Last night I went out with a friend of mine (male). I've known him a long time, like him a lot, but he can be very opinionated. He's a great "Handy Andy" and does a lot for me around the house and is supportive like that, which is probably why I haven't told him to get lost before now! I have known him for 20 years and he has always been known as being opinionated. 

I went out with him last night because an arrangement with someone else fell through (he didn't know that, just called and asked if I was OK to go out and I said yes). We met in town and then went back to where I live on the bus. When I got off the bus I was adjusting my dress hem and he had a pop at me about it saying it was inappropriate and everyone on the bus was staring at me. (I doubt they were, and even if they were, it was gone in an instant and they wouldn't ever see me again, so, so what?!).  We went for a pub meal and I was chatting to the waiter when he came to take the order. When the waiter had gone, my mate berated me for "jabbering on and involving him in inconsequential chat". I drove him home later and we agreed next morning (today) we'd go out for breakfast and I would pay him my half of the meal. I'm also having some work done at home and reorganising things and he promised to move a large box for me out of my lounge and in the loft.

I got home really tired (I'd been on a training day in another city before going out) and went straight to bed after jumping in the shower last night, then woke up at 9, with Andy due to come at 9.30. (He rocked up at 10.00). He said he wasn't going to help me with the box as he had a white T shirt on and didn't want to go in my loft and muck it up. Fair enough, but I was relying on it being moved as I need to rearrange stuff for the decorator to come tomorrow. I would only ever ask for help for things I could not do by myself. Eventually he did it (without the T shirt on I add).

He had a go at me for not having worked out my share of the bill for last night, even though I not only hadn't had the time, I couldn't find the receipt (it turned out he had taken it away with him!) He also started mimicking me (how I spoke and stood) when I came back at him for saying my front room is a mess (it is. I am in the middle of a massive reorganisation and things have to go somewhere temporarily. He knows this). This is normal for him, he thinks it is just part and parcel of our relationship. 

His comments don't hurt or upset me, but I find them very irritating and I feel it reflects on him being an opinionated, arrogant so and so, rather than me. When not like this, he is excellent company, interesting and a good conversationalist. He also is very supportive with me in other ways. 

Just interested in your thoughts about it. No comments about "telling an old story" or similar, or I attracted his behaviour, it is what it is last night and today. He is like this with most people, so everyone must be attracting it mustn't they? ;) It doesn't upset me and I can handle him. But I am interested in thoughts. How would YOU deal with a friend like this?
 

Last edited by PrettyFlamingo (6/18/2017 12:33 pm)