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

ma glad you had a fabulous birthday, it's one day. You broke your record, it's all good, a brilliant month for you!

mint what an absolute fucker speaking to you like that. Raging for you. I hope you left him to cook his own shiting food today. for you. And a

I've done nowt again today, can't get out of the bit. I've made up 8 Kongs for the freezer, peanut butter, crispy bacon, kibble and banana, and made sausage casserole for supper, it's in the slow cooker so even lazier.

Feel a bit flat, bored of all the soft drinks in the fridge, I have a hankering for a McDonald's Big Tasty and a milkshake.

I need to get a grip and get cracking with the ironing. My favourite Columbo ever is coming on, How To Dial A Murder. Rosebud. Rosebud. Rosebud.

Must train the terrorist. Rosebud.

Just been for a run...physio won't be impressed with me. Was in a stroppy mood and thought fuck it. Gone from being able to do 10 miles a month ago to my back and hip seizing up after 4.5km today Now even more stroppy and thinking fuck it what's the point in not drinking tonight, as clearly can't train at the moment.

Going to hobble off to the bath to have a sulk.

This is where I started my run this evening...you can see why I'm missing it!

dubh your dog is spoiled rotten
Lovely sunset here tonight. We are very rural so internet is a bit hit and miss but hopefully Netflix and chillin later

elba soat your ability to run any distance at all. I can't even run for a bus.
Great photos

WTF is a Kong? . Should everyone have one in their freezer?

ma a kong is a dog treat

Evening Babes, great photos very grey here today, reflecting my mood 😟 Here's Skinny Minnie 😁

Elba I'm feeling you re the mood, I've had a right head on today, can't be arsed, what's the fucking point and on and on. Blaaaaa and to top it all it's Sunday.
Living the high life me, surfing mnet, drinking tea, snoozing, worked for a few hours. NO excitement at all, it's so tempting to push the 'fuck it' button I'm not going to but I momentarily still want a fucking drink. I can't and I won't.
Hope you're all ok. I wanted to pick up the phone to the bus the other day, so much easier than typing on a phone Aaaaarrrrggghhhh. And breathe. Going back to laptop x

spanna your dog is gorgeous! Sorry your feeling crap too x

Friend cancelled lunch plans for tomorrow (legitimate reason- ill child). Obviously that is an excuse to drink .

Oh, and tried to scrub off the so called 'wash off' tanning moisturiser- didn't work. So carefully added more to even it out. Now more orange and streaky than ever. And have to wear shorts in front of extremely hot physio tomorrow . So will be various shades of orange, and hungover- no wonder I'm single

Hello everyone and sorry not to NC!

I had a work event on Friday night and decided I would have a drink. Successfully managed to have 2 glasses of fizz and come home at a sensible time not plastered. Buoyed by success I then decided I was obviously rocking this and could continue. Last night proves I can't - my self-control is soluble in alcohol

It's becoming obvious to me that I need to stop altogether. Like Elf said a while back I am really healthy in other areas of my life. Binge-drinking is stupidly unhealthy but I can't seem to manage "just one."

I'm feeling a bit down today, not helped by the hangover obviously.

LauraMipsum you did very well on Friday indeed. Can I ask, we're you at home last night? I totally understand why you thought you were ok to have a drink and the drinking indoors v going out drinks is something I need to explore myself. At home there is no reason to put the cork in, its paid for, you're comfy, etc.

I realise it's home drinking for me that must stop altogether. In future I may be able to have a glass or two at dinner. Home is my danger zone I think.

Sorry I mean there's every reason but I'm just learning that. Wrong emphasis.

Yes, I was at home, and my best friend was over for dinner. You're right Lux it's just too easy at home. Not that I usually have much discipline when I'm out either!!

Hmm I am going to have to face the friend over soon. I rarely go out you see, but love to have people over.

Me too. I love cooking and hosting, and alcohol has become a bit too integral to that!

I'm just annoyed with myself that I thought two weeks off could undo the habits former over the last two decades. What a colossal twit I am sometimes. I'm going to take a leaf out of your book Lux and replace the booze with some other treats. I haven't had my eyebrows done in years so I might do that at the end of the week.

Evening all,

God elba I can see why you miss your run. It's beautiful.

sober What a bonny sunset! I'm like you, can't run at all. I'm more than happy to take in a beautiful view from a sitting or standing still position though

spanna what a gentle face your gorgeous dog has, and I know this will sound a bit weird I adore the wee feet! I still can't shake myself. There's a good Scottish word for our humour the day. Scunnered.

I took a photo while I was waiting for the bairn to be discharged the other day. It was a real treat to see the sea, and breathe in the lovely, salty air for an hour.

dubh that is stunning

Currently almost forcing myself to drink what I'd planned even though I'd rather be in bed. Can't get my head around why...I can see, even half drunk, how objectively stupid this is. Didn't even want or enjoy the first drink which makes this entirely pointless...

Head for bed elba, get a good sleep. Don't force any more down, you will feel crap in the morning.

Brush your teeth, have a glass of water and get your head down. That's a mighty amount of pain you're dealing with in there. Let yourself rest.

Walk along your beach in the morning if your back and hip aren't up to a run. Your back pain will be draining you, you are hitting walls on every turn. Please take it easy on yourself sweetheart.

dubh xxx

Drunk called the Samaritans. Feel like and and am a total pathetic twat.

Morning All.

Sorry, haven't fully read back, but just wanted to say Elba you are not pathetic, you are hurting. 'In vino vertitas', you needed them, but 'in aqua saints'. Take care.

I have a busy day and won't be back until this evening - fortunately, I don't think there is time in my day to be anything BUT sober.

elba with all you have going on, it isn't surpising there are days/nights like these.
Have you some support in RL? Talking might help?
I drank plenty Sat and Sun, Sunday llke you didn't even want to.
Today's a new day
morning to all the babes

Morning lovely babes,

elba it sounds so hard and I expect that you're just so tired. I drink when I'm tired or emotionally wrung out. We all do. On this bus of lovely babes, there are no saints, hence no judging. Everyone ( me anyway) drinks when it's tough.

You called the Samaritan? Good, that's what they're for. They do not care that you were drunk. Maybe it helped.

Lots of water today. Go for that walk and then get under a blanket and rest. check in please so that we know you are ok. Forget feeling bad about drinking, part of the journey of getting sober.

Elba The samaritans are there for people in distress my love, I hope it helped a little to call them. I see it as a positive thing you called hem. I hope you get some rest.

Will check in properly after coffee.

Morning, everyone. Hungover here and feeling rubbish. I know how it ends but still pick up the first drink. At the moment it's like I'm scared to have a night off because they say I need to do a medical detox. So I'm using the detox as an excuse to drink. How crazy is that?!

So started out watching Sherlock last night and enjoying it but then got drunk pretty quickly and can't remember the rest of the evening. This is a normal pattern for me and I hate it. This morning, finding sweet wrappers and an empty Christmas chocolate box... knowing I was probably ricocheting around the living room in a drunken stupor, craving sugar, with my DH watching on. Ugh.

For me it's sugar as well. The two are definitely connected. I get a similar high from sugar and then can't stop. Thing is, when I'm being my in control, balanced, healthy self, I often find sweet things too sweet. Like I was the one at work who didn't want the millions of cakes people brought in.

Anyway - hope everyone is feeling a bit more positive than I am today...