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

Dubh

'Arse' could be the title of a new Jilly Cooper book.

And that picture could be the front cover.

elf
I'll try the Vit C. First the 100 day virus and now this. Meh.

I've been hooked on The Following on Amazon Prime today and I've come to realise that DP looks a bit like Kevin Bacon crossed with James D'Arcy. Not a bad combo in my eyes. So technically I have my own Mr D'arcy, although I doubt the originals first name was Kevin. 😄

I've also just taken delivery of 5 elderberry tree babies and 6 mixed rhododendrons.
I'm itching to plant them out but as i can barely stay upright for more than half hour, they will have to wait.

It's so difficult, isn't it, OkPedro when we've fallen in. I fell in on Sat and swam about a bit on Sunday. Yesterday was ok and today I was just thinking how lovely it would be to sit in the garden, glass of wine in one hand, fag in the other. Oh the delight, until I stagger into the house, wanting more. My wine brakes are not very good, and the next day I am miserable. A friend said she stayed off the grog if she had to be on form the following day, doing stuff and thought I was lucky not to suffer so much. Durrrr. The penny has finally dropped that drinking wine makes me feel like shit. I really don't do very much and I feel awful. I guess because it has been my default position all my adult life I didn't know things could be better. The only other time when I drank little apart from being pg was when I was clinically depressed and felt almost dead anyway. Oh the joy. It's still difficult when drinking is seen as fun and sociable.

AbetterME2017
Sorry. You were Vit C. I got excited by elf mentioning icecream.
I lived on whisky and icecream for two glorious weeks once when I had my tounge double pierced.

theansweris42
Hope the job interview went ok.

I really should go and find my laptop so my screen is bigger.

EasyToEatTiger
It's still difficult when drinking is seen as fun and sociable.
THIS ^^
And all the friends acquaintancesI've lost now I'm not living in the pub.

Oh yes, isn't that so true that this the hardest thing to get past, It's still difficult when drinking is seen as fun and sociable.

Yes.

I know it makes me feel more anxious, I know I feel dreadful the next day, I know wifing and parenting is harder with alcohol, I know I'm doing myself untold damage. But still that moment of escape beckons louder on many days than all of the above. Grrrz.

Another brief moment of insight. It's really odd - I have started to notice that when I first feel like cracking my first bottle of wine, I am actually hungry. So I feed myself with wine instead of food. It really brings a very old eating disorder back into focus. My eating has been fine for over 20 years now and I have never considered that I drank instead of feeding myself. So I have just eaten a cheese sandwich and feel much better and on safer ground re. wine! I need to remember to feed myself more often, especially at wine o'clock.

Ok Pedro ( can't be arsed to fire up the laptop to remind myself how to make that go bold, sorry), my last problem was Wednesday too. I did dry January with only occasional temptation and got really smug. February was a bit damp, then march wetter still. Wednesday I opened and downed half a bottle by myself which is EXACLTY the sort of needless fuzzy morning/lack of organisation/ wasted calories/ too late bedtime etc etc I had planned to leave behind. So Saturday I bought a bottle of fizz and drank it, but all the time thinking about how it actually tasted and was affecting me ( channeling my inner Allen Carr). Haven't drunk since. Not really sure where I stand. Want to kind of have stopped but scared as fuck. Haven't said a word to DH and only solace has been long distance best mate by text. Am sleeping beautifully. Am working out better. I KNOW I'll just slip back into old habits if I restart drinking, but....,.forever? Really?
Sorry. Began as support post but morphed into selfish rant.
Jilly Cooper's next book should DEFINITELY be called arse. I'd buy it.

Totally agree Tiger I quickly learned that if I'm hungry or thirsty the cravings come.

Feel a bit calmer now, really fancied a drink tonight but made a pot of coffee instead and the urge has passed.

Love the idea of Jilly Cooper's next book being called Arse!

Hope everyone is OK tonight- I'll catch up properly soon my lovelies!

Haven't read the thread. Hope all ok.

mint Hope you feel better soon, Tonsillitis is bloody awful

easy I was nodding along with your post. I'm Irish and honestly everything revolves around alcohol. I know the U.K. has its problems too. If you don't drink at every occasion even children's birthday parties, you're asked if you are sick or pregnant

pell The thought of giving up drink forever scares the crap out of me. The first time I had that realisation I cried and knew I had a huge problem.

lux Good for you having coffee instead. Can I ask does coffee not affect your sleep?

