Brave Babes (Hygge) Battle Bus: Snowed in and Drinking Hot Chocolate instead of wine

[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 Jan and Feb 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

We've donned the snow chains, topped up the antifreeze, and turned the heaters up to loud, so even though it's cold outside, our welcome is always warm, so hop on and join us.

Fell into side car tonight.

The only "positive" is that is was "only" a bottle of wine and not my usual three gin and tonics... not really a positive and cross with myself.

I meant not a bottle of wine AND three gin and tonics.

Morning all - day 39 and I've escaped London and am down at the coast. Plan is to have super quiet weekend with my boy (brought the cat down as well). Cook a load of nice food and make some batches of things, and restart running.

WFH today but thinking it will be quiet so nothing too stressful.

buttonz - draw a line. Today is a new day.

xxx

need to get back into dry january mode. Am working back up to a bottle a night. Why? for God's sake!!! packing the weight back on. Feeling a lot of self hatred at the moment

Hi Babes, de-lurking to

1. send love to Hope I have read your posts for so long I feel I know you & I think this will be a good thing for you, even if it doesn't feel like it now.
2. Ma I can completely empathise. I did dry Jan, found it relatively easy this year, no major wobbles. Was restrained in February, but March has been rubbish. I drink when stressed and have had major in-law headaches (DH is wonderful, his family should be on Jeremy Kyle). Averaging 20 to 25s per week. Still half of what I was drinking this time 3 years ago, but not happy. And it mum's up my sleep,I love sober uninterrupted sleep. I know this when I consider drinking so why do I do it?

Must learn to preview:-
25 units
Mucks up not mum's up

ma first thing is to stop comparing - don't compare January with March or yesterday with today. Instead focus on tomorrow and a new routine.

Are there things you can do when you get up that prepare you for a good day? I remember that JWN often used to post early in the morning (in capital letters) TODAY I WILL NOT BE DRINKING. It was like a mantra for her.

For me, a good start to the day is breakfast. I plan it the night before so I'm less tempted to grab a coffee and a chocolate muffin. I try to have 3 of my 5 a day before 11am. So a glass of V8 juice, half an avocado, half a grapefuit, a handful of nuts, carrot sticks and hummus. It feels like my promise to myself to take care of my body that day.

And then in the evening, at the witching hour, some alternatives that you like... a chai tea, a new page on a colouring book, posting on here, plus just not buying anything to drink in the first place.

And always have a stash of good quality chocolate. When you feel the urge, go to your room, eat chocolate and wait for 30 minutes...

anne good to see you again
venus wise words as ever. I know all this stuff and yet....and yet....
Off work today for Easter and dh and ds are going away to footie and won't be back till Saturday night so have got some head space. Unfortunately the weather is shite so not going to look for sea glass.

Morning all - TODAY I WILL NOT BE DRINKING.

Stepped into the sidecar yesterday as the husband had bought me a box of beers but I don't want to spend the entire weekend feeling like shit. Today I'm going to clean the house top to bottom and eat well. We're out tonight for a pub dinner but I will not drink and will stick to the sparkling water.

I worked yesterday from home but also went to the farm shop and have a massive shoulder of lamb in, plus other meals for us over the weekend, so will be eating v healthily and v well. Do not want to fuck it up with drinking beer.

Oh and I lost 3 pounds last week. So even though I didn't have an entirely sober week, it was much better.

I am still reading the earlier thread - JWN is still on it. Someone said she had a lapse at some point - I am not sure if that's true but it's about 15 months in and she's still going strong!

Hugs to ma and venus and all other babes. xxx

Is jwn still around?

Loved your post venus

I clicked on this thread out of pure curiosity yesterday when it came up on actives and it’s safe to say JWNs story, and your continuation of the legacy is absolutely inspiring.

I am the daughter of an alcoholic and I just wanted to throw my pom poms up for all of you. You are all amazing.

