The Brave Babes Battle Bus - New year, old battles, big resolve

[SweetLathyrus]

Hi, I'm SweetLathyrus, Sweet for short, and I've been on and off Gerald the Brave Babes Battle Bus for years, so this time it's me standing in for our wonderful Mouse to invite you on board.

The bus is a place of support, safety and occasional silliness for those of us struggling with our relationship with alcohol. Some of us are sober, some are trying to be, some are moderating and aren't ready to give up alcohol just yet.

So whatever your reason for questioning the whys and WTFs of your drinking, hop on board, make yourselves comfortable and join in.

If you want to see what it's like, here's the link to the last thread, the one that saw us through Christmas.

And if you want to know how it all started, here is the link to JWN's original, inspiring thread.

Join us on our journey, you won't regret it.

x-posted Spanna. Ooh I'd love to go on a Perch Hill course. The reminders of the potential damage alcohol can do are very chastening, but at least, as you say, your client's last 1.5 years were positive.

Mint I had a similar situation with the half brother, except mine was much much younger.My very lovely but alcoholic father had sired a lovely son and not told anyone about it but it all came out when he died. It was a lot to process all at once.

Give yourself time and don't be ashamed of any negative emotions. I hope it all works out well for you. My DB is now very much part of my life.

I am very anxious tonight as I have to get up really bloody early - by 5am latest to get to where I need to be for work tomorrow. They wouldn't pay for a hotel as I am only 60 miles away but it's a really long journey by train (and I am not up for driving across central London) Plus the trains down here are completely unreliable due to shit train franchise (southern) When I get to work I have to do a lecture that I have never delivered before so I am anxious about that too. If it weren't for the bus I would probably get pissed, and have a raging hangover tomorrow, be late, and be functioning at a really low level.

I am going to have something really nice to eat in a bit, have a shower (don't do baths) and have a very early night.

Ma I hope you're Ma is feeling better.
I've been meaning to give you this link but wanted to check that they take individual orders on their website (they do) You mentioned buying something suitable for your dad - www.activitiestoshare.co.uk is where I buy my stuff for residents who live with dementia. They do memorabilia like old newspapers for £5, some of the stuff is reasonably priced and some v expensive. Sorry it's taken me so long to get this to you x

rothbury bear - good luck for tomorrow. It will be much better without drinking. I am sure your lecture will be fabulous. x

My TV dilema tonight - should I watch second episode of Girlfriends or Kiri, Sarah Lancaster's new drama - just don't know!!!! Oh my life

Rothbury good luck tomorrow - I'm sure you'll smash it!! Enjoy an early night and try not to worry x

Hi,

Can I join in? Currently doing 28 days with One Year No Beer but this looks more chatty. Day 10 today.

Interesting name VenezuelanBeaverCheese welcome to the bus. Is One Year No Beer another thread?

Thanks for the welcome back Spanna. New Sarah Lancaster drama looks good. Not seen Girlfriends, what is it? I'm sure I should know about it.

Venezuelan, welcome.

Rothbury, bloody Southern, good luck.

Spanna, I'd go with Kiri, I think Sarah Lancashire is brilliant (loved Happy Valley), but I have an irrational dislike of Kay Mellor, so I'm not impartial!

Spanna I thought girlfriends was absolutely dire! .....I thought the acting was so bad I found myself cringing

I love Sarah Lancashire - thought Happy Valley was superb so got high hopes for Kiri

Lou agreed the acting was pants and I'd nearly given up on it until the end and, of course, they do the scene where I think, oh shit I'm going to have to watch it next week!

Sweet I love Sarah Lancaster too! She's come along way since corrie and managed to get away from it as so many soap stars can't.
I think you've made up my mind for me babes thank you for sorting my dilemma

Welcome BeeverCheese not going to be able to keep spelling Venezuelan Good to see you. Post whenever you wish and whatever you want - we're a nice bunch if not a bit mad

Spanna I'm having the same issue although I'll be recording one so really the decision is which to watch first.

Sweet What's wrong with Kay Mellor? I've loved loads of her stuff. In fact I look out for it!

