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.

Small, stick with the running - you will grow to love it, I promise!

Ma, tell the useless man to ring for takeaway! And enjoy your evening with Richard.

I left work in tears today - that hasn’t happened for a while. DH has been in bed with flu since Tuesday so I’ve had to do so much juggling between work, the DCs, my MIL who’s just had an op and today this woman at work was an utter bitch and I cracked. I feel like I have to change something because I’m like a hamster in the fucking wheel the whole time.

Luckily tonight I’m meeting two friends for dinner, neither of whom drink much so no pressure there. You know that feeling when you close the front door and just don’t ever want to go back...I’ve felt that really strongly in the last week.

Sorry for the self-indulgent post...I know some of you have got a lot more bad stuff going on.

oh margie that sounds shite. sometimes it all just gets too much doesn't it? I hope you have a nice time with your friends.

Thanks for the warm welcome sweet, it’s an early night for me as I’m work early tomorrow tea and a bath. Day one done ✅

Margie lovely, you've had one hell of a week by all accounts and I would snap - crying is a release and bitch-face sounds like an utter cunt I'll come and sort her out next week!!!! It's Friday, go and have a lovely evening with your mates, have a good old bitch about cunt at work, get it out of your system with people that know you and care about you, then park it, lock it away and get on with having a lovely weekend xxx

Hi - checking in.

Really sorry to all those having shitty relationship problems. I am probably not the right person to give advice as I am so happily single and am generally quite angry about the amount of shite a lot of women have to tolerate because it really is so hard to extricate yourself sometimes. When I split with XH I had to work four jobs as well as looking after the DC, and I ran up loads of debt, but it was all bloody worth it not to have to listen to his snoring, put up with his ridiculous family, or have him anywhere near me.

Happy Weekend everyone. This might cheer us all up....

Evening all,
Welcome to new bus joiners, and hello to the old hands, especially those of you having a rough time at the moment. Sorry not to namecheck.
Have lost count of my AF days, am in the grip of the lurgy. Feel like absolute shit, but on the bright side, have no desire to drink. Or eat. Or even breathe. Am in the spare bed so I don’t reinfect WH - although he didn’t offer me the same courtesy when he had it last week. Anyway I LOVE sleeping on my own.
Who was talking about Sipsmith? (Sorry, can’t scroll back) I really fancy trying it.
Anyone heard from @MsHooliesCardigan ?
Hopefully will feel better tomorrow.

I have tried both Sipsmiths and liked them. One is more 'wintery' with a cloves/citrus backgound. The other (garden) seemed lighter and I had it with tonic, mint, cucumber and peas as a cocktail. I agree that the cost is off-putting and how ridiculous that thinking is compared to spending on wine (no more). I was given a bottle of ?84 as a Christmas present and tried Garden when out - so the same price as a boozy cocktail.

I hear you Rothbury, I split from XH just over a year ago after 26 years it’s been a tough ride used alcohol to numb some of it realising now that it isn’t serving me well I’ve managed to get free and no longer need this crutch.

Welcome Jayne you're in the right place and you'll get loads of support here

Rothbury & Jayne I hear you, I am also single, have been for near on 7 years and I LOVE IT no-one to answer to (not that I did anyway), peaceful sleep and generally a much happier life on my todd

Seedlip - I've only tried the garden one and also make it with Fevertree tonic & cucumber (not had any fresh mint but I expect that's niiiiice) it is expensive but who gives a damn, look what we all spent on vino. Not tried the spice one, next on my list.

Right to bed to bed sleepy head. Night All Brave Babes x

Slings sorry babe missed you there, I hope you feel much better tomorrow

Spanna Thank you for being so kind, and for your advice. It really helps knowing someone (or lots of someones) know what it’s like. Sometimes I think that taking or drinking something is the only way to feel normal, like myself. I know that I will need to stop taking them eventually – my luck will run out, and I do have irrational fears sometimes about taking too many etc. I don’t know when it will be, but I will need to stop eventually.

Mint look at the snow in the photo, it looks absolutely fabulous

Ma Thank you, I hope things are going ok ish with your husband

Hi obrigada and jayne

Sweet you’re right I should be positive. It’s hard though. I know the co codamol won’t help with the police. If nothing else I wouldn’t pass the drugs test. Good to hear about secondment – I want to experience lots of different things. Glad you’re getting over the lurgy. There’s a lush drink in Tesco – Scottish Strawberry and Wild Raspberry Lemonade.

Margie hope you’ve had a great night out

Slings get plenty of rest and I hope you feel better soon

Quite a good day today. Am back to eating healthy and feeling much better for it. Starving hungry though – I’ve eaten plenty but been eating crap all week so I’m bound to feel it. Just fancying crap food really Work is going well, and I’ve got my birthday and the day afterwards booked off. Also have quite nice shifts next week and the week after. I’m tired though, and sore due to blinking period – will go to bed soon with Winnie the Pooh hot water bottle for company.

Thanks Ma and Spanna for being so lovely and wise and saying just what I needed to hear. It’s exactly this Ma: “sometimes it all just gets too much doesn't it?”. I had a good night with my friends and they convinced me that I need to make some changes at work which I’d been dithering about, so I’m feeling a bit better today, despite DH’s man flu rendering him pathetic and useless. Rothbury, Jayne, Spanna, you make single life sound like a very tempting proposition!

