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.

Morning All.

Trust you beat me to it! The squirrels are everywhere this year, I had a giggle yesterday when one fell of the fence in surprise because of SweetDog's noise! But It's more likely that SweetPuss would catch one! Enjoy your yoga.

Ma well done on the walking, but what happened to day three? Did you manage to moderate? Stay strong to be back on it today.

I need to get showered and out, catch you later.

I meant to add . . .

Did anyone watch 'Trust Me I'm a Doctor' on BBC2 last night? There's a short segment on the effects of a month of abstinence. The results are really clear, even for light/moderate drinkers under the NHS units guidelines there were improvements in blood pressure and markers for cancer. For UK Babes, its on IPlayer and only a five minute watch, it might strengthen resolve as we get deeper into October

Morning!

Demented I know it sounds a bit pants...but...

"We only fail when we stop trying".

Two whole days is still two whole days without alcohol! And soon, you'll do another two days! Imagine that- two thirds of your week totally sober? I couldn't do this...this is why I have to completely abstain.

I was a little scared that my "wild side" would become sort of bland when I stopped drinking: nope! Me and DD (who likes to bost about her Crazy Mommy😀) are planning to put the Christmas decorations up tonight!

This is going to be an interesting prt of the journey: discovering which parts of my personality is "me", and which parts are the alcohol.

I ordered some rainbow high tops yesterday...completely sober. Now, if only I can find a MN thread full of Dressing-Like-A-Two-Year-Old-And-No-Plans-To-Grow-Up...I'd be sorted! 😀😀😀

Golly AllRoads straight into Christmas without seeing out Halloween first? That's a first on this bus I think. We usually have a whole hive of activity here on the bus with Nativity rehearsals (we even have an actual camel), mince pies (flour strewn everywhere), brass band warm up (ma gets her triangle out) and tinsel everywhere.

But before that we have to be extra careful of horrid baby doll who is always lurking on the bus but starts peeping out towards the end of October

Oh and there used to a babe with a pumpkin patch (or at least something to rummage in)

Ooh! I can accompany the triangle on piano if you like!

Last week I couldn't...detox tremors lead to an extremely "interesting" playing style...😀😀😀😀😀

I should have actually asked...is it going to offend anyone if I tale the piss out of myself like I did in the last post? That's just me...EVERYTHING is funny.

No offence taken here Allroads.
It’s good to laugh. Life can be toooooo serious sometimes

Hello all. I read often but don't post as much now. I reached 1 year af today apart from the 2 g and t's at the wedding.

Thank you to everyone here. There are too many to name who welcomed me gave me advice or suggestions. I really couldn't have got to a year without this bus.

Thank you.

For anyone who is reading desperate to stop but not sure it's possible keep trying. Every day 1 that got to day 2 did something. Some time alcohol free seeing I could manage. I was consumed in the early days reading everything and listening to everything I could. But I was drinking between 60-100 units per week if I'm being honest.

Every day I am still so greatful that I didn't drink yesterday. So greatful I remember the end of the day. Not worried about shaking. Smelling of booze.

Today I won't drink.

Saywhen what an amazing achievement!

Thanks allroads don't think we have actually "met" yet.
I had one glass on day 3 and managed to resist today so 3 days out of 4 which hasn't been done in a long time.
faire is correct. Hallowe'en on the bus involves avoiding Horrid Baby Doll, rummaging in pumpkin patches and ducking for apples.
Then the lead into Christmas. Casting for the Nativity, arts and crafts - glitter bloody everywhere - Salvation Army band drop in for carol rehearsals....and of course, my triangle which has been entertaining people for years! Wonder if some of our missing old friends will drop in? hope, dubh, indie and mouse to name a few

Sounds like fun!

I've managed to get through my first "big payday" of the month without pissing it up the wall!

I did buy yarn though

Morning all
Saywhen well done on the year AF. That is brilliant. Very inspirational.
Hi to all other babes. I am having a day off today and thinking of going to see the new “Star is Born” at the cinema. The Barbra Streisand one is one of my favourites so not sure how it will measure up.
Have a good day everybody.

Well done Allroads that is an achievement. What is with the yarn? Knitting or crochet?

I crochet. I can't knit to save my life!

Hey, is everyone ok? Hope so - sleepy bus!

Allroads that’s brilliant. Love it. Hope you’re doing ok.

WW (or in my case on this occasion - sherry witch. Weird) came calling loudly last night. Just about fended her off but woke feeling jaded. And it’s rainy. What’s everyone up to today?

