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.

Hi Babes

Well, good call for me not going to that long distance lunch today. Woke up freezing and exhausted and the thought of getting out of bed and rushing all day in this weather was horrific. Took DD to work after a nice lie in, went to the gym and did a couple of classes and saw my friend, took DS to an 18th birthday, dropped DD and her mates in town and bought myself a nice dress before coming home and putting PJs on and making soup (one of my favourite things to do it to make soup wearing pyjamas and listening to Radio 4. Cardigan years alert!!! .) Settling down to work now for a couple of hours before eating said soup and watching a film.

Ma hope you had a good day with your family! Are they staying a while? Have a wonderful time. xxx

Rothbury good luck with the house sale. Are you upsizing, downsizing or moving areas?

Slings PMSL re: the 'I bloody hope so' comment - you sound just like me! Glad your plumbing emergency was sorted. I am in the same position as Sweet and can't get a plumber to come out. Bloody hate the unreliable bastards. Last one fixed my boiler but buggered up the hot water supply upstairs and then avoided my calls like a fucking child until I gave up (did give him as many vitriolic online reviews as I could though) - and have not been able to find anyone to fix it since. So hot showers but lukewarm baths. I HATE plumbers!!! (sorry if anyone on here is one .. though if you are, will you fix my hot water??)

Baking glad Mini-Bake is better and enjoy your reading. I am currently reading The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn which is quite good (she is a drinker though, the central character so avoid if triggering. Though it is helping her make a mess of her life so encouraging in another way. Think Girl on the Train but in a house!)

Right, work calls. Have a great night all xxx

Hey all, sorry I've not posted all week. Still very impressed with all the runners, espcially MsHoolies multiple marathons.

Sweet glad your son came round in the end. My at home son isn't at that stage yet (but he seems to be working hard at becoming a stroppy teenager at 9 years old ), and I've blocked out the teenage years of the grown up ones! They're lovely now. I'm going to lunch at DS1's house tomorrow. He and DIL are vegan Ma, so I understand a little of your situation with DD - although must admit I'm glad he left home before making that decision . Hope you have a fab time with your siblings.

Glad you got your plumbing sorted slings. Our shower finally conked out and it's not worth getting it fixed cos we are getting the bathroom replaced in a couple of weeks. ...Baths it is then

How's everyone doing with sobriety? Still at it - day 41 here. I am very bored and I want to get completely off my face if I'm perfectly honest. I am riding it out at the moment. At least I have finally developed sufficient self awareness (at 47 years old ffs!) to notice that boredom is a serious trigger.

Hope I can find something entertaining on the TV later...

Wine still in cupboard. I have so far resisted checking if it is a cork or screw cap...

baking and hope I am also in PJs. I tend to put them on as soon as I get home now

ma my DS17 and his girlfriend are vegan and I quite enjoy cooking vegan meals for them (and he cooks for me) We had a vegan curry tonight which was lovely.

For anyone having problems with teens, my DD was a total bitch from 13 - 18. I thought our relationship was destroyed beyond repair. Since she left home for uni we get on famously. She calls me all the time, wants to see me and hang out with me, confides in me and asks my advice. I thought it would never happen. Hang in there.

I have to sell house as part of divorce agreement as DS turns 18 this summer. I will be massively downsizing and am really looking forward to it. I can't wait actually but DS wants me to wait until after his A Levels which is fair enough. It's possible I will only be able to afford a 1 bed flat so DS will need to stay with his dad during holidays, which he isn't bothered about. DD has her own flat she rents in London with friends. Obviously I can get a sofa bed and they will always be welcome so it's not a huge problem.

I have this vision of myself in my lovely new flat which will be all clean and tidy unlike my house which is a tip and I will be three two stone lighter and waft around in sleeveless dresses and it will always be summer.

Hi all,

I posted a couple of weeks ago and you were all so welcoming. Since then I've been feeling a bit smug as it all felt quite easy so I didn't bother posting. However, it's Saturday, I'm bored and DH has wine in the fridge. I am just posting here to tell you all I'm not going to drink it! I feel like I'm sailing a bit close tonight so if I write it here I'm hoping I'll ride it out. 5 weeks sober and no desire to go back to day one but would quite like to get wasted.

Hi all. Just popping in. Felt sorry for myself today for a few reasons and was tempted to just have a glass of wine (you know cos that sorts stuff out ). Anyway I've had a shandy instead which stopped me reaching for the vino.

Keep going Club noone ever regrets not drinking in the morning. I always 'play the film through to the end' and know l won't feel any better from the booze and will undoubtedly regret it.
Maybe have a bath?

Rothbury your potential flat sounds perfect

Thanks sequins - I have stuffed myself with ice cream and the cravings have subsided. Just taken my make up off (used to be unheard of on a Saturday night) and am off to bed.

I feel a right tit posting here again. It's always the same, on I come, stay a while and I bugger off again. And come back on Feel a right cheeky sod coming on here again, if there is no space on the bus I completely understand

As of a week and 1 day I am off co codamols. I am back to drinking in order to feel 'right' it's not the same as the tablets but is right up there. I feel more 'me' when I'm on something - tablets or drink. I feel happier, more levelled mood, not as down/depressed, not so bored, not so 'meh', happier with life. I don't know what's wrong with me. Why do I crave this feeling? I don't feel at peace unless I'm taking co codamol or drinking. I can cope without but I feel constantly restless.

