Brave Babes Battle Bus: Sunshine, Roses and Mocktails All Round

[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.

Summer offers all kinds of challenges for those of us trying to change our relationship to alcohol, pub gardens, summer holidays, school holidays, and apparently there's a big football tournament too. If you want to read where the bus has been so far this year 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

The Bus is a bit of a Mumsnet institution, but it has an open door policy, no cliques, no judgement, and the welcome is always warm. So hop on and join us.

Can I pile in. I'm worried about how much I drink when I do drink. I've had 2 major bereavements in 2 years plus relatives with life threatening/changing illnesses and a host of other difficulties.

Decided I'd just rather not drink AT ALL as feel so down when I drink and the next day as well.

I guess the best way to describe my drinking is binge drinking. I don't drink every day but I drink a lot when I do

Sorry for the muddly post, just wanted to break the ice.

Booze is indeed EVERYWHERE!

Jesus isn't it just. Last few nights I've been binging on crime drama box sets and all the detectives are necking wine or whiskey every evening and then turning up for work at 6 am looking great?? AND solving murder cases??

Hello Alfie, you are using booze as a crutch because that is what we do, we think it’s our friend and it’ll help us feel better but in fact it only makes a difficult situation that much worse. Can you distract yourself when the WW tells you to have a drink? Or make yourself a lovely tonic and lime in a wine glass and wait for the craving to pass? I’m sorry to hear about your MIL, is she getting proper care for her dementia?

Hello Head, I’ve always wondered the same thing about glamorous drinking on TV, of course no-one could actually drink that much and actually get anything done! Sorry to hear of your tough times but you’re right, going AF will help you handle things better and will give you one less thing to worry about. You can do it!

[Waves] to all Babes old and new.

It’s all come on quite suddenly but we have taken her to the dr thinking it may be a uti dehydration or her diabetes and they are referring her to the memory clinic they aren’t going to change her diabetes tablets her twin sister has confirmed dementia but her decline has been much more gradual over the last few years they are both 84 but mil very fit and active and until very recently had nothing more than a bit of old age forgetfulness.

Mint well done on the festival and kittens!
Alfie - hope you're OK?
Had an awful experience last Sun PM - Ex-H took the kids away for 5 nights and I blipped. Was convinced the only thing that could solve my pain was to sink a fair-few pints. Was adamant. It crept up on me from nowhere. Wasn't prepared for it at all. By the time I'd got the train to meet her and sat at the bar I ordered a Carling 0.0%. Tricked my brain in to 'a drink' so that was very successful and the first time I had drunk anything non- alcoholic. Mainly been on pineapple juice and soda and soda and lime..

SO I had my 4 week sobrieanniversary on Thursday. I am thrilled. I am working a festival in a couple of weeks. And I've said to myself that I don't want to drink but if I do fall off the bus then I am not going to die in a ditch over it as it's my 'holiday'.
Hope you're all good :)

alfie a TIA (mini-stroke) can do that, bring on dementia like symptoms quickly. That's what happened to my Dad at 85, lost the ability to tell the time, suddenly couldn't put his shoes on or tie his laces. It was like a sudden reversal through childhood

On a brighter note a friend of mine (long standing drinking pal of many years) has given up booze. She said that going on a low carb high fat diet really helped her through the process - her blood glucose stabilised, she didn't feel hungry, and she lost her cravings for sugar and for a drink! Apparently they are doing some research about low carb / high fat in alcohol rehab.

Interestingly she said that in the first week the lack of carbs made her feel a bit lightheaded and drunk (which she almost enjoyed). After a few weeks she had a few drinks (nothing extreme), ended up very drunk - much more quckly than previously - and had the most horrendous hangover for 2 days. She hasn't had more than one drink (i.e. one glass of wine) a week since, and it makes her feel woozy...

She has lost a stone and a half and looks amazing

Hey everyone,
I hope you are all OK? I've been out of the loop on the thread as things are still not great with me and I'm a bit overwhelmed by life so I still tend to just post on lighter threads about clothes and handbags so occupy my mind a bit and keep me company.