Morning All.

Sorry to be absent yesterday, really full on day at work. Ended with a stop at a country pub (DH had an even tougher day. I stuck with lime and soda, despite WW hissing that just one glass would be ok - I just thought, it won't though, I'd have to detour to a shop for a bottle to sink through the evening. DH downed two pints really quickly (he often makes half a can last a whole evening at home). Good God he was irritating - why would any of us want to be like that?

SayWhen, you are AWESOME!

AllRoads good spend! Well done, you seem really buzzing, what other positive benefits are you seeing?

Ma how you doing?

Small, plans for the weekend?

I am feeling incredibly positive, despite difficult and exhausting times at work. today is day 38 for me I think, at a conservative estimate, that's £270 saved. I need an op in the new year that I have to go private for, I won't have covered the cost in savings by January, but I will be a long way towards it.

Sherry? Really Small - I think it it the one drink I could sit surrounded by open bottles and not touch a drop!

I'm about to head out to walk Sweet Dog, the DH and I are spending the day catching up on the TV we didn't see in the week. Not raining here yet but I suspect it soon will be.

Day 19 for me. Feeling a bit out of sorts but it would be worse with hangovers on top. I slept for 9 hours last night, NINE hours Just going to sit quietly near the front of the bus and watch the scenery pass by.

Lots of well dones to all the babes avoiding the wine (or sherry ) witch.
saywhen a year is amazing, you are a
ma you a quietly clocking up some af days.
allroads you are definitely getting the boing, a wonderful energized happy feeling from being af, good for you girl!
trust how was the movie? I love a bit of Barbara

Love to all x

Beaches, those days soon add up! Nine hours sounds like bliss. 'Out of sorts' will pass, it's just part of life's normal ups and downs.

It's pouring down. and gloomy here now. I've been to M&S to treat myself to prepared salads and nice things I don't have to cook for the beginning of next week. Thought about adding a bottle of wine as I walked around - they were handing out samples of Prosecco.I didn't take one, I hate Prosecco! The thought process was, "It'll be nice. Just the one then back to being AF, you can do that now." "It won't be nice, you won't get anything done this weekend, you'll get a hangover and then it won't be just the one, you can't do that."

Good swerve sweet, you played the film through. I am the same, one glass has never been enough - the first sip starts the internal strategizing of how to secure the next glass. Hope you are enjoying a sofa day catching up on tv shows.

Not quite gone to plan, Beaches, a bit of catch up, huge amounts of snacking (like back to week one snacking). And off out tonight for a night of storytelling and African drumming (I really want to put my pjs on, make hot chocolate and watch Strictly .

having some wine and watching Strictly. did a 6.5k walk today which I'm pleased about.

Morning all.
Extremely early I know but I went to bed extremely early last night! It was a miserable day here so just got my housework done then a few hours catching up on TV.
Today will be day 40 AF for me . It’s supposed to be sunny so I will be back in the garden after a long walk with the dog and a big brekkie.
Beaches the film was OK. I was so loooking forward to it as it got great reviews and 5 Stars. Starring Bradley Cooper (who sings and was excellent) and Lady Gaga who was also good. It is the 3rd remake of this film and just didn’t measure up to the previous ones. Still worth a watch though.
Hope you are feeling better today?
Small well done on avoiding the Sherry Witch although I am with Sweet on this and you could not pay me to drink that!
Sweet hope you enjoyed your evening?
Ma well done on 6.5k. Think you are on easily on target for your 100k.
Allroads how are you today? How is the blanket coming along?
Hi to all other babes and hope you have a good day

Morning.

Trust you're making me look like a complete slug-a-bed! I didn't get up until 6.30 - Sweet Puss almost faded away from hunger! I will be out in the sun with SweetDog in a minute, but he is busy guarding the garden from squirrels at the moment!

It was a lovely evening, great music and interesting performance.

Ma the walking is going well, are you feeling any benefits? Strictly and wine used to go together for me (so going out helped), but then, any evening tv and wine went together, I suppose it's about marking the end of work (or housework), "I am sitting down", "I am doing nothing else tonight". Anyone else play 'How low will Craig go?' I predicted everyone of his scores correctly last night!

See you later Babes.

I need help. I drink every night. A bottle of wine (have cut down from a bottle and a half, ha!) I'm skint, depressed, anxious, worried about my health. I've started gambling online as well. I hate myself. I'm a single mum and I spend every evening and weekends when DD is at her dads drinking and gambling. I literally don't move off the sofa. I'm a mess.