The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Braving The Wine Witch & Her Alcohol Free Autumn

[Mouseface]

Hello

I’m Mouse one of the Brave Babes who ride on this wonderful Bus, called Gerald, along with all the Opal Fruits wrappers and of course Barry The squid.

We all have a wise variety of life experiences and experiences with alcohol too. We’re not admirers of hang overs and we certainly don’t do judgey pants!

We’re here to ride along with you, when life is pants but also when it’s not as well and you my want to celebrate that bit too much!

So find a seat and come take a ride. I’ll link the previous and also the very first link and the reason we’re all here.

*Mouse

Evening babes, I’ve just done the ‘am I a problem drinker’ quiz and it came out that this last month I’ve gone from around 60 units a week to 35.
Still a long way to go.
What do people DRINK IF ITS NOT WINE??!!
I sound pathetic I know but I’m struggling with what to do with myself if I’m not getting pissed...

Fox thank you babe. You're right, I think they're running scared,( well I hope), I think they know that I worked in recruitment for 20 years and know my stuff I just want it 'done'. And look at you 78 Days - that's soooo good. I completely understand the 'so is this it' feeling and the 'one glass of fizz will be fine' - you and me both know it won't! Do you remember when you'd done a long stint and then went on your family summer hols? Please try not to think about Christmas I know who am I kidding alcohol is everywhere just try and fill your time with stuff. Think of all the positives, there are so many

Ma

Clarice thank you babe x

Sweet how you doing today? can we have a pic of puppy (not so pup) please?

pickle have a look at this www.alcoholfree.co.uk - one of the babes recommended it and they look gooooood Filling your time when you would normally drinking is one of the hardest parts of this journey, some suggestions and other babes will have more - online jigsaws, box sets on netflix, pampering, running, crap tv (think housewives, botched, mobwives) reading (you'll be able to remember what you've read in the morning), contacting old friends, family you've not spoken to for a while, clear out your knicker drawer, go through your clothes, I know none of it sounds very rock and roll but it will keep you busy. Good luck!

Right going to make tea, ready for celebrity - Yay! I do think that bloke from hollyoaks is sch-wing, I'd have some of that

Clarice I have looked into displacing ‘D’H as my Nearest Relative but, unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as just making a request and signing a form. It’s a really complicated process and involves going to court.
Thank you for all your support. It’s really not helping that I can’t leave the ward, I’m beginning to get cabin fever.
I tend to be a naturally forgiving person and am not used to feeling this sustained type of anger.
spanna thanks for the link to that website, it looks really interesting.
I do a lot of travelling by public transport for work and am frequently on a bus when the kids are coming out of school.
There was this gang of girls at the back of the bus a while back who were all shrieking with laughter. My first thought, being the middle aged bag that I am, was irritation and wishing that they’d turn it down a bit but then it struck me that they were having a whale of a time and they hadn’t had any alcohol. It made such an impression on me and made me think of me and my friends giggling uncontrollably as teenagers when we were completely sober.
I do have this kind of underlying belief that life without booze must be really grey and boring. I am struggling to come to terms with the fact that I will never be able to drink ‘normally’ because there were definitely times when it was fun. But it isn’t fun anymore and I know I am now at a stage where, if I don’t stop, I could lose everything.

Hello all....special hello to mshoolie....I just want to say that your strength, resolve and determination to leave that place just shine out of your posts.I hope you get to leave soon and I hope with all my heart that you would find even deeper within yourself a desire and plan to no longer have to put up with your dreadful sounding partoner. I know we can never "understand what goes on behind closed doors" etc etc.....but from the clarity and resolve shown in your posts...you are amazing.

One day this will all be in the past and your days will be more positive and feel more hopeful. Are allowed of the ward with a staff member or chaperone? Sometimes the chapelsame in hospitals are lovely places to go - no coughing visitors no hustle and bustle just a quiet place to reflect and just "be"..... and a change of 4 walls from your ward. Sending Los of live and positivity your way xxx
To everyone else rumbling along on this bus Big Wave and gets the flask of hot chocolate out and Wethersfield originals.....we need some comfort on the long journey ahead of us at least!!
I'm in bed so feel I can safely say I've done day 8 now. This is the very most I have been alcohol free since about 3years ago I would think.
Must be like dog- years or something cause I already feel like it's been 57 days at least kisses to all. Xxxx

Sorry for all typos..I'm sure you can get the drift of the majority of all this waffle x

Thanks forever 8 days is brilliant.

Good luck today spanna

Day 18 af. Actually felt quite good yesterday - which is amazing for a Monday!

Saywhen thank you. I've not slept too good. You're up early. Have a good day babe

MsHoolies it's true we are all so programmed to drink. I really like your tale of the school girls on the bus. I too remember laughing like a drain, uncontrollable giggles, it's making me smile as I type hugs to you lovely x

I'm trying out this new MN app on my phone. Not sure how to preview messages, it's all a bit techie and unfamiliar

Have a good day every brave babe. Wherever we are, on which ever bit of this battle, remember we've got each other on this wonderful bus

It's lovely to be thought of!

I have the Monday and Tuesday from hell at work, but didn't want you to think I'd disappeared again. I'll be back later (sorry but it might be a massive brain dump).
MsHoolie, just wanted to lend you some strength for today, Fox, Spanna, Hope, Luffs you lots.

Sorry, missed Lux and Ma, missed you crazy ladies.

To any new Babes, lurking Babes, or potential Babes. Some of us have been here a long time, but the bus is NOT a clique, it's a safe harbour, dive in, say hello, thumb a ride, the old hands will always welcome you, and the newbies keep it vital.

Today I will not drink.

