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.

Welcome clearview. It's a great read isn't it. Well done on 8 days.

Hope at least it will be one less to clean up after when he's gone to uni. I love it with both mine gone now and really look forward to seeing them when they come home. One thing they have both said is that they massively appreciate their home comforts when they've had to do without for a while.

Last time ds came home I picked him up from the station and he was:

'Oh, a car. I can't remember the last time I rode in a car. It's all buses or walking'.

'Wow, the fridge. Look at the fridge. There's food in it.'

'A bath, oooh, a deep, warm, bubbly bath, can't wait to get into that tub'

Hang in there x

clear I can't remember where I saw this link but it might be something that helps. The opening video talks about how and why we go back to that old behaviour.

The Alcohol Experiment

Thanks for the link and the welcome Fairenuff. I'll take a look

Just back from my run...think i coughed up a lung but it was nice to get out in the fresh air. Evenings are the worst for wanting a drink if I get bored so trying to break the habit.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone xx

welcome clearview. it's been a bit quiet on here recently but I'm sure the Babes are around somewhere.
hope you have done the hardest bit in getting rid of WB. Now roll up those sleeves and apply some tough love to the teens. you can do it!

Morning all. Sorry haven’t posted much.
Been feeling a bit down in the dumps lately. Lost my mojo for going to gym etc. Nothing major going on to make me feel this way just a bit bleurgh and can’t be bothered. Sign of age maybe? However today is a new day and I am going to try and pull myself together. Zumba booked for tonight! Onwards and upwards.

Morning - just back from my run.

As I hadn't done my 5k since Jan I did 3k last week, 3.67k today. Working back up in 0.5k chunks. Pace was slow but more important to do the distance. Aiming for 4k at the weekend.

Feeling good this morning :). Love to all babes. x

Hi all and thanks for the welcome dementedma. I hope quiet means everyones plodding on okay x

It's a good feeling isn't it twattage!

Well done for getting out again as I know it's tough once you've had a break.
Enjoy Zumba trust

Morning all, and welcome clearview

Sorry I've not been around much, things are a bit up and down with me right now so I've just been reading along to you all. Just got a few things to work through and then, like Arnie - I'll be back!

keep on everyone, just keep on.

Yes clear great feeling. Hadn't realised how much I've missed running. I am not a natural runner but I do my best and I enjoy running 5k. I look like a zipped up sausage at the moment but am back on track so hoping the excess pounds will now be dropping off! x

Afternoon all. Just thought I'd drop in and say hi as I have been absent from the bus for quite a while now. I am still AF though - 111 days today
The reason I haven't been around is that I have been getting engrossed in other things. It's amazing how much more space there is in your life once you're not getting pissed every evening.
Still get the odd craving, especially on warm days, and Fridays (warm Fridays are the worst!) but can honestly say I am not thinking about drinking too much these days.
I would love to be able to moderate, but the thought of having even one drink frightens me - I guess that's for a reson, so I am listening to my fear and steering clear.

KOKO Brave Babes. I owe this thread so much. You are all fabulous!

Fridays used to be the worst day of the week drinking wise for me. It's the end of the working week, time to kick back. Lots of people drink on Fridays and, yes, if it's warm and sunny sitting in the garden or a beer garden with a cold drink is very pleasant.

The thing is I would drink too much and carry on the next day and the next. The happy picture of one or two cold glasses on a summer's evening just turned into an eternal treadmill

Anyway. Even if it is hard not to drink on a Friday, I guarantee no-one ever wakes up on a Saturday morning thinking I wish I'd had a drink last night.

Anyone up for a dry Tuesday this week?

I'm up for a dry Tuesday fair

I have a mountain of washing to get through when I get home from work, not to mention trying to get it all dry in this hideous weather. Spring has definitely not sprung yet here!

At least without a drink, I'll get my arse into gear and make a start though!

I'm also up for a dry Tuesday. Am taking the husband for his 6 month shopping trip to a well-known department store this evening. Hopefully we won't be too long and then I can crash in bed with tea and cat (and TV).