Hi dementedma love your username

Hope I haven't missed anyone.

Some of you are great at name checking!

Pedro I'm fine to sleep with caffeine. Don't know why, I'm a good sleeper since quitting the wine.

Strugglers, I rarely think about wine now, it really can be done. Habits can be broken or reset, I wouldn't have said that 4 months ago and nobody is more amazed than me, so take heart and KOKO.

Thanks lux.
You're an absolute brick

faire reckon Jilly will go thirdies with us on the royalties?

Man the hail has been savage here, chunky, stingy bullets. Every time I'm stepped outside for a bit of fresh air, down it comes.

Hello all, sorry not to NC all, I need a shower and bed, just about done. 42 best of luck m'dear, mint hope you kick that lurgy into touch soon, lux chuffed you've de-stressed a bit, sleep well, elba hope you're getting some much needed R&R and good foot soak.

Laters taters, I'm yawning so much I'm scared I'll swallow the dog whole xx

42 glad the interview went ok in the end. I also recognise that sad, self sabotage, why did I do it sort of feeling. It's so hard to comprehend why I keep doing something that I know before I start will make me feel ill/sad/depressed etc etc. Hope you've had a restful evening and make sure you treat yourself to something lovely if you haven't already!

elf don't underestimate how amazing it is to get to 'weepy but ok'. Those three words just imply such an acceptance of yourself and your emotions, and whilst I'm sure it's not easy, it's inspiring to read that it can be done. (And no my feet have not yet fallen off- although I half wish they would- but the future of one toenail is looking fairly dubious )

Margie how are you doing lovely? How's the running? Was it you that suggested shots by Imagine Dragons for my playlist?! I can't remember but have a feeling it was- it's become my new favourite track and the one I had a the top of my 'emergency playlist' for the marathon. Hope you are ok and thank you for your lovely, lovely post the other day.

Faire thank you xx It is a huge change to a year ago and it's weirdly easy to forget that. I think there is likely to be a come down of sorts (for me at least) as it was such a massive distraction for six months, which came to such a big climax. It's still sinking in that I've done it for now though, and if I forget my legs remind me when I stand up

I crashed and burned a bit this afternoon, after bragging to friends that marathon recovery was easy! Just felt totally wiped out physically and have been asleep on and off since 2pm. Think I might have a slight cold too which probably isn't helping. I took some leave this week so am not in work until Friday, which I'm extremely grateful for.

Dubh the timing of your post means it actually took me nearly an hour to write that! Sorry- wasn't ignoring you, just clearly on a huge go-slow! The weather up your way sounds impressive, I won't rub it in by saying that we have had sunshine most the day (at least the bits I've seen!) on the south coast . Hope you get a good rest tonight xxx

Elba84
Frost here this morning. My poor plants.My friend sent me a helpful video of them on the beach in Cornwall Sunday.. Not jealous at all!

Still feel like the walking dead right now.
Tomorrow we have the power off for 8 hours whilst they put in new power lines. Unfortunately I have to be here as they need constant access to the farm to test meters. I have two flasks so will have to limit my tea intake. My mobile only works through the broadband as the signal is so bad. Looks like I'll be having a day of catching up with my Rebus books in bed.

I am at the phrase "limit my tea intake", Mint. The horror! And you're poorly! Nooooo. Just unacceptable. Do you have a gas hob you could boil an emergency pan on in extremis? Hope you feel much much better soon and have lovely new power lines asap. Sounds wise to be retreating to bed at this point!

Thanks, Elba. I have so many emotional ishoos. But that's ok. I finally feel brave enough to let some of them surface. It's so disorientating though. Like I just got v weepy from a memory I had when I was walking back through our local park after the school run. Normally I either wouldn't feel anything, or if I did, would tell myself to pull myself together. Nope I had a few tears. And they are appropriate. No big scene or anything but just a bit of a welling up of grief and loss.

My life at times has been really sad and difficult to cope with. Something happened to me when I was a young teenager that affected me profoundly. I'm ready to face it now though... gently... slowly... bit by bit. No huge epiphanies, just having a little look when I feel I can and acknowledging the depth of the pain. And that it's normal. It's ok. It's a reasonable reaction and I can accept it.

