My partner and I just can't stop arguing. He always twists everything to make it my fault. But sometimes it is actually my fault. Like last night.
We sat down to a drink and a meal and at some point he started going on about his sexual conquests from his colourful past. He seems to think he's with one of the lads and forgets he is with me. This is a middle aged man, not a twenty year old.
I am open minded and don't care what he did in the past, but don't want to be reminded of his sexual exploits. But he pressed on regardless. So we ended up arguing - most likely instigated by me - and come bedtime ended up in separate beds.
Today we made up, told each other we loved each other and it's been great all day. We were supposed to go to my sister's for Christmas but I had flu so stayed home and it's just been me and him.
He's looked after me and it's been really nice. He made a huge effort to get everything and prepare the Christmas dinner and it was a lovely day/evening. Until he started to get drunk.
Because I've been ill I've been sober every night he's been here, and tonight I noticed that he got aggressive after a few drinks - not physically but in terms of his attitude and the things he says.
I did not rise to it and overlooked it. Finally, about half an hour ago or so, we decided to go to bed and he fell asleep and started snoring.
Perhaps I should have quietly got out of bed and gone to the lounge to sleep on the sofabed without waking him, but I said softly "Darling, you're snoring". At which point he got out of bed and stalked off to the other room saying "I will sleep in the f**ing spare bed then".
So I got out of bed and said "No, I will sleep in it, you go back to bed."
He refused. So i then said, "Well let me make up the bed for you." and he said something like "I will sleep in the sofabed, just like I do every f**ing night.
I had my young niece and nephew staying over last weekend, then on Sunday came down with the flu, so he has ended up sleeping in the sofabed some four or five nights.
I am stubborn and argumentative too, so I said, "No, I will sleep in it. Go and sleep in my bed." and he walked off back to the bedroom muttering and swearing.
I have just had enough and something snapped in me. A month ago I ended it and was determined that was it, but he begged and cried and pleaded with me, saying he loved me, and wanted another chance. So after two weeks of being bombarded with calls, angry texts, tearful voicemails, emails and even Skype calls, I gave in and said I would give him another chance.
I do love him. But when he turns nasty I feel as though I hate his guts.
When he lost his temper tonight I just saw red. I took the cheque he wrote me as my birthday present (£300) and said "I've had enough. And you can stick your cheque up your f**ing arse" and ripped it up in front of him.
I realise that sounds abusive and nutty. I feel nutty. In fact, I am nuts.
I am typing this as I sit in the sofabed and he sleeps like a baby in my bed. Tomorrow he will be tearful and full of remorse. But I am so tired of his nasty temper, of the rows and of always being painted as mental/ a villain/ the cause of all our ills/ unstable etc.
I am not asking for advice. I just needed to get this out.