Brave Babes - Barging through 2017 in style

[SweetLathyrus]

Hello, I'm SweetLathyrus (Sweet for short), and I've been hopping on and off Gerald the Brave Babes Battle Bus for three years now because, like some many of us, I struggle with alcohol.

The Bus is a supportive community at all stages in their relationship with alcohol and with lots of different goals - for some, it's abstinence, for others it's moderation, for others, it's just about getting a bit of control and perspective.

So, if you think you'd like to join us, don't be shy, flag us down and jump on board and share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with; sometimes there will be silliness, but there will always be help and support.

If you would like to know how the Bus first rattled into action, here is the first ever thread

And if you would like to know where we have been more recently, here is the most recent thread

You'll find endless friendly support here Loerlai I couldn't be on day 7 without the thread.

ma you're doing so well!

dubh its Boots no 7 Glycolic Peel kit, quite pricey but I find it really helps keep my skin under control. I get spots (hormonal I suppose, not teenage!) and this prevents them.

Hi Lorelai, welcome aboard!

ma That was my half nibbled face mask! I took refuge in the bathroom where the lighting is dim. My under eye shadows look awful. Hoping the night time waking stops soon.

I am brunching on facemask ingredients. And a coffee.

Will have a look at that joey, thank you. I feel like my skin looks old and dull.

Today I will mostly be sewing the dog's bed.

Do they make straightjackets for dogs? She needs to be trussed up like Hannibal Lecter. Complete with leather face mask. She sees her beds as a personal challenge. I bought her the 3 toughest beds in the country. All minced.

I should hire her out as a tester.

Oooh,the smock of smug!Get me.
My job today is clearing out our bedroom which, in a flat with no storage,contains everything we can't find a home for.Its like sleeping in a junk yard. Bin bags at the ready...

Made it to day 6 by the skin of my teeth. Found myself staring longingly at beer in Sainsbury's after work last night, but then of course would have to buy wine too for after the beer. Two pints and half a bottle of wine would be my norm if working the next day, much more if not Decided the need for beer was probably thirst more than anything so reluctantly settled for ginger beer instead. Slept slightly better, apart from a fucking massive flying thing that spent the night dive bombing my head, which made for some interesting half awake dreams!

Feel slightly better today though, mood less erratic so far. I gave up tracking it, but think the last six weeks or so I had easily slipped back into 100+ units a week so I guess there has been a fair bit of withdrawal going on over the last few days.

Well done to all of you who have got to day 7...that's a whole week done after tonight! Loved the face mask pics ma and dubh, and margie huge well done on your restraint yesterday!

lunk sorry your feeling low, I think when the alcohol haze lifts one of the hardest things is confronting the reasons for the drinking.

Well done Elba and glad you're feeling a bit brighter today.

Thought of you lot earlier when I popped into the charity shop for book browse, they had a display of mugs with slogans on such as 'no wine in mine' and 'no gin allowed in'

Not quite sure what to do with myself today, house is tidy, no shopping needed. I'm feeling fairly confident about tonight, but tomorrow I'm out to lunch with heavy drinkers so that's going to be tough.

This week has been a revelation, how much time have I wasted getting wasted? Being able to read books in the evening or get absorbed into a film. Being able to complete little chores at 9pm rather than dribbling on the sofa.

May I mention this too? It's a bit TMI but over the last few years I have noticed that my first pee of the morning has had a marmitey aroma -yeasty (sorry) which has concerned me but it's gone now. Also that when I go back to bedroom it has a stale smell which has also gone (I guess that was breathing out stale booze fumes)

Oh Lunk, I hear you loud and clear. As Elba so rightly says, drink is a great way to mask our issues, problems and pain. I always wonder if I drink because I'm unhappy or if I'm unhappy because I drink. But 7 days in and I too am yet to feel the boing, so I guess the answer is that I'm pretty unhappy with or without the drink. But at least we're confronting and facing up to it instead of getting shitfaced and ignoring it - that's got to be a step forward. Well done on not drinking yesterday.

Elba well done on the ginger beer yesterday - great restraint.

And Ma - looking good in the smock.

I found the Boots peel because I was using a Footner, loved the peeling feet and was curious if you could do something similar to my face 😀 I don't recommend applying Footner to the face, unless you want to scare the horses.