Shania - thanks so much and I'm sorry to hear your mum had alcoholism. It's a terrible, dreadful disease

say I have a feeling not, but both ma and venus are on the thread which I'm reading now (autumn 2011) so I guess they will know...I hope she didn't just disappear...

buttonz thank you, she’s still in it, and I’m so worried because I would love for her to have a relationship with her grandchildren, but I can’t see her escaping this right now

I pray for it one day.

You’re all in my thoughts, strong men and women

Shania - that sounds very sad and worrying

It's the old adage - she is the only one who can seek help.

I have two alcoholic uncles and my late grandfather was an alcoholic. Seems I have inherited his drink addiction...

I’m so sorry buttonz. I have nothing but sorrow for people struck by it. I could have gone that way so easily. I feel very lucky that I haven’t. You will be in my thoughts love

I don't know what happened to JWN, I'm afraid.

I would also love to hear from isindie and thurso and silver and dubh and rural. So many friends made through this bus.

To occupy myself, I have just cleared out my knicker drawer. 56 pairs of knickers!!!!! Seriously??? And that's not counting what is in the wash.

I've got loads of undies too ma !
Yes lovely Dubh hope all is well if you're out there.

Hi Shania thanks for posting, it must be so difficult for you.

Hope everyone is OK. Absolutely tipping it down here. Dull, grey and wet.

Hi friends, wishing you all a happy Easter and good weekend.

Got a book out of the library yesterday - anyone read it? "Mindful Drinking - how cutting down can change your life" by Rosamund Dean (acting deputy editor of Grazia)
Had a flip through - looks to have some helpful ideas in it - noted something about the differences between those going AF and those moderating.

I have moderated this week. One cider with an evening meal out with the DH. He is moderating too - one pint cider.
Lunch time yesterday - one half lager only.
Nothing today.
Nothing planned tomorrow.

Thinking - fail to plan, plan to fail. Trying hard.
Generally feeling brighter - alcohol affects me terribly as regards low mood. Going to my yoga class in the morning - would probably not do that if I'd been drinking the night before.

Going to read my book now!
Thinking of you all - so much good stuff on the blog to encourage me.

Back after the weekend with feedback.

RTB

Thanks so much, Shania

Hi I am back. I have been not so much in the side car, more like the rusty clapped out banger trying to keep up with the bus.

I have been drinking too much. Again. But my DH and I have vowed at a minimum to have a dry April. We are on holiday right now. 3 nights in to a 4 night stay in an idyllic log cabin. We have overdone it on two nights. It hasn't spoiled the break exactly but we haven't really been as present as we could be.

DD2 is home for her Easter break on Monday. She has fractured her wrist skiing so I guess I will have to be driving her around while she is here. At least that will make me keep on the straight and narrow.

So day 1 again. Today I choose not to drink.

Love to all the Babes.

Morning babes, can I join again please? I’ve lost my way these past couple of months and back to day 3. I feeling pretty annoyed with myself (again). Anyway going to catch up on the thread x

*i’m

Morning babes - BOING.

TODAY I WILL NOT BE DRINKING.

I am soooo pleased with myself right now - 10 1/2 hours of deep sleep last night and I've woken up feeling amazing. I find it much easier to park thoughts of booze down at the coast as we live in the sticks (well only about a mile into the sticks but I have to get into the car and drive to get to a shop). Whereas in London, to buy a pack of 4 beers, I can walk 5 mins to Sbury's local or to the pub.

Had a super chilled day yesterday - did some housework in between lounging around reading my book and catch-up TV. Then went out for dinner. I stuck to fizzy water as planned, which meant I had more WW points for food! Since restarting my WW plan I've only drunk on 2 days out of 8, so my DJ app is now starting to claw back my deficit of drinking days this year (or which 31 were on holiday out of 52).

Not much planned today - weather is shit but I'm deep into my book so I'll continue with that and finish off the rest of my housework. Also have a cauliflower cheese to make for tomorrow's lunch. Anyway - feeling good and v relaxed.

Love to all babes. xxx

welcome back bluesky and whatever

I'm going to do Dry April. I need a focus to get out of this loop. anyone else help out by joining me?