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

hi all
quick question. there is a possibility of a job coming up which I might apply for. The salary is lower than I am on now, the commute a wee bit longer but it has a company car for all but private mileage. Apparently this attracts income tax liability for Benefit in Kind. Does anyone know anything about how this works and would it compensate for lower salary and do you think it would include travel to and from work?

42 I'm just having 50/50 Becks Blue and Fevertree Ginger beer over ice, quite the best thing for a hot day working from home.

Flowery, my motivation to stay af yesterday was that it was too hot to walk SweetDog until 10pm (although the stupid chocolate brown beast has just chosen to lie in full sun in the middle of the garden ), if I'd had a drink I'd have been asleep by then!

Can't help on the tax liabilities, Ma, but there is also the stability to think of , possibility to get development or promotion . . .

Ma don't want to read and run but it sounds like they offset their tax by giving you a lower wage but then adding benefits to you in its place does that makes sense? I'd just ask them to clarify it though. If it's offering stability and you'd enjoy it I'd go for it, maybe a new opportunity is just what you need

thanks babes. I haven't been offered it yet but have been "advised" to apply. I am going to have to do Pros and Cons, or, as we call them in our house after DD1 once said it "Prawns and Cones".
It would offer stability and ease the mental health pressures and...it's working with armed forces so I could still do stuff with my boys!

Ma, you may already have looked at this, but if you scroll down there is a tax calculator - if you have enough information to use it:

www.gov.uk/tax-company-benefits/tax-on-company-cars

You can use it on the Prawn Cones

Hi Ma,
Im not sure about the tax side of it but will you be salaried or self employed?
In my last job I did expense claims for salaried people and the standard mileage claim was 42p a mile up to a certain mileage, when they reached that point it dropped to 21p a mile under the new tax year started again. It didn't include journeys to work and back as that is a regular work journey but say they came to work and drove to Edinburgh and back, I'd claim the mileage for that and any parking fees. Make sure you keep any receipts. Its also worth seeing if when you are on the road, you can claim any expenses back like food and drink.
So basically, you get your salary and then your expenses back on top of that.

I would be salaried. I am going up next week to talk to them for an informal chat before I put in an application.

Hope it's a positive chat for you, Ma.

How's everyone doing in the heat? I seem to have moved from sweeties to salty snacks, but I think that's a combination of bloodsugar levelling out and the heat.

Moved on to fizzy water with a drop of mint essential oil now.

I've got the heating on and it's lashing down here, good old Scotland!

Hot chocolate and toasted teacakes then Flowery (not sure whether to give you a , a , or possibly even a [jeaalous] )!

[jealous] I meant

I should really check the code

Raining here

Ma I am seeing a plus side in this in that I can't walk to the shop for wine and dh has been pulling his I'm so proud of you managing 3 days lark so now I can't rope him into going either

Whatever works, Flowery. I'm offering to drive to the theatre tomorrow, we're having a meal before hand with BIL & SIL, I have to stay sober, so I don't actually speak my mind to BIL

Night Babes. Hope you've all had a good day.

Morning All. Day seven.

Need to get SweetDog walked, then sit down to do some writing, I wasted so much time drinking.

I'm on day 4!!!! Oh lovely babes I don't think I've ever written that on this board, officially trying to make it to Saturday now.
Flowerypup is walked, I feel semi fresh. One child away, just to drop eldest to school so me and the baba can have a sit down
I'm thinking I'll perfect my mocktail mojitos tonight. Ginger beer, sugar, lime and mint. Such a treat

Morning all!
Good going flowery
Had drinks with H last night, 4G&T, not out of control, am ok today and will be AF next 2 days.
ma I had a company car a while ago (quite a while) and it didn't change the salary as such, slightly altered tax arrangements but no discernable difference. Best thing is what you've planned - to talk it over with them.
Hope all are well

Hi, I think I'm ready to climb aboard your bus, if I may

Bad day to start, because I have a PTA meeting in a pub tonight. Might try a lime and soda, the pub rarely has fizzy water which is my usual off-the-booze tipple of choice and it'll be a bit late in the evening for coffee.

I'm not really a regular here, only post occasionally, but I'm here now so I thought I'd say welcome to water

flowerydems
Just thinking about lighting the fire here in South Ayrshire.
Ma
Hope the informal chat goes your way and you get a wonderful lovely job out of it.

So today I went to the gym and made shed loads more elderflower cordial.
Still no word from job interview and nothing back from the 1457898543678 I've applied to so far.

Sighs and tries not to open wine.

Well done flowery and welcome water.
I'm trying not to think about the job too much as I'm getting excited and have realised I really want it. The job spec could have been written for me and Im already thinking if I dont get this I wont get anything. Its less money but lots of travel round scotland and I really need to move on now

Prepare prepare.
I work in HR, if my comments might help send me the JD and PS.
Exciting.

Oh ma everything crossed for you.

Hi everyone I'm bloody Ill again!! Fed up of it tbh.

Welcome water just join in as much or little as you're comfortable with.

How lovely to see sweet

Going to bed now with my germs. Sweet dreams all.