Well I was given a Health support worker (because I have a condition which may be worsened by obesity even though am not very overweight) but I thought may as well take advantage of free 6 weeks. Anyway, I agreed to only drink wine twice a week, but yesterday got hold of the sherry leftover from Christmas. Not sure what to do about this, as I hate having the temptation in the house.

DH just says 'don't drink it' 😕 But after a couple of glasses of wine my self control disappears. There is half a bottle of sherry left. Any ideas?

Hmm sherry. Are you much of a cook? I would be using it as an ingredient to get rid of it and perk up sauces, nice in onion soup and various mushroom recipes.

Down the sink with it joey right now!
Well, 4 hours later I have 6 bin bags gone to the dump, two bags of clothes for charity and a much cleaner bedroom! God, I could murder a drink though. Feel I should be rewarded for all my hard work...Sick of lime and tonic.
Need to ride it out tonight.

joey could you bear to pour it down the sink? Failing that give it away? I would almost certainly cave if I had booze in the house. A friend bought four boxes of wine round for me the other day - I made him take them back to stash at his house for a later date!

I'm not feeling to bad about tonight, Martin Kemp is on telly and I want to be able to concentrate on hIm properly

joey could you freeze it it cubes for future cooking? That way it's out of the road, out of your sight and I'm presuming here, you're not going to want to suck on a sherry ice cube. It would taste all plasticy.

Boody hell ma that's a day well spent. Good effort there.

I've sewn the dog's bed, and watched Four In A Bed. Having a lazy day.

Prepped for melanzane parmigiana, just got to put it in the oven. Ready salad from Marks and some of their nice loaf. Elderflower fizz to drink. The vegetables are healthy, I have a lot of grated parmesan in there. My auntie brought back a massive chunk and it's a shame not to use it.

How are you doing lala? How's that hairy bairn of yours? xx

I am away for a shower and I will be wearing my sheep onesie to sit and watch some telly. The new phone comes with an option for Now TV. Is this worth getting? Can't make head nor tail of the website.

Well done Ma that is an achievement. Keep meaning to do the same myself but get so fazed by clutter. All I've done today is take DS to a race and back and drop DD at her friend's house. Meant to be working now. Laptop is on but am on MN and FB and not getting anywhere. Off to cook dinner in a minute. Am only storing up trouble for myself as will need to do it tomorrow (has to be finished by Monday plus some stuff for a teleconference at 3.00pm tomorrow) and also all the food shopping and ironing.

Day 7 here. Didn't drink last night on meal out but did have a starter and bread with the meal - so diet ruined for the day and not even wine or dessert. It's gruelling not drinking when you can't even have sweet treats but I am so fat right now it's actually put me off food. Been starving for 5 days and doubt I've lost a pound if the fit of my jeans is anything to go by. Ma you made me laugh with the Skittles ... hamster with mumps . I once went on a detox diet and then got caught starving at a trade fair in London - no food anywhere apart from a pack of promotional jelly beans in the goody bag. I ate them so fast I was actually shaking with the sugar rush. Looked like a crack whore!

Joey make a casserole and bung the sherry in there if you can't bear to throw it down the sink. Or there is a Two Fat Ladies recipe somewhere with mushrooms and cream and sherry which is lush on toast or rice or jacket potatoes. (drool)

Spanna was thinking of you last night as I headed out as am wearing the boots I bought last year when you tipped me off to the Fitfop sale! Right bargain they are, I often thank you in my head when I put them on!

Venus good to see you again babe. I can blame you for me having to work weekends! But in a good way of course, as I am paid by the day now and it means I'm busy, and am making progress with this self emploment lark though haven't done my books since August so a bit crap on the accounting front

Going to bung the oven on now. Think the work may have to keep till morning ...

Hope you all have a good night babes ... Saturday is normally a wine night for me so might have a bath and read a book instead to distract me.

Hope you all have your wine witch defeating tactics lined up ! David Bowie documentary on at 9.00 for fans of the great man...

Hey all. Once again, apologies for my absence. Hope you are all ok.

Had a few drinks last night, nothing mad. Just feeling really let down by my friend, she has a six month old baby, was supposed to meet her for coffee this afternoon. I had ordered some rather expensive baby clothes, lovingly wrapped them, etc.
She texted me this morning confirming we were meeting, I replied in confirmation. Got to the area, she texted to say she was another couple and she would see me tomorrow.

