The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Sweet, Summer Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Battle Bus! We're a group of travelling drinkers of varying levels, those who are teetotal, and those who have tried so many times to stop, those are 'controlled' drinkers, but we NEVER give up and keep coming back for the support we share, and trying to get some kind of control over the Wicked Wine Bitch Witch!

It's not easy, boy, it's so not easy to stop or cut down some days. There are days when even the Bravest Babes fall into the Sidecar. And do you know what? That's okay.

There is NO judgey pants worn on this Bus and you don't have to be anyone other than YOU to join us

So, come and grab a seat, some Opal fruits, (it'll make sense eventually!)) and meet the rest of the Babes. Remember, you're not on your own, ever with us, you'll always have a Babe you can relate to.

Here's the last thread for you to catch up on if you like

And here's where the entire journey began.

Mouse xxx

Arrrrrgh DH & I had a last minute invite to the home of some lovely friends for dinner Sat pm & fell of the AF wagon - they have a habit of making delicious cocktails that I can't resist...

Thankfully we didn't pull an all nighter & no cigarettes were being smoked so I managed to get up and do what needed to be done today.

Just feeling exhausted and have been really short tempered with the kids today - this makes me feel like a crappy parent and really guilty

Have been AF today & planning to be so all week! Hope everyone had a good weekend

Mint I'm in too. Its totally ridiculous that you are so willing and able to work but there is no help to physically get you there. Accept it, get yourself back on your feet, and pay it forward to someone else when you are sorted. Huge congratulations on the job xx

Morning Guys.
Just seen all your messages of support and offer's of help. You lot made me bloody well cry. The kindness you all have is just well, I have no words.
I have my appointment today with the DWP to see if they can help.

Enough about me!

MoonPower
Oh god, cocktails. I miss Mojitos.

Fairenuff
A life you say? I hope it involves a lovely cottage by the sea

Lux
Glad you had a lovely weekend

hey....i know im a newbie but ive been there too mint - right now im in a fortunate position and could also help out with a tenner or so - if we all do that you will be able to take that job - so please do take the offer of help.

a few months ago i was brassic. desperate. i know how awful it feels and this job could be a life line! you HAVE to take it!

im about to wade through 3 baskets of ironing. im still in awful pain (car accident last week - idiot me)

i am armed with my favourite soft drink in the whole wide world for tonight - root beer! i found it in tesco! (happy dance!!)

saying that i had A Single glass of wine last night - dp opened a bottle and i succumbed BUT had one and was happy with that.

ive said all along - if i cant radically cut back and have more alcohol free days ill jack it in altogether.
if i can enjoy the odd drink without wanting more - i will. i hope thats not thrown anyone or gets me escorted off the bus... xxx

MoonPower - did you have a plan in place as to what to say when offered a drink?

hey moon how are things now?

ma - what a brilliant comment... this bus doesn't run on petrol or diesel. It runs on compassion, understanding, courage and hard nosed practicality. (and kicks up the arse when needed) And I'm joining you all in any support required for mint to keep her job.

faire good to see you, and mouse I really hope that you're being well cared for and are getting better.

I've kind of lost track of who posted what, but someone posted recently about dealing with social occasions... I was out on Saturday evening, dinner at very lovely friends, with other old friends there too. I said I would drive (it is often the easiest excuse for avoiding drinking). The others started the evening with a G&T or beer, and one of them had a top-up. Then they had wine (by then only 4 people were drinking) and they opened one bottle. That was it - ONE bottle.

Between them.

The food was eaten and then everyone had a nice cup of tea.

There was nothing about that that made me envious of being able to drink a couple of glasses. I know, I really know, that if I'd been drinking I would have had a drink before I left home, I'd have had a top-up drink before dinner, and then I'd have been really stuck about persuading them to open another bottle of wine. It is so much easier for me not to have anything to drink.

have pm'd mint to see if she's good to go ahead...

