The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Step Into Our Christmas Thread!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

A HUGE welcome to the Bus!

This is the one and only Gerald. Over the years, we've travelled far and wide gathering some truly remarkable Babes along the way, all of whom have been (and remain to be) at different stages of their own personal journey to sobriety or controlled drinking, depending on what it is that they want to achieve.

We have those who drink daily, those who drink occasionally, and also those who have been sober for some time. The one thing that you won't find here, is any judgey knickers! We're ALL here because at one point or another, we've hit our own "rock bottom" and then smashed the shit out of the FUCK IT button! (makes a note to order a new FUCK IT button)

This is without doubt one of the hardest times of the year for many of us, what with Christmas parties, alcohol on tap, supermarkets who have offers galore of various tipples stacked from floor to ceiling, and EVERY advert on TV shows you what an amazingly cool person you can be if you were drinking whatever brand of alcohol they're flogging! Even Christmas puddings and Brandy creams are tempting fate because as soon as you digest even a small amount of alcohol, it makes your body crave more, just like smoking, medication and recreational drugs................

Then there's the gifts that you're given! Champagne Truffles, Liquors, wines, spirits, you name it! So unless you've told people about your planned journey, people assume that buying gifts like that completely acceptable. So, some may feel obliged to consume such gifts and why not? It's Christmas after all. Then we have the New Year festivities..... parties, friends and family over to have drinks because you'll stop drinking after New Years' Day won't you?

It's so damn hard not to drink if that's what you've been doing all year anyway before you even reach this time of year!! How will you cope with your Great Aunt who will check for dust by running finger over ever surface, or Uncle knobhead who will be there in his cream suit, with that suspicious stain on it and his burgundy shirt asking for a Babycham! Also, let's not forget the in-laws/out-laws! We can sometimes put so much pressure on ourselves that we convince ourselves that we DESERVE that glass or seven of wine etc.

At the end of the day, if you want to drink, then you will. I appreciate that doesn't sound supportive but it's certainly true in my case. As I have said before, the most amazing thing about this Bus and those who travel along with it, is the fact that every single one on board has a story, a reason why they're here, and we all need support in one form or another. Yes, alcohol may be the one thing that we ALL have in common but it goes way deeper than that doesn't it? Life, love and laundry for a start!

Even if you're not ready to stop or cut down on your drinking yet, that's fine! You're still welcome to hop aboard the marvellous Gerald. We're a very varied bunch of Babes but we welcome anyone in need of support, even if you're not ready to say everything that you want to yet, or you feel the need to name change, that's fine! Just know that we're here for YOU for as long as you need to be.

Mouse xxx

THIS IS THE PREVIOUS THREAD IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CATCH UP FROM WHERE WE LEFT OFF

[venusandmars]

[Craftycorvid]

Eek! Sympathies to Mr Mint .

Been travelling for work today. Got to my hotel a bit frazzled and thirsty. Managed to hit the beer-shaped spot with a bottle or two of ‘Nanny State’ - blimey! An AF beer that tastes ok!

[Moonagedaydreamer]

Delurking to ask where everybody is.
After many years of trying to moderate, I stopped drinking in November 2017 and started to read these threads. I couldn't grasp who everybody was or the references to Barry, opal fruits etc so I decided to go right back to the very first thread. I have read them pretty much every day for almost two years and it has kept me completely sober. I have celebrated every babes successes and hoped they could overcome any slip-ups. I feel I almost know so many of you brave ladies.
Please don't allow the threads to die off. They help many more people than you can know.

[MintToBee]

I'm here! I think the Christmas title is a bit misleading to new people maybe. I can helpfully spam the thread to fill it up so we get a new one made

[MintToBee]

The Babes have been a great source of support for the last few years and it would be a shame for the threads to dry up.

[MintToBee]

Meanwhile, heres my day at work so far.

[Moonagedaydreamer]

Congratulations on the wedding Mint. It looked a fabulous day

[Moonagedaydreamer]

I will also do my best to help fill up the thread

[Rightwayup]

Need a new thread. That's my contribution

[venusandmars]

mint are those baby otters?

