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

I certainly don't practice what I preach Sounds like maybe he's quite defensive about the drinking though (although proably projecting massively here), so maybe a bit of him knows and is feeling unsettled by it. Anyway, like you said not one for tonight. I'm also having issues with reflux/abdo pain which (frustratingly) are getting worse not better with a lot less alcohol. Just been referred for endoscopy, gp doesn't know anywhere near the full story though (I'm sure she suspects) or that I self medicated with prescription doses of over the counter omeprazole for self diagnosed gastritis for months before I told her All the more reason to try a full month Af I guess!

Trouble is we never practice what we preach do we!
one of the 2 things that led to me stopping cutting down, was feeling absolutely dreadful for a few weeks, self diagnosed gastritis, and glugging gaviscon from the bottle several times a day. The gastritis lasted about a month, despite the gaviscon OD, until I "moderated" but was bloody uncomfortable while it lasted. The other thing was my sky high BP which scared me shitless and stopped me drinking totally for a couple of weeks. After I stopped drinking for those 14 days initially (and before I succumbed to the call if the wine witch) I found my gastric symptoms worse for a while, before they disappeared.

OH does know he drinks too much, and yes he's being defensive. He had an endoscopy 6 years ago, diagnosed with GORD and told to reduce the drinking. He hasn't, in fact it's worse. No point in discussion, he becomes defensive and stroppy. He's 60 and behaves like an old man. I'm 60 and want to get to a healthy 80!!

Im just hoping for 40 (I genuinely spent my 20s believing I wouldn't get to 30!). I've fucked my body around so much. In bed now, later than planned. Really enjoyed drinking tonight, but fucking hell it was hard to stop. Every logical bit of me knows what this means but it's so bloody hard

I spent my teens, 20's, 30's, 40's and a lot of my 50's thinking I was invincible elba I've been drinking since I was about 16. I remember as a newly qualified staff nurse in the late 70s, going home from a crap late shift and sharing a bottle of gin with a friend, then getting up for an early shift a few hours later. Regularly.
I'm genuinely astounded that I've survived so long, but I'm getting close to the age that my mum was when she had a stroke and died, and that's a bit scary and a big wake up for me.

If we're posting pictures of dogs

Aww Joey
Will be taking mine to the beach this morning. She's a bit scared of the sea though, she hides behind me when a wave comes in!

Oh my goodness I am so very drunk. Rode my pony while mr L took the dog out for a long walk. Then we went for lunch. I had beer. Lots of beer. He didn't drink because he had to drive. Hate myself right now. Just in the bath, feel sick. I need to stop this shit right now.

MrsMimsy here on my old name as dunno quite what is going on with my phone. Been a couple or few months since I last posted. Summer holidays got in the way of any form of sobriety. Lala, hope you are ok. Elba, how are you tonight? I am in for October. I am a real big mess right now. Hope all babes are ok this Sunday evening x

joey ma quine! fit like the day? How are you my dear? What have you been up to? I think I recognise that beach! Favourite thing in the world, watching woufs at the beach!

Hectic few days, working this weekend, just home and feet up finally. The hairy alarm clock got me up at 3am to let me know she was going to be sick, and to be fair, she gave a good twenty something hoos of warning before it came up. Due to holidays I am on for the next 5 days before being off again.

But she's fine, this wound is healing well, her first one is just starting to look a bit better now. There's a fragility to the tissue on the point of her elbow, so she's now wearing the sheepskin elbow protectors I ordered from the States.

lala hope you are now tucked up in bed with mister L, you are going through so much stressful shit just now, you are coping. You recognise that you overdid it, no point in beating yourself up my darling. How's hoss? Is she okay? Those are some mighty cute pictures of your puplet, whoever grooms her does a fab job, she looks perfect! xx

crochet I hold my hands up for being another who doesn't practice what she preaches. I was also invincible, if I tried to do the same now I would be hopeless at work. Which is why I always binged on my days off. I'm in my late forties, and feel it's all caught up with me these last couple of years. I look like I lived life a little too hard. I fairly got the face I deserve.

