Brave Babes Battle Bus: Next Stop Fabulous February

[SweetLathyrus]

Hi, I'm SweetLathyrus, Sweet for short, and I've been on and off Gerald the Brave Babes Battle Bus since 2014. Over the years, lots of us have maintained the thread, most of all the lovely Mouse, who has been here since the early days, and still scurries onboard when she can.

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. Driers and Triers, all welcome.

2018 has been a busy year so far, lots of new travellers as well as old faces; if you want to read back on the journey through Dry or Dryer January so far, here's the link to the last thread

And in case 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.

rothbury I suspect many of us come from families of alcoholics and heavy drinkers. Richard ended up on the streets. but you can beat it and you can come back from it. I hope his story gives strength to struggling babes

and I have four siblings too!!!

Rothbury I hear you on the shopping with teens glad you're feeling good today

Ma great to hear Richard is coming for a visit

Sweet bra shopping is a pigging mare - I've been converted to Triumph recently, expensive but so comfy!

Margie I hope all is going, has gone to plan x

Lux I defuzzed and painted my toenails today, any self pampering makes me think of you not in a weird way, you understand You being on the bus has really made me step up my game and I feel so much better for it

The sun is shining and that makes me very happy roll on Spring...

I hope all you lovely Brave Babes are doing ok x

Thanks lovely babes. I did it in 1 hour 55 mins & 4 seconds which I’m chuffed to bits with. Now I’ve got mild diarrhea and the desire to lie down in a dark room for a week. Elba my friend, I have no idea how you did twice that distance in one go - a Half is definitely the limit for this old bird.

Happy Sunday babes.

margie that is completely amazing I am in absolute awe of You! Congratulations!!

Margie you are fabulous and less of the 'old' please. You did good Babe, be proud, be very proud. I have visions of you lying on the cold tiled floor with a cold wet flannel over your eyes

Not far off Spanna my love ! Thanks Saywhen, couldn’t quite believe it myself! From about 16kms I just kept repeating “one foot in front of the other” and it seemed to work!

wow, well done margie. I did a quick walk this morning and that was about my limit. don't know where this weekend has gone...

So close the the fuck it button today. First time in a while I have felt really tested. Someone really let my son down. I was so angry. Couldn't calm down. Was so close to having wine just to stop feeling angry.

I went for a walk instead. Thankfully that worked.

I think I would have buckled today without this bus. It helps keep me accountable and honest with myself. Thank you all so much x

well done on not hitting the fuck it button saywhen and for diverting yourself.

Margie well done you - that is an amazing time! My only half took me well over 2 hours I think (can't remember the exact time, but think it was 2.20 or thereabouts. But then it did involve running across Morecambe Bay where I found the 'puddles' referred to were actually up to my neck at some points and I thought I might die in sinking sand!) I am definitely (or was, don't run now) a plodding hippo rather than a gazelle! Anyway, hats off to you, you marvellous athlete

SayWhen well done for not buckling. It is SO hard when someone lets down your children - actually far, far worse than being let down yourself. Hope you feel better now. You probably took it harder than DS. Glad the walk did you good

Ma - how are things? Bet you are looking forward to the family reunion! Hope you are not taking WB along, he deserves to fester alone in a small dark room with no electricity (sorry if that is a bit harsh but still full of righteous indignation on your behalf)

I have nothing to report this weekend. Did drink on Feb 1st in London with my cousin though. Thought I would just have a couple and head on home - had 4 G&Ts and another on the train . Not good. Seems the Dry January was not a great reset. However, felt guilty the next day (despite not feeling hungover or even drunk the night before) and am now back on the wagon for February.

I hope you are all settled in for a peaceful Sunday evening. Working here and cooking different dinners for my veggie and non-veggie offspring! Feel oddly stressed and angry but have no reason to so am doing my best to ignore it. Hugs to all of you and sorry not to NC everyone but dinner is about to spoil so must go before the smoke alarm goes off

Margie that is an amazing time, even at my fittest I couldn't keep up more than 7km/ph for an hour, never tried longer than that - my excuse is that I have very little legs!

Spanna I keep putting off more intensive bra shopping in the hope of a bit of shrinkage .

SayWhen, you should take great power from being able to distract yourself like that. Is DS ok?

Hope, I have to do the multiple dinners too, but it's me that is the veggie. I have to admit to relying on ready meals about half of the week during the teaching term.