Rushes in to hug made always room for you babe. You do it because in the moment it feels so damn fine and and it blocks out any crap in your life and the feeling becomes your normal. Yeah ultimately you feel shit but in that moment you are at peace with the world - that's why it's all so fucking hard honey - the endless inner battle. Great to see you back, I've missed you but of course wish you didn't have to post - you know what I mean

I'm off to bed now but wish everyone a peaceful slumber and sweet dreams.

Lux thank you so much. You're right, I feel so crap and annoyed at myself in the end (especially after a day sans tablets) but the moment I take something/have a few drinks I'm so happy - or feeling it. It's daft, but I really wonder how something so bad can feel so good? I know what I should do, but I also know what makes me feel happy. I feel like a fake - smiley, happy me who's always positive, willing to do someone a favour, nothing is too much trouble, people pleaser, looking on the bright side - but on the inside I'm insecure, second guessing myself, running over conversations in my head long after others have forgotten themselves. Basically a mess.

A mess? Well it sounds like the human condition to me tbh. It's tough darling, really tough but so many people want to escape something for a while you know?

It's late and I'm too tired for wisdom but I do understand lovely x

'madein' that is what is amazing about this bus. There is always room. I hopped on and off quite a few times before any changes in my behavior stuck. Welcome.

sweet teenagers..... I haven't got there yet safe to say I'm terrified!! I still have tantrumers but at least you can pick them up ......

baking the holiday sounds lovely not long to wait.

flowers congratulations on 41 days.

Day 100 af today. I'm over the moon. I hate alcohol currently- really hate it. No wanting to drink. My biggest remaining trigger is being the non drinking and Telling people who don't get it I don't drink. (People knowing I have a problem.....)

Funnily enough my best friend and husband are pretty disappointed. Oh well. They will get used to It! They are disappointed in loosing a drinking partner I think.

I feel good this week even with pmt. No amazing but steady and good.

Mshoolies you've got me thinking marathons...... I won't enter a charity place for London it's such a huge amount of money to raise but there are other marathons..... best get my half done first. Did 10 miles yesterday in 1 hour 30 mins my sub 2 half may just be in sight!!

Saywhen, that’s a great time, you can definitely go under 2 hours! I’m getting the pom-poms out in anticipation! 100 days AF is amazing, you sound so strong and positive, even in the face of unhelpful people like your friend and her DH. It’s so powerful when you realize how much you hate alcohol, isn’t it?

MrsHoolies, I am in awe of your multiple marathons, that is truly amazing. I know from last Sunday that a Half is my limit.

Bee, thanks for the congratulations, lovely to hear from you.

Spanna, so dreadfully sorry to hear about your friend, 52 is way too young to die. I bet your are so glad you made it to the funeral, I hope it was a fitting send off, I love that you were able to make your friend’s DCs smile in the midst of awful grief. Takes a special person to do that.

Sweet, sorry to hear about the teenager troubles, I work with the buggers every day and can provide no real insight apart from the fact that they do come out of the tunnel at some point and turn into normal human beings again. Hang on in there.

I dreamt about the bus last night! It was actually thoughts about Gerald and his occupants which woke me up! Everything ok here except it’s freezing and has been for what seems like months, I am so over winter. Hope you all have a good Sunday - sorry not to NC more people but waving frantically at you all!

Morning All.

I have yet another head/chest cold thing, in fact, my head is so heavy I can hardly think. But, Made, I'm a serial bus hopper, keep on doing it until it works for you.

Saywhen 100 days

Margie he snapped out of it much more quickly this time, so, there is hope!

saywhen 100 days is brilliant, well done
made good to see you back again. there is always room for everyone,whatever happens. No Babe left behind.

had a lovely day with my brothers and sisters yesterday. We all went to the beach to collect seaglass, then watched the rugby, then a curry and the obligatory trawl through childhood photos with much hilarity. I drank fizz last night so need to get back AF tonight. So stuffed up with this cold I couldn't even taste it so don't know why I bothered

made Can I ask why you stopped taking the cocodamol?

I have to take it for hypermobility pain and there is no way I could physically function without it, the pain would be crippling. Were you prescribed it for a condition that you don't have any more?

I agree with everyone re the cold. It's really getting to me now. I WANT A HOLIDAY!!!

I expect twat will be back soon to tell me all about her lovely time in the sun

Sunny sober Sunday

Posting to keep us from dropping off the first page

Is everyone snoozing?

I am working Venus Though it is pretty boring stuff so maybe snoozing at the laptop a little

Welcome back Made Happy to see you if not happy that you feel in a bad place and that is what prompted your return IYSWIM. How are you feeling today?

Feeling crappy, Venus, all the more crappy for missing such a lovely day.

Thanks for your kind words everyone. Wrt the Co codamol I was prescribed it after a bad fall and no longer in pain. I stopped because I've run out and my script isn't due until Tuesday

I'm still here lurking lol.

Had my first AF weekend in as long as I can remember this weekend and it's actually been quite nice. I'm feeling a little less anxious without drinking as I'm not thinking constantly about when can I have a drink and then feeling crap about it.

Today was a bit strange as we've been home all day and I usually love my wine whilst making dinner but made do with ginger ale instead!

Hope everyone has had a nice weekend

been trying to post photos but it won't let me so I fell asleep for 3 hours instead. Feel like boiled shite, as we say up in Scotlandshire.

Ma there's some horrible bugs going around, I've been in bed for over an hour too. Did you find some good sea glass?

Saywhen huge congratulations on 100 Days I hope you feel really proud it's a fantastic milestone - Well Done