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.

Hello everyone and welcome back twat I am soooo jell that you went to Cuba. It is on my list for when the house is sold. Both DC are also desperate to go and I am a member of Cuba Solidarity. Just want to do Havana really, not bothered about beach resorts. So glad you had a good time and didn't hit the rum punch

ma one step at a time eh, get lawyered up and then you are making informed decisions. I hope it goes as smoothly as possible for you.

mint I hope DH is OK.

Sweet and everyone else with a lurgy, get well soon

I am a total fucking idiot. I had a day off yesterday and a friend I see a few times a year came to visit and brought me flowers and a bottle of wine. We had AF lunch out, she left, and I drank the whole bloody bottle. I must have drunk it quickly, or my body is not coping with alcohol as I have been sooo ill today. I have felt sick as a dog and just dreadful.

I had to teach - I rang everyone I could think of but nobody could cover me. Serves me right for organising a course in bloody half term. I just told the students I had a lurgy, but I had to leave the room a couple of times to be sick

I am really upset with myself, I obviously just cannot have alcohol in the house or I will down it. I can't believe how ill I have been, it serves me right.

slings LTB

Yay rothbury is still here...I'm sorry that you had a small slippage yesterday and are feeling shit :(. Park it and move on my love.

I would soo recommend Cuba - sorry didn't want to say ahead of time as there are only 3 flights a week and it would have been v obvious which I was taking.

Even if you don't like beach resorts (I don't, we didn't stay in any AI hotels just airbnbs) you should do both Vinales and Trinidad as well as Havana. Otherwise you'd really be missing out on the cultural beauty side.

I want to go back and do the right hand half now. So many more places to see!

Ma and mint - sorry to hear things have been shit :(. Have now read back the last 3 weeks of the thread. Sending a big hug. xxx

Evening All

Slings your list made me lol I hope you managed to get what you needed to do for your workshop.

Cupcakes sorry you're feeling so anxious, that's horrid, hope you're feeling better now x

Hope I would also want to give those girlie girls a slap. Totally unnecessary, flirty beeatches!

Ma I hope the solicitors went ok and that you got the info you needed.

Mint those days are piling up lovely - soooo good considering how much shit and shocks you've had to deal with over the past few months. I hope your DP is ok x

Sweet really glad you took the day off, are you feeling any better?

Welcome back Twattage sounds like a lovely holiday. Definitely on my hit list of places to go!

Rothbury sorry you've been so ill today not a nice feeling. Park yesterday and lock it away, today is another day, what is done is done. Your body isn't used to downing a whole bottle and it let you know in more ways than one. Keep going babe x

Fox Beaches Guggs I hope you're all ok babes xxx

Margie you sound so upbeat it's beautiful - Mwah x I'm coming over your way next week for 4 days seeing one of my bestie who lives out there - can't wait to natter into the night, eat copious amounts of tapas and just get some 'me' time - yay!

Lux how you doing?

Baby if you're lurking - Hello!

Dubh we miss you x

All ok in Spanna world - DD2 up in London for the week at Theatre School. Means I can spend some time with DD1 this week, off to see Black Panther tomorrow (her choice not mine!). Been a bit treadmillish lately, bit fed up but can't really pin down why. So glad the evenings are getting lighter, means the summer is coming in my head.

Take care everyone x

Sunrise today

I'm feeling a lot better today. I don't know what last night was about. I cried and I hardly ever cry. I had the worst nights sleep too. DS got up 4 times between midnight and 5.45 when the alarm went off. I'm completely out of practice with night-waking now so I was like a zombie this morning. Took me ages to come round. Work was busy so it went quick though.

Mint I hope it went ok with DH.

Trust That book sounds good. I've added it to my library list.

Sweet I'm glad you've rung in sick. Struggling in just makes it all last longer. That said I tend to drag myself in because we don't get paid and I can't afford not to be there. I hope you're feeling better. And Sequins too.

Welcome back Twattage! I'm glad you've had a good time.