I am drinking a bit which is more than I'd ideally like but it's much more like a 'normal' person would drink if that makes sense. I'm not too concerned but will watch it and stamp on it if it starts to creep up.

Welcome Headinhands I get you totally, sorry if I missed any other newer posters and big hello to all babes.

Thanks for the warm welcome people.

It's been almost a week since I had any booze. Feeling great. Feels different this time as have decided to not drink at all.

When I've previously been concerned about my drinking I'd say something like 'just one night a week' but what seemed to happen when I limited alcohol to one or two nights a week is that I have too many units in that 'sitting'.

Somehow deciding I don't want to at all is easier and I feel happier. I really hope this is it for me.

Going on holiday next week and packing lots of lovely things to do in the evenings like crochet and books I need to finish.

Babes, you were on page 3 , we cannot have that so I am pulling you back up the list. I am an old babe who checks in every so often and prefers the bus to be front page . Love to all x

Hey Beaches how are you?
I wonder if all the other babes are sunning themselves in glorious places right now?

Hope everyone is OK.

I'll be sunning myself next week but will still check in.

Been over a week since i even had a beer and still not missing it. Not sure why it feels so different this time. Maybe it's just age?

My mum just died. I'll be back soon. Love to you all.

Oh Mint so sorry. Take care x

Sorry Mint

Please check in when you can. Will be thinking of you. Much love.

Oh Mint I am so, so sorry to read this my lovely. Sending you my very sincere condolences and much love and strength. I do hope you have support around you xx

So sorry Mint.

just checking in to send love to mint. You have been through so much recently and still you rise above it. You are truly awesome.

hi to all. 31st wedding anniversary today. We exchanged cards basically to keep the kids happy. There was nothing else, not a hug or , well, anything. it's all utterly pointless

Mint So sorry to read about your Mum. You must be devasted.

Ma It's keeping up appearences I guess. Don't feel you have to stay in something that makes you unhappy. There's always an alternative.

I'm doing ok. Still AF. Shame the same can't be said for smoking. Not that I'm smoking daily but it's certainly been more regular than I'd like.

Hello to all Babes.

Baking I am smoking. Want to give up next month if you fancy quitting together?

5 weeks today sober

Thank you .
Everything is in limbo right now. Because of the circumstances the coroner's office need to do a post mortem and depending on the findings they can arrange a death certificate and we can arrange the funeral. If it's not straightforward then there will be an inquest which makes it more complicated .
Even though we drove all night we didn't make it in time. Thankfully a family friend we called was with her holding her hand.
But the other problem is that the council want the house back at the end of the rent period which is 23rd. We have to strip it out, everything including the carpets.
If ever I needed a drink it's now.

You can do this Mint. You really can. It's just a thought. It really won't make it better but I can relate and understand lovely. Keep posting

mint thinking of you

So sorry to read about your mum mint x
Mil has been to the memory clinic and they are sending her for a brain scan to see if it’s anything physical like a tia. Turns out she hasn’t been taking all her tablets just the ones she thought was important so we have sorted those out so hopefully she will now take them all lol. Shes tablet controlled diabetic on bone tablets and blood pressure tablets so all important Pfft

mint sorry to hear about your mum. From my experience a drink really didn't help. A hug, a walk in a forest, a laugh as you reminisce, a seat in a garden, a big old cry.... they all helped much more x

ma was thinking of you the other day, driving through your kingdom county

Sorry about your dear mum mint
I really understand the temptation of a drink when grieving. As other have said, and you know, it's doesn't help. It just throws a wet blanket over it but it's still there.

Right now I'm somewhere on the M6. Been in the car all the day, keep thinking 'just nip into the shop next to the holiday home and get a bottle, you deserve it'. What I actually deserve is a life without alcohol, better health and extra money!

I'm getting better and batting away the urges.