Phew that was intense. But life is, sometimes, right?

Sorry not to NC more this morning - but loving the new Jilly Cooper book and cover. You lot are awesome .

Oh Mint, it's horrible when the power goes off. We usually don't get notice and then find out a tree has downed the line or something. I hope you feel better soon. Elba, I hope your marathon recovery goes well. When I was a teenager I decided not to be outdone by the boys and walked with them over a ridge of monroes in Scotland in my baseball boots. The next day I could hardly move and crashed down the stairs as stiff as a board. Pedro, no-one is telling you never to drink again. I am not going to go for the never drinking again as I think I can only set myself up for failure and have something else to beat myself up for. I am aiming for more days in a row without wine, so hopefully the days in a row without will take over from the days I fall into the abyss. Perhaps I am being over-optimistic? LuxuryWoman, Well done! It is a massive step to find a way forward. It is a massive step to take a day off the grog when it has become an entrenched habit, then take another day off to recover a bit more, and a 3rd day off because you can. For me, it is the 4th, 5th and 6th days which are the problem. Over the past 11 days, I have drunk wine on 3 of them. Even so, it's probably too much!

elf EasyToEatTiger
A friend is going to lend me her camping stove tomorrow. Failing that I'll boil a pan on the fire!

I'm loving the new JC book cover btw. Wish mine looked like that.

Paws hope you are ok. Am so sorry about your MIL and sending you strength and hugs
Elba you truly are amazing!
Hello to Mint, Dubh, Faire, Mouse, Lux, Venus, Margie, Ma, Elf, Tiger, Grumpy, 42, Beaches, Caution, Pedro, Today, Ruby, Plaking, vxa and anyone else I have forgotten.
I’m good, enjoying my day off. Went to the doctors yesterday re my bad back and she advised pilates. Was going to go this morning but due to the after effects of body pump and it hurting to sit on the loo, I thought it best to give it a miss. Will be back in the gym tomorrow. For anyone wondering body pump is a weihts class with proper bars and clips and weights and everything had great fun, even if I do now feel like a geriatric penguin. The woman is funny, lovely but tough – kept shouting out that ‘winners don’t quit’ and other stuff that kept me motivated. Funnily enough back not too bad, it is the arms and thighs that are wrecking. Back in work tomorrow evening, doing less full on shifts this week.

Hi everyone long time no see - claret here! Hope everyone is ok, I'm super super proud of you all - you're all amazing.

Just HAD to pop by and say a HUGE well done to Elba, you really are superwoman, well done on running the London marathon! When I was on this thread you were just starting out on your training and were full of doubt about whether you'd manage it. From someone who's also run it I know how hard you must have worked to get to that start line on Sunday. Really sincerely well done!

Little update from me, I'm currently expecting my second dc so have been sober since beginning of December after letting it get way out of control in the second half of last year. This enforced break is giving me a shot at being sober for good so I'm staying off the booze once baby arrives - it's time.

Take care brave babes

Hi everyone,

Huge congrats Claret!!! Awesome news, you will love the madness of two occasionally, good for you for using it to kick start sobriety.

Yes Elba, it was me who suggested the Imagine Dragons track, that is my ultimate running song! I am still running and hoping to do a half marathon in October although I've never run further than 10kms so it's an intimidating prospect. You are my inspiration!

Ma, Dubh, Lux, you have no idea how much comfort and warm fuzzy feelings your posts give me, am v thankful for you lovely babes.

Waves to Made.

Sorry not to NC everyone, big hugs to all those who are struggling, lots of experiences and feelings been described that I can associate with. I am trying to stay AF to give my ADs the best chance of working but when I do have a boozy night it is a binge and I feel awful the next day.

Claret!!!! So, so lovely to 'see' you, and huge congratulations!! What exciting news! And thank you- London is an experience like no other isn't it?! Keep in touch lovely one, it's so nice to hear how you are doing. Huge hugs xxxx

Margie if I can do it you totally can! I'd not done more than 10k either, but I think having the place spurs you on. I saw a billboard on Saturday saying running is 90% psychological and 10% physical and it stuck in my head and became my mantra on Sunday. I will be supporting you and cheering you on just like you did me! (When is it in October? I'm doing one early October so we could be running at the same time!). Huge hugs, and thank you again for all your support xxx