Hope I've never tried mindfulness or meditation or yoga come to think of it. I used to take pills for anxiety but stopped before DS was born. It's never been that bad since and I kind of thought taking up swimming/stopping drinking would solve what was left but sometimes I think I should look at other things too.

sequins that's shit about the promotion. well done you for not caving
twatbear welcome back. do we have our full complement of bears now? What happened to otter? Are you still with us?
Solicitor is tomorrow - feel sick at the thought of it to be honest. then I have to have my eyebrows waxed, then the dentist and then the hygienist. Should be a fun afternoon.
mint are you ok?

Spanna I love your sunrise/sunset pics. They're really lovely

Slings I like your list too!

Rothbury I agree with everyone else. The best thing you can do is put it to one side, learn from it and not keep any wine in the house again! I'd do the same with lager. I've got gin in the cupboard that I've no interest in but I know if anyone brought lager round I'd drink it all.

Sequins sorry lovely missed you earlier - that is a shit about the promotion what a bummer. Money worries are so stressful. I'm a bit of a Martin Lewis worshipper if you haven't have a good old nose at his website, amazing advice on there x

Cupcakes glad you like them I'm very lucky to live with the beach at the end of my road.

I've just watched Joe Wicks get fit program I got so emotional. I love a success story bought tears to my eyes. I really need to kick start some sort of fitness regime lazy need to follow in you fitness babes - I really admire your exercise commitment
Housewives next I do like some shit tv - oh yeah !!!

Spanna, I feel all warm and fuzzy just knowing you'll be in the same country as me next week!

Slings, your list is hilarious and oh so familiar! My DH has man flu at the moment, which IMO is reason enough to divorce him.

Rothbury, don't beat yourself up, we've all been there. Hope you're feeling better now.

Welcome back Made and Twattage.

I am reading Clare Pooley's sober diaries - it has made me howl with laughter, she is a great writer, I thoroughly recommend it. Then I got to the chapter about her friend Juliet, who the book is dedicated to. I won't ruin it for anyone, but suffice to say, there but for the grace of God...

Night night babes, hope Wednesday brings some sunshine into all our lives.

Margie I've just ordered that book - thank you for recommending

Night all 💤💤

Morning All

Sweet hope you're feeling better

Bee how are lovely?

Slings hope you're feeling much more recovered today.

Hope sending you good vibrations babe. Is it classcity today? You're really inspiring me to pull my finger out and get exercising!

Ma (I know you probably have done this already but you know what I'm like) as your time is limited at the solicitors make sure you have a list of questions you want answers to, all your financials bank accounts (especially anything joint) any proof of H gambling habit, debt you're in before and after gambling-gate, your payslips before new job and now, evidence of what H contributes to the house ie bills, rent, mortgage payments, evidence of his earnings etc. Let solicitor know that you have limited funds to pay their bill and you need succinct advise (in other words don't fucking waffle and beat around the bush with your answers mate!) sorry I know you've probably thought of this only I woke up thinking about it

Morning all - feeling much better after 11 hours solid sleep so hoping I've swerved the jetlag (I am getting quite good at my strategic sleeping now and have not had the lag for quite some time - famous last words)!

So it's day 24 this morning according to my Dry Jan app. Had forgotten to count 31 Dec as I started a day early. My stats are:

23 days sober
23 days in the sidecar (of which 21 were holiday)
£181 saved so far (probs a conservative estimate TBH)!
8674 calories down

Feeling really positive this morning even with the prospect of work restarting in 30 minutes!

The sun is out which pleases me. xxx

Ma good luck at the solicitors - I have been through a divorce myself but was lucky in that we had no kids and decided not to go down a full financial disclosure route (I got what I wanted without it). It sounds like you will have to and this can get both pricey and drawn-out, so make sure you ask detailed questions now about that side of things. xxx

Morning.

Definitely flu here, I spent most of yesterday sleeping or groaning, won't be much better today. (Thanks for the blanket and hot choc, Spanna)

Twattage Cuba sounds amazing.

