Fisticuffs!

SO...My life got complicated last night. I came home to find a huge mess outside my house. for the last couple of weeks, my neighbour (a rough sort who i don't get along with) has taken it upon himself to erect a massive structure outside my house, to build on his. I was angry at first, but he has a tricky habit of never answering his door, or mail, or threats from the landlord, etc. So I ignored it, even though it's ugly, creates a fire hazard, and gives anyone easy access to my windows.

Anyway...I came home last night, and it was a disaster area. rubbish and debris and plaster all over the place, even blocking the entrance to my front door. So I marched up the scaffolding, and knocked on his door. i told him this thing was illegal, causing me difficulty, and that he should take it down.

As it turns out, this was an unwise move. My neighbour is a bit of a drunk, a builder, and has a criminal record. He came down, started yelling at me, and then kicked me in the hip a couple of times. I wasn't too hurt- i was more shocked. I told him to cool his jets, and we would talk it over. He punched me 3 times in the face. Again, I was more shocked. I stood there, as he cracked me across the jaw, and my first thought was "WOW! I can really take a punch!" My second thought was "Calm the situation down. There's no-one else around, there are sharp things lying around, if you retaliate in kind, this could escalate into something gruesome". So I cooled him down, told him to relax, and we'll talk. He did. He started apologizing profusely, telling me how he had been attacked by some mates of the landlord, etc. Meanwhile, I found myself talking calmly, ameliating the situation. By the end, he had apologized, promised me he'd have it all cleaned up by today, and said he'd drop off a bottle of wine to say sorry.

Okay, so now I'm walking around my apartment, feeling my face swell, wondering what to do. Not feeling safe, because he may be paranoid, might figure I'll get him in trouble, and do something. i live in an isolated spot, and there's no-one around but me and him.
\n \nI go to the Police. Not much they can do. No witnesses, and apart from a few scratches (from his wedding ring hitting me) and a fat lip, not much evidence. Pressing charges would get nowehere, and drag us both into court. \n\n \nI go to the hospital. I'm fine. Some swelling in the jaw and a bruised hip, but fine. \n \nI grab some mates (Jake, Dave and my brother, who are all now in my hall of fame), and we pack my valuables into cars and drop them at my parents place. All my furniture is still there, and I'm not keen on going back without some backup. He's unstable, and I'm not keen on taking a risk over something like a miserable apartment. I have friends and family, I don't need further drama. \n\n \nSO I'M HOMELESS! Well, not really. But i am a bit thrown by all of this. I've had people telling me I should have fought back. I figure the best case scenario is that I knock him out. Ok, then he wakes up, gets some mates, and does who knows what to my place (and me). Worst case scenario, he puts something through my eye. I can't say either appeals to me. I like to think I handled it well. \n\n \nOpnions? Thoughts? Comments?\n \n \n\n",0]
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I go to the Police. Not much they can do. No witnesses, and apart from a few scratches (from his wedding ring hitting me) and a fat lip, not much evidence. Pressing charges would get nowehere, and drag us both into court.

I go to the hospital. I'm fine. Some swelling in the jaw and a bruised hip, but fine.

I grab some mates (Jake, Dave and my brother, who are all now in my hall of fame), and we pack my valuables into cars and drop them at my parents place. All my furniture is still there, and I'm not keen on going back without some backup. He's unstable, and I'm not keen on taking a risk over something like a miserable apartment. I have friends and family, I don't need further drama.

SO I'M HOMELESS! Well, not really. But i am a bit thrown by all of this. I've had people telling me I should have fought back. I figure the best case scenario is that I knock him out. Ok, then he wakes up, gets some mates, and does who knows what to my place (and me). Worst case scenario, he puts something through my eye. I can't say either appeals to me. I like to think I handled it well.