The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Swinging Into Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hello there,

I'm Mouse, one of the Brave Babes travelling far and wide, stopping off here and there to collect lovely folk, just like you, for a natter all about booze and the blues that come with being a drinker of whatever quantity.

We don't wear or sell judgey pants here, although a G-string or two (Oooh Matron!) has been known to sort the fan belt out on the Bus as we've been driving for such a long time now!!

In short, we've regular posters here, lurkers, those who have managed to keep their drinking to 'social' occasions, some who are really struggling on an hourly basis and some who are completely dry!

Whatever your drinking 'status', you're welcome here in the new bigger Battle Bus, (as requested) whilst we head far and wide, listening to one another, as we face each day that comes our way, whether it be good, bad or downright ugly, we really have seen it all and don't mind one bit. Lurk or chat, it's up to you but one thing you will always find, is a warm welcome, Opal Fruit wrappers (Looks at Ma bosom push up! ) and of course, in complete confidentiality.

So, if you'd like to look what happened on the last thread (a bit like catch up TV) you can look at this link which will take you there - JUST HERE

And, if you would like to see where we started driving this wonderful Bus, over seven years ago, you can have a look at this very honest thread - RIGHT HERE

Hope to see you soon,

Mouse xx

Evening lovely babes,
I'm af again tonight, just me and a cup of Rosie.

Some serious posts today from babes trying their best when life is anything but easy. Hope this evening is kinder to you all.

I'm pretty tired so not going to do a NC ( selfish emoji)

caffiene teaching is a bastard job for drinking, it's so stressful and time consuming. Do you get enough sleep? Stupid question I know, but that awful combination of exhaustion and stress encourages drinking. Is there any way you could find five mins to do a mindfulness thing or some yoga stretches in the day?

Hello lovely Babes,
Just calling by to welcome new posters and say good evening.

I am reading but life is chaos and also I can't seem to get better, still very unwell and stupidly do too much on days I feel ok. Must rest!

I will be back and posting properly soon, but meanwhile I wish everyone well x

guggenheim sleep is a thing of the past for me I'm afraid. My son is nearly 3 and have only in the last 3 months started sleeping through (well to 5am). Before that it was nearly 3 years of broken sleep. Sometimes I would go to work on 45 minutes sleep as my sleep pattern is wrecked. It still is. I find I still wake up at the times he used to and then struggle to fall back to sleep again. If I can trace back to when I started drinking more heavily it would've been when I went back to work after my mat leave. I feel such a rubbish mother that it's affected my confidence at work too - if I can't make my.own children happy what chance have I with 150 kids a day?

I have had cbt in the past. I was very low after my op and also had a miscarriage that same year. Ive tried to employ some of the same techniques but give up too easily now. I just feel so tired all the time.

On a positive note the sun is shining this morning and I'm going to take my kids to a local country park for a picnic and a scoot. DH is taking tomorrow off so going swimming and a pub tea (was supposed to go later but he's working late). Got another day to psyche myself up to not having a drink with it.

HAve a good day everyone - thanks for all the kind words. I can never be this honest in RL.

Morning lovely babes,

lux what's happened? Sorry I'm not up to date with the thread, what's going on?

caffiene sleep deprivation is a thing from hell. I tend to stuff chocolate and booze if sleep deprived. 3 months isn't much to compensate for years of lack of sleep. It sounds tough!

Welcome new babes, please do join in.

Ooh and congratulations to lala fantastic to hear your news and how you're getting in with the battle with the WW. This baby is a real turning point for you 😊😊

Ha! runs my home wifi is up the spout and I spent the day thinking my post was really stupid and I should come on to apologise, but I had no access!

Anyway sorry in advance for this pity post. I feel absolutely broken and completely lost. I'm down and seemingly people are coming out the woodwork to kick me. I am on honestly a nice person. I'm thoughtful and I put others first. I don't judge (why would I?). And yet I am treated really quite badly. I just want to drink myself away. I really do. Sorry to lay that on you.

still sorry to hear you feel so low this morning. I too have days where I wake up in a 'black mood' and it ruins the day for me so I'm probably not the best person to offer advice. Just didn't want to read and not respond. Have you got something to do today that you can focus on?

