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

margie I also have a big challenge tonight. I have a celebration which I really can't get out of.
I don't want to mess up what I have achieved so far. I think I will do the trick of holding the glass and pretending that I am drinking. It is a meal so I can't wander around and "lose " the glass
Will report back tomorrow .....wish me luck

Thanks Margie

Believe me, you can't sit in the sunshine when it's like this because you'll burn or melt or both in about 5 mins.

I've tried drinking light beer but just end up drinking more of them, and alcohol free beer just seems pointless lol. My problem with alcohol is I use it as an antidepressant, but then I end up being too much of a fountain of truth and end up embarrassing myself. I've found that wine is the worst for this and have been much better since sticking to beer.

I'd love to get past that feeling of "needing" alcohol in the evenings just to make my shitty life seem bearable.

I looove rain and always say I was born in the wrong country!!!!! Wanna swap some of you in the U.K.? Lol

NoMore I've always felt I should of been born in Oz, I'd happily swap !
Totally get wine turning you into the fountain of truth, I've realised wine is very bad for me.
My mum is a functioning alcoholic and knocks jack wine at an alarming rate and seeing her is a huge help in making me see wine is not my friend.

BOING!!
Full of energy this morning, despite not a great sleep and dreams of lapsing in DJ!
Get your Facepacks and mocktails in ready for a Babes night in.

Great news you slept Ma
Off out in a bit to get in something scrummy for dinner, some more sparkling water and juice and maybe a book or other treat. Facepack is sorted, I will be a goddess by 8pm.

On a serious note, tonight's the real toughie isn't it. we can do it. I shall be changing the bed later so I can appreciate those clean smooth sheets for once, I shall open the Christmas gift posh shower gel and distract myself like crazy.
If I did last night I can do tonight. We all can,

Hi babes, good luck Tis, you can do it. Play the film through to the end, stick to your plan. Cricket, I know what you mean about wine leading you to say stuff you shouldn't, that was me with my bro on Xmas Day and tbh I'm not sure our relationship will recover from it .

So we've done aperitif, starters, mains and puddings and I'm still AF! Think critical moment might be over. I've eaten twice as much as everyone else but I haven't touched the booze.

Ma, great to see you so boingy!

Ma! You got the BOING! Yah!

Afternoon everyone, welcome 78, Cricket, make yourselves comfortable.

Sorry I keep dropping off in the evenings - I'm all day at the lap top marking at the moment, so my eyes need a rest.

I know Fridays are difficult for a lot of Babes, end of the week and all that, but Saturday will be Day 7 - that's something to aim for, and you don't want to give your fresh boingy Saturday to the Wine Witches even more evil cousin the Hangover Hag .

Definitely noticing an improvement in my skin (sorry you're having to wait, Small) and less puffiness in the waist too.

Margie hats off - a celebration this early in the year is a real test.
I think I'm set for later, got some nice juice to have with soda and fruit slices so quite 'cocktail' looking.

I am another who can't keep it zipped when I've had a few, out it all comes tumbling, on and on and on.

bloody hell margie well done. I think you get to wear the smock of smug after that effort!

margie well done 😀

X-Post.

Didn't realise you were actually in the middle of it Margie!

Cheering you on from rainy Hampshire.

Thanks everyone. All gone now, DH upstairs making DS1's scalextric and I'm cleaning up.

I know I did the right thing today but I feel so bloody sad. I wish I was like those people who sat in my living room and had a small glass of wine and a small glass of cava and were ok with that. But if I'd been on the wine and cava I'd be a stinking bloody mess right now...

I know that today I was a better hostess and wife and mother because I wasn't drinking but I'm so sad that there's no middle ground for me, it's all or nothing.

Sorry for the me, me, me post.

Margie you are my new guru, bloody well done. I understand exactly how you feel, all or nothing - yep.
It's not a me, me, me post - it's us, us, us so many of us are the same or similar, we get it.

What time does the facepack party start then? I have kit-kats and cranberry juice to offer.

Well done Margie Am using you as inspiration as WB has uncharacteristically announced we are all going out for dinner. As I have planned my calories for the day not best pleased (still fatter than Jabba the Hut here) but seems churlish to refuse as always criticise him for never doing anything for us. So I shall be eating salad and drinking water tonight, and shall raise my sparkling glass to you all. (you can see why I'm not excited though, not even getting a pudding!)

Really wish I could make Face Pack Friday but if you all post your pics I will do one tomorrow - I had a cucumber mask all ready and everything.