Your girl is beautiful, such a beautiful wee face, all innocent looking curled up in her bed! xx

ma I hope you are having a whale of a time quine! xx

spanna how are you my lovely pal? Who knew! I am doing it! Please tell me my boing will come soon and make it all worth it, I'm struggling every single day. xx

hope how is your elbow coming along sweetpea? And everything else? I hope WB has realised how much you do and is being more of a help for you and less of a twunt. xx

sweet How are yoou petal? How's sweetdog coming along? Did his injury heal okay? He will no doubt be chuffed to have his cone of shame relegated to the bin. xx

mouse I hope you are keeping fine, I think of you often, kind soul that you are, xx

Another early start tomorrow so heading off to bed in a bit, I need to eat, but not really in the mood to cook. I have some fresh pasta, so blue cheese, bacon, sage and cream sauce it is. Very quick and very lazy. Hope all babes are fine, nighty night, xx

Bonjour tout le monde. Heading back across La Manche today. Have had the most wonderful time and the controlled "normal" way of drinking here has given me motivation to try not to slip back into old ways.

Nice one Ma. So happy you had a good time .... You deserved it x

Wry elbow back in action thanks. Doing freelance stuff and just had job interview. Bit of a rollercoaster time for me at the moment - job hunting, ds starting college, challenging freelance contracts. Drinking too much and valiantly trying to stay upright both literally and metaphorically. Lovely to see you back on the thread though xxx

Ma hope you are feeling refreshed after your holiday

Wry yup, you're spot on! Your constant talk of rowies finally drew me north! We had a lovely few days catching up with friends and family- and as you can see from the photo, the weather was glorious.

I wasn't too happy about some of the changes in Aberdeen- Dr Noodles?!? WTF is that? And a Starbucks on every corner... I'm an old fuddy duddy me, don't like change

The first morning we were there, I bought a dozen rowies from Aitkens. Shocked to find that the 'fresh in store bakery' at sainsburys sold croissants, Danish pastries etc but no rowies!!!!

What are rowies????

Rowies have been described as tasting like a mouthful of the North Sea

Imagine a croissant that has been squashed and flattened so it is very dense. Double the amount of salt in it.

Triple the amount of lard in it. A good test of whether it has been made with enough lard is when it comes out of the toaster, it should burn your fingers because of all the fat.

If you can't feel your arteries furring up, then it's not a proper rowie.

alias I think I need those in my life... Currently living off soda bread which is my new found food of amazingness. Especially when fried and topped with egg and bacon. Now that really does fur the old arteries, although my arteries are probably the least of my worries right now.

wry, horse face is not good she is still off work and as I think I mentioned, she is probably up for retirement pretty shortly. So annoyed with having to whizz around on the crazed pony machine. We shall have to wait and see... Pup is due another hair cut, finally found a groomer that I was happy with, but they didn't take too much off her, as she still has her puppy coat and they want her to keep that for as long as possible (any clues as to why??). So basically she is just a ball of excitable fluff at the moment. About to embark on our evening routine walk.

hope I am glad to hear that the elbow is on the mend, and got fingers and toes crossed for a positive outcome for the interview!!! Keep remaining upright lovely:

ma sounds like you had a great time? And well done for the moderation thing. It's a good feeling, although sadly in my case quickly leads to the full blown binges.

elba are you ok?

Sorry for my drubken self pity party last night, I have felt rough all day as punishment. Might have a glass of wine later, waiting for mr L to come home, if only to clear the hideousness of the after effects (of last night's binge, not of mr L). Lots of crazy shite going on at home at the moment, just cannot wait to get moved hit our new flat, not even bothered by the horrendous London prices anymore, just need to get the hell out!

Right, off we toddle on our walk. I hope I haven't missed anyone, hope everyone has had a good Monday and are all set up for an AF evening. I am not even going to pretend I am not going to drink tonight, but will def wind down, ready to join the sober October babes (won't be able to afford to drink anyway at this rate!).