Guggs I'm moving house and have pneumonia, I am on the mend but I find it hard to rest so when I feel a bit better I think I'm ok and push myself to hard, I need to learn to relax!

I will catch up with everyone soon and get to know the newer posters but my internet connection is going for a few days while changing providers, so I I will read when I can to try to keep up and wish you all well.

1st June tomorrow and not one drop of wine has passed my lips this year, good God! Can't say the same about the odd beer but that's fine and 'safe' for me, may not be for others.

Anyhow, keep on everyone, through the stumbles and wobbles. Look after yourselves, it's shallow but a jaunty coloured nail polish or a new lippie does raise the spirits, as does a hair trim, clean sheets or a vase of colourful flowers - self care babes, it's vital.

Hi to all.
Am on a little break with a friend. 2 G&Ts last night.
Thanks to the bus.
Keep posting, keep trying x

luxury good luck on your move. Rest up and enlist loads of help- you don't need to do everything. And full power to you. See you on the other side of the internet change

Oh, I'll be back Still ☺ it's going to be a long few days though!

Hi Babes,
Reading & lurking every day, as ever. Don' t post much as self doubt means I think my responses are shit, so sorry, but to all, especially those struggling.
Just coming on to record my intention to do Dry June.
Feeling v anxious about it as since stopping smoking (67 days) have used wine as a crutch instead promised it would just be for 2 weeks, then 3 - you all know how it goes. Back up to 30 - 40 units a week ( still brill compared to 2 years ago) but not happy & rubbish sleep.
Also was given a large bag of midget gems today - will share as long as you don't have the black ones😂

Hello everyone, sorry ive not been on or name checked. I'm absolutely exhausted, about to go to bed now. Felt like I've been running on empty the past two days and worked out I've worked 62 hours this week so no wonder i'm tired. Off tomorrow thiugh and little shift friday. My ankles lots better so might go back to the gym next week. Hugs to all babes and will catch up proper tomorrow

itsmelala
Congratulations on your pregnancy

runsoncaffeine
Waves a warm welcome

dementedma
Enjoy your soldier watching!

Made
How are you my lovely?

LuxuryWoman2017
Good luck with the move and try and get some time to relax and look after yourself!

So, still nothing on the job front so have an appointment with the DWP on Monday to see if I can sign on.
At least the silver cloud in this is I'll be doing dry June as I'm too broke to buy alcohol. 😕

mint that sounds really tough. I feel for you. I'm self-employed and about to finish a contract so unless I find something soon I will be joining you... it's hard. Bloody hard xx

When I first joined this bus I knew I was at the end with alcohol but had no idea how I was going to stop drinking, let alone make it to 24 hours. I had had years of yo-yo-ing back and forth, completely dry during pregnancy (thank God being pg made me feel sick at the smell of alcohol), then straight back on it again after. And creeping up and up then quitting for a few days. The anxiety. The sweats. The insomnia. Hellish. But the thought of no wine o'clock sent me into a blind panic. I just couldn't get through a day without knowing it was there in the evening.

Somehow, by coming clean to my GP, and then accepting I needed help (which was probably the hardest bit as I am very self-reliant), I have made it to 105 days alcohol-free . I still can't quite believe it. And it feels good.

The help? I went to a local alcohol and drug service - very scary at first - but just stepping over the door was the beginning of changing things. Filling in the alcohol use form with the volunteer worker, and seeing how many units. No longer asking "why?" or "why can't I stop?" - just saying enough was enough and I want to quit. Today I am not going to drink. Simple. But not easy.

To anyone struggling - I have totally, totally, been there, but it can be done. You can get past the struggle and out the other side. No more battles with yourself over "I'll just have one" or "I won't drink til Thursday" or "one more won't hurt" or "bloody hell my head hurts" or "what happened last night?" or "how did I get that bruise?" or "do I smell of alcohol?" or waking at 4am night after night after night and being bloody exhausted all the time but needing a drink to relax in the evening...

