Dealing with larger groups

[MaryN]

This thread reminded me of a little incident I got involved in a while ago. It obviously was not to do with looting, but did involve a group of people who were, shall be say, misbehaving. They were making one hell of a racket in the lane and OH went out to tell them to stop it. One of the creatures started up with the threatening behaviour and unpleasant language. I don't know why I did it; it was really stupid, but I was ticked off! I went down our drive, walked out into the road and stood right in the middle of the lane next to the OH. It was like being in the middle of a pack of hyenas (so I imagine); they were circling us. For some reason I was completely calm - I should say I do not normally get involved in this sort of thing, my instinct is to get away - but I was so annoyed fear left me. I was quite ready to whack the idiot who was circling round mouthing all sorts of unpleasant things. Luckily before I got to smack him one with the very large garden machete that I just happened to have dangling in my hand (I had been hacking away at a group of nettles), OH collared one of the group and marched him into our drive where he told him in no uncertain terms to pack it all in or the Police would be called and trouble would ensue.

It was a minor thing and dissipated quickly, but afterwards I realised it could have turned nasty. Either of us could have been hurt; I might have done someone a nasty injury with my gardening implement and things could have got serious. They didn't, but I behaved really stupidly because I didn't think, and I didn't think I had time not to act.