. Didn't think too much about drinking yesterday, but the thoughts hit me at random times. So I need to keep the positives in mind to fight them off.

crotchet happy anniversary! And well done for moderating last night, sticking to two drinks is impressive. My app is called drink aware, it's got pretty much any drink you can buy in any size on it and just logs the units.

ma sorry things are so shit at home.

Sorry for the essay, just realised how long this is. Hope everyone's ok. I'm off to enjoy the sun (working most the bank holiday so going to make the most of it today!) xxx

Sitting on the plane. Delayed. Anxious as fuck. Had a beer but I feel so shaky and weird. Trying not to freak myself out. Sorry for the doom

Elba that is truly awesome.

elba what a fantastic day you had, hope today's been as good if not better!

ma hope the dds bickering has stopped, it really drags you down doesn't it? My kids are in their 30s now but still bicker when they're together.

coffee hope you're ok. I'm going to try the yoga, haven't done it for years.

lala hope the plane journey was ok, and that you gave a good weekend.

Back AF today after my little blip yesterday, stocked up on AF drinks, elderflower cordial which is lovely with sparkling water, and some Crabbies raspberry flavoured ginger beer, sounds disgusting, tastes gorgeous.
Off to bed in a minute, day 10 tomorrow (have decided to forget about the 2 drinks yesterday, if I have to go back to day 1 I'll be so despondent)

Tried to post yesterday but kept losing my post
Currently in Greece last day today just wanted to say Wow, wow wow Elba you have done amazingly well, incredibly proud
I promise you it does get easier, try not to project ahead and literally take one day at a time.
They had no AF lager when we arrived and once they realised that I didn't drink they went and bought a crate of Amstel Free, bless their cotton socks so I've been busy glugging that for the week!
Hope everyone of you lovely Brave Babes is ok. Love and hugs to all xxxx ps none of us will ever regret not picking up that first drink

crochet well done and brilliant to be able to get back on it again.
Spanna good to see you, things sound good.
I have a day off today all to myself. After visiting dad( it's his birthday today but he won't know anything about it), I'm off to meet my bestie and head up the coast with new puppy to look for seaglass. Then back to hers for dinner and a girls night in.
There will be wine but it will be a lovely day.

ma sounds like a lovely day for you - enjoy!

spanna thank you hope you've enjoyed your last day of the holiday...if your down South you will at least be coming home to some sunshine (hopefully!)

lala hope your ok and the weekend is going well.

Struggling this evening. Still at work, probably will be for a couple more hours and I'm knackered and just feel generally pissed off and agitated. Tonight would be a prime drinking opportunity- I'm off tomorrow, no plans etc. I know I will regret it, I don't want to break my run of af days, I know all the logical reasons not to but I can't stop thinking about it and debating it in my head. And I can't stop bloody eating either which is freaking me out...think I've had at least 10 biscuits today and still hungry.

All I have to do is drive straight home and get to bed...no alcohol at home (apart from the sock drawer lager which has stayed where I found it for now ) but I'm not sure if I have the resolve tonight.

Sorry for the rant, better get back to work....hiding behind a bush having an illegal courgette but think the smoke plume is probably giving me away...

Cigarette not courgette...!!

Elba my darling - distract distract distract - have a long bath, make yourself a cuppa, as many fags as you want, plan a lovely day at the beach, think how satisfying it will be to feel free from a hangover. Don't be freaked out about your eating, for now just eat whatever you fancy

Failed sorry.... Don't know why, I was so confident this morning. Such an idiot...sorry, feel pathetic and a complete let down after so much support from you all ️xxx

It's not a fail elba, it's a little blip and you can be back on af tomorrow if you want. I've had a glass of wine this evening, just the one, but it was either that or murder my OH who has driven me up the bloody wall today, not helped by torrential rain and a 2 hour thunderstorm so I couldn't escape. Cabin fever! Ill be AF tomorrow again though .....

Sorry Elba but having an illegal courgette behind a bush has me weeping with laughter !!!

For all you doggie types, meet Millie, my friend's puppy..

The illegal courgette had me in fits too ma!
Millie is absolutely gorgeous, I want to steal her.

Hope everyone is ok this morning, I have a bit of a headache after 1 glass of wine last night, sad state of affairs considering I could drink almost 2 bottles without a headache!

Haha just read that back...possibly the most random phrase ive ever written

Hungover today, although not too badly, but mainly pissed off at myself for breaking up my run of af days. Drinking didn't make me feel any better, just got more sad the more I drank. So all in all, it was pretty pointless and I am definitely not drinking tonight.

So I guess I'm back on day 1 (do I really have to set the counter back to the beginning...it's just depressing?!)

elba I've decided I'm not setting the counter back to the beginning unless I go over the recommended weekly units - my rule! And I'm well under at the moment 😀

Don't got back to the beginning. Count it in weeks or months. So last week I did three out of seven. Now it's a new week and that's my target. If I am AF on Monday it will be 4 out of 8,and so on.

Elba do NOT set counter back at all, you've had a blip, that is all Your courgette made me lol too

ma lovely pup, so cute!

On the train home from Gatwick. Dd2 not speaking to me Asked me to buy her some perfume on the plane, I said yes, then she proceeded to stuff down her gummy bears (that I'd bought her on the flight out) & when I asked her if I could have one she threw one on my lap & refused to give her sister any No perfume has been purchased. The dark cloud remains above her head. Dd1 has told me that I am the most immature parent ever and I should never have had children Oh Happy Days !!!
I just want to run for the hills. Arrrrrghhhh