Daily Archives: 25 February 2011

Can’t say I noticed them in particular at the time, busy as I was being less than a year old. Plenty of time to catch up with them since. These six seconds have got much bigger since. Don’t watch this video – listen to it. The narrator has a nice smoothing voice.

Bit of a scrap last night. Spoiled the end of the night really. Had been a great night at the club with a celebratory atmosphere. We had 19 people turn out to see the new place and soak up the heady moment. Unfortunately afterwards I went drinking with a friend of mine and he turned nasty. He shouted  another friend and me down for a while, becoming increasingly aggressive in the process. After our mutual friend left, he unexpectedly threatened to punch me in the face.

When I returned from the toilet I told him in no uncertain terms that he should never threaten me again. It was a loud warning and the very friendly staff from the Wick Inn asked us to leave. We did so. Then they asked us to stop shouting at each outside so we moved down the street and carried on there. Then he shoved me and I shoved him back. He threw himself to the ground in the most badly effected theatrical fall I have yet seen, rolled over with a big grin on his face and came back for more. Better stop there, I thought to myself. He snarled into my face for the next five minutes before explaining how he was going to arrange for me to be harmed, that I would have to leave Brighton and that he would arrange for other people to do me in. It was an unconvincing threat and had he not been screaming blue murder at me, I would have felt sorry for him. He’s an alcoholic, his brain rotted by years of self-abuse. I turned to walk away. He followed me across the road, still shouting at me. I turned up a side street on the north side of Western Road. He realised the absurdity of continuing to harass me. Just before we were about to break eye contact, I broke my newly found silence and said to him, “It doesn’t have to be like this.” He grabbed at the branch, came running back over to proffer a handshake, then remembered himself and demanded an apology. Naturally, I gave him one. Calmer we went back to his house for a smoke. Why did I do this? Back at his house he started on me again. I offered to leave and he backed down.

Should I feel sorry for him? Perhaps. Will I be hanging out with again? No. What would be the point? Personally I don’t enjoy personal and physical abuse or being threatened. I prefer to avoid it. Sadly, this is not the first time he has tried to pick a fight with me but it will be the last. An apology is in order but I know he has difficulties with the S word so I’m not going to expect one. Why on earth did he threaten me, physically? Who would do such a thing? Only a total mentalist or someone seeking self-harm. No doubt he’ll try to do this again, if I let him. Best to avoid that. If he reads this, I repeat what I said in the Wick: don’t ever threaten me again.