I dragged my dog out (and myself), clutching a gift bag with the thoughtfully chosen baby clothes, on the tube and way out of my comfort zone. For no reason.

Am I wrong to feel really fucking upset and in the bath swigging wine (sorry). I just feel upset for myself that I went to that effort and she so blithely shrugged it off.

She has Now suggested coming round tomorrow morning, but I have a hot date riding demon pony after midday every Sunday (and she bloody knows this!)

Sorry, feeling affronted. And trying to stop after the second glass of wine, but I can't promise. Ugh, I need you babes to keep me on the straight and narrow, I was a saint at Christmas (family stuff and abroad, so no choice really!), but now I am back to my old ways... mr la wants to start trying for a baby...!!!!! Oh dear god, I don't think he realises how much I need to clean my act up before that is even a possibility::.

Sorry for the mammoth post, I have missed you lot and hi to all the newbies.

Can't remember the Star Wars/hunger games saying... but may the odds/the force be ever in your favour/be with you!

Love to all, from a pickled and fed up lala x

lala that was really mean of your friend.I would have been hurt too!
Well done hope me old mucker. I'm pissed off that there is no weight loss showing on the scales yet, but I definitely don't feel as bloated.
We are having hairy bikers low fat meatloaf for dinner with stir fried kale. I could eat the entire meatloaf myself!
I quite fancy hairy bikers Si.

Cheers ma, the more I think about it, the more I feel hurt. Just sent a text to her husband (also an old friend). My text was just a bit like 'oh ok'. I feel like waving the dog aloft and saying 'I have a child too!!! Mine is just really hairy...'

Am getting really fed up of lime and tonic. What are you all drinking?

Cranberry, soda and slice of orange here ma delish

lala my friend did this to me on my birthday. Just a text at 10 past midnight the morning before we were due to meet. 'Sorry, can't make it tomorrow x'

What pisses me off is that I'd understand if one of her bairns was ill, {they weren't) but just a dismissive sorry can't make it just doesn't cut it. It didn't give me time to arrange something else either. It felt like my time, not to mention my birthday, wasn't important. I totally get where you are coming from my darling, don't let it drag you down. The fact that she'd confirmed the samee day is just so rude of her to do that.

Keep your date with the demon pony (you know you want to ) if she wants to come round it has to be when it's convenient for you. If she blows you off again and you've changed your plans to accommodate her it will hurt you all over again. If you were in a strong place it wouldn't matter, but when you are hurting everything gets magnified.

hope the Two Fat ladies mushroom recipe sound lovely, must look that up. I loved them, so sad they are no longer with us. My kind of cooking as well, loaded with butter and cream.

What's your bath oil/bubble/salt and book choice for tonight? I am going to disgust you all by saying I never really got into David Bowie. I know. I'm a disgrace to the bus.

ma Most of the way down a bottle of elderflower fizz, with ginger beer for later.

On ice. Lots and lots of ice.

Evening all,

I'm on the n&t ma so not very helpful. Was reading about some ridiculously posh sounding 'infusions' where 'botanicals' are shown to some virgin spring water, I dunno I think a unicorn cries into it and they cheerfully sell the bottle for 30 odd quid. Would that be ok?

Sorry to hear that some babes are having hard times. Put the cork back in the bottle and step away from the sherry / bath & wine!

7 days whooo hooo! I have lost 2 lb but have a very spotty neck. Wtf? The scales may go down even further once the sports have gone away.

Hello. Another newbie here. I was directed to this thread via a Dry January one.
Ive decided to use Dry January as an excuse to stop drinking. Just lately I've noticed how much like my Mother I'm becoming and it's not pretty. I've been drinking and suffering memory loss . Not nice when you can't remember eating dinner the next day. And I've been a nasty drunk around my lovely DP. 😔
I thought I didn't really drink much but 5 days in and I would actually kill for a glass of Wine/ Gin. I'm hoping that my concentration improves, proper sleep would be nice and my puffy face disappearing would be a bonus.

Hi prancer or do you prefer honey I understand the memory loss only too well. Great you are on day 5. You will get loads of support here