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.

Hello Babes, I'm a chronic name changer who pops up on the bus occasionally.
Day 218 Af. Close call last weekend with a glass of red, it was in front of me and ready to go, but poured it into DHs glass at the last minute. Amazing after all this time how it catches you unawares.
I thoroughly recommend Annie Graces 'this naked mind' to all trying to stop!
Ghost metronidazole is the antibiotic that you absolutely cannot drink on, it can make you fit (Google disulfram reaction) often used for dental/gynae infections.

Ah Sinister, that's a good one to note then. I'll remember that for Xmas as i'm having a wisdom tooth out 2 weeks before!

Crafty 5 months is amazing. Are you worried about Xmas, or feeling pretty confident about it? At the moment I can't quite get my head around how it will work. I can't imagine no drink.

Lovely to meet new poster, and great to see mint, mouse and ma

As ever I'm around and keeping an eye for everyone xx

dementedma
Harris is on my bucket list. I miss the Highlands. I've been looking at jobs around Fort William and Skye. And doing the lottery!

Hi everyone, hope you are all well.

I’m on day 11, still going to meetings, I think now the alcohol has left my system my anti depressants are starting to work... I keep catching myself feeling positive?

Looking forward to the weekend, I’m going to be one of those people and put my Christmas tree up! Feels like Christmas started weeks ago though 🤔

Hey Venus, Mouse and all the new and regular babes.
Just an update...I'm learning to drive! Omg it's scary. This is step two of a new improved life. Step one being AF. Step 3 will be getting myself to the gym once I'm driving....probably about 2037 the way it's going
GhostSauce You can do it! I stopped drinking on Christmas day. Make sure you have lots of yummy soft drinks in. I am currently addicted to Rose lemonade. I pretend it's a G+T.

I'm on day 5 and had 2 glasses of wine.

I'm trying to look at it positively- at least it's not 2 bottles...

BUT I've put 2 bottles of rawsons AF prosecco on the Xmas order and have committed to being the designated driver so no way out now. If I ended up getting pissed we'd be stranded and cat wouldn't be fed so I must be sober.

mint Harris is great, nicer than lewis I think but Orkney still my favourite. Luskentyre had been on my bucket list for a while so was please to be able to tick it off.

Ghost AF Prosecco sounds nice, I might see if I can get some for my birthday that’s coming up. Does anyone know if you can get AF mulled wine? I think I’m going to miss that over Xmas

Hello Babes - special hello to mouse - looking forward to your Christmas thread when this one gets fuller.

So I am another hopper on and offer. Been here on other names. Tried and failed, tried and failed.

8 days AF. This is fabulous for me as I have drunk every day for about two years previous to this. I have gained three stone and lost a lot of my self esteem.

Am on various medications for health issues unrelated to drinking, but also on anti anxiety meds to counteract workplace stress. Have realised that I have been self medicating the last two years, just sort of "topping up" my prescribed meds. I hope this makes sense! I got to the point where I was dizzy and sick all the time cos that's what happens when you take three prescription strength meds and drink 80 units a week and have spent the last week signed off, and have another week off.

I have reluctantly accepted that in order to recover, not only do I have to quit the booze, but I also have to quit my job. I love it (teaching) but it's killing me. Not the teaching bit, that's the nice bit. It's all the rest of the shit I can't deal with any more (Head of Department)

I am a bit worried what people will say when I tell them, and how to resist when drinks are pressed on me, which they will be. I have bought Catherine Grays book and am enjoying that. I read Jason Vale before and that was effective, but I fell off the wagon after a while.

Will check in from time to time for support. Agree AF prosecco might be useful over Christmas...

Duchess the Prosecco is called rawsons retreat I think. It ok, a bit sweet. But not bad for an AF. I'd live to find a mulled wine!

I want mulled wine now.

Your wish is my command GhostSauce
www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Alcohol-Free-Mulled-Wine/435440011?from=search&param=low%20alcohol%20wine

Pop in to check on you all from time to time x

Oh wow thanks! That's me sorted for Xmas day.

😱😍😍 thank you Juggling I’m definitely stocking up on that for Xmas! Thanks also Ghost for the Prosecco rec!

