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

Loving the playlist Ma!

Inspired by Faire, i just wanted to pass on some wisdom that a brave babe shared with the bus at the end of 2015. She had kept a calendar for the entire year and had marked down all the days she drank and all the days she was AF. So I did it in 2016 and now my aim for this year is simply to beat each month's total, even if it's by one single AF day. For example, in February last year I had 18 AF days so this year I'm going for 19 or more. It seems a lot more achievable than saying I'm going to be AF forever, which is obviously a big, fat porkie!

Have a great Tuesday Babes - at least it's not Monday!

Morning All,

Lost a post last night and was too tired to repeat. Bastard cat ! Has brought in and let go a mouse for the last four nights (she usually just leaves the corpse) one is still under my big comfy reading chair in the living room, another found its way into my bedroom at 3,30 this morning (badly fitted doors). That one is gone - I saw to it myself, but the little moo has abdicated responsibility for the other one to the dog - who is going mad.

Ma you are rocking that boing! But what's the stiletto on the roof?

Margie, that's a really good idea.

Dubh, sending you and terrorist happy tail wags. Sweet Dog is two today, so I am trying to persuade him he is now a grown up and needs to be more responsible

Right, dogs to walk, essays to mark. I'm off to brush my hair - you would not believe what a novelty this is for me!! I may not have to wear a hat on our walk this morning

Have a good day, Babes.

Morning all....checking in

I slept!! Woke a couple of times briefly but for the best part of 11 hours I've been asleep, and no weird dreams.

Hopping for a better day as a result. Have first session back with therapist after a long break in a bit, and need to do some serious excercise later.

Have a god day all

Hopeing and good that should say!

Yay! Elba I am so happy you had a good sleep, really great to hear that.

Morning all,
I also had another good sleep and feel daisy fresh today?

Ma May I add 'I am woman' by Helen Reddy to the playlist?
'I am woman - hear me roar!' 'I am strong, I am invincible, I am womaaaaaannnnn!!!

Tuesday, day 10 - a danger day for me, but I managed last week so no reason I can't manage today. One step at a time and trying not to think ahead.

Hope everybody has a good day with work, dogs, kids and hair sweet
catch up later.

Morning all.
You're all doing great.
I have confidence about Tues to Thurs AF but Fri will be tricky. ODAAT.
H told me something about his past last night which is awful for him and makes some things clearer.

Lawks, life keeps on giving shit sometimes doesn't it?
Might need a smack from Barrie!
and here's to a great Tuesday for all on the bus.

Elba so pleased for you.

Isn't it funny how invested you can be in the lives of people you have never met?

Sober, you're a baaaad Babe. I had to go to lidl this morning - no fudge, they only had a couple of end of line boxes with ripped packaging. But stocked up on loads of other bad things. They also have 500ml bottles of sparkling water on spacial, 99p for 6. I find it really helpful to have one with me all of the time - and at that price, it doesn't feel too indulgent (ok, I know, but I couldn't see a £10 bottle of wine as an indulgence

42, ODaaT is only going to work if you stop projecting forward. Concentrate on today. Sorry about your H.

What's your little luxury for today, Lux?

Hmm, not sure yet Sweet will have to have a think. Maybe just a nice dinner with the tablecloth and fairy lights on. Might feel quite nice.
No budget here for buying anything so I'll have to be creative in my thinking!

Hope everybody's day is going well so far.

It is just about making the effort, isn't it, Lux. Not just food as fuel, but as an experience. Tablecloth and fairy lights sounds lovely.

What about 'dressing' for dinner? Let DD (sorry, can't remember, it is DD isn't it) put your make up on, even if its awful! Or have dinner as a teddy bear's picnic, (but at the table, obvs), each of you can have a 'special' guest!

It is indeed DD, she has more and better make-up than me, she's 13 so maybe not a teddy bear picnic but that's given me an idea actually.
We like to mess about (when I'm not an idiot or embarrassing her - 'Muuuum') so I might suggest we come to dinner as characters, I might be the Queen!
Ha - that'll be fun if she'll humour me

Then your luxury will be being waited on , as well as giggles!

Love the fancy dinner ideas!

