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

Be kind to yourself, Elba, that'll be three days for the week so far. Sleep well, I'm turning in myself, early morning dog training tomorrow.

Morning All.

Day Nine, up at six - just because I'd had enough sleep .

I have to share a bit of karma that happened at a meeting earlier in the week. Some Babes may remember my bastard (former) boss who contributed to my depression and anxiety? He is stil in one of the departments I work across, but no longer boss (complexities of academic management). Anyway, we had a big Faculty meeting including a session on mental health. He started to get very beligerent and challenging to the presenter, and I was beginning to think I would have to leave because he was starting to give me flash-backs to the way I was treated, when he stood up (after sniggering through a mindfulness exercise) declaring it to be "patronising shit he didn't need". It was noticed and commented on by his boss. RESULT , made my day. But also made me feel more confident about standing my ground, because his awfulness is being noted.

Have the sort of Sunday you all need - relaxed, busy, productive, happy AF.

Checking in, ma for your lovely dd, and for you, I say it again. You. Did. Good. Xx

sweet Bairn and I outraged for you at shit quality of dog show judge. Of course sweetdog was robbed. I smell shenanigans. So chuffed your fuckwit of a former boss showed his true colours in front of an audience. What an insensitive, boorish, arse of a man.

My eyes haven't been so great again. Trying so hard to rest them.

Hello to everyone and sending love. I've only skimmed through this thread, and haven't read back the last one. I hope everyone is okay, xx

elba I have had the crazy sleep routine too. I'm still taking herbal nytol but I think I'll stop once the kids break up for summer holidays on Wednesday.

Well I had my 2 drinks last night, enjoyed them, but had no inclination to have more.

sweet Karma is a bitch and I'm happy that the boss saw your co-worker's behaviour! 👍🏼

Hope everyone has a great (and AF) day

Hi all,MN regular but have NC so I can join this thread. I realised I don't really post that much except to agree with someone now and then so well as well NC and devote myself to this thread which I should have been on a long time!

Day 2 here, I'm working this afternoon but I will be back this evening when I'm going to struggle! Luckily the thought of paying £7 a bottle of wine at the local shop rather than being able to nip to the supermarket for a £4-£5 one is somewhat of a deterrent!

"May as well" 🙄

Reasons to cut down/ stop

Been averaging 80-100 units a week for around a year since my father became very ill and subsequently died in Feb.
My weight - I have all sorts of control food wise and then at the end of the day I'm ruining it by consuming at least 1000 calories in wine.
Smoking too much along with the wine.
Money!

Welcome Missdoings yep money is certainly a great motivation, it's so good to be able to buy new shoes or make-up and not spend £40 a week on booze.

Vodka hi, you sound about where I am right now, able to have a couple and leave it there, not wine though for me, never wine but a beer here and there, a couple of gins, no problem.

Dubh my lovely and sweet how great to hear from you, the dog show was clearly nobbled and sweet dog was robbed.

Hi everyone else, still full of bloody germs, I need a holiday and a mega dose of vitamins I think.

Hi miss and welcome. I nc too to come on here as I posted a couple of times and was scared it would out me.
I love the saving money aspect as well, that's a big factor for me. So good luck on Day 2, you can do it.

luxury my drink of choice is cider so it's very calorific, I'm happy with the small weight loss I've had since I stopped/maintained.

So it's day 20 for me and I have had no inclination to drink yet, but Sundays can be a bit mundane for me so fingers crossed I make it.

Dubh lovely to see you, what've you done to your eyes, my sweet? (I'm a bit out of touch, I planned to read back on the two threads I missed but haven't had time).

Miss welcome to the bus. It creeps up on us so easily doesn't it? 80-100 units would be an unusual week for me either. For me, I'm at an age where I don't feel quite as invincible or immune as I used to, I keep wondering if every little ache and pain is something booze related. And yes, the weight - I lost my waist somewhere along the line and it shows in my face too. As for the money, bloody hell there are so many better things to do than chuck it down our necks - but that's just the rational brain talking, it doesn't always engage!

Lux, you need to take care of yourself.

VRB, well done, I know what you mean about Sundays.

Well, I got a lot done today - dog training; some gardening; some washing done, dried and put away; some time on Rosetta Stone, polishing up my French (work have a licence so we get it for free for six months at a time if we guarantee to put a certain number of hours in). Now to walk SweetDog, and keep my mind off drinking!