Well done on 8 days recovery I’m finding it so hard now it’s christmas time, people really don’t seem to understand! I used to use alcohol for more immediate anxiety relief than I felt I was getting from my meds, but in so doing was stopping the meds from taking full effect. A vicious cycle if ever there was.

Day 13 today for me. I’m making a raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake instead of Friday night wine 😊 still a bad habit but it’ll only make me fat at least

Not as fat as the alcohol Duchess !!! Sounds fabulous - I cannot resist a cheesecake.

I hadn't considered that thick cow that the alcohol could actually be impairing the effectiveness of my meds. Bit of a Hallelujah moment that.

I snack like crazy when I am drinking so it has definitely led to weight gain. I have a friend who doesn't eat when she drinks, it numbs her appetite. I was always so jealous of her, but it's bad shit either way isn't it?

Afternoon lovely Babes 😊

Tis me, Mouse

So, how are we all? Sorry that I've not been around much, between Nemo and I, we've got back to back hospital appointments for all of next week and also the week after. I've not even given a thought about Christmas shopping except for getting some charity cards!!

Nemo's appointment at the Manchester Children's Hospital yesterday went well. He'll need his baby teeth taking out under sedation which made me laugh because the last time somebody tried to give him gas and air, he kicked them in the face, so I always end up giving him anything via a face mask as he gets so scared bless him.

Other than that, everything is ticking along as expected........ it all takes time!

Ma - That photo was truly moving and I could just see myself sat watching the sea rolling in and out, birds in the sky and some sunshine breaking through the clouds. I love places where you can go and just be.

Anyway, welcome to the New Babes!! * * lovely to meet you

Right, time for a nap before Nemo goes off to a party with a friend from school.

Much love to you all!!

Mouse xxx

Hi, Babes! 👋 Lovely catching up with the posts. For some reason I haven’t been getting alerts. Ghost We don’t especially ‘do’ Christmas as we’re Pagans and do Yule instead - that said, Pagan knees- ups aren’t noted for being teetotal affairs! I’m feeling ok with the idea of AF Yuletide, AF generally, except....moods all over the place right now. I feel like I’m on the floor and hanging onto the bugger to avoid falling off. Dwindling daylight not helping either. Oddly enough, I’ve had a few dreams lately in which I’m drinking heavily. When I wake up there’s relief it isn’t real. Being on a glorious Scottish island right now would be lovely.

Mint good luck with the driving lessons!

Mouse. Nemo sounds awesome!

On Day 10. I actually slept well for the first time since quitting last night. Obviously I was passing out before so my body has had to readjust.

Been getting headaches on and off but again that's par for the course.

@Craftycorvid What booze is involved in a pagan Yule? Sounds lovely!

Anything you feel, Ghost 😁 For some it's real ale, for others mead, but whatever takes your fancy.

Babes, I am hauling your asses back onto page one

I am sure there are lots of us struggling with the festive season, i know my resolve is not very steady, but let’s stick together and post how we are doing. I could be doing better, as many of my school reports had once suggested but as the recent years go, my af days this year are over 175. Not too shabby in beaches world

Keep on trucking brave babes xxx.

Morning all
Lovely to see Mouse on the thread.
I’m a real binge drinker. I have been doing so well but had an incident at the weekend of having too much and feeling very stupid the next day. I had lulled myself into a false sense of security of thinking I was moderating so well. I can go for days or even weeks without drinking but it just shows you how it is so easy to go back to old habits.
So many Christmas lunches and parties coming up in addition to Christmas Day which is always boozy so I am jumping back on the bus for some support over this period. I know that I should go totally AF but it is so difficult at this time when people expect you to join in.
Hope all you babes are staying strong but even if you’re not please keep posting as it does help!

And well done beaches on 175 days!

Hi all, day 17 (I think) struggling with winter blues a bit, relationship worries and the fact that my cat took it upon himself to knock over and smash my tv last night little arsehole... before I would have reached straight for a drink but I want to be sober more. I’m on a one mince pie a day quota and I might just make it through. Much love to all xx