A Pinch And A Punch For The First Of The Month..!

So, Happy New Year to everyone, thanks for still reading, as this particular Livejournal enters its' 9th year of existence!

My New Year's Eve took a weird turn entering 2013; as I may have mentioned, me thelma_viaduct , Jim and Chris L were all off to see Frank Turner play an intimate little gig at a new Manchester music venue we had yet to experience, all very exciting!

Frank was, as ever bewitching, energetic and fantastic value for money, however towards the end of the set, I dared to miss a bin with an empty beer can and despite picking it up, the next thing I know, a bouncer had cornered me and began yelling into my face!

My response was first of all, bemusement. How many cans had I seen dropped on the floor or chucked across gig venues in my time? Tens of thousands possibly? What was wrong with this fellow?!

When I realised that his problem was with the littering, I apologised, the guy however didn't think this was acceptable and instead invited me 'fucking outside'? Repeatedly asking 'Would I do that at home?' Obviously, I was more keen on going back and seeing the rest of Frank's set, which I tried to do, so he pinned me against the wall. I had my hands in the air to show throughout to demonstrate that I wasn't up for a fight over absolutely nothing.

By this point, Toni, Chris and Jim (along with another random person bemused by his reaction) had all tried to intervene, the angry man didn't tell them what I had done and instead concentrated on ushering me outside for a fight he was so keen on.

As he was considerably shorter and smaller than me, he couldn't actually manage this on his own and called for backup and I was eventually dragged out of the venue by him and another bouncer. After which, an ugly war of words happened and his mate dragged him inside with him making all kinds of threats.

Understandably, I was furious with this and was probably awful company for the rest of the night, which finished at around 2.30AM.

New Year's Day, I was conflicted, I have to be honest. Did I want to be held responsible for potentially getting a man the sack and a criminal record when he didn't actually hit me? Maybe he a disabled kid or a family to support?

I am quite good at letting things go but having heard my friend Gayle's research (she has to physically restrain people as part of her job) and Toni discovering that he had, by the letter of the law, assaulted me. I was much more inclined to complain than let it drop.

There was one argument in particular that resonated; that he may have not got a fight he wanted from me but someone else would have either battered him or vice versa, it's probably best to have him out of his job he is in currently, where he is in the position to potentially ruin countless other nights out and allow someone suitable to take his place instead.

Anyway, today thelma_viaduct wrote a fantastic lengthy letter to the place and they have responded already with a non-generic reply that they will be investigating at the venue and at the firm who employ this man. We'll see what unfolds there...

May I also personally dedicate the song on this entry to that bouncer, the chorus goes "I think you'd be better off if you were dead!"

Anyway, hope you all had a cracking New Year's Eve celebrations and all the best for 2013! Peace and love to one and all!