Good to see you Made, hope you’re feeling better. Welcome back Obrigada and lovely to meet you Jayne. Hope all babes have a lovely Saturday.

Morning! Beautiful day down sarf

Morning all. Just getting ready to go out and take DD to work. DS is being awful at the moment and we have not spoken since Wednesday when we had a huge row. I know it's his age and will blow over but just feeling weary. WB just being useless and grumpy as ever. Work busy. All a bit meh but I know a lot of you are dealing with far, far worse stuff. Sending hugs to all who need them

I completely understand the liking for the single life. I last had a relationship in 2013 and had nothing since. I've honestly never been so satisfied. I can't imagine myself dating again.

Hope Slings and everyone else with the lurg are feeling better.

Sorry work has been so shit Margie I was driven to tears almost weekly by my previous job and it's really hard.

Made I had years where taking, drinking or smoking something were my normal and I didn't think I'd ever change. It is possible though.

Spanna Jealous of your weather. It's very grey here.

Nothing new to report. I'm still AF and nicotine free. I've started cross stitching again in the evening and it's becoming quite addictive. Not sure what we'll do today. Having a Sunday dinner later as out with friends tomorrow.

Well, it was lovely here first thing, the sun seems to have disappeared now.

Definitely on the other side of the flu, but feeling very wobbly, and exhausted by everything. Unfortunately having to spend the weekend prepping for work rather than resting.

Hope teenagers! If only we had the money to have them boarded from 7-18 (then to go to a university a loooooong way away!).

Margie hope your feeling better today. It is so tough when you feel like you are the one keeping everything going, it just needs that one work bitch/dick to tip you over the edge.

Ma I hope you and Richard had a good evening.

Are you getting a whole weekend at home, Spanna?

So, after six weeks of no AF weight loss, apparently, what I needed was flu I lost 5lbs in less than a week, which will, no doubt pile back on when I feel I can eat again.

I'm flicking through the brochure for the new theatre season at Chichester - I will be doing all of the driving this year, and it will save a fortune on interval drinks. Funny, this time around, I have no issue looking forward to an AF Summer, I'm even tentatively contemplating visiting my parents just before Easter - generally, drinking there is compulsory and starts early. My Mum won't make it an issue, but my Dad will find it difficult.

Sweet glad to hear that you're coming out the other side - 5lbs that's great My DM lives in Chichester (when she's not galavanting around NZ & Oz with her partner as she is currently) I know the festival theatre very well. When I was (10ish) my mum & dad took us to see Ella Fitzgerald perform there, I still remember it so well that and my dad taking me to see Hot Gossip!!!! Yes I've got the whole weekend here at home, bliss. DD2 is out at some 'glam do' tonight in a belt of a dress and sandals that could take your eye out she spent the week up in London (with her goddies) practicing walking in them - good luck to her!!!! So it's just DD1, skinny dog and me! The weather's been sunny all day (but as per usual the dicks in their cars are on the road) weather will break tomorrow they say.

Fox it was more of a come into your child's class & see what they've you've been paying for been learning all week. I met a 'like-minded' mum who was right on my wavelength which made the day so much better than I'd anticipated! I hope you're ok and that life isn't too busy, busy? Have you booked your summer holiday yet?

Margie how's your day been babe? so glad you had a good night with your mates x

Cupcakes I love the idea of cross stitch! Congrats on your AF & no smoking - I really do need to tackle the fags - I don't smoke loads (especially since I have up booze) but it is a daily habit that I'm whispering to myself to give up it's like the booze - I have to work my way up to these things - there is no way I could have done both at the same time I'm full of admiration for you

MsHoolies I hope you're ok darling - if you can please check in x

Hope I hope you're day's got better babe! Teenagers BAH say no more - it's like they morph into a different being and not that lovely sweet child that they were. I always found when I was with mines dad that I was always the one playing the bad cop and got their brunt of everything - now I just get the full on brunt of it all but at least I haven't got twat-face pretending to be disney dad I hope it resolves itself soon - I'm sure if food's involved he'll have to have a conversation with you, n'es pas?

I hope everyone is ok - it's witching hour - do whatever it takes to avoid temptation - distract, distract, distract. Run up and down the stairs, drink a pint of water - wait for a bit and the craving will go, paint your nails, change the sheets, watch the film to the end, no gorilla's armpit as you come to in twilight hours, and no hangover tomorrow x

OMG, Spanna you saw Ella! Wow.

I did !!! My DF was a huge fan as am I - DD2 has Ella in her middle names in her honour

Sweet just looked it up 1975 - I was 9

Woah Ella? As in sings jazz

Spanna, DS's middle name is Miles, but I never got to see Miles Davies!

I'm a massive fan, sorry I pressed post too soon.

Hope everyone is OK, I'm slipping a bit with the gin intake creeping up and need to watch it.

Never drunk, never wine but I have to stay on top of this.

Sweet You are very close to me - I work in Chichester sometimes and really enjoy it as it's so pretty. I am in Brighton.

spanna we are the same age

I really haven't done much at all today which has been absolutely lovely! Will do some work tomorrow and some more house clearance getting ready for the Big Move.

I really need to stay clean and strong as I have a really heavy few weeks running up to Easter. Thanks for all the support this thread gives me.