I've just been assaulted

Tuesday morning


Monday night at about 9pm

About 3/4 of an hour ago I was walking home down Gertrude Street, having just grabbed some fish and chips for dinner, when I saw a guy punching his girlfriend. I tried to intervene. He punched me in the face a couple of times. My dinner went all over the footpath.

I'm sitting here now in something ressembling a state of shock, holding a packet of frozen peas to the right side of my face. I can't see out of my right eye cos the swelling's so bad. I'm gonna have a major black eye tomorrow.

I've already reported the assault to the local cops. Fuck knows if anything is gonna come of it though.

Tomorrow I'll post a pretty picture for you all of how my black eye has developed.

If I had just kept walking I would have hated myself for not getting involved, but now I just feel sore and slightly stupid. Well, maybe sore, slightly stupid, but slightly proud that I tried to intervene as well...
* * *
Tuesday 29th
I've updated the photo so that you now have a 'before and after' shot - well, they're both taken after I was punched in the face, but now you can see how I look after a night's sleep. The swelling's gone down heaps, thanks to the ice my friend Jeff brought over last night which I held against my cheek for several chilly, dripping hours. (He also brought strawberry icecream, which went down a treat!) On the other hand the bruising is starting to colour nicely. Another day or two and I'll have the best black eye you've ever seen.
I'm off to my GP this afternoon to get everything checked out, to make sure that there's no major damage, and also because I need a medical report for the police. I have a vague feeling that I may have a cracked cheekbone or something: I'm certainly not in significant pain, but every now and then this morning I've been coughing up bloodclots, which suggests that I'm bleeding internally via my sinuses or something... Sorry if that's sounds alarming!
The bottom line is, I'm sure I'll be right as rain after a few days rest. Thanks to everyone for their kind words (and ice cream!)

Comments

starnawskirestlessness said…
hey richard,

have been keeping up with your blog lately and enjoying it but that post just shocks and disappoints me.

well done on all your achievements of late including the success of QnA ~ wish i had made it out on thurs!

hope to see you soon,
leonie
29/11/05 10:15
richardwatts said…
Thanks Leonie, thanks PeopleInGlassHouses - your kind words are much appreciated. Now, I wonder where I put that taser...?
29/11/05 11:45
David Prater said…
geez richie, im really sorry to hear that. what an arsehole. i think it was a very brave thing to do. you need to carry mace around with you. fish n chips isnt much use ;-) seriously, hope youre feeling better soon.
d
29/11/05 11:57
gun street girl said…
Alarming, YES. I hope you are feeling better.
Good for you for being such a fine, upstanding member of the comunity also...
29/11/05 13:01
ekstasis said…
you are now my new hero - very amazing for you to try and step in... confrontation scares me at the best of times, even when it's just words, let along getting physical... You have more courage and sense of honour than alot of people.
that said: it probably doesn't take the pain away - hope you're ok!
29/11/05 23:31
ekstasis said…
'sense of honour'? sorry - I've been reading alot of fantasy recently...
29/11/05 23:32
obtuse-a said…
Richard, you are wonderful, for your HUMANITY. xxx
30/11/05 16:33
Joelene said…
That's horrible Richard, I hope you're feeling better soon. It's comforting to know that some people are willing to intervene in shitty situations, even if it's at their own risk. Did the woman thank you for your efforts?
30/11/05 20:52
Gemnastics said…
Oh my god, did you cry? I would have cried. Once in Kings Cross a drunken british bitch flew at me in a rage while I tried to use the phone, pulling my hair, slapping at me. She had to be dragged off me by her friends. I loathed humanity for a week afterward.

If she'd given me a black eye I'd still despise the human race.
30/11/05 21:09
richardwatts said…
Thanks heaps for all the lovely comments folks, it's a little overwhelming!

Davey: I'm feeling better already and I promise not to employ fish'n'chips as a weapon on a regular basis.

GunStreetGirl: Fine, yes? Unstanding? More hobbling at the moment...

Ekstasis & Jaded: Awwww, shucks *blush*

Joelene: Yes she did; she also asked me not to press charges against her bf, leaving me to assume that this isn't the first time he's hit her. Grrrr.

Gemma: Once I got home from the cop shop I bawled my eyes out. Then my lovely friend Jeff applied ice and strawberry icecream in the appropriate places. Together with hugs, and an episode of Firefly I felt much better.
30/11/05 22:50
Fluffy said…
I work right on Gertrude Street and see very dodgy shit go down all the time, including men assaulting their girfriends, pinned mothers pushing strollers, people vomiting blood right in front of me and drug deals go horribly and violently wrong. Well done for stepping in - I think you're very brave.
1/12/05 09:01
Born Dancin' said…
I lived a few doors away from Gertrude St for a long time, and I saw all that stuff: enough to make me move away and hope never to return to Fitzroy. I did, in the end, but I've never stepped in like you. I feel a bit ashamed. Good on you for doing a good thing.
1/12/05 13:30
LadyCracker said…
Jesus Richard what a story. Hope you feel better soon.

Nice one stepping in too...
2/12/05 10:53
Tim Norton said…
I admire you Richard - there are times when you see other people and their problems and you just think 'not my problem - leave me alone.'
The fact that you were willing to stand up and help a total stranger is a great indication of the wonderful person that you are.
I know.. I'm gushing, but this post really moved me...
Hope you feel better soon.
3/12/05 22:02
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