I write a whole long post and my battery died so just checking in joined last Tuesday I think it was as drinking had crept up to having a couple most nights and plenty more weekend nights so this week Iv managed not to drink except Friday night when I went out and quite frankly I drank to absolute excess . This is my next issue to address as I don't want to be tee total and so want to drink on social occasions / some weekends but not to the point of being absolutley trashed social event this weekend too so my aim is to reign it in . Hangovers are so boring ! And cringing over what I might have said / done aswell God I'm so over that now just embarrassing !!

In terms of the constant low level drinking im really pleased with how I'm doing this week , have to say the craving to drink come the evening is fading fast !! I have Posh grape juice for tonight and an catching up on some work .

Full nights sleep and a clear non anxious head in the morning feels amazing !

gerroff just stopping the daily drinking habit is a big thing...I think I've got my mojo back and I feel so much better, after struggling for some time in the last 6 months.

This evening we went to a posh bar after shopping and I had a raspberry virgin mojito. Delish and it didn't make any difference not to be drinking. Am now in bed with tea - absolutely shattered but had a good day actually.

x

generally knackered. seedlings are coming on fine so needed to pot them on into reused yoghurt pots. running out of windowsill space

gerroff I too have social events this weekend but have decided to try a nothing at all approach and see how I get on

I did go to the pub on Friday and managed to not drink. This was easier as I had a sober buddy to chat too as the evening wore on. That won't be the case on Saturday though so will need extra willpower this time...eeek

Thanks twattage glad you have had a good day .
Am looking forward to bed soon myself too !

The seedlings look great ma. What are you growing?

Ma Your windowsill looks a lot like mine! Mine are rammed with sunflowers and pumpkin plants - mainly DS's. I've got carrots and green beans in the greenhouse.

Welcome Clearview and Gerrof. Hopefully the bus'll liven up again soon. I got loads of support when I first joined.

Flowers I had awful cravings that coincided with the lovely weekend weather. I'm sick of the grey and wet but nervous of the sun!

Twattage That sounds like a lovely evening. It's really good that you can moderate. I wish I could.

I'm doing lots of cross stitch and reading atm. I should try to be on the thread more. I'm still AF. No alcohol in 2018 so nearly 4 months. That's such a long time. As others have said I've also become a bit fearful of drinking. I'm wondering how long I should be dry for. I didn't really plan on it being forever.

at the moment I have sowed courgettes, chives salad leaves, coriander, basil and peppers - but the peppers didn't germinate.
will also sow carrots, potatoes and chilis

Ma well done, I can't even keep succulents alive! Going to try a dry Wednesday tomorrow. Got a big presentation and dreading it. Having a serious sense of impostor syndrome at work atm as my job is beginning to feature more and more business development and pitches which I have no confidence in doing. Fitness is on the back burner as is healthy eating. Relaxing on holiday has just highlighted how much I am struggling in my real life. Congratulations to all of you who are managing a dry run at the moment. I am reading the Naked Mind but for some reason it isn't taking with me. Off to bed now and hoping I can avoid insomnia. Sorry for being rubbish atm. Feel free to give me a slap with Barrie.

Morning all - blimey my legs are tired post-run today!

ma - I'd also like to know what the plants are. I am hopeless at gardening - quite enjoy it but my gardens have to be low maintenance as cannot tend to things properly. Great view out of your window as well :).

looking - it sounds like you have too much else on at the mo to be concentrating on booze (well the lack of). I know exactly what it's like - I have had a lot of times in the last year when work is all-consuming. Keep trying, it will come at some point.

Right - coffee and client this morning. Have a good day all. xxx

Morning all...bring on day 10!

ma - I wish I had green fingers but I'm another low maintenance gardener here. I could kill a cactus

looking - good luck with the presentation...it's awful when you have to do things at work which are out of your comfort zone. It sounds just like where I work and it can really suck the life out of you.

twattage - have you tried epsom salts in a hot bath after a run? Can be helpful to take away the aches

Have a great day all

Thanks Twattage and Clearview. It is in an hour and am really nervous. This new woman we are working with who is co-presenting is kind of a controlling bitch and as soon as I get my head round what I want to say she changes it . I feel 🤢. Hate presenting and this will be a tough audience. For the first time ever I am starting to think ‘fuck my career I just want a 9-5 in a shop with no stress'. But then remember how much money I need to get the kids through uni on my own. They are late getting in from London and am scared they will walk in and tell me to change it all with 10 mins to go and I will panic. I cannot work like this. It is horrendous.