Elba so pleased you got a decent nights slepp, it can make all the difference to our mental state.

Sweet I just saw a quote which made me think of you - a woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life - Coco Chanel.(disclaimer it was from fb so may be nonsense!)

Day 10 Ma and apparently bouncing off the ceiling

Have a good day babes x

Beaches, funny you should say that, when DH saw it, he panicked and made me promise I wasn't leaving him . I assured him not and invited him to run his fingers through my hair - something he hasn't been able to do for years without me screaming in pain!

I think he saw the quote!! Glad you are enjoying your new locks Sweet. I had mine chemically straightened a few years ago and after years of crazy fuzziness the 'sway' was a revelation

Thanks sweet will focus just on today

This picture of a place in Spain came up as my screensaver today, had to share x

There is a giant sparkly silver stiletto shoe on the roof like in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
We are loud and proud!
Actually, I think I'm on a boing come down...very sleepy this afternoon and don't want another healthy meal tonight. It's getting boring...

Spanna that picture looks magical, I need a holiday so badly.

Ma I am desperate for a salad, we still have tons of chocolate and biscuits left from Christmas. Think how great you will feel compared to me!

I can feel a wobble coming on for tonight, must distract myself.
I'm trying not to think ahead too much.

Spanna that is beautiful do you know where in Spain? I always love the helicopter shots they do of the hilltop places on the Tour de France, it reminds me of that.

Ma - you did go at it a bit, tired does just happen - even when you're sober!

I've been in a sorting out sort of mood too - bits and pieces, banking stuff that wasn't urgent so I never got round to it. And best bit, booking my flight to Mexico. My friend has been asking me to visit for years, and I never quite got round to it - now I have a week on the Pacific Coast to get trim for.

I had a really strong pull from the WW this morning - 8.30am WTF? The rest of the day has been fine, and despite the trip to lidl for sweets, I actually think my appetite is starting to balance out a bit.

How's everyone else getting on - Day Eleven people?

My skin is definitely smoother, sleep is improving, wee doesn't smell in the mornings (yes I get that too ), and I'm not sweating the small stuff - just getting on.

Keep focusing on the fairy lights Lux. Have you made your crown yet or does DD think you're a bit mad?!

Mad

Afternoon Ladies. I hope you are doing well today.
After my bath stuffed full of Lavender oil last night I slept like the proverbial log.
Blizzards are apparently on the way here in freezing Scotland.
I've been to work followed by the gym and am now home building the fire.
Dinner tonight is Chicken. Last night was almost a whole head of broccoli and three sausages. This low carb thing is killing me. I miss my potatoes. 😞
I also forgot to get any AF Koppaberg.

Today's little luxury was buying a new top in the sales for work.

I have just found this :

INGREDIENTS

10g lavender heads
250ml boiling water
75g sugar
600ml cold water (sparkling if you prefer)
Juice of 3 small or 2 large ripe lemons, strained
Ice cubes
METHOD

Put the flower heads in a small pan and pour over the boiling water. Heat up again and simmer gently for two minutes. Take off the heat and leave to steep for ten minutes. Strain off the flowers, add sugar to the liquid and stir to dissolve it. Add the cold water. Add the lemon juice and stir (the mix turns pink here), then serve in tall slim tumblers with a few ice cubes in them.

Can I join you? I've been on Mumsnet for years under a different name - but the alcohol thing feels too personal and I don't want to out myself if that makes sense.

Long story short: confessed all to my lovely GP last week who ordered a raft of blood tests and recommended a local substance misuse centre. I had a phone assessment with them today and now have an appointment on Thursday for a 1:1 to decide on a plan.

This has been going on for YEARS - me and alcohol. GP says I'm at the "harmful and hazardous" stage - but he has seen far worse - and I am so so so grateful that my liver and kidney function is fine. How that's possible I simply don't know.

Anyway - edging forward little bit by little bit. I've been trying to get help for a long time but ironically, my DH "doesn't think I have a problem". I thought denial was meant to be the other way around?!

So... hope it's ok for me to join you all on the bus. (Btw I'm a mum - in it occurred to me after I'd picked "UnwiseOldElf" that people might think I was a bloke... !).