Hi Sweet I remember you from my long time lurking on here. Spanna, sorry but I’m not really up to speed on your work situation as I admit I have been very caught up in my own problems. You don’t have to go through it all for my benefit but good luck with whatever you need luck with.

Psssst, it's me Hope. Realise I posted under my dieting nom de guerre Clarice last night. It is my stealth name for the low carb threads which I join and them immediately leave because I can't give up bread. Shhh. As you were...

Hope you are hilarious

Mostly read, but Hope did make me read in an 'Allo 'Allo voice. Loved the laugh out moment.
Hope the outcome of the review was OK.

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I posted but havve been lurking about reading all of your stories. This bus is brilliant I have to say - so much wise advice, inspiration and support.
Special name check to MsHoolies - you are awesome and have come so far already.
I first posted on the bus at the beginning of August. I have stopped counting, but think I have been AF Mon-Thurs for about 8 weeks or so, although I've still been drinking more than I'd like at weekends. Down from about 120 units a week to more like 30-40.
For me, the positives about cutting down have been:

1. Better sleep
2. More energy
3. More exercise - I have taken up swimming again and joined the gym
4. More money - both in terms of spending less and earning more. I'm a freelancer so get paid as much as I work. Earning have gone up 25% over the last three months and even with joining the gym, spending is down massively (120 units don't come cheap!)
5. Better sex -it's sooo much better when you're sober.

Anyway, do I qualify for a go with the smock of smug or is that just for regulars or those who've gone completely AF?

I may also be going completely AF. DH, who I've mentioned before also has a drink problem, is also currently on day 3 AF and says he's wants to pack it in completely. I'm damned if I'll be the one to screw it up for him. Regardless, I now DO NOT DRINK on weekdays.

Thanks so much to all you lovely people for making this bus such a great place to hang out

flowers I think you deserve the smock of smug - try it on and give us a twirl.

And yes! Yes! to sober sex, more conscious, more feeling, more delight. Less risk of nodding off or throwing up midway

Hi to all returning babes, good to see you again xx

Ooh thank you venus - I'm flouncing about in it now - how do I look ?

You can have it back now. I'll stop being smug. Someone else's turn. Can I have another go if I get through a whole 7 days sometime?

((((Foreverblessed dashes in, picks up the Smock of Smug.....holds it up to self like a gorgeous dress in meg-from-Little-Women- styleeeeee....one day...one day... she gasps clutching the wrong and faded linen to her frame whilst twirling in the manner of PollyAnna......one day I shall wear this when I get to 8 weeks or more!!!!!))))))
lol
AS you were ladies, as you were

((((((Darn! She orated, that darn autocorrect I've function, of course the linen is worn not wrong! How could anything be so beautiful be so wrong?! Forever aka Meg Little Women strokes the fabric and sniffs it wondering if she should try it on at the back of the bus)))))
Lol there's a reason I used to drink. Less rubbish like this dancing out if my mouth lol

Ps.... I'm on day 8......trying not to feel proud of myself. Because then would come complacency. And think g oh wow you've done nearly 2 weeks....it's the weekend....and before you know it I'd be putting 3 bottles of wine in trolley thinking that's Friday, sat and sun sorted

Which I really DON'T want to do xxx
Goodnight and lots of love to all even th old gang who I have no idea who you all are yet

MsHoolies
I really hope that you can get your husband removed as nearest relative. He is a complete arsehole.

dementedma
Was it like a scene from An Officer and a Gentleman? wiggles eyebrows

Lux
How are you feeling now? My bath bombs advent calendars have finally arrived

SweetLathyrus
Hello! Good morning and nice to see you, to see you nice

Smallpox
Congratulations on 78 days! That's amazing.

Spanna
Sorry I've been MIA so to speak. It's been a crap few days. Still not enjoying the sounds of silence I'm afraid. sighs

And waves to insert your name here as there's a hoard of you now
foreverblessedbee venusandmars
One day the smock of smug shall be mine, mine I tell thee...
But not right now. For now I'm stealing the green opal fruits and kicking back on my heels in the trailer bobbing along behind the bus

Hello all
I'm popping quietly back on the bus.
Not been doing anything different, been having AF days and trying to drink less on drinking days.
But it still takes too much headspace.
And have drunk every day (not loads (mostly)) for a couple of weeks.
DH is off work so having a few GnT in the evenings and he does drink too much.
I need to address my drinking (seeing as I want it to be less) and not wait until he's ready to.
As that might be never.
I do find it hard to resist if someone else is having a drink.
Hope you're all well

Hi all and thanks to those who have given support, not great on names yet
I have stuck to managing 3 AF days each week since last post , I replace with tea/water in evenings , I haven't a sweet tooth so happy that as yet I'm not replacing wine for biscuits etc.. I feel that my tolerance/ taste for the red is waning, can only be a good thing I think.
Sleep is much better on free days and crap if I have more than 2 glasses
I suppose I'm on an 'up ' period or have a place to offload and be truly honest with myself

Morning gorgeous babes, lovely to see so many familiar faces on board

clarice I love you low carb stage names

forever I had to laugh at the dog years, it often feels like the days should amount to more!

flowers love you list, I can agree with some but exercise has yet to kick in for me.

misshoolie thinking of you babe

42 it does take a lot of headspace and my Dh drinks too which is usually my downfall. Fortunately for me he is embracing a dry spell with me but when he crumbles I am quick to follow. It is so difficult to make different choices when your other half is drinking.

Spanna so the work saga goes on, I am really hoping for some good news for you to allow you to move forward from this. Sending love flower x

guggs hello babe

I am on day 12 today so have my own designs on that smock

Keep on keeping on babes xx

Hi sofa cross posted as it takes me so long to write a post. Well done, 3 af days a week is brilliant.