Sorry, was going to do a long post, but between my stunted brain and sore eyes I can't manage. Have a good day every one

Ma best of luck at the solicitors today, and Sweet hope you feel better soon

Margie another Clare Pooley fan here! Her book lifted me out of my New Year depression (which happens EVERY YEAR without fail, usually after a December of drinking)

Welcome back Twattage I would love to go to Cuba too - though have a big and exciting holiday elsewhere planned over Easter which is also a dream of mine. (Taking DD which will be either a wonderful bonding experience or a nightmare!) Cuba is definitely on my to do list though, although I always think about Kirsty McColl for some reason as she died out there but her later work was so influenced by Cuba, she obviously loved it. I got interested reading interviews with her on the country.

Slings your post was hilarious! You sound so like me. I have a Jack Dee monologue in my head commenting on WB constantly. His thing is washing up. Playing the martyr about doing it, complaining if others don't do it, complaining if they do as it isn't done right, explaining the best way to do it (also best way to stack on the drainer). I mean, we have a dishwasher FFS. Shut up you boring bastard. And don't get me started on man flu...

Baking glad you are feeling a bit better, and Mint hope the talk with DH went OK. Also welcome back Rothbury - don't worry about your slip, just put it behind you. I have also left meetings at work to be sick . My problem is after a slip I feel so down about it I drink again the next day and that's when it gets me. So picking yourself up and putting it behind you the next day is key. (I need to listen to what I preach more!)

Spanna I have already done my thing at the gym . Saw my personal trainer and did weights and boxing with him, then went for a run on the treadmill. I am full of endorphins and ready for the day! I also love your sunset photographs. And I am so happy you are getting a nice mini-break soon. Hope you have a fantastic time and enjoy the tapas! (I LOVE tapas!!!)

Sorry to any babes I have missed - must get back to work now. Will check in on you all later and am leaving my Valentine's chocolates on the dashboard for you all as am trying to give up sugar for Lent (WHY is Ash Wednesday on Valentines Day! Ridiculous!)

Everyone must be out for Valentine's Day . I'm in bed with flu. I'm having a good hour which means I can actually open my eyes and type. It doesn't last, just when I think I'm on the mend I start to feel shite again. I'm with you Sweet on the sleeping and groaning

Sequins at least we'ew too weak to self-medicate with wine

Very true Sweet every cloud

I'm here. We don't celebrate Valentines as I think it's a load of shite. We do anti-Valentines instead. The boy buys me flowers on a different day (yesterday) and we usually go out for dinner on a different night.

Day 24 coming to a close...am just watching Olympic round-up and then I'm going to bed. x

thanks all.
don't really want to go into details. don't know what to do any more. can't face the confrontation and hassle and decisions tha thave to be made. cunt bought me roses for Valentines for the first time ever.
am drinking gin

Oh Ma. Hugs hugs hugs.

Big hugs Ma...xxx

Hugs Ma, and

Morning all - day 25 dawns.

Didn't have the best night's sleep last night and woken up feeling pretty knackered. Last night I didn't drink any beer but coming off the back of holiday I did have some thoughts last night but then put them away.

This morning as we all say, I am so grateful to not have drunk, albeit I'm feeling jet-lagged.

Am going to take the later train to the client today as can't face the early one, will have to struggle through and then collapse tonight. At least I have four nights in London before Monday so I can get all my washing sorted and be ready for a full week on Monday.

xxx

Morning all
Twattage welcom back! Sounds like you had a fab time. Just the right boost at this time of year. I’ve booked a holiday for 4 weeks time. I miss the sun!
Sweet hope you are starting to feel better
Ma I hope things are looking a bit brighter for you today. Try and stay strong
Hope you made me laugh about those girls at the gym. We don’t seem to have many of those at ours. Well certainly not in the classes. There are quite a few wandering around the gym floor where most of the men tend to work out.
I also am loving the gym these days. It’s like a lifeline to fill up the quiet moments. I’m doing spin tonight after work. It’s a great workout and not too bad for the old knees!
Anyway off to get ready to walk to the station. Can’t wait for these lighter mornings and evenings.
Have a great day everybody.