Dog walked. No wine witch, now how long before I can put my pjs on?

Pjs on, I am SO tired! I suppose I have months and months of poor quality sleep to catch up on.

I'm in my bed already. Going to read then hopefully fall asleep not too late

What are you reading? I'm always looking for recommendations- Ma has been a pretty good source!

I have been reading Liane Moriarty books. I watched Big Little Lies in tv after reading the book and enjoyed them both, so I'm reading another one of hers. It's called What Alice Forgot

Wooo hooo hello lovely Babes

Sweet great to see you back my love,hope you're snuggled up in your pjs - sleep tight

Vodka another good one by Liane is Truly Madly Guilty (couldn't put it down) - Jane Fallon's another I like and if you're into Martina Cole and all that gangland stuff Mandesu (sp?)Heller is a cracker all based in Moss side. I read so much now! Huge congrats on Day 20

Ma a 1st is flippin amazing (sorry for my delayed reaction!) You must be so proud

Lux lovely I'm sorry to hear you're germed up - try Pharmaton vits, they're expensive big brown looking horse pills they have ginseng and a good dose of all you need - warning - do not take on empty stomach, they take 2 weeks to kick in but well worth the cost

Dub always good to see you

I'm loving having my weekends back, spent yesterday hauled up in a friends beach hut with 4 of us watching the wind, rain, mad waves, played a quiz, veggie bbq had such a good time, they drank, I tried a Mad Dog AF ale thing (not sure, Ale was never my thang) I swiftly went onto tea Life is good

Love to all you lovely Babes, hang in there and take one day at a time x

I think I heard her talking about What Alice Forgot on the radio, it sounded interesting, so I'd be interested to know what you think. I'm just waiting for an Amazon delivery, I ordered three or four, but can't remember what now - doh ;).

Night All.

Morning All.

Cross-posted last night and didn't see you, Spanna, sounds like a lovely weekend. Remembering what I've read is a real bonus. I've ordered In the Name of the Family (Sarah Dunnant); Gentlemen and Players (Joanne Harris) and The Muse (Jesse Burton).

Must get on. SweetDog has been walked, just need to drop DH at the train station then I can sit down to write.

Oh, Day Ten - and beginning to feel A LOT better.

sweet glad you're feeling good today.
Have you got anything nice planned?
Any book recommendations are appreciated, I read all the time so am always in need of new ones! I'm going to have a wee look at reviews of the ones you have ordered and see if I fancy ordering them for myself

spanna I have Truly Madly Guilty here in my pile of "to be read" books.
I binge read Jane Fallon books a few weeks ago, I read 5 in a couple of weeks. I like her books as they are easy to read.

Well it's day 21 for me today . Feeling good. Took my kids to school and caught me reflection in a window, I can now see the weight loss for myself and so I'm very happy.
I'm a bit tired today so I'm going to make the most of the school having 2 more days before they break up, and I'm going for a nap 😴

Have a great day everyone

Oh and sweet I finished What Alice Forgot and I did enjoy it. It's easy to read and I especially liked the parts when Alice gets her children home after her memory loss and has to get to re-know them again. I recommend it

Morning babes.
Lovely! Book recommendations
Hope everyone's okay.
I had the planned drinks Sat & Sun, drank a bit more than I wanted to last night, but not horrendous.
AF Monday to Thursday and Friday maybe too.
Have a good day babes

Hi all - went tits up last night, no real reason tbh. Need to stay close and in touch. This thread is great but moves a little slow for me, is there any fb groups that can help? Pm me if necessary-I'd rather be on an anon secret group as don't want my friends knowing I'm on a alcohol support related group. I can verify my fb id etc.

Books I've read recently, mostly based on Bebe recommendations:

Elizabeth is Missing
The Night Circus
the watch Maker of Filigree Street
The Lies of Locke Lamora (and the next two in the series)
Where'd You Go Bernadette
Peaches for Monseur le Cure (3rd in the Chocolat trilogy, and better than the second, Lolipop Shoes).
The Ladies of Grace Adieu
The Taxidermist's Daughter

And with the money I've not spent on booze, I bought these plants .

Miss, sorry you're struggling, I can't help I'm afraid, this is the only place I post.

Forgot the picture

2,3 abd 4 on your list are my favourites. So glad some else likes the Locke Lamora Series.