[venusandmars]

moonagedaydreamer thank you for delurking to encourage us and to post your inspiring story ❤️

[venusandmars]

With regards to a new thread....

Before we fill this one completely we need to set up a new thread (with the link posted in all the final posts on the current thread, so people can find it).

The new thread must contain the link to THIS thread so people can read back, and also to jesuswhatsnext very first thread so people can read from the start.

[venusandmars]

I can set up a new thread but I can't do it from my phone, so it will be later today..

[venusandmars]

Speaking of JWN I had a pm from her recently and she is doing well.

mint I have a message for you from JWN, I'll pm it to you this evening

[MintToBee]

@venusandmars Border Terrier pups. Had emergency ceaser and six healthy pups went home with Mum.

[Craftycorvid]

Hey! Filling the thread..... waving to all the babes.

[MintToBee]

Moonagedaydreamer It was absolutely perfect. Elopement is the best! Especially when MN come along with you.
And also how fantastic that you've been AF since Nov 17.
Its such a daily struggle. I'm AF since 25/12/17 and it's such hard work. Especially when people keep buying you bottles for presents. Alcohol is such a huge part of life. I keep getting recommended gins in my Asda shop for fecks sake! One thing I've noticed now though is that our invitations anywhere have all but dried up now.

[Craftycorvid]

Moonagedaydreamer and Mint - that’s a massive achievement, especially with the way society pushes alcohol in our faces (in every sense). I’ve been accused of being unfriendly because, nope, I don’t want ‘just a small one’ and yes, it will ‘hurt me’. I’ve found some friendships cooling because I’m no longer the drinking buddy. I think some folk feel a bit challenged about their own drinking so it’s uncomfortable to see others acknowledging a problem. Then again, there’s the empathy gap with those who really can just ‘have a small one’ and stop, and really don’t understand why some of us can’t do the same.

[Moonagedaydreamer]

TBH I have felt a little boring at times but I feel so much more at peace with myself that I don't really care. I wake up every day feeling so much better than I ever did whilst I was drinking, I have no three day hangovers and no shame to live down/with. I still remember that awful taste you get when you wake up after a session and I really don't want that ever again.
Crafty you are so right about alcohol being pushed onto us. If you think about it in simply monetary terms, be it the alcohol industry, the government etc, they are never going to give up that cash cow are they??
Besides the Babes threads helping me, I read Jason Vales book and convinced myself that alcohol was a poison and it was only ever going to do me harm. That is what helped the most and I hope it will forever.
Mint I love that you had Ma and Venus as witnesses. It just shows how these threads change lives. We also had a tiny wedding 24 years ago with only 5 guests. It's more about the result than just the one day and I wouldn't change it. KOKO Babes and stay Brave xx

[venusandmars]

moonagedaydreamer even if we feel a little boring, it's nothing like as boring as being stuck next to a drunk person at a dinner!

I live in a town with a race course. It was recently 'ladies' day them ain't no ladies What a sight! In the morning the town is like one giant wedding, women in heels, expensive dresses, big hats, matching handbags. By late afternoon - shoes off, sprawled on the pavement, chuntering in the gutter, crying... but still pushing into local bars in search of even more booze. It's deranged.

[Craftycorvid]

Venus. That’s quite an image and one I see recreated round our way - the racecourse is easy distance by train making train journeys a critical incident involving fascinators and Prosecco!

[MintToBee]

I used to live by Newton Abbott racecourse . Only a small place then but full of pissheads on the train home from school.

[dementedma]

Just checking in to keep the thread alive. Busy time at work for me this week with lots of events and soldier ogling

[MintToBee]

Just jumping on to say Hello. It's a glorious evening here. Suns out finally. And we are thinking of heading out to the Galloway Forest for a night under the stars.

[venusandmars]

And we've woken up to a bright morning in the Lowther Hills (not far from you mint)