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.

Final version

sorry - won't let me add picture. FFS!

Thanks everybody
Yes straight back on it today
Lovely to meet you equestrian lady

Hello everybabe,

I'm firmly in the sidecar I'm afraid. Things are not good (understatement) I'm OK but struggling with dd, it's awful but we'll get there.

I read the thread but rarely get a minute to call my own at the moment.
I'll be back and better soon I hope but in the
meantime I send my good wishes to all.

I was at Avebury last week! Loved it and plan to go back in the summer.

Hi Lux, sorry life is so hard at the moment. Take some time, we'll be here for you.

That's lovely Ma.

Resisting WW wasn't as easy today, but I made it. Just one day in work tomorrow then I have the rest of the week off.

hey lux
sorry to hear things are crap. Look after yourself

Well I popped into the side car for a while here . Back on the bus tomorrow and AF until Friday. I can do this .
Not half as nervous as I was when I had to abstain recently for three weeks .
Just keep remembering all those benefits I noticed .
Hope everyone had a decent weekend .

Well I popped into the side car for a while here . Back on the bus tomorrow and AF until Friday. I can do this .
Not half as nervous as I was when I had to abstain recently for three weeks .
Just keep remembering all those benefits I noticed .
Hope everyone had a decent weekend .

Budge up in that sidecar! 🤣 DH and I went to a festival last night and I couldn't resist a couple of beers. Felt really dehydrated okay! Then did a birthday dinner for DS1 and had half a glass of prosecco but felt crap so didn't finish it.

@dementedma Your poem and photos are so moving! That looks like a magical place. A soul bath.

I might try AA this week. If you go there, you're not allowed to have the odd drink, are you? It's completely sober forever?

Sorry things are tough right now Lux, I hope they improve.

Hi and welcome equestrianlady

Good luck at AA whats

I’m on the nightbus tonight ladies. Nothing particularly wrong, I just really can’t sleep, I feel very anxious in my gut and I can’t seem to shake it. Like I’m on a precipice and if I look over it there’s a big sign that says DOOM. Anxiety/depression brain and impending time of the month to blame there somewhat I think.

I had a few drinks over the weekend and even though I wasn’t remotely drunk at any point I still feel weird about it. I haven’t lost control at all but I feel I’ve let myself down. Going to give another dry couple of weeks a go I reckon. Tbh I quite enjoy being designated driver, helps that bf isn’t a big drinker himself.

Hope you’re all getting more sleep than I am! It’s quite peaceful at this time of night, if a bit dull.

Morning all - gosh well quite a lot of sidecar over the weekend! Myself included - I ended up having some beers Sat evening in the garden with our neighbours again.

Still got up and ran 5k on the beach yesterday and then spent the rest of the day sunbathing before we had to come back to London. Slept terribly last night so am determined to get back into my usual routine of 5 days dry and 2 days wet from now. I much prefer the lesser boozing routine.

Am off to the client the next 3 days off the back of not much good sleep last night, so not looking forward to it. It will be a super early night tonight.

whats - the general ethos of AA is that it's not aimed at moderation. So you are correct yes.

x

Morning all, there are lots of reasons for bad sleep - heat, humidity, anxiety, excitement, bloody DH snoring. BUT the one thing that is guaranteed to wreck it is alcohol. It literally alters brain chemistry, you might fall asleep quickly, but it's not the good REM sleep you need, and you'll be awake early and anxious.

One more busy day (way too much work to fit into it) before I can collapse/use my annual leave for the bits of work I want to be doing (research), so sorry I can't name check. See you all on the other side.

Morning babes!

whats the only requirement to go to an AA meeting is 'a desire to stop drinking'. There might be several people there who are long term sober, or short term sober, but also some who are on and off as they try to get to grips with this stuff. The presumption is that total abstinence is the only way to be certain about stuff, but please don't let that put you off. Just go along and see how it is.