Looking forward to seeing your scary facemasks when I get back

Hello lovely babes. I'm in with you for almost DJ (started a bit late but will hopefully be with you for the rest of the month). For those who don't know me I'm venus and I've been around on the bus for years and years and years.... I mostly don't drink - which is a massive change from the 100+ units I used to drink each week - but over Christmas and New Year the 'occasional glass' has crept up and up. My dsis, who refuses to believe I have a real alcohol problem , was staying, and so there was a bottle of wine open every lunch time, and every evening. It was immensely frustrating for me. Sometimes the bottle would remain unfinished (between 4 of us!) and it would taunt me from the fridge. It all highlights that after all this time I am still not really in control when it comes to alcohol. I cannot easily have just one glass, and in fact it seems quite futile

So it is good to be back on here and joining you. I've no ingredients for facepack Friday - I don't think that chicken and spring onions will do me much good I still remember from my first panic stricken attempt at being sober how immense those cravings felt, and yet how surprisingly they did eventually subside if I could just get through those terrible 30 minutes (or sometime a bit longer....). One of my favourite strategies for cravings is the good old HALT (an AA technique) which suggests that we can lose the ability to differentiate between our needs and we think alcohol is the ONLY answer. So before giving in to a drink find out if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. Have something to eat - pasta and tomato sauce is always good plus a big glass of water, then rant about everything that is making you feel pissed off (including craving a drink) or write everything down furiously, or rip something up - anything to deal with anger and upset. The call a friend or write a letter to an ancient relative, or post on here so you feel less alone, and then deal with tiredness - have a nap, or a bath, or lay on the floor, or tidy your sock drawer.

Have a good evening everyone x

Dinner done. Just the dishes to do then on with the facepack.
I cracked with my sugar cravings...Had to wait in Sainsbury car park for ages for DD and bought a bag of Skittles. God, it was like crack cocaine! I shoved so many in my mouth I looked like a hamster with mumps, with multicoloured drool running down my chin.

Margie well done - you did good, you'll look back on today with pride tomorrow, please try not to feel sad. I am also an 'all or nothing' no 'off' button here either As you said you've been a better mother, wife and all round Babe today - this is a huge achievement, please pat yourself on the back and be PROUD You wear that smock of smug with pride babe x

Ma boing

Welcome Nomore and 78 good to have you on board

Sober love the photo of the bus

Lux I haven't got a face pack so I think I'll slather some clarins cream on my face, me I love a bit of clarins

Everyone is doing really well, sleep will get better. I still have the odd funky fucking dream - loads at the beginning of this journey

Dub the seal was a dandy little fellow. I'm going to assume that he swam off and was just having a rest. He wasn't there later that evening. Hope you're doing ok babe x

Hope I hope you have a good evening, you never know they might have a sorbet or something?I think of you when I'm being mum cab for DD2 who does gym 4 evenings & Sat. Drives me slightly more insane than I am already (Arrrrrrrgh)

Got to go and help DD sort out some stuff in her room (a promise that I made at 8 this morning and now can''t be arsed to do) ho hum, tiddly dee.... don't we just love 'em.

See you all later x

May I join you? I am driving with the breaks on and really not wanting to. I am ok I am ok I am ok... Just a leetle glass of wine... And then of course the reality. I have drunk heavily since I was old enough. When I was too young to drink I pulled my hair out and wore great bald patches on my head. My drinking has never got me into trouble, and has been more-or-less invisible for my day-to-day life. I got hideously drunk on NYE and have spent 5 days sober. I haven't not drunk for 5 days for over a decade, so already it's a 20% increase in my not drinking time and usually after day 4, I start thinking, wey hey! All is good, and the cycle starts again. November and December were particularly bad, and I drank at least a bottle of wine every evening, feeling increasingly crap. I have no idea what the future holds. There is an open bottle of wine in the house, and I'm just making cups of tea, and it's not winking at me. Today after scrubbing the patio, I thought, gosh, I would like a glass of wine. The feeling has passed. I know it doesn't last for long. I would be so so proud of myself for being sober even for a week. I often go out in the evening where the place is sloshing with alcohol and either drink nothing or maybe have a small glass. It is lovely leaving, feeling drunk and partied up, then realising I can still drive the car because the drunkeness is in my head. It's when I get home that I will start, whether at 6pm or 11pm, and I think it's psychological. I come from a very dysfunctional/co-dependent family with masses of alcohol sloshing around for pretty much any reason, although the dysfunction is not specifically alcohol related. Anyway, day 6 and I really felt like drinking a glass of wine, then I realised I was hungry.

Venus great to see you good to have you back

Evening all, hello to Venus and Tiger.

I'm feeling confident tonight which is a surprise. Had a big meal though, I prefer to drink slightly hungry.

Facepack going on in a few minutes.
Well done everybody so far. A few wobbles here and there but to be expected.

I'm on my phone with fat fingers and bad eye sight so sorry not to NC everyone.

Sparkling water to hand and a face pack at the ready!

Venus wonderful to see you! The bus has missed it's resident wise woman.
Facepack done..

Evening,
Had a major wobble at 5 ish due to being tired & fed up & hungry. But I ate and had a coffee and didn't by wine. Now I'm ok. I had an Epsom bath and started a book which I've been meaning to read for ages.

I'm not feeling the boing or the smug yet- don't know why 6 days is pretty bloody good.

smallfox yes life is kind of amazing. Still recommend having babies before you need to draw an old age pension though!
Thank you dubh ps. What does your name mean? (You don't have to answer that! )

ma well done on the boing!
margie that's really good, hope you feel proud of yourself.

Waves at the bus, we're doing well for a Friday night! I ate my face pack earlier, hope you don't mind.

I'm just going to Nc the babes next to me since I've only just hopped back on board and need to reacquaint myself with the brace babes.
Hello there spanna venus ma
Welcome to tiger this bus is a great place : )

BRAVE ffs not BRACE

Oh dear god. My bloody eyesight is going too