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Original poster

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

999 replies

SweetLathyrus · 11/06/2018 07:21

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
21
Craftycorvid · 28/10/2018 08:23

Yikes! I've yet to encounter horrid baby doll. She sounds scary. I'm quite new here so can someone enlighten me?

Googlybearwazowski · 28/10/2018 08:44

@Musti ditto!

Feeling crap this morning after a sober Saturday night (at a party no less!) but the onset of winter never helps me and I've forgotten to take my anti-ds for a few days, oops.

What's the doll??

Musti · 28/10/2018 09:10

The sudden drop in temperature probably hasn't helped! Well done for having a sober party @googlybearwazowski ! How did you feel about it at the time?

A sober Saturday for me and it didn't bother me. I can't recognise myself haha.

dementedma · 28/10/2018 21:44

Horrid baby doll has been on the bus as long as anyone can remember. For most of the year she hides away in the dust and Opal Fruit wrappers under the seats, but at hallowe'en she comes out!
Babes may find her on the seat next to them, her sinister gaze turned balefully upon them. No-one knows where she will appear next....or which Babe will be the target of her evil machinations....

Craftycorvid · 28/10/2018 22:37

Eek! Does having inadvertently maimed a ‘Lush’ cat-shaped bath bomb bring Horrid Baby Doll out of hiding? If so, I’m in trouble Shock

Trust2017 · 29/10/2018 06:02

Good morning all
Just back from holiday feeling all refreshed. Did have a couple of nights of drinking but nowhere near as much as I would have normally (would have been every day). I enjoyed the nights but the next day could feel the staggering difference which made me really think about what alcohol was doing to my body, my mind and general feeling of wellbeing. Luckily on holiday it was possible to have a couple of “lazy days” without feeling guilty but it has strengthened my resolve to get straight back to AF.
When I say guilty it’s just that I generally like to be doing things such as sightseeing, walking, swimming, yoga which make me feel good about myself. With a hangover it is very easy to just lay on a sunbed and read books. Which is also fine but just a different sort of holiday IYSWIM Smile
Anyway back to work today.
Hope all you babes had a great weekend.
Have a lovely day. At least it’s not raining (yet)

Duchessgummybuns · 29/10/2018 07:49

I hope my ticket is still good...

Hello again all. I’ve been taking mirtazapine for my anxiety which the doctor made me promise not to drink while taking and, well, I have been, so it’s not working as well as it should. So here I am after drinking far too much at the in-laws again feeling a bit too rough for a Sunday. Riding the bus helped a lot last time I cut down the drinking- this is me on day 1.

Hope the rest of you are doing well, the baby doll sounds scary Halloween Confused

LuxuryWoman2018 · 29/10/2018 17:37

Hey everybabe,
So many new names I hope to get to know. I haven’t posted in ages because as some of you may remember my dd has been very unwell for months and it’s been bloody awful. I have been drinking a bit but still not wine, just a gin and tonic or two but probably too often, I’m well aware I’ve been using it as a crutch but happily d is hopefully on the mend and I can come blinking out of the fog.

I’ll read back when I get the chance x

Craftycorvid · 29/10/2018 18:04

Hello to Trust, Luxury and Duchess 'Waves'. Sorry you seem to have been having some really tough times. 💐 Lovely to meet you.

bringbackthestripes · 30/10/2018 09:53

Luxury sorry to hear about DD, hope her health continues to improve.

Duchess Trust hello

It’s half term which means I’m off so no work to get up for so I have stupidly hit the wine twice already Sad off to visit the outlaws today which means after the long journey we will stop for meal on the way home which means more wine...... sigh.

SinisterClownWatchingYou · 30/10/2018 12:47

Hello Babes
Checking in (chronic name changer). Day 191 AF. Baby doll sounds terrifying!

obrigada · 30/10/2018 14:42

Afternoon babes, been off this thread a long time now but jumping back on board. Have taken on a challenge to be alcohol free for November but I am hoping that the month's challenge will give me a better insight into why I drink.
Waves to all babes old and new Smile

Duchessgummybuns · 30/10/2018 18:48

Evening all, day 2 here. I don’t think I’m going to quit completely, just trying to learn to stop using alcohol as a crutch when I’m feeling down and anxious because as we all know it never really helps.

wantmorenow · 30/10/2018 19:56

New to thread. Have been avoiding cutting down/stopping for years. I'm high functioning, hangovers rare, enjoy drinking and never make a fool of myself or create scenes. people rarely twig how much I can put away. I know it's too much and that a serious health issue is a likely consequence. Didn't drink yesterday and won't tonight. Doesn't seem much in the grand scheme of things but can't remember the last alcohol free night I had. Will join thread if that's okay and it's the support thread I think it is.

venusandmars · 30/10/2018 20:15

Welcome wantmore and know that whatever choices you make about drinking / not drinking, we'll be here with support, encouragement, a few mad moments, but importantly no judgement. Funny thing is that I used to think I was a high functioning drinker... it was only when I stopped drinking that I saw how poorly I'd actually been functioning and how close to a dangerous edge I'd been at times.

Lux it must be a weight off your shoulders now dd is recovering, but maje sure you continue to take good care of yourself, I bet you've been carrying a lot and it takes times and space and a few good friends to gradually recover from all of that. But you're the Queen of self care and indulgence... tell us what you're up to.

Obrigada good to see you again. You'll see that some of us are still here

wantmorenow · 30/10/2018 20:56

Thanks. Wise words, I know I'm nowhere near as functional as I could be, memory is shocking during days, not just nights when having a drink. An improvement in this alone would be welcome.

Craftycorvid · 30/10/2018 21:04

Hi, Wantmore I’d second what Venus said. I’m still processing the changes in me and how my drinking pattern looks to me now with a bit of distance. Hang on in there!

I almost had a drink tonight - by accident! Went for a meal at our local with DH. Ordered a tonic and when it arrived I realised from the smell that they’d added gin Confused There was a moment of ‘fuck it’ - I wont lie- but I decided to send it back. Why? If I do ever drink again I want it to be a positive choice, not about giving in to something. Still felt sad though - and watching people happily enjoying ‘dinking responsibly’ God, how I hate that phrase!

wantmorenow · 31/10/2018 08:46

Thank you for taking time to post to me. Feeling less shaky and sweaty today, hoping it's a bug I'm fighting off but may be mild withdrawal. I'm off this week so can take things very easy and be kind to myself. Staying off caffeine although I drank some left over cola yesterday not thinking about its caffeine content. Boiled eggs for breakfast in bed with TV.

I get what you are saying, about choosing to drink not accidentally doing so. My off switch isn't great, one G&T would have led to others..

obrigada · 01/11/2018 12:04

Afternoon brave babes, Day 1 of Dry November Smile

wantmorenow, be kind to yourself today.

ScabbyHorse · 01/11/2018 20:38

Hi everyone, I'm going to attempt dry november 

Craftycorvid · 01/11/2018 22:07

Hope day 1 is going ok, Scabby and *Obrigada.

Craftycorvid · 01/11/2018 22:07

Ooh, highlighting fail! Sorry!

ScabbyHorse · 01/11/2018 22:13

Thanks @Craftycorvid Taking it one day at a time.

BakedBeans47 · 01/11/2018 23:44

I’ve had a couple of wines the last 2 nights so back AF. Don’t want it creeping up again

wantmorenow · 02/11/2018 08:25

On to day 5 and feeling okay. Woke up with a banging headache today though. No idea why. This week going well as I'm home and no booze in house. There never is as I drink whatever I buy pretty much that day or the following Blush. Next week will be harder as back to staying with BF and he does drink too.