When I went a couple of kindly people suggested an alternative meeting that was more 'my demographic'. But I learnt as much (maybe more) in the group of mainly old men.

DH appears to be planning a big blow out for my birthday. Right now, I can't imagine I'd want to; how I'll feel faced with the offer of champagne at the Ivy (yes, I know, a bit boasty and not at all stealthy), I don't know.

I'm going to practice refusing every day until then.

Sweet The Ivy has both Seedlip non alcoholic distilled drinks on their drinks menu and offers both in mocktails. I liked the 'Seedlip Garden' based cocktail and another customer sitting at the bar asked me what it was as it looked so good.

Hope you enjoy it - lovely venue, delicious food.

JWIM, I haven't been since they had the refit. Reviews are very mixed on the Seedlip, so I can decide for myself finally!

My other go to drink when out is a virgin Mojito. I prefer dry/sharp drinks to something sweet/fizzy/creamy. Both Seedlips are good with tonic I find.

Ha, just realised that makes it sound as though I've been a lot, I only went once before, for another birthday! I prefer dry and sharp too.

Babes, I need to order some reading material for the Summer, in the past, on the basis of recommendations on here I've read, the lies of Locke Lamora, The watchmaker of Filigree Street, The Night Circus and Elizabeth is Missing. I also loved The Miniaturist, The Muse, Sarah Dunnant's historical novels, Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies.

What should I try now?

Evening all - survived a particularly boring day at work with a 3 1/2 public transport nightmare - since changing the timetables loads of trains are cancelled on the line I have to take.

I'm leaving the office therefore as soon as practicable as I don't want to get stranded in the darkest reaches of the home counties!

About to get into pjs, tea, cat, Neighbours etc - my usual routine for the week. Am aiming to pass out by around 8ish.

I have also been to the Ivy on my birthday but not since the refurb. I have a feeling it was whilst I was still drinking wine so I am hazy on the details!

sweet - I'm afraid despite an A level in Eng Lit and a degree in French Lit, my reading capacity is limited to fluff most of the time. If you like thrillers I'm you're girl!

xxx

Twattage, I'm just waiting for 7pm to get my pjs on - not even sure why . Travel sounds hideous. I did A-Level lit too (OMG, Byron, Childe-bloody Harold's bloody Pilgrimage . . . NOOOOO!). I'm not sure about thrillers, I'm never really tried - I only get to read for pleasure for a couple of weeks a year.

Day eight almost done, feeling much better, and far more positive.

Sweet I also suspect my books will be too fluffy for you! I've just googled some of your list and added Elizabeth is Missing to my check if the library stock it memo All I can suggest is Never Look Back by Lesley Pearce. It's historical set between London and the USA. It's a very good story. One of my favourite books.

I had my first try of seedlip last week. It was quite nice although I wouldn't rush out and buy it.

Twattage The trains are a joke atm. We're suffering with Northern fail up here but I suspect it's worse down south.

Duchess Are you feeling any better today?

We're still quarentined. It's been the longest weekend ever. My parents have agreed to have DS all day tomorrow thank fuck so at least I can go to work.

Hello everyone,
Can I hop on board? I'm prepping to quit my dreadful wine habit. I'm fat, I'm skint and I'm not happy. Pretty sure wine is responsible for that!

I've read the sober diaries and just starting Jason Vale. Can anyone recommend any other fantastic reads and resources? I want to go into this fully armed, loaded and ready to pour the plonk down the sink!

Baking, with the exception of the Hilary Mantel, this is my light reading list ! Lots of magic, and in the case of Locke Lamora (thanks Ma that was a whole Summer by the time I got through all of the books), magical swearing - almost as inventive as MN . You will love Elizabeth is missing, I'm sure.

LessOfaMess, you are most welcome, you'll find lots of support here, I can't add anything to a sober reading list, if you've already read SOber Diaries, you might not want to look at Claire Pooley's blog - there's a lot of crossovers, but she does do reading recommendations.