Love to all.

Gah, so many typos! Apologies. I've not even had a drink yet!

Hey all,

So planning not to drink in October seems to have given me licence to get as much in before then...This is day 3 of drinking. Moderate(ish) due to work but still over a bottle of wine a night. I'm planning drinking opportunities in my head and simultaneously trying to block them by arranging stuff in the mornings. Then panicking and working out when I next have a chance to drink 'properly'

It's weird but I don't think I've ever felt invincible as far as drinking is concerned, apart from maybe as a teenager. Even in my very early 20s I was scared by it and kind of decided it would probably kill me, and sooner rather than later. But yet carried on anyway. It genuinely terrifies me now too, but still doing it. It's caused so much pointless anxiety really over the years.

Mrs lovely to hear from you and glad you will be joining us in October!

lala not long to go till you are out of there, keep going lovely. Enjoy your walk!

hope wishing you lots of luck with the job hunting/ interviews! Glad the arm has improved.

Now drunk and miss not being sober, when I'm sober I miss being drunk Having to congo it as have to drive at 8 but otherwise would be going for it. Not logical behaviour in any way

Control not congo

I'm back! Well, in London for the night then home tomorrow. Have had such a wonderful time, full of laughter and sunshine, and some tears...
Good news - my bid for the funding to conduct some research I to Veterans etc has got past the first round and we are now one of 4 invited to present in London on October 4th. I need this! Any tips gratefully accepted

ma that is brilliant! What tips do you need?? Is it like a public speaking thing? Or a general pitch? I for one will be backing you all the way. If you need some moral support in London, then let me know. It will probably be in the guise of the puppy or some such, outed myself enough on this thread!!! But really am chuffed for you and wishing you the best of luck

Hey lala . We will now complete the Invitation to Tender and then, I suppose, a PowerPoint? I don't really know yet. I hate public speaking with a passion so hopefully my partner from the university will do the bulk of it.

Ma brilliant news!!!! There are tons of online videos and articles on how to pitch etc so take a look, but having just done 2 presentations I would say once it is written practice in front of a friend (or a mirror) and time it as a) until you have said something out loud a few times it feels garbled and b) you need to learn it so you don't go off track. Good luck xxx

Thanks to all for kind interview wishes. I am used to competency based ones, and this was one of those weird interviews that go 'how would your friends describe you / what is your morning routine / tell me something I don't know about you' (erm, I'm a drunk?) The CEO had to leave after 30 minutes and the interview started 20 mins late. So I have no idea at all how it went, none. Just got to sit it out now, but God I hate working from home and need an income so fingers crossed.

Elba how are you feeling today? Did you Congo it last night ?

Lala how long till you move? Is it a nice bit of London?

Joey Rowies sound like my thing. Fat and salt, mmmm. Perhaps Wry can purloin some for the bus.

Right, best start work now (in my PJs). Kids both back at school / college all day for first time (ds's college has had around 3 random inductions but no actual lessons yet) so stuck in house with WB who will no doubt spend the day swearing at his computer and getting in my way.

Craving a fatty breakfast like cheese on toast and wondering where my September fitness resolutions went? Any motivation anyone? Fitness pact?

Exciting news ma! I also hate presenting/ public speaking with a passion though...my secret is a small dose of propranolol (beta blocker) first. Takes the edge of the nerves enough to stop me getting too flustered.

hope I am now craving cheese on toast too. No congoing (can you Congo on your own?!), really ought to proof read before I post not after though and stop getting drubk and writing nonsense I really need to get fit too, want to get back into my running.

Hungover today, unsurprisingly. Going to have a nap. Meant to be a heatwave here today but it's pissing it down. Had therapy this morning and hated it...she's lovely but very intense. Will keep going for a bit but not totally certain it's for me.

Anyway hope everyone's ok and having a good day...anyone actually got the amazing sunshine we were promised???