Welcome all newbies/ returners. Too many for me to namecheck. I've fallen behind although I am reading everything. I've got a horrific cold. Felt really rough in work earlier. I'm home now but feel crap still.

I've made day 10 today. Pleased I'm in double figures and feel too shit to spoil it tonight. I was thinking about my weekend cans earlier though then remembered I wouldn't be getting any...

Mumzilla (hope I've got the name right) I've also drunk at 9am although not for a long time. No one will flame you here. Try not to buy any more and to distract yourself. Small children are hard work.

Mint What a shock. Look after yourself.

I may post again later. This has turned out rather long. Well done everyone still at it.

Day 10. Why do I feel so knackered. I should feel bouncy and full of energy .

This bus is brilliant.
AF today here.
One of the great things about the bus is that the babes are unshockable, mumzilla.
I found the littley years v difficult with my 2. It does pass.
I Got Out Of The House every morning. Even if just round he block!
Elba good to see you. I've clambered back aboard recently and it's helping me moderate. Sometimes I'm in the sidecar. Still miles better than not riding!
I'm off to collect from cubs then early night so sweet dreams babes

Baking I did say it was an irrational dislike!

Jog, it will take a while for the tiredness to pass, your body is working hard at healing itself.

Hi cheese

First af night since early Dec, ate far more than I normally would be happy I've not drank off to bed soon

well done littlest. That's a great start.
too many posts to catch up on. very nearly cracked today after more stress with DS (school) and DD1 (MH) and was genuinely toying with getting wine after i had visited mum on the way home from work. However, she saved the day. She is , like many elderly people, very outspoken and doesn't mince her words. (she once told me I looked rather "matronly" in a dress that I had loved up to that point!). Today she stopped what she was saying and peered at me and said "what have you done to your face?". me - "nothing.Why?"
mum - "well, it looks different. not as puffy because you were getting quite jowly. you look like you used to look years ago now."
So, dear readers, i stopped at the shop and bought.......a bottle of tonic. Have had 3 N&Ts and done day 10. Tomorrow will be new territory. Just couldn't do it without this bus full of loonies.
spanna thank you so much for that link. what a kind thing to do

Sweet Yes, you did say irrational...but why?!? I liked Girlfriends - must've been watching something different to everyone else!

Well done Littlest I ate more than I was happy with at the start but I'm finding it a bit easier now -mainly because I've already eaten all the good stuff-

OK, Baking, (please, no one be offended), she is obviously able to connect with a lot of people, but her writing just doesn't do it for me, I just don't connect with the characters, probably the same reason I just don't like or get some authors who are very popular. But most recently, ive also found her derivative- the one about the registrar, done better on radio four by someone else. I watch a lot of drama for my job, and there is some real crap that I love, but her writing just doesn't hit the spot!

Ma what a wonderful, and bloody awful backhanded compliment. Teenagers though, just when you think you're winning they throw you a curve ball. Well done, say strong.

Cupcakes I enjoyed Girlfriends. I love a girl power watch especially a middle aged one I'm still in a dilemma. I think Kiri's going to upset me. I'll end up flicking I reckon Bring on law & order special victims unit

Apologies Twattage13, I misread your post but thank you for telling me some background with regard to alcohol and you. I am in the very early stages of abstainence and am now even more determined having read your post! Thank you for sharing, can't tell you how much it helps.

Elba!!!! Lovely to see you you gorgeous babe.

Huge well done Ma, looking gorgeous in the frock of fabulousness, you deserve it.

Thinking of you Mint, keep talking about all the family stuff if it helps. So sorry about your ex-colleague Spanna, 51 is no age.

Night night every babe from a very tired me.

Spanna I don't think I can watch Kiri tonight either. I've just cried at the stammerers programme I recorded last night. I can't do anything else upsetting. I'm drowning in tissues between my cold and the tv!

Sweet I don't think I really watch anything properly. I think I just see it all as a story and miss loads.

Well done Ma on day 10! I hope you have a frock of fabulousness on. I thought I might try out the smock of smug tonight.