It is very disappointing to have given in to anger, which in retrospect could easily have been averted by withdrawing from the scene and allowing it to be dealt with by professionals hired for the purpose. Or the police

After such progress in taming unwanted emotions and achieving a most satisfying equanimity, something (or rather somebody) slipped through a chink in my armor and I landed flat on my back.

There is no defense – there is no excuse for allowing temper to get the better of me and I very much hope that it will not happen again. Must try harder.

Unfortunately, a friend of mine was threatened by an unpleasant bully with whom she has had considerable trouble for a number of years. I went to her assistance as the bully threatened to “get her out” of her home and told her that she and all her family were mentally ill.

The bully is an ill educated and illiterate fat thug who has upset many, many people over the decades with his inflated ego and determination to win at all costs, however petty the dispute.

He bullied and threatened the office girls at a credit card company who would not bend to his wishes. Or rather could not give in to his unreasonable demands. He asked them “Do you know who I am?” Despite the fact he is a small man, he has a greatly inflated sense of his own value.

Tradespeople learn not to deal with him on account of his arrogance and rudeness. He refuses to pay in full for goods and services he has ordered and consumed – he makes spurious claims that they were defective in some way and thus cheats tradespeople out of their dues.

He appears to have no understanding of the rule of law and it is difficult to tell whether it is just his dullard’s wits and ignorance which are at fault, or whether he deliberately chooses not to understand, so as to win another of his innumerable petty swindles.

If this fellow can do someone down who is standing in his way, he goes for it. As with all bullies, when confronted he is eventually forced to back down but only at the cost of much unpleasantness.

In any event, mea culpa. I am deeply saddened to have been caught so badly off guard and next time will suggest getting the due agents of law enforcement involved.

The correct course of action is to call for help from people whose job it is to deal with such matters and who do not get emotionally involved, since they have no personal knowledge of or attachment to the parties.