I had an interesting time in the pub I have been frequenting yesterday while meeting a friend for lunch. We got engaged in conversation with a couple of guys. The guys were ‘tough’ guys with a mass of life experience and a mass of respect from the drinking fraternity that are in this place daily – or at least they are every day I am in.

It was interesting because the conversation ended up with one of the guys buying us each pint – despite our objections outlining that we needed to work later in the day, 2 pints of Spitfire were plonked on our table for us to drink while the guy joked that he was ‘buying himself in’ to heaven.

This whole experience was a surprise to me as each day I have entered this place and although aware that I have been ‘clocked’ by this group of men, there has been no acknowledgment of any kind. From nothing we went into conversation over a time-span of 2 hours and were bought a drink. Being with someone meant it was easier to talk and I wonder whether going alone is seen as too much of a threat. Saying that, I am not sure this group of men would be threatened by anything this world could chuck at them. I would guess they are the group used to being threatening rather then being threatened.

I am not naive enough to suggest this is acceptance of or inclusion within this community, but I am excited and intrigued enough to wonder if this is a small initial step in the right direction. Whatever it means, it shows that my presence in this environment is causing a reaction of some description.