Brave Babes - reconvene here!!!

[dementedma]

Hi all
We seem to have finished the last thread but no-one has done a new one. Don't get lost! Gather here until we can sort it out.

Sticky keyboard, dipping in and out of the Victoria letters, gah!

I'm all alone tonight .Bliss. sitting with an ice pack on my knee and drinking the one glass of wine which is in.

Reading wise, some of my favourites are:
The Night Circus
Snow falling on Cedars
The Help
The Secret Life of Bees
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
Memoirs of a Geisha

Currently reading The Castle of Kings.

I think I will be spending my entire evening in the bath for my luxury. Just got in from the wettest, windiest most miserable 10 miles ever. Forecast said high winds from 2-4, settling from 4 onwards, so waited until 4.30. They got it the wrong way round Bastards. Not so keen on this whole running thing right now.

I'm wet, cold and have bits of tree in my hair. Waiting for a friend to drop something in so I can go warm up.

Elba you can run 10 miles??? FFS, I couldn't even walk 10 miles.

I couldn't run the bath you plan Elba

How are you now ma

ma I loved The Night Circus too. I'm currently re-reading a Barbara Vine. Are you feeling better today?

I'm ok thanks. Bruised and still feeling foolish but ok.
Alias if you liked The Night Circus, try The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. It has similarities.
For atmospheric thrillers, recommend Peter May books set on the Scottish Islands.

I'm home with a clutch of moisture bomb face masks in hand. I'm going for a wallow in the bath and an early night with the electric blanket on . I really need to finish my Rebus book! Gin is calling me so I need to ignore it.

Just when I think I've cracked it, I fall down again 😒 Had a hangover this morning ugggh

Maybe I should try the 'seeing the movie through to the end' which Babes recommend on here... maybe I should write it all down so that I don't forget and I could learn from my mistakes.

Okay, here goes.

I was quite tired, DH said he didn't want to cook so we went to sainsburys. Being tired is I think a trigger point for me. I was weak, and when DH said he fancied a bottle of red wine (unusual for him, he normally sticks to beer) it was like my excuse to buy a bottle of white for me.

I completely forgot that there was already a small bottle in the boot of my car. (This is like my 'safety' amount, so I stock up, but keep it there out of temptation!) Anyway sainsburys don't sell small (2/3) size, so I got a normal one. By this time I was just on a kind of runaway train, it didn't even occur to me that I should pour away the first glass.

Drank the lot, about midnight got peckish and raided the fridge, finished all the Cornish Yarg, finally dragged myself to bed at quarter to one. Slept badly, and felt horrid and guilty today.

I am on gin. There is no tonic. Gin and lime without the tonic.
I did so well in January. Now in free fall.

Ma, Joey - please, please don't feel bad. There are so many platitudes, one day at a time, film to the end - they annoy me sometimes, but they do work. But not always, when the WW and her friends are at their sneakiest. The thing is that we have to pick ourselves up and keep going. That's harder now the absolute 'no drinking' of January has, for some of us, gone. We think 'oh, I drank yesterday, I've failed, might as well drink today'. We can't live like that.

I'm having a drink now. I may have one tomorrow. But at the moment I am very, very clear that I won't have one Sunday to Thursday. I managed that this week and that's a massive, massive first for me. Usually I have one drink and then that's it for the year. But I'm not kidding myself - I wasn't made for moderation and I am the queen of doing (failed) deals with myself. So let's see.

Lux how are your golden toes? Mine are looking fine and fierce, all shiny blue. I've got a takeaway and a month's worth of the Archers for my evening's entertainment. Rock and roll, that's me.

My nails are golden and gorgeous.

I have had 2 bottles of Becks, I fancied them that's all and I fancy one more. I'm childfree tonight. I won't have a 4th, it's not wine and I will be fine in the week.
I'm comfortable with that.

No harsh words to ourselves babes, we've come a long way on a long road. We rock.

Ma I have to confess I've always been a little bit in love awe with you. I love your honesty, your raw truth and your resilience. Also, you make me laugh.

So I obviously loved your 'fall'. I picture it in a very Bridget Jones sort of way because I know you always care so much about how you look and how you come across.

But I know how great you are and I admire how far you've come (even if you don't see it for yourself).

I also loved The Help, The Secret Life of Bees and Memoirs of a Geisha.

Currently reading Gone Girl which I realise is a bit mainstream but gets very good just after half way through imo.

LW Add me to the list... I've bought four for £4 on the face bomb masks. Loving it! Keep up all the luxury stuff; we are all going to be *fabulous^ dahling x

Elba By God if you can run 10 miles with everything you're up against, there ain't not stoppin' you...

Well.
I've had one glass of wine.
I might have a g&t in a min.
Or perhaps not.
Don't know how this is possible? I think it is the bus and the babes

dubh you didn't fail ghat boy you know. It was totally outside your control...you musn't feel guilty

goshfaire what a lovely thing to say!
And I am in awe of you and your ability to ride Roger - fnar, fnar - and you seem so level headed and wise.
For the new babes, Roger is the roof rack of regulation. Those who can regulate their drinking and keep it under control , ride up there in the fresh air. There is also the sidecar of shame for those struggling.
I have gone to bed, before I start on the sherry and make myself ill.