Don't feel like I have achieved much today, dog walked, some food prepped for tomorrow, shopping done, mouse removed from behind the radiator - alive for once, and that's about it, haven't even got through the whole of the Archers Omnibus yet! Anyway, felt good about not drinking, it's not completely normal yet, but definitely more normal than it was.

sweet this is not the first time unfortuantly so I don't let him know in case he's let down. So he was non the wiser thankfully.

looking I would prefer it was me every time. You are right It's so much harder when it's your children.

Thank you ma.

Saywhen that took some almighty willpower, good for you for resisting. I hope your DS is ok x

Hope and Sweet same in my home DD2 is a veggie and I end up cooking 2 meals - if I didn't cook for her she would certainly live on pita with hummus

Sweet sounds like you've done masses today!

I recently bought myself a dyson in the sale and hoovering isn't quite a joy always hated it but it is soooo much better than bending over hetty and the crap that came out of the carpet the first time I used it

@Saywhen kudos on your will power! Hope your son is okay.

I'be obviously not taken the leap yet but being so conscious about each drink and trying to examine my feelings. I had some little minor victories today. Refused a drink at parents house till the meal, which meant I only had a glass instead of a bottle +

Took the time to offer dh a drink. Rather than take it for granted he'd drive and I'd drink. He doesn't really drink but appreciated the offer.

Onwards and upwards. The mindset is definitely changing

dd1 has just told me she's going vegan. Great. Let's add that to your OCD, anxiety and depression...(apologies to an vegans i have just offended!)
Am in bed with a cup of tea, some lemon drizzle cake, MN and a book. Twat face has gone to work and I can feel myself relaxing. Clean sheets on, fairy lights lit, all very zen. And AF.
Day 33

Enjoy your book @dementedma have a lovely evening. I'm going to hit the shower and hit the hay too! Maybe with some Harry Potter to keep me company. Geek admission

Hi ladies, hope its ok for an extra one to hop on the bus!

I've been questioning my drinking habits for a while now and reading through this thread after stumbling across has made me realise I may have a bit of a problem.

I've been through absolute hell over the past few years due to my abusive ex (mental, physical and sexual abuse). Resulted in me finally having enough and reporting him for all the abuse. Some of the which he was convicted of. All of the trauma seems to have led me to propping myself up with a nightly wine habit. I don't get drunk but I definitely feel a need for a drink which has started to worry me. Along with having to force myself to have a night off drinking when it really shouldn't be an issue.

I also suffer with depression and anxiety and possibly PTSD so am wondering what effect drinking has with the medication I am taking and if it is in fact adding to my mental health issues.

Ramble over. Today has been day one alcohol free and I am hoping to make it a permanent fixture.

Welcome, Nomore, always room for one more. It sounds as though you have had a tough time, but you're ready to move on

@nomoredrama84 hello! I'm a newbie too. I'm sorry you've had such a rough time lately. Congratulations on your first AF free day. I haven't made the leap yet but plan to soon.

Thanks both of you 🙂

Definitely ready to move on. I'm due to start counselling soon so plan to make 2018 a year of focusing on myself and getting back to being myself and properly happy again!

whenl I've been thinking about and wanting to stop for a while now. Tried dry January and lasted a week but I suspect that was mainly down to the killer hangover after nye! The time just feels right now. You will leap when you're ready!

whenI i think the little steps are all very good preparation for the big leap and the recognition that you just can't go on drinking.
this is the first time i have ever managed to do Dry January and i think a lot of that was mindset and preparing. in my case, for a very long time beforehand! Gradually cutting down, cutting back, being more aware of not feeling good,getting mentally ready...these were all part of the overall process.It seemed impossible, and was impossible for me for many years, and here I am tonight in bed with tea and cake instead of finishing off a bottle of wine and feeling like shite tomorrow. I still think about it every day but that thought is now followed by no, it will make me feel crap, rather than yay, let's do it
Welcome drama I think there's an empty seat next to the squid...

@dementedma thank you. I feel a fraud being here still drinking, but everything I'm reading is helping me adjust my mindset. I'm at the point where I know it's not helping but I'm also scared. I'm trying to work through the fear with podcasts and the books and blogs.

Evening all, did I hear mention of the squid? I could do with a slap please.

Opened a bottle of white to use in cooking today, and drank the 3/4 bottle that was left. Seemed like a good idea at the time, wish I hadn’t, didn’t enjoy the slightly fuzzy head it gave me, now sitting here with a headache. AF again tomorrow.

Night All 💤