Hello stressed how are you getting on?
Hi lala well done on being af and congratulations on your pregnancy
Runs hope you had a better nights sleep last night and that the nightmares have stopped/lessoned. How are things going? You spend 4 days a week making memories with the children and I’m sure they know that if you liked running, is there any kind of exercise you can do? I know strenuous exercise may be out of the question but even pilates, yoga could be helpful. Or going for walks, that could be nice – a quick 15/20 minute walk by yourself or even with the kids in the nice weather, might be a nice distraction for you. If you go by yourself, that’s a nice bit of ‘me time’ for you as well.
Ma how did last night’s dinner go? Hope it was lots of fun and lots of soldier ogling
Lux hope you’re ok and remember to rest my love Put your feet up now and then, enlist help on the move, make sure to look after yourself
Still I know what you mean, sometimes it seems like the nice ones get all the bad luck. How are you today, are you feeling a little better?
Mint you poor thing, my heart goes out to you, I know what it’s like. Something will come up eventually – you are great and anyone would be lucky to hire you, so keep reminding yourself of that. Keep yourself busy and don’t lose sight of you if that makes sense – I found it so tempting to either spend all my time looking for work or else worrying about finding work and got very down. Remember to look after you as well and do things for you, I echo lux’s words on self care.
Dubh how’s your terror?
Flowery not heard from you in a while, you ok?
Everything’s ok with me. Rare day off which I’m enjoying and not in until tomorrow evening. Someone did ask me to go in this morning for them but I said sorry I can’t and not feeling guilty really, ordinarily I would but was absolutely shattered. Ankle is loads better and it’s dry here for the moment so may take buggalugs for a walk this afternoon. And back in gym next week too. May do some floor exercises today as well

Thanks you lovely lot.
My Doctor upped my Mirtazapine yesterday.
I found a fiver in my bag after the gym and had to stop myself earlier from spending it on wine Aldis instead of cat food.
My Doctor has given me a fit note and he said if I can sign on he'll remove it from my records, if I can't he said I should be able to use it for NI credits.
The benefits system with the new Universal Credit system is a minefield!

wise 105 days. That's impressive. I don't know if I'll ever be sober. I'd like to get to the point where I was pre-kids - a glass of wine with a meal but wondering whether to get to that point I need to be sober and break the habit. I love how I feel after a few glasses but feel miserable by the end of the bottle (or 2!).

made much better night''s sleep and woke up feeling in a better mood. DH had the day off and we took the kids swimming. Not even my car breaking down and paying out £110 for a new battery spoilt my mood. It surprised me I laughed about it rather than suggesting a glass of wine with lunch!

Morning all. It's Friday, the weekend is approaching and it can be so tempting to imagine relaxing with a glass of something nice. But even more relaxing to wake tomorrow with a clear head and make the most of the day - whatever it brings. KOKO babes x

Afternoon Venus and the babes.
Sunshine here right now so I'm grabbing the chance to get the washing out.
Looking forward to Sunday. There's a mediaeval jounsting display on at a free park picnic thing.

Quick bit of WiFi! Mint, I love jousting and always prefer the Dark Knight of course!

Catch up soon everybabe x

have been at the castle, soldier ogling. Thought I would share...

awwww - they have all gone sideways......bugger it

Reading as always :-) I'm on AF vino currently (I've found a white online from a shop called alcohol free in Manchester that's nice enough if I put a drop of ice and a small splash of chilled water in). I'm off to a friends shortly so keeping up the AF is going to be nigh impossible as she always has prosecco on the go but I'm hoping to drink less than usual though and have been AF for 5 days which I do believe is a record for a while! Hope everyone is planning positive weekends x

They cancelled my interview. They have better people apparently so I can fuck off. Came home to a house like a pig sty. Haven't even bothered to tell them my news. None of them give a shit anyway