Evening you lovely lovely lot.
I've been to the DWP and they put through an immediate payment for the fares onto a bus card.
So I start work tomorrow after all and sods law dictates that tomorrow is going to be an absolutely blindingly, hot, sunny, lie on the beach day in Scotland! Ha!
She was ever so pleased to get me off the books as I'm pretty sure by her attitude and comments , she was getting concerned how I was managing as I could only sign for NI contributions, no benefits.
You lot have been so bloody amazing with your support and encouragement and offers of help.
And so ends Day 7 of AF and unemployment.
I truly love you all.

I am so relieved for you! Great news.

Oh fabbo. Shame about the nice weather tho

mint thats brilliant news. And 7 AF. Go you!
I'm working tomorrow too although will be sailor ogling for part of it.......

thats great mint ! on both the job and 7 days!!

Awesome stuff, mint ... good luck with your first day!

I'm feeling a bit rubbish today. Mild whiplash from a car accident a few days ago (other driver's fault), period started, cold sore, sore throat, freezing weather. Having a pyjama day with the kids. Day 18 AF, though, so that's a win.

Mint I am over the moon for you!!! X

Lily sorry to hear about you whiplash sounds horrid. Go you on day 18 af though!

I am day 9 af today.

Morning all
Hope everyone is feeling better than me as I have had drinks each eve Fri to Mon and feel v anxious today. Sigh.
Defo AF Tues to Thurs, then weekend away on a city break which will involve all the eating and drinking.
I know I CAN get through today but...argh.
Doing my 3 or 4 AF days each week is going OK, I do want to drink less on the drinking days though.
Have been less with the wine witch. It does help.
Argh

off the wagon. dp finished our relationship. should be a blessing. it isnt. ive had less thn normal but i feel a total failure.
he is an abusive prick. i should be running for the hills anyway. its the anniversary of our baby girl not making it - her funeral is a year ago on 26th july.
ive had 3 glasses of red. im in the spare room.

user that's a lot of tough stuff
Take yourself off to bed with a big glass if water or a mug of tea. Tomorrow IS another day.

You are better off without him in your life, and yet it will feel like a gap that your baby girl's dad is not with you. But if he is abusive then you and your girl deserved better than him anyway. Even though she's not here. Xx

User my darling, I'm sorry, truly. Please get a glass of water and try to rest.

You will have a future and thrive but right now you need to be very kind to yourself.

Rest now and we'll help all we can going forward.

thankyou. ive taken 2 paracetamol already. ill take water to bed and have some now.
ive gota mountain to climb. i feel so bloody useless. 3 glases. i feel sick. i should be able to cope.
work are on my back. im signed off for 2 weeks after a car crash last week. they know something is up. my boss wants to see me tomorrow. my dp is in the sme job and since telling me he is finishing our relationship he has asked for a move so work suspect something.

my friend caled me tonight. she has stopped calling me - because she cant cope with him. she says he is just too odd and left me to it.
he has finsidhed it because i got signed off sick following a car accident.
he hates me being offsick. when i lost our baby he said i was an embarrassment to him for being off sick.

yes. he is a fuckwit. so why am i sad?

bed for me. water and paracetamol. and shame.

You are sad because of what should have been.
It's totally understable but he is no partner, he sounds like you'll eventually be well shot but yeah, it's tough to realise the wasted time and the 'what might have been' it's scary to face the future alone but you know deep down its well for the best, you're worth much, much more

User - take care and get back on the wagon. Drink never helped with my issues. Councillor and therapy did.
Sounds like you're well shot of this partner however.....

Morning my lovelies.
Well last night was interesting. Glasgow Fair ( Scottish people will understand this) + Sunny 77f + Alcohol = a very fraught shift.
On another note, I have a second telephone interview with a very well known store on Friday morning for permanent full-time. Please everyone pray, give thanks to the Goddess, Cthulu, anything you believe in that I pass that and get a job offer.