Another one drinking tonight. Planned it but not actually enjoying it that much. What I actually want to do is sleep.

Thanks regarding the running. I would of been amazed at 10 miles a few months ago. Now I'm just wondering how the fuck I'm going to add another 16 to that distance in 11 weeks time. Still a bit unsure whether the whole marathon lark is a good thing, or whether it's yet another grand gesture to mask everything else and make it seem like I actually have direction in life. And what happens after, or if I can't do it, do I just fall flat on my face again? I'm for the most part eating better and drinking less because of the running, but mainly as I'm stubborn and also bloody terrified of failing at things. Running 10 miles in rain and gale force winds is not enjoyable by any stretch of the imagination, and probably not all that sensible either. Will keep at it for now though. I've loved some of my runs and my mood definitely improves, and London (if it happens) is too good an opportunity to miss.

Sorry, very self absorbed post, knackered and needed a rant. Lots of love to you all though

You rant away Elba Hope you are warm now and get a good sleep.

I'm going to bed now. Had my 3 beers, they were fine, can't help wondering why I bothered really. Didn't need them or love them. Hmmm.

Elba even if it IS a grand gesture or a distraction it doesn't matter, running is giving you focus and contributing to healthier choices....I reckon take it at face value and enjoy (or be stoic on nights like tonight) Good for you I say
Oo ma I did not know about Roger!
And what qualifies a babe to go in the sidecar of shame?

42 the sidecar of shame is where we put Babes who have 'fallen off the bus'

Although I did read that we've got second sidecar on the other side (for lapsed dieters I think it was)

Plus we're towing a trailer of lost Babes, and faire is up on Roger the Regulated Roofrack like that scene in Priscilla singing "I will survive"

In my imagination, anyway.

There have been times when the bus is almost empty and the sidecar is jam packed but somehow we all seem to manage to get back on it eventually.

Come on up to the roof with me Joey it's very refreshing and there are enough microphones for everyone

(Btw I'd forgotten that little tip about pouring away the first glass. Much easier to do than the last one so your 'note to self' about how you felt was a good reminder to the rest of us too).

Morning babes,

Just checking in. I hadn't heard or rather hadn't listened properly, to the pour the first glass away idea- genius!

I had some wine this week when friends came round but I'm back on the bus now and just see how it goes.

I feel a bit odd because life seems to be improving slightly. Nothing dramatic just ordinary stuff like the baby diva thinking about walking, so that I don't have to carry her constantly. Ds is doing a little better at school and since I'm dahn sarf, there is a tiny hint of spring in the air. Not quite at the 'grass is Riz ' stage (stupid autocorrect ) but we have snowdrops already.

But for the past 2 years every time life seems to be improving, something happens to sweep my feet out from under me again. I could really do with a long stretch of stable boring non eventful years. Anyhoo...

My book recommendation is night waking but I can't remember the author and I have a sleeping babe in arms so can't look up on amazon.

Love the books mentioned upthread- haven't read the bee 🐝 one. Will look when baby diva chooses to waken.

I should add that the sidecar of shame is not some sort of wheeled punishment Chamber! It's for Babes who don't want to be part of the wider body of the Kirk, but who need some extra TLC and to be looked in on from time to time. Lots of cosy blankets and pillows and paracetamol. You can often find me in there.

Good morning gorgeous Babes.

Thanks for the reading ideas, appreciate them, may have a little bimble around the charity shops today to see what I can find on the book shelves.

3 bottles of beer last night, no point to them really, just ended up with a nasty taste in my mouth. Socialising tonight and not sure if I will bother with a drink tbh. (famous last words?)

If I could manage January with no (or minimal) booze then surely I can do February and beyond right?

Ma how is that knee today? Gugg about life improving slightly, interesting, I feel similar - clearer thinking and better decisions perhaps?

Faire you are on the luxury list of course. We will be shiny and new, glossy and fabulous.

Hope 42 Smallfox Elba and Joey are well today, who have I missed? Elf (soon to be a very wise elf I reckon) and Flowery
If I have missed any babe out, apologies, not my intention.

Have a great day my lovelies, my comrades, fighting that straw coloured cow in the green bottle x

Morning all, I can't quite believe it but I'm still doing it.

ma you sound much more chipper!*

guggs so the baby diva is almost mobile, bless her. It never fails to amaze me how mums mould babies into a person. I don't know how you all do it. And you cope with all life has to throw at you on top of that.

joey and faire love that there are mics on the roof of the bus! I can't carry a tune but I love to sing.

joey haud gan quine, ye had a wee blip. It's a new day. You were tired and it opens the door to suggestion. Cornish Yarg midnight feast - now that's a step above a kebab. joey quine, you have class xx

I'm off to get some knickers for the terrorist, catch you later. X